Galapagos Explorer II na 9 dní/8 nocí 

Ekoturistika: Galapágy

Balíček Galapagos Explorer II na 9 dní/8 nocí

Cena : 99 990 Kč na osobu

Cena zahrnuje:

zpáteční letenku
letištní poplatky
ubytování v dvoulůžkovém pokoji typu Classic Suite na lodi Galapagos Explorer II
ubytování v dvoulůžkovém pokoji v hotelu Hilton v Quito
plnou penzi na lodi
na Galapágách všechny výlety po moři i na souši
povinné pojištění CK

Cena nezahrnuje:

pojištění léčebných výloh s připojištěním proti stornu zájezdu (možné za příplatek 1.890 Kč/osoba)
100 USD vstupné do NP Galapágy
taxi z/na letiště v Quito (cca 20 USD)

Itinerář cesty:

Čt: odlet odpoledne
Pá: ráno přílet do Quito
So-St: program na Galapágách
Čt: ráno odlet z Quito do Prahy
Pa: ráno přílet do Prahy

Loď Galapagos Explorer II

Nejbezpečnější a nejmodernější loď, která má povolení výletních plaveb v oblasti Galapách. Maximální počet pasažérů na lodi je sto. Loď je klimatizovaná a nabízí 50 pokojů typu suite, každý vybavený TV, lednici s minibarem WC a sprchou. Loď není jen moderním plavidlem, ale operuje jako základna pro ekoturistické výlety umožňující poznat maximum o přírodě Galapág. Na lodi je několik vyškolených přírodovědců, kteří tu pracují jako profesionální průvodci. Před den doprovází pasažéry rozdělené do malých skupin na exkurze po jednotlivých ostrovech a večer a při přesunech lodí podávají zajímavý výklad o pozoruhodnostech souostroví Galapág.

Itinerář vlastního programu na Galapágách: 5 dní/4 nocí (od soboty do soboty)

Saturday: Arrive on Baltra Island – Visit on Santa Cruz Island

Fly to the Galapagos to begin the cruise, arriving on Baltra Island, a small Island located in the central part of the archipelago. During the II World War this Island was an important military base of the US Army. Now it is a military base of the Ecuadorian Army where only live some of its members and some representatives of the Galapagos National Park.

After a 15 minutes bus ride from the airport to the Baltra pier and a zodiac ride, you’ll board the ship and settle into your cabin. Your seagoing home is the M/V Galapagos Explorer II, a 293-foot, first-class ocean-going cruise ship that carries 100 passengers. Comfortable cabins feature air-conditioning, private bathrooms and a small sitting area. Experienced naturalists lead shore expeditions to seek out wildlife and help you to learn about the fascinating natural history of these volcanic islands. When you’re not exploring, you and your children can enjoy the ship’s jacuzzi, solarium and reading room without experiencing the motion of a smaller vessel.

On your first day in Galapagos you'll visit a bay located at the northwest site of the Santa Cruz Island, known as Dragon Hill since long time ago because of the important colonies of land iguanas that lived in this area.

During almost all the year, you can see flamingos in marshland lakes as some migratory birds. You will also have the opportunity to see Darwin Finchs, hood mockinbird, lava lizards. This area has an arid vegetation where you can find some oppuntia cactus, palo santo (bursera) and some other endemic plants.

This place has a wonderful landscape as you can see the Rabida Island at the west and Santa Cruz Island at the East. In the beach zone you can see some endemic coast plants and also some marine iguanas, sea lions, American oystercatchers, pelicans and a small blue-footed bobbies colony.

The visit has a wet landing and a 2 km flat trail (2 hours hiking), we suggest comfortable walking shoes, walking sticks (if it is necessary) and binoculars for birdwatching at the marshland lakes.

Sunday: Bartolome Island & James (Santiago) Island, Wildlife viewing, hiking, swimming, snorkeling

Morning: Bartolome Island

The first destination is Bartolome, an island of varied volcanic formations with a 350-foot summit and a fabulous 360º view. Depending upon the weather, you may be able to spot five other islands, one of the most spectacular views of the archipelago. You’ll make a wet landing in a cove to see a small colony of Galapagos penguins - the only penguins north of the equator. Sea lions are also found here. Behind the beach can be found red and white mangroves, salt bush, morning glory and prickly pear cactuses.

Afternoon: Puerto Egas, James (Santiago) Island

This afternoon you’ll visit Puerto Egas on James (Santiago) Island. The landing is on a black beach with eroded rock formations in the background. The trail crosses the dry interior, where the remains of a salt-mining enterprise can still be seen and then continues along the coast. Intertidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms. Land iguanas are scattered around feeding on exposed algae while Oyster Catchers try to capture Sally Lightfoot Crabs. The trail then leads to the Fur Seal Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where Fur Seals can be seen. Puerto Egas is a good spot for taking pictures.

