galapagos darwin’s enchanted isles aboard the 32-guest m/v evolution october 16-25, 2015 An Intimate Nature Experience There’s no more intimate an experience with nature than International Expeditions’ Galapagos Voyage aboard the Evolution — a singular opportunity to commune with curious wildlife and explore inspiring landscapes. Our private yacht, the 32-guest Evolution, offers the ideal retreat with spacious cabins, superb cuisine and a host of amenities. Join IE in Galapagos and step into a living laboratory of evolution. Discover the birdlife that inspired Darwin, including this common cactus finch. Knowledgeable naturalist guides ensure you learn about the wildlife, plants, geology and history of the Galapagos. Step into a Living Laboratory of Evolution Slip Under the Waves to a Rich Undersea World Moon-like volcanic landscapes, secluded beaches, crystal-clear coves and unusual creatures seemingly frozen in time await you in the Galapagos Islands. This isolated archipelago, having never been part of a continental land mass, has become a living laboratory for studying evolution. You’ll find other manifestations of nature’s power in the form of a just-hatched newborn chick, an ancient lava flow or a brilliant sunrise. Life below the cool Pacific waves is unimaginably rich, with more than 3,000 species of marine plants and animals calling these waters home. Beneath the sea, golden rays and white-tipped reef sharks swim just feet away. Playful sea lions encourage you to dive and roll with them during a snorkeling excursion. The cool Humboldt and Cromwell currents carry oxygen and nutrients, even making it possible for the Galapagos penguin to live quite happily on the Equator. Experts, Educators and Friends So intensely protected is the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve that visitors are prohibited from visiting 97% of the islands without the guidance of a licensed naturalist. Beyond just “visiting” the islands, IE wants you to reach a deeper understanding. That’s why we’ve selected guides like Bolivar Sanchez and Alex Cox, who are natives of the islands, licensed at the highest level (Level 3) by the park, and have decades of combined experience. “Galapagos was an amazing place — I’m glad I went with IE instead of other companies I looked at! There were so many advantages to cruising on a smaller ship. On the Evolution, I never felt rushed and the guides pointed out so many things I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.” — Ann Keown of Chattanooga, Tennessee Equator Guayaquil 3 Santiago 1 Bartolomé Fernandina Baltra from guayaquil Santa Cruz Isabela San Cristóbal to guayaquil 10-Day Expedition Itinerary Day 1 • Friday U.S. / Guayaquil Fly independently to Guayaquil, Ecuador, and transfer to the Hotel Oro Verde. (Meals Aloft) Day 2 • Saturday Guayaquil / Baltra / 2 1 View From Bartolomé 2 Climb Bartolomé for a famous photo of Pinnacle Rock, a formation made of hardened volcanic ash. 3 An Old Favorite Española is not only the chain’s oldest island, it is our guide Boli’s favorite stop! Española Penguins in paradise Punta Espinosa is the perfect place to spot Galapagos penguins along with flightless cormorants and marine iguanas. Santa Cruz: Whaler Bay & Eden Islet Fly to Galapagos and board the Evolution. After a safety briefing, stop for a hike along Whaler Bay, site of one of the islands’ oldest whaling camps. Just off the coast, discover tiny Eden Islet, where we may spot Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and large schools of mustard rays while on a peaceful Zodiac ride. (B,L,D) Day 3 • Sunday Isabela Island / Fernandina Island Zodiacs take you into a sunken volcano at Punta Vicente Roca, where we snorkel among sea turtles. Explore the lava fields of Punta Espinosa, spotting flightless cormorants and marine iguanas. Whale watch from the Evolution’s open-air decks. (B,L,D) Day 4 • Monday Isabela Island Hike along the uplifted section of sea floor in Urvina Bay. Our naturalists point out the tortoises, colorful land iguanas and other wildlife that feed on the vegetation. Board our Zodiacs for an excursion to Tagus Cove, where we look for penguins, flightless cormorants, pelicans along the cliffs before a chance to snorkel and swim. (B,L,D) colonizing the landscapes. Stroll along the coralline beach spotting black and white oystercatchers. (B,L,D) Day 5 • Tuesday Bartolomé / Walk along the white sands of Bachas Beach looking for Sally Lightfoot crabs, black necked stilts and whimbrels. Snorkel in the calm waters, where sea turtles