Itinerary Expand allGuayaquil to Guayaquil Day 1 Arrive GuayaquilWelcome to Ecuador! Today is an arrival day into the port city of Guayaquil, often known as the gateway to the Galapagos Islands. On arrival, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to the Hotel Oro Verde, a premium hotel with a contemporary design in the heart of the city. Arrival transfers are included for everyone, regardless of which flight you arrive on today.Premium accommodation: Hotel Oro Verde (5*) Day 2 Fly Guayaquil to San Cristobal; Visit Cerro Brujo & Kicker RockFly 600 miles across the Pacific Ocean to San Cristobal Airport on the Galapagos Islands. After passing through the Galapagos National Park Inspection, your guide will greet you and accompany your onward journey by bus and Zodiac to board the Evolution yacht. The crew will be waiting to welcome you on board, and help you get settled into your cabin and familiar with the boat. There will be a safety briefing and chance to get to know your fellow travellers and guides, before we navigate past Kicker Rock, or Leon Dormido - sleeping lion. Our landing is at Cerro Brujo, on the powdery white beach where we have our first walk and an opportunity to snorkel with Sea lions. As the sun sets on your first day, we get together on deck to toast the voyage with a welcome cocktail. Premium accommodation: The Evolution Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 South Plaza IslandAt only 426 feet wide, South Plaza is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, yet also one of the richest with lush and diverse flora. On this mornings landing we'll likely encounter Yellow land iguanas on a walk to a grove of prickly-pear cactus. Our trail takes us up towards cliffs that look out across the turquoise waters. This is a wonderfully colourful island, with a ground cover of red sesuvium, luminescent cacti and bright flashes of Sally Lightfoot crabs against the black lava rocks.In the afternoon, we visit Mosquera Island which has a long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks and tide pools. Non-hikers can enjoy a Zodiac ride, watching for Swallow-tailed gulls, Red-billed tropicbirds and Blue-footed boobies. Others can stroll or snorkel.Premium accommodation: The Evolution Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Sombrero Chino Island & Santiago IslandThe tiny uplifted island of Sombrero Chino – or Chinese Hat – features a primeval landscape of volcanic rubble and lava tubes. Due to its inaccessability to larger ships, it is one of the least visited islands. There are a few adjacent craters and old, fragile pahoehoe lava flows to be discovered on this mornings nature trail. Vegetation is just starting to take hold, including colourful carpetweed plants. Activities this morning include a walk, Zodiac ride and swim.This afternoon, search the tide pools of Puerto Egas (James Bay) for sea life. During low tide, we may see Marine iguanas feeding on algae. Our naturalists will point out the birdlife, including Great blue herons, Lava herons, oystercatchers and Yellow-crowned night herons. There is a great spot here to observe fur sea lions as they laze on rocks by the grottos. Snorkelling can be accessed from the shore rather than by dinghy, with opportunities at the right time of year for Golden rays and Spotted Eagle rays to glide by.Premium accommodation: The Evolution Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Genovesa IslandGenovesa is often referred to as “Bird Island” for the vast numbers of pelagic seabirds that come here to nest. And while Genovesa harbours one of the Galapagos’ largest and most diverse bird populations, there are no land reptiles — with the exception of some very small Marine iguanas. This is due to the direction of the ocean currents, which couldn’t carry the terrestrial animals here. Climb Prince Philip’s Steps to an area with colonies of Red-footed boobies. Watch for Short-eared owls which feed on the petrals that fly about. Explore Darwin Bay, home to the rare Lava gull. While anchored at Genovesa, enjoy an opportunity to swim, kayak and snorkel in the calm caldera of this partially eroded volcano. In the deep water, Hammerhead sharks or large Manta rays may pass by below! There are other more sheltered snorkelling spots to choose from as well. Premium accommodation: The Evolution Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 North Seymour Island & Santa Fe IslandNorth Seymour is absolutely teeming with life! Here we'll observe the nesting site for a large population of Magnificent frigatebirds and the only place where we can always find males showing their red pouches to attract females. We are also sure to see Blue-footed boobies perform their comical courtship dance in the open areas. Our snorkelling site gives many opportunities to see rays: Marble rays, Golden Eagle rays, Spotted Eagle rays, Sting rays and even Manta rays have all been spotted here. Large shools of fish will likely pass by, or maybe a white-tipped reef sharks.In the afternoon we'll arrive at Santa Fe, with its sheltered cove and large sea lion colony where bulls contend for the right to be 'beach master'. Kayaking and snorkelling can be done from the beach.Premium accommodation: The Evolution Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Floreana Island Florena's colourful history includes pirates, whalers and convicts. This morning we'll hike to Post Office Bay, used by navigators to send mail with homebound messengers. The tradition continues to this day and you can join in and try it for yourself! Swim and kayak in the bay before a walk along the olivine beaches of Punta Cormorant. After hiking to a flamingo lagoon, spot fish and sea turtles during a relaxing