Since 1980
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Since 1980
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BOATS
Evolution Grace
GALAPAGOS HOTEL PROGRAMS
Ariau Lodge, Eco-Park, Amazon ViIlage, Acajatuba, Guanavenas
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islands from US$5100 including airfare from Miami THE ECLIPSE
Deluxe Cruise Ship The Eclipse introduce a new level of comfort and elegance to the Galapagos Islands.... She is a 210 ft. L.O.A. Cruise Ship that accommodates up to 48 passengers in 27 cabins, half the number of passengers of vessels her size in Galapagos. Construction started in the second half of the eighties, but was not completed. The vessel was finished by us in 1999 to ,July 1998 SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) specifications. Also, The Eclipse has been granted certification under the Rainforest Smart Voyager program (highest enviromental standards in the Galapagos Islands) . This vessel preserves the smaller boat atmosphere and attention to detail. It features such as an "al fresco" dining area for all 48 passengers, a naturalist guide for every 12 passengers and a library / video room. Additionally, the yacht has amenities such as a warm pool , a pool side bar, a souvenir shop, an observation deck and an air-renewal system. The yacht has an infirmary with a M. D. on board at all times. Extremely comfortable and attractive, with sober decoration, rich Seike furnishings, writing desks, large closets, ocean-view windows or portholes, Eclipse's staterooms are among the largest of any vessel in Galapagos. They have either a queen or a two-twin bed arrangement, and are equipped with an air-conditioning unit and internal communication phones. LOA: 210 ft. (64mtrs) Beam: 41 ft. (12.50 mtrs) Draft: 11 ft. (3.2 mtrs) Depth: 23 ft (7.10mtrs) Builder: Vigo shipyard, Spain Engines: 2 Deutz 1175 BHP Speed: 14.50 knots cruising Crew: 25 plus 4 naturalist tour guides. Cabins: 25 deluxe doubles - up to 50 passengers Individually controlled air conditioning and private bath facilities. Departure: 7 night itinerary/ Saturday to Saturday
Please add fuel surcharge of US$260 per person. DEPOSIT: US$500 per person FINAL PAYMENT: 65 days before departure ...(see more about Deposits/Cancellation)
ABOVE PRICES INCLUDES: All shore
excursions with English speaking guides Above prices do not include: Fuel surcharges. Air tickets
to and from the Galapagos Islands
ADDITIONAL NOTES FAMILY
DEPARTURES - CHILDREN´S DISCOUNTS SINGLE
SUPPLEMENTS TRIPLE
OCCUPANCY
Note: Air tickets and National Park Prices can be subject to change without prior notice. Single Supplement: 50% Surcharge AIRFARE: From Miami to Quito (or Guayaquil) and from Quito to Galapagos -approximately **$960.00 (See add-ons from other USA cities below). Have your Travel Agent call Tara Tours for an updated.
Not included: Airport departure taxes from USA; Airport taxes upon leaving Ecuador ..about $30; insurance; tips to porters and tour guides.
SAMPLE ADD-ONS (to the Miami airfare): Add $200 from ATL, TPA, ORL & ZONE 1; $230 from BDL, BOS,BWI, EWR, NYC, PHL, RDU, WAS, + Zone 3 - - Add $300 from CHI, CLE, DTT; - Add $370 from DEN, DFW, HOU, MSY, SJU ZONE 2 & 4; Add $350 from LAX, SFO + ZONE 5; Add $420 from Zone 6. . RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. Zones: Zone 1: FL; Zone 2: AR, LA, MS, NM, OK, TX; Zone 3: CT, GA, MA, MD, NC, NH, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT; Zone 4: AL, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, TN, WI; Zone 5: CA, ID, NV, UT; Zone 6: OR, WA
ECLIPSE
AVAILABLE CRUISE DATES FOR 2013
OCT 26 NOV 2 REGULAR DEPARTURE 7 NIGHTS GENOVESA YES Open
NOVEMBER 2013
DECEMBER 2013 M/V ECLIPSE 7-NIGHT ITINERARY WITH GENOVESA SATURDAY ARRIVAL Arrival at the airport in Baltra & transfer to the dock Check-in to your cabin Introductory briefing & safety drill Lunch Panga ride to Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Sunday’s program 20:00 Welcome cocktail 20:15 Dinner Black Turtle Cove is one of the most beautiful marine sites in the Galapagos. It is a complex maze of tranquil salt-water inlets, surrounded by three different species of mangrove. Its waters are a nursery site for sea turtles, rays and sharks as well as a nesting site for sea birds. This site is only accessible by panga. Difficulty level: Easy
