Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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Framed by dramatic volcanic landscapes and filled with unique wildlife that has no fear of
humans, the Western Islands of the Galápagos are the ideal setting for our wonderfully active
8-day voyage. Discover pristine Fernandina Island, a huge shield volcano with a shoreline full
of flightless cormorants, snorkel with green sea turtles and Galápagos penguins at Devil’s
Crown, and on North Seymour, walk amid magnificent frigatebirds in full courtship display.
Look for spouting whales as we cross Bolivar Channel, and explore Santiago’s Puerto Egas,
where fur seals caper in underwater grottos carved by the sea. Our journey aboard the beautiful
Mary Anne is the way to go, with wonderfully active days complemented by unforgettable
nights beneath the starry sky.
Days 1-4 Guayaquil / Highland Walk / Darwin
Research Station / Floreana After an overnight
in Guayaquil, fly to Baltra and head to the Santa
Cruz highlands in search of the giant tortoises
for which the Galápagos are named. We’ll also
visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see
the important conservation work being done,
then board the Mary Anne. On Floreana, we’ll
visit a sea turtle nesting ground and, conditions
permitting, snorkel at famed Devil’s Crown, an
underwater volcanic cone. Keep your camera
handy for possible sightings of whales and dolphins
as we cruise to Isabela.
Days 5-6 Elizabeth Bay / Punta Espinosa
A lovely hike brings us to a flamingo
lagoon on Isabela, followed by Zodiac
explorations among herons perched
in red and black mangroves and sea
turtles swimming in Elizabeth
Bay. From Fernandina’s black-sand
beach, look for flightless cormorants,
Galápagos penguins, Galápagos
hawks, and colorful Sally Lightfoot
crabs scampering along the shoreline.
Days 7-8 Tagus Cove / Snorkeling
at Punta Vicente Roca Explore a
historic pirate hideaway by Zodiac,
then snorkel at Punta Vicente
Roca, with its underwater cliffs and
ROBERT KOSS
schools of colorful fish. From the golden sands
of Espumilla Beach on Santiago, we’ll walk a
forest trail in search of yellow warblers and
curious Galápagos flycatchers. At Puerto Egas,
see Galápagos fur seals lounging under lava
arches or swimming in the grottos.
Days 9-10 North Seymour / Blue-Footed
Boobies and Frigatebirds North Seymour is home
to countless nesting colonies of great frigatebirds,
blue-footed boobies, and elegant swallow-tailed
gulls. We’ll walk right next to them without
any barriers and they will carry on as if we were
invisible. From Baltra, fly to Guayaquil for a final
overnight, and depart on Day 10.
Our snorkeling, kayaking, and Zodiac excursions are the perfect way to explore above (and
below!) the water’s surface of this famed archipelago. PHOTO: PETE OXFORD
HIGHLIGHTS
• Exciting 8-day cruise including Bolivar
Channel, with its whales and dolphins
• Beautiful 16-guest yacht with spacious
decks and air-conditioned cabins
• Fantastic snorkeling excursions, including
Devil’s Crown and Punta Vicente Roca
DETAILS
• 10-day trip begins and ends in Guayaquil
• 7 nights aboard the Mary Anne,
2 nights hotel
• All meals included except 2 lunches and
2 dinners
DATES
Dec 30, 2016-Jan 8,2017 Apr 21-30
Jan 13-22, 2017 May 5-14
Feb 10-19 May 19-28
Feb 24-Mar 5 Jun 16-25
Mar 10-19 Jun 30-Jul 9
Mar 24-Apr 2 Dec 29,2017-Jan 7,2018
Apr 7-16
TRIP COST
$6195 per person
Hotel single supplement: $225
No single supplement on board (subject to
availability)
Internal airfare: $540 (subject to change)
Galápagos park fee and transit card: $120
Holiday surcharge (Dec): $300
Discounts for children: call for details
TRIP LEVEL 1+ 2 3 4 5 6 7
Daily hikes, snorkeling, optional sea kayaking