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The
Galapagos Islands
March 17-27, 2009
Group Leader - Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
The Galapagos are a group of islands
located off the coast of Ecuador on the north end of South America, near
the equator. They are the home of many unique species of wildlife, some found
only there. From a photography point of view, the islands are perfect. The
animals have never been hunted so have no fear of man. Often, they will walk
right up to you. Sometimes you must watch where you step to avoid stepping on
some form of wildlife. The islands are like no other location on earth with the
opportunities they provide for viewing and photographing these rare species of
wildlife. The tropical landscapes are also very different from other places tha
you have visited. A trip is like traveling to another world. Come explore this
unique, one of a kind location!
Unequivocally, the most exciting wildlife preserve in the world, due to the
universal tameness of the animals. It is a virtual Garden of Eden and it is a
living laboratory of evolution. It is the Mecca for lovers of nature, but even
with a casual interest you will be drawn into the naturalist world and thrill at
the fascination of the unique flora and fauna. Frigate birds blowing up their
chest, salt snorting marine iguanas, woodpecker finches ferreting out grubs are
a few of the sights among 32 species of endemic birds, five reptiles, and four
endemic mammals. A few of the outstanding animals you will be watching include
marine and land iguanas, giant land tortoises left from the age of reptiles, sea
lions and fur seals, flightless cormorants, penguins on the equator, flamingos,
tropic birds, two species of frigate birds, three species of boobies and a
confusing array of Darwin's finches. The underwater life is also a highlight of
the trip.
l ©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
You will be cruising and living aboard the motor yacht Floreana. Each cabin has a private
bath with shower.
Floreana
TYPE:
Motor Yacht
L.O.A: 78 Feet / 26 meters
Beam: 17 feet / 5 meters
Safety: SOLAS requirements
Accommodations: 16 passengers in 8 double cabins with
private bath rooms and hot water
Crew: 6 plus 1 Naturalist guide
Motor: Detroit Diesel – 240 HP
Generator: 2 – Isuzu, 40 KW
Velocity: 10 knots
Facilities: Individual air conditioned cabins
Phone – Fax
Bar service
Snorkel Service
I n
the Galapagos, each bird, each animal stands out like a sentinel. It is the
tameness and uniqueness that catches your attention and the behaviors and antics
that holds it. Who can resist the antics of blue footed boobies displaying their
prized blue feet?
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
Activities
You will be cruising in a comfortable motor yacht, intimately exploring
numerous shore areas, hiking, walking, beach combing, tide pooling, snorkeling,
botanizing, bird watching, swimming, snorkeling and whale watching. Many of you
will be photographing and the trip and itinerary is especially suitable for the
photographer. The photographic opportunities are simply outstanding. An
experienced local naturalist will accompany you.
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
Itinerary
Our itinerary is designed to give you the maximum experience of the Galapagos
in the time available. It has been very carefully thought about and worked out
over the years. Yet, it will be purposely flexible to allow us to take advantage
of the unexpected opportunities, seasonal highlights, and special events. Each
day will be on a different island or different part of one of the larger
islands. Many days we will make two or more stops, returning to our floating
home for lunch.
Day 1 March 17. Arrive Quito, Ecuador. Transfer to hotel and
overnight
Day 2 March 18. Meet for Breakfast & City Tour.
Quito is a high elevation city located on the equator. We will have a guide to
take us to the best locations in the city.
Day 3 March 19. Early departure to airport to join
boat. Airline ticket for Galapagos (Quito-Baltra-Quito) is approximately
$400 and is included in the fee.
On departing from Quito, you will take a
three hour flight to the Galapagos Islands landing on the Island of Baltra.
Here you will be met by your guide and after a short bus ride you will board the
yacht Floreana. BALTRA AIRPORT /NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND North Seymour’s topography
is flat and strewn with boulders due to its origins as an uplifted, not
volcanic, island. You should expect to see large populations of magnificent
Frigate birds due to the idea nesting sites, Blue- footed boobies perform their
courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the
outer shore. Sea lions and Marine iguanas can also be seen hauled out on the
beach.
Day 4 March 20.