nest. Named for the area’s large land iguanas, Dragon Hill is an important nesting site for iguanas reintroduced by the Charles Darwin Research Center. Day 6 • Wednesday Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach & Dragon Hill Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay Visit Bartolomé Island, hiking to the top of a dormant volcano for a dramatic panorama, including famed Pinnacle Rock. Snorkel with sea lions and maybe even penguins. This afternoon, hike across the panoehoe lava of Sullivan Bay, seeing some of the hearty flora Walk to a lagoon where we often find flamingos, common stilts and pintail ducks. (B,L,D) Day 7 • Thursday Santa Cruz Island Begin at the Charles Darwin Research Station, learning about vital work being done to study and preserve Galapagos wildlife. Head into the forested highlands, with ample opportunity to see and photograph giant tortoises in the wild. (B,L,D) Day 8 • Friday Española Island Enjoy a Zodiac ride before wading ashore to Punta Suarez through a sea lion colony. Walk along the cliffs looking for waved albatrosses, Galapagos hawks, Hood mockingbirds and the red-colored race of marine iguana en route to Española’s blowhole, where waves spout 90 feet into the air. Swim, snorkel and kayak in the waters off Gardner Bay. (B,L,D) Day 9 • Saturday San Cristóbal Day 10 • Sunday Guayaquil / U.S. Island / Guayaquil Return to San Board independent flights home. (Meals Aloft) Cristóbal and visit the Interpretation Center. Fly to Guayaquil, where we have time to relax and spend tonight at the Oro Verde. (B,L) Urubamba Market and spend tonight at the Aranwa Hotel. (B,L,D) Days 11 & 12 • Monday & Tuesday Machu Picchu Board the train to Machu Picchu, where we spend the afternoon exploring the ruins. Spend the next two nights at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. (B,L,D) Optional Machu Picchu & Cusco Extension Day 9 • Saturday Galapagos / Guayaquil / Lima Disembark and fly to Guayaquil to connect with flights to Lima. Overnight at the Costa del Sol. (B,L Aloft) Day 10 • Sunday Cusco / Urubamba Valley Fly to Cusco — the heart of the Inca Empire. Drive into the historic Urubamba Valley, stopping in Chinchero to browse Andean handicrafts. Visit the Day 13 • Wednesday Ollantaytambo / Sacsayhuamán / Cusco Catch the morning train back to the Sacred Valley. Explore the mighty archaeological wonder of Ollantaytambo, where ancient temples and fortresses were built to protect the Sacred Valley. After a Paso Fino horse show at Wayra Ranch, continue to Cusco. We stop at Sacsayhuamán — a huge fortress of massive stones which zigzags across the side of the mountain. Spend tonight at the Aranwa Hotel. (B,L,D) All itineraries are subject to approval by the Galapagos National Park and may vary according to changes in park regulations. Day 14 • Thursday Cusco Stroll the streets of Cusco, exploring the Koricancha — also known as Santo Domingo, Santa Catalina Convent and the Cathedral. The afternoon is free to explore on your own before a farewell dinner featuring Andean fare. Return to the Aranwa Hotel for the night. (B,L,D) Day 15 • Friday Cusco / Lima / En Route Fly back across the Andes to Lima. Enjoy a superb lunch of local delicacies before an afternoon at leisure.Dayrooms are available at the Swissôtel. Transfer to the airport this evening for flights home. (B,L) Day 16 • Saturday Arrive Arrive and connect with your flight home. (Meals Aloft) Experience Evolution Unpretentious Comfort and Unrivaled Service — the 32-Guest M/V Evolution. Your Private Retreat Onboard The ship’s newly renovated interior is fully airconditioned, and cabins on all three decks offer ample storage space, a writing desk, bedside tables and private facilities. The Evolution’s spacious cabins — ranging from approximately 143 to 263 square feet — are the largest cabins on average in the Galapagos and the perfect haven for an afternoon siesta between our frequent excursions. Friendly Ambiance and Spacious Public Areas While the Evolution may carry just 32 guests, she is generous in size with a host of amenities. From relaxing on the sun deck to reading in the lounge, you’re sure to relish the friendly ambiance. Enjoy briefings by our naturalists in our comfortable lounge. Or spend time with a snack and your fellow passengers at the canopied bar, a superb place for watching the sun set over the Pacific. After excursions, relax in the hot tub or find a cushy deck chair while enjoying more outside space than any other yacht of this class. Whether in the dining room or al fresco