Monday: Fernandina Island & Isabela Island

Wildlife viewing, hiking, swimming, snorkeling

Morning: Fernandina Island

On the youngest and westernmost island in Galapagos, you’ll land at Punta Espinoza, a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unusual Galapagos species can be seen. While the panga driver skillfully eludes the reef to reach the landing site near a small mangrove forest, look for penguins diving off the rocks into the water. Sally Lightfoot Crabs disperse on the lava near the shore and herons, sandpipers and wimbrels explore the mangrove roots. Marine iguanas congregate in larger groups here than on any other island. They are everywhere: basking in the sand, swimming near the shore, grazing on the exposed seaweed in the lava and blocking the way at the landing dock. This is one of the few places where there is the opportunity, if the water is clear, of watching them feed underwater while snorkeling.

Following a trail inland, two different types of lava flows can be seen and compared. At the tip of one of the small peninsulas, Flightless Cormorants are found. Without predators on the island, these serpent-necked birds adapted for swimming and not for flight, another example of evolution at work in “nature’s laboratory.”

Afternoon: Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island

Largest of the Galapagos islands, Isabela is composed of six shield volcanoes merged into a single land mass. Wolf Volcano on Isabela is also the highest point in the archipelago. The Galapagos Explorer II is one of only a few faster, better-equipped boats able to make the long journey from the central islands to the visitor sites on the western side of Isabela. The trip is more than worthwhile, however, for the unique species that occur only in this part of the archipelago, and because the landscape, with massive volcanoes silhouetted against the sky, offers a striking contrast to the lower-lying islands of the east.

Located on the north-western tip of Isabela island, the visit of Pta Vicente Roca is completely by dingy.The dingys are launched on a coastal dingy-ride that skirts 400-500-feet cliff sides. Blue-footed boobies, masked boobies & pelicans can be seen here. Also, very many sea-turtles feed along this shoreline. Reaching a rocky pile of large basalt, there are colonies of fur-seals & marine iguanas in groups, basking in the sun. Sea lions are also present. Continuing along the sheer cliffs, the dingy now, approach a secluded cove where, at it's end, dark and yellow rock are superposed. Now we are close to the large cave that allows for snorkeling or sight seeing. Snorkeling at the cave produces a great variety of marine life, specially marine invertebrates. One starts at the intersection between the dark and yellow rock and swims all the way around the small point into the cave, all the way into the cave & then out of the cave until the next point.

The water is often murky and very cold as it is called the Galapagos Ice-box . Therefore, one must snorkel very close to the rock in order to see anything but it may produce some of the most exiting snorkeling in Galapagos. Manta rays, sea turtles, sea-lions, sting-rays, many fish, even dolphins & sunfish have been seen and snorkeled with in this bay. Along the cave there are Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked boobies, brown noddy 's, blue footed boobies and a breathtaking scenery unparalelled.

Tuesday: Seymur Norte, Santa Cruz

Wildlife viewing, hiking, swimming, snorkeling.

Morning: North Seymour

A small flat island. Rocks then a long sandy stretch where sea lions and marine iguanas hang out next to a surf wave. The interior has a Palo Santo small Opuntia cactus forest with Bluefooted boobies and magnificent Frigate bird colonies. An hour and a half visit. Dry landing.

Afternoon: Highlands & Lava Tunnels

You and your family will board a bus for a 45-minute ride through changing vegetation zones to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Here, about 40 giant tortoises live in the wild. By approaching quietly, you can find and observe a turtle on your own. You also hike to tunnels made by cooling lava.

Wednesday, San Cristobal Island/Guayaquil - Quito

Considering the changes in the flight schedules, weather conditions and National Park Regulations, we have included several alternatives to the visits offered to our passengers the last day of the cruise program, some of the options are detailed below:

La Loberia: Sea lion colony, marine iguanas, warbler, finches, blue-footed boobies.
Isla Lobos: Situated less than an hour's ride from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Lobos Islet is a seasonal nesting location for the Blue-footed Booby. Snorkeling.
El Junco Lake: Fresh water lake and water reservoir located at 700m, great views, Miconias, ferns, sedges, clubmoss, tree ferns, white-cheeked pintails, common gallinules.
Interpretation Center: Donated by the Spanish Government in 1998, this state of the art facility offers both tourist and the inhabitants a complete education on the Islands. Your visit to the Archipelago is taken to a new level, since its inauguration.

Afternoon: Return flight to Quito

What to bring

Bags/Totes

One small daypack (larger backpack available in each cabin)

Clothing

Casual attire for dining
Long-sleeved cotton shirts and T-shirts
Fast drying slacks
Shorts
Wind-breaker
Sweater for cooler months
Hat with a brim
Bathing suits

Equipment

Sunglasses with a strap
Extra eye glasses / contact lenses
Sun block lotion (at least protection 15)
Insect repellent (Mosquitoes are NOT malaria carrying)
Wetsuit (Just for serious snorkeling. Not needed from December through June)
Grooming kit
Personal medication
Self-sealing plastic bags for electronic equipment
Small notebook and pencil
Sewing kit
Camera and binoculars
Camera gear
Binoculars

Footgear

Walking shoes
Thongs or sandals