DRAGON HILL/WHALE BAY: DRAGON HILL: On
entering the trail you pass a stunning lagoon which is often frequented by
flamingos. As expected the trail leads up a hill where land iguanas can be
found and wonderful sea scapes. WHALE BAY: On the cost of Santa Cruz Island,
this is a semicircle beach, which is green in color, due to a high volume of
olivine crystals. It extends 25 meters from the base of the hill. The beach
has some historical interest as it was the first trail to the highlands used to
search for fresh water. There are a number of pieces of ceramics strewn about,
although no verified information exists concerning the origins of the ceramic.
Here can be found a curious Galapagos Hawk.
Day 5 March 21.
CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION: Founded
more than Twenty years ago to assist the National Park Service in its efforts to
save Galapagos wildlife, the station plays an important part in monitoring and
assessing the state of the islands. Today you will find buildings housing the
different scientific areas of the station, a library and homes of scientists and
tortoise keepers. The museum at the station has a facility for rearing
tortoises, a project to increase the depleted population. Also the world
famous lonesome George can be found with in the stations breading program.
EL CHATO: An amazing opportunity to see the magnificent giant land tortoise in
its natural habitat, having just seen the tortoise in the breading program in
the station, you can now see them bathing and eating in the wild (depending on
the season). This area is vegetated with transition zone vegetation and is
located in the humid zone of the highlands of Santa Cruz. The walk to the
reserve is one of the best places to observe ground birds, tree and ground
finches, the vermillion flycatcher, cattle egrets and occasionally Galapagos
rails.
Day 6 March 22.
FLOREANA ISLAND: As one of the oldest
islands, Floreana has the most interesting human history. It has stories of
marooned whales, prisoners and colonists as well as bizarre disappearances and
even murders! It is made up of numerous extinct volcanic cones and has an
established extensive scrubby vegetation. Morning visit: Post Office Bay,
significant for its human history. In 1793, James Colnett, the captain of a
whaling vessel, established the wooden post barrel on Floreana. Whaling ships,
typically offshore for two years at a time, frequented the archipelago Outbound
ships would drop off letters after rounding the cape and the ships returning
home would mail them. Over the years, thousand of ships have stopped to send and
receive mail at Post Office Bay. This will be your opportunity to partake in
this amazing postal service. You will be given letters to take home and mail to
their intended recipients, and also have the opportunity to drop off letters
ourselves. Afternoon visit: Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting
beaches. The landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine
crystals, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a
carbonate beach of extremely fine white sand, formed by the erosion of coral
skeletons, it is a nesting site for green sea turtles.
Day 7 March 23.
ESPAŃOLA ISLAND: Espańola, the
southernmost island, has the densest and most diversified concentration of
wildlife. Punta Suarez is home to Blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies,
swallow-tailed gulls, oystercatchers and the majestic waved albatross breeding
grounds. This makes this site one of the richest wildlife locations in the
Galapagos Islands. The area is famous for it marine iguanas with unique
copper-red patches, Gardner bay, An amazing white sand beach with stunning
turquoise shallows beautiful to walk, swim or snorkel. You could just sit and
admire the extrovert mockingbirds and the sea lions.
Day 8 March 24. SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND:
LOBOS ISLAND, as its name suggests is famous for its population of sea lions and
fur sea lions. You will also encounter a nesting ground for the great frigate
bird and a small number of blue footed boobies BREEDING CENTER; here it is
explained, in a simple manner, the natural phenomena that created the Galapagos
Islands. They explain the series of natural processes, such as volcanic eruption
and marine current locations that have lead to the amazing islands that you are
now visiting.
Day 9 March 25. SANTA FE ISLAND: This
Island offers the unique opportunity to see the hybrid iguana, a land and marine
iguana mix. There is also the opportunity to see an unusual prickly pear cactus
forest. SOUTH PLAZAS, an uplifted island, like Baltra, it is highly populated by
sea lions, over 1000 inhabit this island residing in 10 harems each one attended
by a male. One of the characteristics of this island is its vegetation of
Opuntia Cactuses and sesuvium plants. This small island offers cliffs with
swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds
Day 10 March 26.
BLACK TURTLE COVE is one of the most beautiful marine sites; located in a small
mangrove lagoon. It is a nursery grounds for many marine species such as sharks,
spotted eagle rays and sting rays. Also it is a favored breeding ground for the
sea turtle. It is also a wonderful site for watching, herons, finches and
blue-footed boobies feeding. This site does not involve a land visit; it is all
seen from the small zodiac boats. Return to Baltra Island flight back to Quito.
