Galapagos WildlifeAdventure:

Eastern Cruise

11 Days

Galapagos WildlifeAdventure: Eastern Cruise

Come aboard a deluxe cruise through one of the most exotic places on earth!

Encounter rare wildlife found nowhere else in the world, from giant tortoises for

whom the islands are named, to sea lions, iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. Hiking,

swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling offer astonishing opportunities to get close to

wildlife both underwater and on land. After each action-filled day, return to the luxury

of your private yacht to rest and re-energize. On this route through the eastern isles

you'll discover the natural wonders of Española, Genovesa, San Cristobal and more.

Follow MT Sobek's naturalist guide for an immersive and unforgettable Galapagos

experience. See below for a sample itinerary of your day-to-day activities.

Arrive: Quito, Ecuador

Depart: Quito, Ecuador

Duration: 11 Days

Group Size: 8-16 Guests

Minimum Age: 6 Years Old

Activity Level:

.

Details Testimonials

"I have been on adventure travel trips to manyplaces and with many companies, and this trip wasthe best ever—a wonderful, knowledgeable guide, agreat boat and, of course, The Galápagos!"

Dana H.

"Simply put, it was the trip of a lifetime. Epic inevery sense of the world."

William G. and Rebecca N.

REASON #01

MT Sobek was one of the first

North American companies to

bring visitors to the Galápagos

Islands, with an inaugural charter

for the Sierra Club in 1970.

REASON #02

Guests love our Galápagos

adventures because we charter a

small yacht for a fully MT Sobek-

operated experience with our own

expert team of naturalist guides.

REASON #03

Our guides and crew work

hard maximizing the amount

of wildlife encounters both on

land and sea, and guides will

always be snorkeling with you.

ACTIVITIES

Island cruising by deluxe yacht

with daily Zodiac excursions

to explore hidden coves. Hike,

snorkel, kayak, and swim

among unique endemic wildlife.

LODGING

Luxurious comfort aboard an 88-

foot catamaran yacht with a full

crew to cater to your every need

and an upscale hotel in Quito.

CLIMATE

Mild climate year-round. Dec-

May has daytime temperatures

76-86°F and water temperatures

of 70-75°F. Jun-Nov has daytime

temperatures of 67-77°F and

water temperatures of 65-72°F.

Luis was born in Seville, Spain, and graduated fromthe Universidad Autonoma de Madrid with a degree in

Environmental Biology. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and

French and has guided in Galapagos since 1999. In addition

to being a professional nature photographer, Luis has a

Master’s Degree in Geographic Ecology and is active with

conservation groups. A born teacher, he enthusiastically shares

his knowledge of Galapagos with people of all ages. He lives in

Quito with his wife, twin sons, and daughter and is MT Sobek’s

head naturalist guide.

Luis Die

Greg arrived in Galapagos in 1982 leading the CambridgeDarwin Centenary Galapagos Expedition to conduct research

on the feeding ecology of marine iguanas. After graduating

from the University of London, with an honors degree in

Biology, Greg's research in Galapagos has encompassed a

wide range of ecological projects, including studies on sperm

whales and the endangered Galapagos petrel. Greg and his

wife have retraced Darwin's footsteps through Galapagos using

information from his original notebooks and manuscripts of the

famous voyage.

Greg Estes

                                                                ItineraryARRIVE IN QUITO

Welcome to the historic city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador! An MT Sobek representative will meet you outside

customs at the airport and escort you to your hotel. After settling in at the hotel, the rest of the day is free unwind,

take advantage of the pool's spa services or begin your exploration of this dynamic city. Dinner is on your own

tonight.

DAY 1

EXPLORE QUITO

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before setting out on half-day guided tour of colonial Quito. The city's UNESCO-listed

old town contains the best examples of Colonial Baroque architecture in South America! After lunch, you are

free to explore more of the old town, return to the hotel, or shop for handicrafts made by local artisans. Gather

in the hotel at 6:30pm for a mandatory briefing with your fellow travelers and MT Sobek representative, who will

discuss tomorrow's flight to the Galápagos Islands and the adventure ahead. Dinner is on your own tonight..

DAY 2

Meals: B, L

FLY TO THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

Rise for breakfast and an early transfer flight from Quito to Baltra Island in the Galápagos. After meeting your

naturalist guide, take a short transfer from Baltra to Santa Cruz Island. Here a private vehicle awaits to take you to

the lush highlands of Santa Cruz for a special opportunity to see giant tortoises in their wild and natural habitat.

Next, transfer to Puerto Ayora, the largest settlement in the Galápagos. Stroll the main street to the harbor,

where you will board the yacht and your basecamp for activities during the next week. Enjoy a welcome dinner.

DAY 3

Activity: 1-1.5 hours/up to 1 mile walking

Meals: B, L, D

EXPLORE FLOREANA ISLANDDAY 4Days 4 - 9 may slightly vary depending on your departure date. Wake for a walk on Punta Cormorant, a sandy

beach with green olivine crystals. Spot flamingos, sea lions and blue-footed boobies, and learn about the beach's

importance for sea turtle nesting. Next, take a short Zodiac ride (small, motorized inflatable boats) to Devil's

Crown. Here the current funnels plankton through the small eroded crater, attracting large schools of tropical

fish — creating a perfect place to snorkel. In the afternoon, visit historic Post Office Bay for a chance to leave your

mail at the famous post office barrel and pick up mail to hand deliver, as was the custom centuries ago.

Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling

Meals: B, L, D

BIRDWATCH ON ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

Experience incredible birdlife at Punta Suárez, including the endangered waved albatross (from April to

December) and the Nazca booby. In fact birds are everywhere — underfoot, on the trail, overhead, diving into the

sea, taking off from cliffs, sitting on eggs, and engaging in ritual mating dances. A great tangle of marine iguanas

is also usually present nearing our landing site. After lunch, you can swim, snorkel or sun bathe in the company of

sea lions on the white-sand beach at Gardner Bay.

DAY 5

Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling

Meals: B, L, D

VISIT ISLA LOBOS & SAN CRISTÓBAL ISLAND

Isla Lobos is separated from San Cristóbal by a narrow channel, providing opportunities to snorkel with sea lions,

sea turtles, and tropical fish. There is also a short rocky trail great for viewing blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds,

sea lions, and the picturesque León Dormido — a huge volcanic monolith located just offshore. After lunch,

journey to Punta Pitt, where all three species of boobies are known to nest. The trail at Punta Pitt winds up

through eroded volcanic tuff formations to a plateau for a spectacular view of the island. Along the trail are

endemic plants and wildlife unique to San Cristobal, such as the San Cristobal mockingbird and lava lizard.

DAY 6

Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling

Meals: B, L, D

JOURNEY TO SANTA FÉ & SOUTH PLAZA ISLANDSDAY 7After breakfast, explore the beautiful bay and turquoise waters of Santa Fé Island. Here you can snorkel and

swim with tropical fish, sea lions and turtles, and see a large colony of sea lions basking on the beach. Along the

rocky trail, you will find endemic land iguanas, seeking shade under prickly-pear cactus, and many birds — from

Galápagos hawks to Darwin finches. Next it's on to South Plaza Island, home to a colony of sea lions and a large

population of Galápagos land Iguanas. The southern part of the trail follows the cliff, where you will see many sea

birds nesting or flying, including frigatebirds, boobies, and shearwaters.

Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling

Meals: B, L, D

SEE RED-FOOTED BOOBIES ON GENOVESA ISLAND

Genovesa Island is one of the most interesting for visitors! Explore Darwin's Bay — a protected bay in a volcanic

crater that long ago broke open to the sea. Enjoy the company of red-footed boobies, who may come aboard,

and witness the great commotion between nesting boobies and frigatebirds. Those traveling between February

and May could also see a compelling show of frigatebird courtship. After lunch, explore the cliffs by Zodiac before

climbing to the island's plateau. Look out for red-footed and Nazca boobies, large-beaked ground finches, short-

eared owls, and thousands of Galápagos storm petrels which nest in the island's lava tubes.

DAY 8

Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling

Meals: B, L, D

DISCOVER SANTIAGO & BATOLOMÉ ISLANDS

Get a sense of the primordial beginnings of our planet as you walk across black pahoehoe lava flows at Santiago's

Sullivan Bay. See early colonizing plants struggling to gain a foothold in the tiny lava cracks as colorful lava lizards

flit around. After lunch, visit iconic Bartolomé Island for an exceptional opportunity to snorkel among colorful

tropical fish and, if you are lucky, a Galápagos penguin! End your Galápagos experience with a long climb up

the wooden steps to the pinnacle of this ancient cinder cone. At the top you will enjoy a truly spectacular view of

Bartolomé, Santiago, and other nearby islands. Back on the boat tonight, enjoy a festive farewell cocktail hour

and a group dinner with the captain.

DAY 9

Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling

Meals: B, L, D

DEPART FROM THE GALÁPAGOS & RETURN TO QUITODAY 10After breakfast aboard the yacht, disembark and transfer to the Baltra airport for the return flight to Quito. An

MT Sobek representative will greet you at Quito airport and provide assistance to your nearby hotel. You can use

your hotel room as a dayroom with extended check-out and depart on a late evening flight home, or you can use

your room as an overnight room and depart the next day. Lunch and dinner are on your own today.

Meals: B

DEPART FROM QUITO

After breakfast at the hotel, use the complimentary shuttle to transfer to the airport in time for your outbound

flight. Or, stay on in Quito to join us for one of our extensions in Ecuador or Peru!

DAY 11

Meals: B

Feb 28 - Mar 10, 2019

Mar 28 - Apr 7, 2019

Apr 11 - 21, 2019

Jun 6 - 16, 2019

Nov 21 - Dec 1, 2019

Dec 19 - 29, 2019

2019

$ 6,495 per person

Additional Cost

$ 545 Internal Airfare

$ 20 Transit Control Card

$ 1,500 Single Supplement 

PRICE INCLUDESExpert leadership from experienced adventureguides

Accommodations as noted in the itinerary

Meals as noted in the daily itinerary

Potable water and snacks throughout

1 cocktail at welcome and farewell dinners on theyachtAll tips and gratuities for support staff with theexception of your lead naturalist guide & yacht crew

All necessary snorkeling gear

All group activities and ground transportation

Arrival and departure day airport transfers

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDEInternational airfare, any airport taxes, or excessbaggage chargesGalápagos National Park fee, collected upon arrival(Age 12 and older: $100 / Age 11 and younger: $50)

Lunch on Day 10 and dinners on Day 1, 2, and 10

Optional tips to your lead naturalist guide & yachtcrewPersonal expenses such as medical immunizations,phone calls, laundry, or souvenirs

Airport transfers if arriving outside of Day 1

Optional travel protection

Wetsuit rentals