dining area, each meal is something to rave about. Meals feature both international and traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, from fresh fruit juices and savory snacks to lobster and sumptuous soups. o c t o b e r 1 6 -2 5 , 2 0 1 5 cabins C4-C5 & D1-D4 Double Occupancy������������������������������������ $5,698 Single Occupancy���������������������������������������$7,198 cabins C1-C3 & C6-C9 Double Occupancy������������������������������������ $6,098 cabins A2 & A3 Double Occupancy������������������������������������ $6,598 cabin A1 Double Occupancy������������������������������������ $6,998 Plus In-Country Airfare (Guayaquil / Galapagos / Guayaquil) �������������������������������$575 Park Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $110 In-country airfare is subject to change and must be purchased through International Expeditions. Triple Occupancy Discount: 3rd person saves $1,000. Select Cabins Only. Limited cabins available for solo travelers, some with no single supplement fee — a savings of $1,400. Call for availability. $500 discount for kids 7-18 The roof deck is a popular place to relax and discuss the day’s events or dance with local musicians. A1 CREW A3 A2 A1 A2 BRIDGEBRIDGE A1 CREW A3 CREW PANTRY BOARDING PLATFORM AL FRESCO DINING AREA CREW RECEPTION AREA LOUNGE RECEPTION AREA LOUNGE DINING ROOM C7 GALLEY PANTRY RECEPTION AREA CREW C6 C7 C5 C6 C5 RECEPTION AREA C4 GALLEY C4 C8 CREW C7 C6 C5 GALLEY CREW A full-time INFIRMARYdoctor is always C9 available, and joins your excursions. LOUNGE C8 CREW C9 CREW INFIRMARY C2 C1 C3 C8 CREW CREW C9 C2 C1 C3 C4 C5 ENGINE ROOM CREW C6 CREW ENGINE ROOM C3 CREW ENGINE ROOM C4 C8 C3 CREW CREW ENGINE ROOM D4 C2 CREW D1C1 C9 CREW D4 D1 CREW C2 D3 D4 D3 D2C1 D1 D2 D4 D3 D1 D2 D3 D2 On All Departures Park Fee������������������������������������������������������������� $185 In-Country Airfare �����������������������������������������$386 What’s Included INFIRMARY CREW Double Occupancy��������������������������������������$3,198 Single Occupancy ������������������������������������� $4,096 Park fees and in-country airfare are subject to change. In-country airfare must be purchased through IE. JACUZZI CREW INFIRMARY SUN DECK BOARDING PLATFORM Delicious meals using local ingredients (when GALLEY AL FRESCO possible)DINING are prepared each C7 day onboard. AREA DINING ROOM CREW CREW LOUNGE JACUZZI A2 DINING ROOM CREW JACUZZIJACUZZI PANTRY SUN DECK DINING ROOM BRIDGE BAR BOARDING BOARDING PLATFORM PLATFORM AL FRESCO DINING AREA A2 A3 SUN DECK SUN DECK A1 Lots of outdoor space allows you to “soak up” the sights and sounds of the Galapagos. BRIDGE BAR Our boarding platform makes it easy to embark Zodiacs for ROOF DECK shore excursions or to follow a pod of whales. PANTRY AL FRESCO ROOF DINING AREADECK Join the Captain on the Bridge for lessons in navigation or to practice your Spanish. A3 BAR ROOF DECK BAR ROOF DECK Machu Picchu & Cusco Extension Accommodations and meals as shown Snorkeling gear and wet suits All excursions accompanied by English speaking naturalist guides. Full educational program with lectures and field interpretation Complete predeparture information to help you get the most out of your expedition. All scheduled transportation by land and ship. All transfers, porterage and service charges. In summary, everything except international and in-country airfare; ticketing fee; U.S. domestic and international departure taxes; Galapagos National Park tax & transit fees; air or ship fuel surcharges; tips to naturalist guides and Evolution crew; passport fees; and items of a personal nature, such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, etc. Deposits & Payments: $600 deposit due at time of application. Final payment due 90 days prior to departure. Ship’s Registry: Ecuador Staff & Crew: 16 Ship Length: 204 ft. Ship Width: 29 ft. Cabin Sizes A1: 263 sq. ft. A2 & A3: approx. 198 sq. ft. C1-C3: approx. 183 sq. ft. C4-C5: approx. 143 sq. ft. C6-C9: approx. 183 sq. ft. D1-D4: approx. 178 sq. ft. Cancellations: $300 from time of booking until 90 days prior to departure. 50% from 89-61 days prior to departure. 100% penalty 60-0 days prior to departure. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. CST:2045230-20 Explore galapagos darwin’s enchanted isles aboard the 32-guest m/v evolution For more information contact: Dr. Patrick M. Burchfield, Ed.D. M.S. Director-Gladys Porter Zoo 500 Ringgold Street Brownsville TX, 78520 [email protected] (956) 546-7187
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