Transfer to hotel.
Day 11 March 27. Transfer to
Airport and fly home or to other adventures.
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
Park Tax: The islands are part of the Ecuadorian National Parks system and
the entrance fee (US$ 100) is collected individually from each guest on arrival
to Galapagos.
On Board: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served aboard. Menus are
continental cuisine. At sunset, enjoy complementary hors d'ouvres and your
favorite drink which you may purchase from a well stocked bar. Briefings,
including discussions on the day ashore visit are presented. The naturalist
guide on board daily will give plans and activities for the following day.
On the Islands: The yacht anchors at each island destination and passengers
are ferried to the landing point in small boats called pangas (dinghies). On
island walks we follow marked paths which may alter slightly from season to
season to skirt nesting bird areas. Naturalist guides accompany all groups. Some
islands have excellent swimming beaches and snorkeling areas. You may bring your
own mask and snorkel (flippers optional). Mask and snorkel may instead be rented
on the ship for $5 for the entire trip. The terrain is often uneven and
passengers should be in good physical condition
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
Departure Tax: On international flights from Quito, there is a
US $ 36 departure tax.
Fee Includes: The program includes: transfers between airport and hotel,
three nights double accommodations in Quito, a city tour in Quito and domestic
airfare between Quito and Baltra, transportation between ship and airport in
Baltra, shared double cabin accommodation aboard ship, all meals aboard ship,
island sightseeing, naturalist guide authorized and qualified by the
Galapagos National Park,
Fee Does Not Included: Meals in Quito (a large breakfast is included each
day), customary tips for crew and local guides, bottled drinks, Park Fee ($100),
Airport Tax ($36), international air fare to and from Quito, alcoholic beverages
on board, and any items of a personal nature.
Suggested Reading: Much has been written about the Galapagos, but for a
practical introduction I recommend GALAPAGOS – A Natural History Guide, by M. H.
Jackson, University of Calgary Press.Equally good and much
newer is Fitter, Fitter, and Hosking, WILDLIFE OF THE GALAPAGOS, Princeton
University Press, 2002, 254 pp. This book is quite the bargain from Amazon.com. Julian Fitter was one of the
first to introduce guided natural history tours in the Galapagos. These are two of the most useful books on the Galapagos you can own. You will do
yourself a favor by buying one now and reading or skimming it before the trip.
If you want still another fine book, try Swash, Still and Lewington, AN
IDENTIFICATION GUIDE TO THE BIRDS, MAMMALS & REPTILES OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS,
Yale University Press. You may also get a thrill by
reading Darwin’s The Voyage of the Beagle for historical and intellectual
background. You can relive part of the thrill and sense of discovery yourself on
this incredible voyage.
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
©Roger Devore
Cancellation Policy (dictated by Outfitter)
150 days before departure - full refund minus $125 per
person processing fee
149 - 90 days prior to departure - full refund minus
$250 per person
89-61 days prior to departure - 50% total amount
forfeited
60 days to the date of departure - total amount
forfeited
All losses apply only if trip is not full at start of
workshop.
We strongly recommend trip insurance for this trip.
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Please note: I must release unbooked spaces 150 days
prior. After that time spaces must be reserved again with outfitter.
Please register early. |
Fees: $3250 double occupancy, cabins on board the
boat. This is $100 less than our 2007 trip. For an additional $70, participants can have single
accommodations in Quito. The single supplement for the boat is
$1400. We will have a maximum of 8 photographers, but I have
reserved space for 12 to accommodate some non photographers. Non photographers
(this means not making any images on the entire trip) will receive a $400
discount.
$500 deposit due at registration and the balance is due December 1, 2008. Cancellations: See above.
Trip cancellation insurance is recommended to protect your investments.
Passports are required for this trip.
Airport for pickup: Quito, Ecuador
Hiking Rating - The terrain is often uneven and
participants should be in good physical condition.
Minimum number of participants - 1 (subject to outfitter constraints);
maximum participants 12 (8 photographers)
REQUIRED INFORMATION: Also required prior to
departure: your full name as it appears on your passport, passport number,
nationality, date of birth, allergies and food restrictions. |
©Roger Devore
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