Photo: Frances Cleveland Cruising the Galapagos Islands Itinerary B, Ecuador Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 10505A Price: Deposit: $200 Capacity: 15 Leader: Vivian Spielbichler
The Trip  Photo: Frances Cleveland Imagine cruising on a comfortable cozy 16-passenger motor yacht. From the sun deck, observe the sere landscape of this volcanic archipelago with its interesting geologic features. Watch blue-footed boobies diving for fish. From the sun deck, almost touch frigate birds soaring just inches away. Anchor in sheltered coves and board small inflatable boats for daily walks on different islands with our naturalist guide. We'll also snorkel with tropical fish, sea lions, sea turtles, rays, and penguins. We'll walk right through bird rookeries Nazca boobies sitting on eggs or tending babies, protecting them from the Galapagos hawk hunting overhead! We'll observe the parting ritual of the albatross as it prepares to leave for its life at sea, and watch the vegetarian marine iguana, the only known sea-feeding lizard on earth. We will also have the chance to photograph the Galapagos tortoise, which can grow to six feet in length, weigh in at 600 pounds, and live for 150 years. The Galapagos Islands are one of
the world’s foremost wildlife preserves. A full 50 percent of the species
are not found anywhere else on earth. Providing us with unique and amazing
experiences, the animals, due to their isolation from natural predators,
do not fear human
beings and are very approachable. This process was created by the very process
of evolution that fist stirred Charles Darwin in 1835. Darwin, of course,
was the archipelago's most famous visitor. Leaving England in 1831 as shipboard
naturalist on the HMS Beagle, he made extensive collections
of plants and animals and observations of their natural history. This gave
him sufficient material to support more than a quarter century of research.
When
he published The Origin of Species, it shook the foundations of biological
thought and led to profound changes in man's philosophy of nature. We will
visit the
Darwin Research Center.  Photo: Frances Cleveland During our stopovers, we island-hoppers will have opportunities to do mild
to moderate hikes to surreal lava flows and vista points, walk through a lava
tube, watch migrating giant tortoises, explore tidal pools, snorkel, go birding,
or hang out at the beach. On the mainland, we will visit the Guayaquil coastal
area, explore colonial Quito in the highlands, stand exactly on the equator,
and enjoy a cloud forest natural preserve with interesting plant communities
and exotic birds, especially hummingbirds. We will also experience a very unusual
and different celebration of the New Year.
The following itinerary is an example, since our activities in the cities and the actual route of our yacht may vary.  Photo: Frances Cleveland Day 1: Arrive in Guayaquil, the major port of Ecuador. You will be met upon your flight's arrival and transferred to the hotel. The first night’s stay is included in the trip price. Day 2: Our trip really begins this morning with breakfast and our trip orientation meeting. Today, we may, do a bit of hiking in Cerro Blanco, an ecological preserve, or visit the Historical Park, explore Guayaquil and other points of interest then return to our hotel to relax and enjoy a welcome dinner. Day 3: On to the Galapagos islands! Probably the most dreamt about destination! After our flight from Guayaquil to Isla Baltra, we will board our motor yacht for the duration of our tour on these fascinating islands. Our lodgings, while we cruise the islands, are double staterooms with private facilities.  Photo: Frances Cleveland Days 4-9: We will visit the major islands of Bartholome, Floreana, Santa Cruz, Espanola, North Seymour and cross the Equator to Genovesa. Our local naturalist guide will show us the wildlife, explain the history and geology of the area, and lead us to the better snorkeling and hiking spots during our stops on the islands. We will feast on healthy meals prepared by the dedicated staff on board our yacht. On Santa Cruz, we will visit the Darwin Research Center and take a bus to the Highlands to view migrating tortoises in the wild. Day 10: We leave our island paradise by plane and head back to the capitol city of Ecuador, Quito. Ecuador is famous for its lovely woolens, handicrafts and works of leather so shoppers can spend quality time exploring the different shops. Day 11: We will travel by private bus to lovely Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, north of Quito on the Pan-American Highway. In the forest, we will hike in a jungle environment and view a profusion of epiphytes and fascinating plant families as well as many species of exotic birds, including many varieties of hummingbirds. In the afternoon and evening, we will participate in Ecuador’s very unique New Year’s celebration.  Photo: Frances Cleveland Day 12: We will tour colonial Quito, A World Heritage Site. Then we'll head about 14 miles north of the city to stand exactly on the equator and visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the Equatorial Monument. Then we’ll return to Quito for the evening, and enjoy our farewell dinner together in one of Quito’s fine restaurants. Day 13: You will be transported to the Quito Airport and it will be time to say good-bye to this lovely country for now. Getting There  Photo: Frances Cleveland The flight to and from the Galapagos Islands is included in the trip price. Tickets for this flight will be issued to you at the airport when you leave for the islands. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the starting date of this trip. If you don't have a passport, apply for one as soon as possible. This is done through your local post office. No immunizations are required unless you visit lowland jungle areas.
 Photo: Frances Cleveland This is a moderate trip and can be undertaken by anyone in good health and physical condition. Hikes will be limited to a few miles. Overall elevation gains and losses will be minimal, though some trails are steep in spots. Some species will require short hikes to view them. The elevation at Quito is 9,400 feet. The minimum age for this trip is 12. Occasionally, changes may occur in the trip—either in advance or during the trip. Please be aware that we will make every attempt to stay within this schedule. However, if weather, equipment, or any other condition causes a change in itinerary, please be flexible and respect the decision of the leader. The safety of the group is our number one concern. While wildlife on the Galapagos Islands is tremendous, we cannot guarantee that you will see all species listed as examples.
Consult your physician for recommended immunizations. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the starting date of this trip. If you don't have a passport, apply for one as soon as possible. This can be done through your local post office.
Conservation Conservation problems exist even though the Galapagos National Park is protected and monitored by the Ecuadorian government. Buccaneers captured tens of thousands of tortoises for fresh meat on their voyages bringing the population to the edge of extinction. Fur seals were exploited and nearly driven to extinction as well. Fishermen vie for reduced marine harvests and seek short-term profits in the taking of endangered species or over-fishing. Currently, a very serious problem is the fishing of sharks for the ever popular shark fin soup in the Orient. The Galapagos has an unfortunate legacy of introduced animals and plants detrimental to the native creatures. Goats compete with native tortoises and iguanas, making food less available and destroying native vegetation. Predators, such as dogs and cats have seriously depleted native populations by killing native animals and raiding the nests of the birds, iguanas, and tortoises. Introduced plants have spread, particularly in the moist highlands, and compete with native vegetation. We will be able to observe this on our trip to the Highland. People have hunted large numbers of animals in the past and have cleared great areas of native vegetation for agriculture and ranching purposes. We will visit the Darwin Research Center and observe how the conservation personnel have been actively trying to boost the threatened populations of endangered species. Tortoise nests are protected, and eggs and young are brought to Santa Cruz to be raised in captivity, followed by repatriation once they are no longer susceptible to predation.
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner. The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.
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