Luxurious Northern Galapagos

Luxurious Northern Galapagos
Route B
Year Round 2020 – 2021

Overview:

Expedition Easy invites you to experience the Galapagos like never before! A cruise to the Enchanted Isles is a once in a lifetime, wildlife mecca for adventure travelers. Highlights on this northern Galapagos “B” route with the M/V Origin or M/V Theory include:

• Lumbering giant tortoises in the highlands
• Viewing red footed and Nazca boobies
• Observing small marine and large land iguanas
• Snorkeling opportunities with Galapagos penguins
• Studying volcanic formations
• Seeing flightless cormorants in action
• Kayaking in small bays and coves
• Sighting whales and dolphins

Choose either our Comprehensive Package which includes pre- and post-cruise transfers and hotel nights in Guayaquil or simply Cruise Only in the Galapagos. Either way, you will be onboard a vessel that was custom-designed to minimize environmental impact yet raise the bar for comfort and amenities – resulting in sustainable cruising AND superior luxury in one of the planet’s most magical places.

You can also increase your coverage of the islands by combining this northern Galapagos “B” route with the southern Galapagos “A” route on the Origin or Theory and save 5% on both routes! Please see our Luxurious Southern Galapagos program for details regarding its itinerary.

Brief Itinerary:
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrive Guayaquil Airport (GYE), Transfer to Hotel & Overnight Hotel Oro Verde
Day 2 (Sunday):Transfer to Guayaquil Airport (GYE) & Fly to San Cristobal Island (SCY)
Transfer to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno & Embark the yacht
Bus to Visitor Center at Cerro Colorado, San Cristobal Island
Day 3 (Monday):Snorkel/Kayak/Zodiac at Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Snorkel/Zodiac at Prince Philip’s Steps, Genovesa Island
Day 4 (Tuesday):Snorkel at Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island
Snorkel at Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island
Day 5 (Wednesday):Snorkel/Zodiac at Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island
Snorkel at Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
Day 6 (Thursday):Snorkel at Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island
Snorkel/Kayak/Zodiac at Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
Day 7 (Friday):Snorkel/Kayak/Zodiac at Rabida Island
Zodiac at Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
Day 8 (Saturday):Bus & Hike in the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Visit Breeding Center at Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Island
Day 9 (Sunday):Disembark the Origin & Visit Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island
Transfer to San Cristobal Airport (SCY) & Fly to Guayaquil (GYE)
Transfer from Airport to Hotel & Overnight Hotel Oro Verde
Day 10 (Monday):Transfer to Guayaquil Airport (GYE)

The Origin & Theory alternates two different full week 7-night itineraries as required by the Galapagos National Park in an effort to better reduce usage on heavily visited sites.

Interested in more information? Please contact Expedition Easy by telephone at 1-800-617-2319 or e-mail [email protected].

Luxurious Northern Galapagos
Route B
Year Round 2020- 2021

Day-By-Day Itinerary:

DAY 1 (SATURDAY): ARRIVE GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR
Fly to Guayaquil (GYE), the largest and most populous city in Ecuador. After clearing customs and immigration at the airport, a private transfer takes you to the Hotel Oro Verde. Check in to the hotel followed by your first overnight in Ecuador. All meals are on your own for this day.

DAY 2 (SUNDAY): GUAYAQUIL / SAN CRISTOBAL, GALAPAGOS
After breakfast and checking out of the hotel, a private transfer takes you back to the Guayaquil airport (GYE). Check in for your morning flight to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (SCY) on San Cristobal (aka Chatham) Island. Upon arrival at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, crew from the yacht is waiting at the airport to escort you by bus to the main dock and then by zodiac to your yacht anchored in the bay. After the welcome briefing and safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch is served.

In the afternoon, travel to Cerro Colorado to visit Centro de Crianza Jacinto Gordillo (La Galapaguera) where the national park has established a breeding program for giant tortoises in their natural habitat. At the visitor center, learn about the origin and evolution of tortoises, as well as threats from introduced animals. Along the trail, watch for the San Cristobal mockingbird and Calandrinia plant, both endemic to this island. Return to the Origin for a briefing followed by our Captain’s welcome cocktail party and dinner prepared by culinary school-trained chefs.