SUNDAY 06:30 Wake up call 06:45 Breakfast 07:30 Wet landing on Bartolome Island for shallow water or deep water snorkeling 10:00 Back on board 11:00 Dry landing on Bartolome for hike or panga ride 12:00 Lunch 15:00 Wet landing at Puerto Egas, Santiago Island 16:00 Swimming and snorkeling from the beach 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Monday’s program 20:00 Dinner Bartolome is a small island that has two visitor sites. At the first site, you can snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where penguins are usually seen. Then, it’s back on board for a quick change of clothes followed by a short dinghy ride to a dry landing for a climb to the highest point on the island. On the way up, you will encounter different volcanic formations, including spatter and tuff cones, lava flow and lava tubes. From the summit you will have a wonderful view of Sullivan Bay. For those not interested in the hike, there is the option of a panga ride. Usual fauna and flora also includes sea lions, pioneer plants, reef sharks, rays and colorful reef fish. Difficulty Level: Moderate. Walk up 375 low-grade stairs to top of volcano at a slow to moderate pace. Puerto Egas (James Bay) is located on the northwest side of Santiago Island. The landing is on a black beach with eroded rock formations in the background. The trail crosses the dry interior, where the remains of a salt mining enterprise can still be seen, and then continues along the coast. Tidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms, including sea urchins, octopus and starfish. You will also see marine iguanas, finches, oyster catchers and possibly the Galapagos Hawk. The trail leads to the Fur Sea Lion Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where these unique animals can be seen. After the walk, you will have time to swim or snorkel off the beach, where you will see sea lions, fish and maybe some turtles, rays and maybe some reef sharks. Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate. MONDAY 06:00 Optional wake up call by phone 06:30 Dry landing at Tagus Cove, Isabela Island for power hike, or kayaking 07:45 Official wake up call 08:00 Breakfast 08:45 Kayaking 09:00 Panga ride along the cliffs 09:45 Deep water snorkeling 11:00 Back on board 12:00 Lunch 14:00 Dry landing at Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island 17:00 Snorkeling at Punta Espinoza 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Tuesday’s program 20:00 Dinner Tagus Cove was historically used as an anchoring place for pirates, buccaneers and whalers. Here you will see the names of hundreds of ships painted on the high ridges (a practice now forbidden). On the hike, the trail goes through an area of vegetation and the volcanic landscape of Darwin volcano. At the top of the trail, you will enjoy an incredible view of the whole cove and Darwin La The early morning activity is followed by kayaking or a panga ride, where you will have the opportunity to see a large number of blue-footed boobies perched on the ledges of the cliffs, as well as marine iguanas, penguins, brown pelicans, brown noddy terns and swallow-tailed gulls. While exploring the channel between Fernandina and Isabela Islands, we sometimes encounter dolphins and whales. Difficulty level: Easy to Difficult (panga ride is easy, hike up to lake can be strenuous for some) Fernandina Island is one of the most pristine ecosystems in the entire world and also one of the most dynamic. La Cumbre Volcano last erupted in April 2009, and also dominates the landscape, with lava fields stretching towards the ocean from its base. Punta Espinoza is a narrow piece of land where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen, including the flightless cormorant, Galapagos snakes, marine iguanas, penguins and the Galapagos hawk. Difficulty level: Moderate
TUESDAY 06:45 Wake up call 7:00 Breakfast 8:00 Panga ride along Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island or deep water snorkeling 10:00 Back on board 11:00 Equator Line crossing – snack at the stern of the ship 12:00 Lunch 14:30 Wet or dry landing and excursion at Punta Albemarle 16:30 Kayak and/or Panga Ride at Punta Albemarle 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Wednesday’s program 20:00 Dinner Punta Vicente Roca is a wonderful snorkeling site, where you can usually see turtles as well as all kinds of fish. For those who do not snorkel, a panga ride will give you the opportunity to study some of the Galapagos’ spectacular geological rock formations. Nazca boobies, pelicans, swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and penguins are often seen in the area. Difficulty level: Easy to moderate. Punta Albemarle is located on Isabela Island’s remote northern tip and after a long time of being closed off to visitors, it will reopen again in 2012 for only a handful of cruise yachts. Punta Albemarle was used as a radar base by the U.S. during World War II. The waters in this region are very productive allowing for excellent chances for seeing whales in the area not to mention nesting cormorants and also the largest marine iguanas in the entire archipelago. Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
WEDNESDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Dry landing at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Station Afterward bus ride to the highlands of Santa Cruz to see wild giant tortoises 13:00 Back on board & lunch 15:30 Optional afternoon activities 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Thursday’s program 20:00 Dinner On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the great efforts being made by scientists, guides, rangers and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands’ namesake. After the visit we drive to the green highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will visit a tortoise reserve to search for giant tortoises in their natural surroundings. Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
THURSDAY 06:30 Wake up call 06:45 Breakfast 07:30 Dry landing El Barranco on Genovesa Island 10:00 Kayaking or panga ride 11:45 Back on board & lunch 14:30 Wet landing and excursion at Darwin Bay Beach on Genovesa Island 16:30 Beach time, swim or relax on the beach. 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Friday’s program 20:00 Dinner Genovesa, or Tower Island, is the northernmost island that is allowed to be visited by naturalist (non-diving) cruises. This island is extremely remote and home to literally millions of birds belonging to many different species including the red footed booby as well as frigates, swallow-tailed gulls and even endemic owls! There are two sites on Genovesa that are visited by the M/V Eclipse. El Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, is a steep path with stairs carved into the rock which leads to a plateau full of bird life amongst a Palo Santo forest. You will see Nazca boobies, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and petrels. With some luck, you may spot a short-eared lava owl. Difficulty level: Moderate. Darwin Bay’s soft, coralline white sand is only the beginning of a spectacular excursion. A trail from the beach takes you into lush mangroves where red footed boobies nest. Other locals include sea lions, swallow-tail gulls, frigates and more. Snorkeling is a must here as sharks, colorful reef fish, rays and tortoises are common. Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
FRIDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Wet landing and excursion at Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island 10:00 Swim and snorkel 11:00 Back on board & lunch 14:30 Dry landing and excursion at Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island 16:30 Beach time, swim and snorkel at Cerro Dragon 18:00 Back on board 19:00 Galapagos jeopardy for kids 19:15 Departure briefing 19:45 Farewell cocktail 20:00 Dinner 21:00 Please settle your bills Las Bachas Beach is located in the north of Santa Cruz Island. Its soft, white sand is derived from decomposed coral, making it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind the beach there is a small brackish lagoon, where it is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. Difficulty level: Easy. The name Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) stems from the fact that it was one of the few sites on Santa Cruz Island where a healthy population of land iguanas were found in 1975. After landing at a pier, a hike takes to you to a salt water lagoon behind the beach, frequented by common stilts, pintail ducks and occasionally flamingos. A short walk up the hill leads you to a land iguana nesting site, with breathtaking views of the bay. You will have the chance to go swimming after the walk. Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
SATURDAY DEPARTURE 05:45 Optional wake up call by phone 06:00 Circumference ride around Daphne Major with briefing by your guides from the MV Eclipse’s deck 07:15 Official wake up call 07:30 Breakfast 08:00 Luggage out & vacate cabins 08:45 Galapagos documentary shown in main lounge 09:45 Snack in the al fresco dining area 10:00 Disembark for airport transfer 12:30 Plane departs Daphne Major is located between Santa Cruz and Santiago Islands and is a spectacular bird-watching as well as scientific research site. A select handful of scientists have long studied bird life on these islands, especially Darwin’s finches. So important are these populations that this little island became famous after many publications made by well-known researchers, Peter and Rosemary Grant. Your guide will point out the bird-life as well as explain some of the important research carried out on the islands from the vantage point of the yacht’s decks as visitors are not allowed to walk on these islands due to their very fragile nature. Difficulty level: Easy
M/V ECLIPSE 7 – NIGHT WITH ESPAÑOLA
SATURDAY ARRIVAL Arrival at the airport in Baltra & transfer to the dock Check-in to your cabin Introductory briefing & safety drill Lunch Dry landing at North Seymour 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Sunday’s program 20:00 Welcome cocktail 20:15 Dinner North Seymour may very well be the perfect introduction to the Galapagos Islands. Although the island is characterized by arid vegetation, fauna abounds and you will soon find yourself surrounded by sea lions, blue footed boobies, marine iguanas, frigates and more. With some luck you may even get to see land iguanas as well. Difficulty level: Moderate.
SUNDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Dry landing and excursion at South Plaza Island 11:30 Back on board and lunch 15:00 Wet landing and excursion at Santa Fe Island 16:30 Swimming and snorkeling from the beach or kayak or panga ride 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Monday’s program 20:00 Dinner South Plaza Island, although quite small, is actually home to a large Opuntia cacti forest, land iguanas and one of the largest sea lion colonies in the central region of the archipelago. An endemic plant, Sesuvium, inhabits this island and is a great climate indicator as its color is a greenish-yellowish during the rainy season and a bright red during the dry season. You will also be able to see Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, other kinds of sea birds as well as different types of finches. Difficulty level: Moderate. Formed by uplifting, rather than by a volcano, Santa Fe is known for having one of the most beautiful coves in all the Galapagos. Some of the island’s endemic species include the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, rice rats, different types of finches, and the Galapagos Mockingbird. The visit includes a hike on a trail past salt bushes where Galapagos hawks as well as the Santa Fe land iguanas tend to roam. Playful sea lions will usually accompany swimmers and snorkelers during beach time. Difficulty level: Moderate.
MONDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Wet landing and excursion at Punta Pitt, San Cristobal Island. Snorkeling, kayaking and panga ride opportunities 11:30 Back on board and lunch 15:00 Disembark at Cerro Brujo for excursion, beach activities, snorkeling, and panga ride 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Tuesday’s program 20:00 Dinner Punta Pitt is composed of volcanic bluff substrate and is located on the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island. This is the only site in Galapagos where one may have the opportunity to see all 3 species of boobies and both species of frigates. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled as the Red Footed Booby is not as easy to spot because they prefer to nest in areas of thick brush. You can also enjoy kayaking, snorkeling and panga rides at Punta Pitt. Difficulty level: Moderate to difficult. Located on the north coast of San Cristobal Island, this eroding tough cone offers a fantastic landscape as well as wonderful swimming, snorkeling and panga ride experiences. Cerro Brujo’s gorgeous beach is also home to many sea lions and it’s also the first coast where Charles Darwin first stepped foot on in the Archipelago! You will also see a beautiful lagoon used by the locals of Baquerizo Moreno Port for salt mining as well as two different species of halophytes (rare plants that grow in soils with a high salt content) Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
TUESDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Dry landing and excursion on Floreana Island, visits to the Baroness’s outlook point and Post Office followed by snorkeling or kayak 11:30 Back on board and lunch 15:00 Punta Cormorant & Champion with snorkeling, kayak or panga ride 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Tuesday’s program 20:00 Dinner Floreana is one of the Galapagos most famous, or shall we say, "infamous" of islands due to many strange stories regarding past settlers. There are many wonderful and diverse sites to visit including Post Office Bay and the "Baroness’s Viewing Point". Marine life also abounds in Floreana’s coastal regions making it a fantastic site for snorkeling. Flamingos also populate the island and may be seen during your visit. The Baroness’s Viewing Point is the perfect place to take in the special environment that defines Floreana, and a great spot to talk and ponder regarding the intriguing history of the Baroness and her three lovers! Difficulty level: Easy. In the 18th century whalers passing through the islands placed a wooden barrel on Floreana Island for use as an unofficial mail box. The tradition continues today as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home. This is one of the archipelago’s most famous spots. Don’t forget to look in your logbook for your postcards! Difficulty level: Easy. A great site for bird-watching, Cormorant Point has a large lagoon where everything from Flamingos to stilts and pintail ducks can be observed. The beach nearby is also quite special and known as: The "Green Beach" named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand. Difficulty level: Easy.
WEDNESDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Panga ride to Elizabeth Bay mangroves 11:00 Back on board and lunch 15:00 Landing at Punta Moreno 16:30 Snorkeling or panga ride 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Thursday’s program 20:00 Dinner Elizabeth Bay is one of the furthest points of the Galapagos that we will visit on our cruise. We will enter a sheltered cove – a wonderful mangrove ecosystem that is a refuge for sea turtles, rays, blue-footed boobies, penguins, herons and more. Difficulty level: Easy. Moreno Point is located just southwest of Elizabeth Bay on the west coast of Isabela Island and is known for large populations of sea birds which can be appreciated during a panga ride along the striking rocky shores or a hike along path through lava rock leading to tide pools and mangroves. In the tide pools green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can be spotted. Difficulty level: Moderate to difficult.
THURSDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Dry landing at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Station Afterward bus ride to the highlands of Santa Cruz to see wild giant tortoises 13:00 Back on board & lunch 15:30 Optional afternoon activities 18:00 Back on board 19:30 Briefing on Friday’s program 20:00 Dinner On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the huge efforts being made by scientists, guides, rangers and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands’ namesake. After the visit we drive to the green highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will visit a tortoise reserve to search for giant tortoises in their natural surroundings. Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
FRIDAY 06:45 Wake up call 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Wet landing at Gardner Bay on Española Island for swimming and snorkeling from the beach or kayaking 10:00 Deep water snorkeling 11:30 Towel Folding lesson 12:00 Lunch 15:00 Dry landing at Punta Suarez, Española Island 18:00 Back on board 19:00 Galapagos Jeopardy for kids 19:15 Departure briefing 19:45 Farewell cocktail 20:00 Dinner 21:00 Please settle your bills
Gardner Bay offers the chance to enjoy a wonderful white sandy beach. It is home to one of the most important colonies of sea lions, and it is also a nesting site for sea turtles. Throughout the morning there are opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Difficulty level: Easy Punta Suárez is one of the most popular and attractive sites in the Galapagos. Due to its isolation from other islands, it has a high proportion of endemic fauna. A few steps inland from the landing site, groups of Española marine iguanas bask in the sun. Further inland, Nazca and blue-footed boobies nest near the trail, Galapagos doves peck around unaware of visitors and finches go about their day to day business. The trail continues towards a blowhole, which is a fissure in the lava where water spurts high into the air like a geyser. The cracks in the cliffs are home to swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds. Further up the cliff in an area of low-lying trees you will find waved albatrosses nesting. The 15,000 to 17,000 pairs of albatrosses on Española represent almost the entire population of this species on the planet. They perform one of the most spectacular courtship rituals of the animal world. Difficulty level: Difficult
SATURDAY 05:45 Optional wake up call by phone 06:00 Panga ride to Mosquera Islet 07:15 Official wake up call Back on board from Mosquera Islet 07:30 Breakfast 08:00 Luggage out & vacate cabins 08:45 Galapagos documentary shown in main lounge 09:45 Snack in the al fresco dining area 10:00 Disembark for airport transfer 12:30 Plane departs Mosquera Islet: This tiny islet is actually home to a huge population of sea lions and is also home to many shorebirds. While at Mosquera, keep your eyes peeled as there are occasional reports of dolphins and orcas. Difficulty level: Easy
DEPOSITS/CANCELLATIONS/PENALTIES FIT & GROUP PAYMENT POLICIES a) Reservations made 61 days or more prior to departure: A deposit of US $400 per person is required to confirm the booking. The final balance is required 60 days prior to departure. If the payment is not received on time, the space(s) will be automatically released. b) Reservations made 60 days or less prior to departure: A full non-refundable payment is required to confirm the booking. The price of the cruise is based on double occupancy. If a person does not occupy a single cabin, single supplements are as follows: 1.5 x the twin rate for Staterooms 2 x the twin rate for Superior and Deluxe Staterooms FIT & GROUP CANCELLATION POLICIES a) Cancellations made 121 days or more before departure: The deposit will be refunded, less a US $200 service charge per person. b) Cancellations made 120 to 61 days prior to departure: All deposits are non-refundable. c) Cancellations made 60 days or less prior to departure: Full payment will be applied as the cancellation penalty. Air tickets and entrance fees will only be charged if cancellations are made 9 days or less prior to departure. For changes of flight routes to the Galapagos Islands received 9 days or less prior to cruise departure, no refunds will be made. CHARTER PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES a) Bookings made 181 days or more prior to the departure date: A deposit of 10% of the gross charter price is required to confirm the booking. A second deposit of 20% of the gross charter price must be received 180 days prior to departure. T he final balance should be paid 60 days prior to departure. b) Bookings made 180 days to 61 days before departure: A deposit of 30% of the gross charter price will be required to confirm the booking. The final balance should be paid 60 days prior to departure. c) Bookings made 60 days or less before departure: Full payment is required to confirm the booking. · All deposits are non refundable except in cases as stated in our Yacht Charter Agreement. · All payments must be received on time, otherwise the vessel will be automatically released and deposits forfeited. · All charters require a signed charter agreement between both parties
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