stroll along the beach. Enjoy superb snorkelling at Devil’s Crown, where sea water has filled the sunken cone of an extinct volcano.Premium accommodation: The Evolution Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Santa Cruz IslandThis morning we'll visit Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, a small port town with restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and other faciltiies. This area is also the home of the Charles Darwin Research Station. After breakfast on board the Evolution, we'll visit the Giant Tortoise breeding programme to learn about the vital work being done. Since 1970, more than 2,000 tortoises have been hatched, raised and released from the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center at the Charles Darwin Research Station, which was founded in 1959 and was once the home of Lonesome George. Today we'll also visit the Wild Tortoise Reserve in the forested highlands of Santa Cruz to see and photograph Giant tortoises in a natural setting. Later enjoy some free time in Puerto Ayora before returning to the Evolution. Premium accommodation: The Evolution Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Black Turtle Cove & fly to Guayaquil Located on the northern shore of Santa Cruz, Black Turtle Cove has a rich habitat of mangroves. Enjoy a Zodiac ride in this area, drifting silently through the mangroves. After this early morning excursion, we'll disembark the Evolution and head to Baltra Airport. From Baltra fly to Guayaquil, where it's possible to connect with international flights later this evening. If organising your own flights, we would recommend speaking to your sales consultant about post-tour accommodation in Guayaquil so that you can fly home the following day and avoid any tight connections. Meals included: Breakfast
EcuadorBritish passport holders do not need a visa for Ecuador. Very few other nationalities need a visa for Ecuador, but if you are in any doubt you should contact the nearest Ecuadorian Embassy.
EcuadorThere are no mandatory vaccination requirements, however, if you have travelled to a country at risk of Yellow Fever prior to arriving in Ecuador you will be required to have a valid Yellow Fever Certificate with you. Recommended vaccinations are: Typhoid and Hepatitis A.If you will spend any time in the Amazon Rainforest we recommend a Yellow Fever vaccination. Please note that your certificate of vaccination may be inspected on arrival to this region.Malaria is also a risk in some areas of the country (including the Amazon Rainforest) so we suggest you consult a doctor for more advice. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. PLEASE NOTE: All visitors to Ecuador will be required to show valid medical insurance on arrival and cannot enter the country without it.
The Evolution Fantastic accommodation awaits you on this Premium Adventure!Oro Verde Guayaquil: Enjoy a stay at the premium 5* Oro Verde in GuayaquilRelax in your spacious room with contemporary, fresh design and modern bathrooms featuring rain showersLocated in the heart of Guayaquil, this premium accommodation is the perfect base for exploring local attractions Unwind in the outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and bar and sample local cuisine at one of the four restaurants M/V Evolution:Our highlight accommodation and our base for the entire week we are in the Galapagos is the classically styled M/V Evolution.This yacht was built to allow its guests to experience the islands in comfort, with elegance and distinction.The interior has been perfectly designed, is fully air-conditioned and offers cabins of four categories on three decks.All cabins have ample storage space, a writing desk, bedside tables and private facilities. The Evolution's cabins are the largest on average in the Galapagos and act as the perfect haven to rest between your excursions. The Evolution has more outside space than any other yacht in its class with 360-degree exterior walkarounds.While the Evolution may carry a group of just 32 guests, she is generous in size with a host of amenities. From relaxing on the sun deck to reading in the lounge, you're sure to relish the friendly ambience. Enjoy briefings by your naturalist guides in the comfortable lounge or spend time with a snack and your fellow passengers at the canopied bar - a superb place for watching the sun set over the Pacific. After excursions, relax in the hot tub or find a comfortable deck chair to soak in the views. Because there is an "open bridge" policy aboard the Evolution, you are welcome to visit the captain and crew and learn all about the ship’s operation and navigation. A convenient boarding platform makes it easy and safe to board our excursion boats.CabinsAll cabins feature private bathrooms with hair dryers and toiletries, climate controls, writing desk and safe-boxes, plus ample storage space. During every excursion, stewards will service your cabin. There are four cabin categories; Deluxe Stateroom (cabins D1 to D4): 19.2 sq.m with ocean-view portholes, two twin beds, one queen bed or one king bed. Premium Stateroom (cabins C1 to C9): Between15.3 sq.m and 19.2 sq.m with ocean-view portholes, two twin beds or one queen bed. Suites (cabins A2 and A3): 19.2 sq.m with large ocean-view windows and a queen bed or two twin beds. Master Suite (cabin A1): 24.4 sq.m with seating area, large ocean-view windows on both sides and a king bed. The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance, however we may need to make changes to a property of a similar or higher standard after you have booked. While we will endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.
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