DAY 3 (MONDAY): DARWIN BAY / PRINCE PHILIP’S STEPS, GENOVESA
Enjoy your first shipboard breakfast before spending the entire day on Genovesa (aka Tower) Island, one of the most spectacular places in Galapagos for bird species. Land at Prince Philip’s Steps, where red-footed boobies nest in palo santo trees, Nazca boobies nest near the trail, and storm petrels gather in large numbers in an open lava field. With luck, you may see the elusive short-eared owl. Return to the Origin for a BBQ lunch on the sun deck. Chose to paddle from a kayak or stand-up paddle board and explore the cliffs. Look for the red-billed tropic bird hiding in the crevices or snorkel in deeper water from the Zodiac.

Land at Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tide pools. Enter a forest of Optuntia cactus and mangroves where colonies of great frigatebirds nest, the males inflating their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead. Chose to relax on the beach or swim with sea lions in these northern warmer waters. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner and an evening full of stars.

DAY 4 (TUESDAY): LAS BACHAS / CERRO DRAGON, SANTA CRUZ
This morning’s breakfast is followed by visiting Las Bachas (The Barges) on the northern side of Santa Cruz (aka Indefatigable) Island. Explore the long stretch of a soft white sand beach and interior lagoons populated by greater flamingos. There is also a chance to snorkel here from the beach. Return to the yacht for lunch.

This afternoon, step ashore on Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) for a majestic view of the bay and the island landscape covered in opuntia cactus, palo santo and muyuyo (Cordia letea). The trail also offers excellent opportunities to see Darwin’s finches, Galapagos flycatchers, yellow warblers, Audubon shearwater, as well as the endemic land iguanas, that were once part of the Station’s breeding program. In the saltwater lagoon, pink flamingos feed alongside other birds such as stilts, pintail ducks and sandpipers. After the briefing and dinner, sail toward the western islands and cross the equator for the second time.

DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY): PUNTA VICENTE ROCA / URBINA BAY, ISABELA
After breakfast onboard, this morning’s visit is a Zodiac ride to Punta Vicente Roca, offering an incredible view of the tuff walls and an entrance to a wave-sculpted cave. There is an excellent chance to snorkel here and find penguins and sea turtles that frequent this area. During lunch, sail through the Bolivar Chanel. Then take a seat on deck to view the dramatic scenery and watch for whales and dolphins riding the bow wave, and occasionally the Mola Mola, an odd looking giant sun fish.

Disembark at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island, where four miles of coastal seabed were exposed due to a dramatic uplift during a volcanic eruption in 1954. See the remnants of coral skeletons, some of them waist-high, and keep an eye out for the very large and colorful Galapagos land iguanas, as well as marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, and the occasional giant tortoise. Return to the yacht for briefing and dinner. A sky full of stars beckons to go on deck and observe the galaxy.

DAY 6 (THURSDAY): PUNTA ESPINOZA, FERNANDINA / TAGUS COVE, ISABELA
Breakfast is followed with a stop at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, the youngest and most pristine island in the Galapagos, with no introduced animals. Recent lava flows formed by an active volcano stretch their way around the coast. Observe sea lion harems with resident bulls carefully guarding their territory, and hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest colony in Galapagos, basking in the sun along the rugged shoreline. Out on the point, the flightless cormorants build their nests close to shore since they lost their ability to fly. There is a chance to snorkel here with large sea turtles that frequent this area before returning to the yacht for lunch.

Go ashore on Tagus Cove, a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. Sections of the rocky cliffs are covered with graffiti dating back to the 1800s. An uphill hike leads to a saltwater lagoon and a scenic overlook with a spectacular view of the ocean, lava fields and volcanic formations. Take advantage of the secluded cove and explore the shoreline by kayak in search of Galapagos penguins, boobies, pelicans and other seabirds. Return to the yacht for briefing and dinner as you cross the equator for the last time.

DAY 7 (FRIDAY): RABIDA / BLACK TURTLE COVE, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
After breakfast, disembark on Rabida (Jervis), a small island considered the geographic center of the Galapagos because its volcanic rocks are the most diversified in the archipelago. The dark red color of the beach comes from the high iron content in the volcanic stones. Follow the trail to a saltwater lagoon where greater flamingos migrate, keeping an eye out for marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and Darwin’s finches. Afterwards, do not miss the opportunity to snorkel with a colony of sea lions and rays. Return to the yacht for lunch.
This afternoon, there is a Zodiac ride at Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) through a series of coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves. View pairs of mating sea turtles (Sept to Feb), white-tipped reef sharks and golden cow-nosed rays. Return to the yacht for the Captain’s Farwell cocktail party and dinner as well as a special slide show presentation by your guides.

