Cosmic Trails 6

You will arrive in Quito, Ecuador and transfer (independently) to our hotel. You have the remainder of the day to acclimate to the 8,500 ft altitude, and explore the UNESCO World Heritage historic quarter of Quito. The city has the best-preserved historic district in Latin America, including the monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, known for their “Quito Baroque” style. Meet and greet the others in our group at 5pm. [Swissotel Quito or comparable]

• Straddling the Equator

After breakfast we’re off to Mitad del Mundo, the “The Middle of the World” Equatorial Monument north of Quito, which marks the approximate (and therein lies a tale) location of the Equator, latitude 0°–ish. The monument was sited with the geodetic datum available in the early 1980s when it was built. Current World Geodetic System datum suggests that the equator is 240 meters north of the monument. We’ll visit the Ecuadorian Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, showing the great diversity of Ecuador’s native groups, and a reproduction colonial-style town. Afternoon at leisure in Quito. (Breakfast and lunch are provided) [Swissotel Quito or comparable]

• Transfer to Galapagos Islands
• Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party

We have an early morning transfer to the airport to board your flight to San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos to board the cruise ship, the mv Galapagos Legend, anchored at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital of the Galápagos Islands. After cabin assignment and lunch we’ll head to the Interpretation Centre and Cerro Tijeretas (dry landing) to get a greater understanding of Galápagos’ uniqueness. We stroll along an easy boardwalk to the north shore of San Cristóbal, to the spot where Darwin allegedly set foot for first time on Galápagos in 1835. This area is teeming with life: Darwin finches, San Cristóbal mockingbirds, marine iguanas, sea lions, etc. The bay itself is home to two species of frigates. We’ll climb a staircase to the top of Cerro Tijeretas, from where a good portion of northern San Cristóbal is visible: Wreck Bay, Lobos Islet, Punta Carola, and the impressive Kicker Rock. After returning to the ship, we’ll have a welcome cocktail, plan Saturday’s expedition, and have dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided) [mv Galapagos Legend]

• Exploration

Morning: Española (Hood) Island — Gardner Bay (wet landing). We disembark and relax at Gardner Bay’s white coral beach for a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches and enjoy the moment. We have lunch onboard the mv Galapagos Legend.

Afternoon: Española Island — Punta Suárez (wet landing). We hike out on lava/boulder terrain to visit Española’s unique sea bird colonies, including Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls, plus a view of the Galápagos famous “blow-hole.” Among land birds, the Hood island mockingbird, Galápagos hawks, Galápagos doves and three species of Darwin’s finches are frequently seen. Be on the lookout for red-green-black marine iguanas. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided) [mv Galapagos Legend]

• Exploration

Morning: Floreana — Post Office Bay (wet landing). Our destination this morning is historic Post Office Bay, where sailors northbound from the Horn have been “mailing” letters since 1793. You’ll learn about the human history of the island. The Bay has a brown sand beach frequented by Galapagos sea lions and bright orange ‘Sally Lightfoot’ crabs. Lava, Striated, and Great Herons, marine iguanas, flycatchers, brown pelicans, and warbler finches are apt to be about.

Afternoon: Floreana — Punta Cormorant (wet landing). After lunch, we visit Punta Cormorant, known for its green sandy and powdery white beaches and great birdwatching. Flamingoes, flycatchers, and small ground-, medium ground-, and cactus finches are the main event on land. Ghost crabs and rays can be seen off shore. This evening we’ll have a BBQ and stargazing. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided) [mv Galapagos Legend]

• Exploration

Morning: Santa Cruz — Cerro Mesa Ecologic Reserve. Off to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, with its Green Zone cloud forest and broad Galapagos vistas. We may have a chance to see the giant tortoises in the wild, if weather conditions are good. The Vermilion flycatcher is the prized bird sighting here, among the Reserve’s many bird species.

Afternoon: Santa Cruz Island — Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Today we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, including tortoise celebrities like “Lonesome George”, within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the Galapagos National Park administration. This evening we have a farewell cocktail party and slide show presentation. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided) [mv Galapagos Legend]

• Disembark mv Galapagos Legend, transfer to Quito

We disembark the mv Galapagos Legend, and transfer to Baltra Airport to take the flight back to the South American continent. You will have a light lunch on board the plane which is scheduled to depart Baltra Airport at around 12pm, and arrive Quito at around 4pm. (Breakfast and light lunch are provided) [Swissotel Quito]

• Transfer from Quito to Santiago

Early morning we’ transfer to Quito airport to board your flight to Santiago. We’ll transfer to the Hotel Atton El Bosque. Afternoon at leisure. (Breakfast is provided)

• Half day tour

This monring we’ll orient ourselves to the city by seeing different aspects of Santiago: civic spaces, public art in Santiago’s modern subway system, a museum, residential districts, and a panoramic view of the city. After lunch at the Central Market we’ll transfer to Valparaiso to board the ms Veendam. (Breakfast and lunch in Santiago are provided; dinner onboard the Veendam) [Hotel Atton El Bosque or comparable]

• All airfare (i.e., all transportation to Galapagos and the return to our ship the afternoon of departure is included — once you arrive in our Quito hotel on February 12).
• Four (4) nights accommodation in outstanding hotels.
• Four (4) nights Galapagos Cruise on the mv Galapagos Legend (in the Standard Plus Cabin [118 sq. ft.] — see below for upgrades). Included with cruise are guided visits to all islands visited, snorkeling equipment, and internet access.
• Nineteen (19) meals: eight (8) breakfasts, seven (7) lunches, and five (4) dinners at our carefully selected restaurants or onboard the cruise. (Non-alcoholic beverages provided with each meal on land; excluding coffee and tea and basic juices, all beverages are additional onboard the cruise.)
• Services of an English-speaking host (7x24) and local tour guides.
• All land transportation (as listed on the itinerary).
• Entrance fees to all tourist sites (as listed on the itinerary), including the Galapagos Park fee.
• All gratuities.
• Baggage handling, city and hotel taxes.

• The price of the above is $4,999 pp based on double occupancy
• Deposit is 15% ($750 pp based on double occupancy).
• Please note that our South American host will eat with you during all group meals throughout the trip (until you board the cruise). This is to ensure that you are receiving the best service. If, at any time, you would prefer to dine on your own, please let the host know.
• Pricing is based on the February 2012 exchange rate of $1 USD to $483 CLP (Chilean Pesos). At the time of final payment (November 15, 2012) if the exchange rate goes up by more than 10% from the current rate, pricing will be adjusted accordingly.

• Standard (Sea Deck and Earth Deck cabins with panoramic skylights — average area of 118 square feet): No upcharge
• Boat Deck — Junior Suite (161 sq. ft.): Add $475 per person
• Boat Deck — Legend Suite (215 sq. ft.): Add $775 per person
• Boat Deck — Balcony Suite (226 sq. ft.): Add $1,049 per person

• Visa-processing fees (if needed).
• Travel insurance.
• Chilean government reciprocity fee of $140 per person will be charged upon arrival in the Santiago airport by the local authorities. You only need pay this once per 10 years (assuming you maintain the stamp in your passport).
• Personal expenses such as alcoholic beverages, imported mineral waters, telephone charges, room service, and laundry charges.

• Should you decide to cancel your place on this tour between the time of deposit and 90 days prior to the tour, you will forfeit $750 USD pp deposit; thereafter you will forfeit 100% of the tour price.
• All notices of cancellation must be written to be effective. The date of cancellation will be the date of reception by Insight Cruises’ personnel.