DAY 8 (SATURDAY): PUERTO AYORA & HIGHLANDS, SANTA CRUZ
Breakfast onboard is followed by disembarking at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, the social heart of the Galapagos, with a population of 24,000. Travel by bus to the highlands, passing through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos. Visit a tortoise reserve at one of the private farms that protects giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Stop at “the tunnels”, the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos and visit Los Gemelos (The twins), a pair of large craters. Return to the yacht for lunch on board.

This afternoon, visit the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena (formerly the Charles Darwin Research Station). Visit the tortoise corals and the breeding center with hatchlings and miniature tortoises that will be repatriated when grown. Visit the new exhibit honoring Lonesome George, a worldwide icon of conservation as the last surviving tortoise from Pinta Island that tragically died of natural causes. Stroll through town to shop for souvenirs or stop at an internet cafe. Return to the yacht for dinner or, if you wish, remain in town for dinner on your own. Zodiac shuttles from the yachts to the main dock will be offered throughout the evening.

DAY 9 (SUNDAY): SAN CRISTOBAL / GUAYAQUIL
After breakfast, disembark the yacht and travel by bus to the San Cristobal Interpretation Center to learn more about the natural and human history of the Islands. Afterwards, spend time in port before heading to the Puerto Baquerizo Moreno airport (SCY) to check in for your flight back to Guayaquil (GYE). A private transfer from the airport returns you to the Hotel Oro Verde. Check in to the hotel followed by your final overnight in Ecuador. Lunch and dinner are on your own for this day.

DAY 10 (MONDAY): DEPART GUAYAQUIL
Check out of the hotel after breakfast and then a private transfer takes you back to the Guayaquil airport (GYE). Check in for your flight out of Ecuador.
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*Please note: This itinerary is subject to change. Expedition highlights and wildlife listed here are possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed. Your Expedition Leader and Captain will work together to ensure opportunities for adventure and exploration are the best possible, taking into account the weather, wildlife activity and overall conditions.

ECO-SD2021

Luxurious Northern Galapagos
Route B
Year Round 2020 – 2021

About the Ship

M/V Origin & M/V Theory

Custom-designed for sustainability and comfort, these yachts are the ultimate Galapagos cruise vessels, offering luxurious amenities while minimizing environmental impacts. Every element of this 20-passenger luxury yacht has been specially designed for comfort, safety and sustainability. The 10 staterooms are roomy and inviting, with large windows, private bathrooms, and plenty of storage space. An elegant dining room features marble table tops, with configurations from two to 10 guests for private or group dining. Lunch is generally served al fresco on a spacious sundeck, which is equipped with day beds, chaises lounges, tables, hammocks, a four-person Jacuzzi, outdoor shower and a wet bar. An intimate indoor bar is always open for hand-crafted cocktails, wine, beer, sodas, juices, coffee, and tea. Interior social areas include a comfortable lounge for evening gatherings and general relaxation, and a cozy library stocked with books on the Galapagos and Darwin. A public computer is provided for guest use. The Origin & Theory also have a boutique offering high-quality local handicrafts, sundries, and gift items, as well as a fitness center equipped with a treadmill, elliptical, free weights, yoga mats, and more. The experienced 14-member Ecuadorian crew includes a high-level captain, a full-time concierge, and two expert naturalist guides – one for every 10 guests, the lowest ratio in the Galapagos.

Technical Specifications
Type: Luxury class motor yacht
Year Built: 2016 specifically for Galapagos cruising
Capacity: 20 exclusive guests in ten double/twin cabins
Crew: 14 including Captain and two naturalist guides
Cruising Speed: 12 knots
Length: 142 feet / 43.5 meters
Beam: 27.5 feet / 8.5 meters
Certification: Passenger Ship Safety & Management Certificates (SOLAS)
Registry: Ecuador

Luxurious Northern Galapagos
Route B
Year Round 2020 – 2021

Rates:

COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE SATURDAY/MONDAY FOR 10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS PER PERSON:
These rates include 4 private transfers and 2 hotel overnights in Guayaquil as indicated in Itinerary.

2020 Rates
– Beagle Deck Cabin: $8390 in Double / $8190 in Triple / $15,015 in Single*

CRUISE ONLY SUNDAY/SUNDAY FOR 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS PER PERSON:
These rates do NOT include private transfers or hotel overnights in Guayaquil as indicated in Itinerary.

2020 Rates
– Beagle Deck Cabin: $8050 in Double / $7850 in Triple / $14,500 in Single*

2021 Rates
– Beagle Deck Cabin: $8450 in Double / $8250 in Triple / $15,250 in Single*

*Single cabins are limited. Solo travelers are confirmed at the single rate. Those willing to share are not confirmed the double occupancy rate until matched with another solo traveler willing to share.

COMBO SAVINGS:
– Combine this northern “B” itinerary with a southern “A” itinerary and receive a 5% savings on both consecutive back-to-back itineraries! Please see our Luxurious Southern Galapagos program for itinerary details.

Available on select seasonal departures only.

GALAPAGOS PARK ENTRANCE FEE & MIGRATION CONTROL TRANSIT CARD PER PERSON:
The following government required taxes and fees are NOT included in any of the comprehensive package or cruise only rates above. Expedition Easy will add these to your invoice so that they will be prepaid for you upon arrival.
– Galapagos Entrance Fee: $100 for adults and $50 for children age 11 and younger
– Migration control Transit Card: $20 for each visitor to the Galapagos
The above costs are subject to change at any time until day of departure.
All rates are approximate until time of booking. Rates are quoted in USD and subject to change without prior notice due to circumstances beyond our control (ie fuel increases, currency fluctuations, etc).

Flights

International flights in and out of Guayaquil (GYE) are required and not included. Expedition Easy can book these flights for you upon request.
Domestic scheduled flights between Guayaquil (GYE) on mainland Ecuador and San Cristobal (SCY) in the Galapagos are also required and not included. Expedition Easy will book these flights for you and add them to your invoice as follows.

GUAYAQUIL (GYE)/SAN CRISTOBAL (SCY)/GUAYAQUIL (GYE) FLIGHTS PER PERSON:
January 1 to June 30 & September 1 to December 31 (Low Season)
– $443 for adults and $275 for children age 11 and younger

July 1 to August 31 (High Season)
– $488 for adults and $298 for children age 11 and younger

Above airfares include all airport taxes and airfare fuel surcharges. Airfares are subject to change at any time up until the day of departure and even after tickets have been paid in full.

Included:

Comprehensive Package:
– 4 Private airport transfers to/from hotel in Guayaquil
– 2 Overnights with breakfasts at Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil
– 2 Group airport transfers to/from yacht in the Galapagos
– 7 Overnight cruise accommodations in the Galapagos
– All meals, snacks, bottled water & non-alcoholic beverages during cruise
– Captain’s welcome and farewell cocktails during cruise
– Complimentary house wine and local beer served at dinners during cruise
– Guided shore excursions in the Galapagos
– Wet suits, snorkel equipment, sea kayaks and stand up paddle boards in the Galapagos

Cruise Only:
– 2 Group airport transfers to/from yacht in the Galapagos
– 7 Overnight cruise accommodations in the Galapagos
– All meals, snacks, bottled water & non-alcoholic beverages during cruise
– Captain’s welcome and farewell cocktails during cruise
– Complimentary house wine and local beer served at dinners during cruise
– Guided shore excursions in the Galapagos
– Wet suits, snorkel equipment, sea kayaks and stand up paddle boards in the Galapagos

Not Included:

Comprehensive Package:
– International, Regional & Domestic air (see Guayaquil/Galapagos/Guayaquil Flights under Rates)
– Galapagos National Park entrance fee (see Galapagos Park entrance fee under Rates)
– Transit control card (see Transit Control Card under Rates)
– Alcoholic beverages
– All gratuities and tipping
– All destination arrival and departure taxes
– Travel and health insurance
– Passport and visa fees
– Travel medications and vaccinations
– Personal items and services such as souvenirs, drinks, laundry, phone calls, etc
– All other items not indicated as included or in the itinerary

Cruise Only:
– Airport transfers to/from hotel in Guayaquil as indicated in Itinerary
– Hotel overnights with breakfasts in Guayaquil as indicated in Itinerary
– International, Regional & Domestic air (see Guayaquil/Galapagos/Guayaquil Flights under Rates)
– Galapagos National Park entrance fee (see Galapagos Park entrance fee under Rates)
– Transit control card (see Transit Control Card under Rates)
– Alcoholic beverages
– All gratuities and tipping
– All destination arrival and departure taxes
– Travel and health insurance
– Passport and visa fees
– Travel medications and vaccinations
– Personal items and services such as souvenirs, drinks, laundry, phone calls, etc
– All other items not indicated as included or in the itinerary

Deposit & Payments

This itinerary is subject to the availability of all services at the time of making a reservation. No space is being held at this time. Please contact Expedition Easy for the full terms and conditions that apply. We are happy to answer questions and discuss your trip.

Reservations

To reserve space on a trip on the Expedition Easy website, please contact Expedition Easy by telephone at 1-800-617-2319 or e-mail [email protected].