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 The Galapagos Islands
Humboldt Explorer
July 12-19, 2010
On the
isolated shores of the Galapagos Islands, the flora and fauna, adapting
to diverse conditions, evolved into species found nowhere else in the
world. Their uniqueness, and
especially the variations from island to island, can be clearly witnessed,
making Darwin's Theory obvious even to the amateur.
Today,
the islands are still nature's laboratory of evolution where the animals'
lack of fear rewards the visitor with a feeling of being part of nature
itself.
Join Y-kiki Divers for an amazing
7-night private charter exploring these famous islands. A once in a lifetime experience you won't want to miss!
Accommodations:
Explorer Ventures has announced we will be on their brand new boat, the Humbolt Explorer which began construction in August 2009. Click, here, for a copy of the deck layout diagram. There are 2 main deck cabins and 6 lower cabins. All cabins are identical and have 2 beds that can convert to one. The windows are slightly larger on the main deck cabins, but that is the only difference. All cabins are air-conditioned and have private bath and showers, an ocean view and a flat screen television (although we can promise you watching television will be the furthest thing from your mind!). A partially covered sundeck with jacuzzi, ample seating areas, a salon including a lounge area and a spacious dive deck with a large camera table are just some of her amenities. Continue to check on the Humbolt's progress by clicking, here.
Sample Travel Itinerary:
As for our itinerary, this is the overall plan. However, please note that our boat itinerary may change depending on local regulation, weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion. Currently each week the itinerary includes the same islands. The order of the islands, however, is dictated by the National Parks Foundation and may vary weekly.
Sunday, 7/11/2010: Delta flight from St. Louis to Atlanta, 1:30 pm - 4:10 pm
Atlanta to Quito, 5:30 pm - 9:50 pm
Overnight in Quito at the Rio Amazones Hotel
 Monday, 7/12: Flight from Quito to San Cristobal (we do not have the specific flight details, but we’ll arrive in the late morning on a TAME or Aerogal flight). We will be met at the airport, transferred to the boat and will board the vessel after 11 a.m. We’ll depart for a short crossing to the canal for a check out dive and safety briefing. Lunch will be served before the dive and dinner will be served after the check out dive. The vessel will make a late day departure to the next destination.
Tuesday, 7/13: North Seymour
6:30, 9:30, dives. Sightings include turtles, hammerheads, sea lions. Afternoon/overnight transit to Darwin (20 hours).
Wednesday, 7/14: Darwin
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Night at anchor.
Thursday, 7/15: Darwin Island
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Evening crossing to Wolf Island (2.5 hrs).
 Friday, 7/16: Wolf Island
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles and silky sharks. Overnight transit to Isabela Island (15 hours).
Saturday, 7/17: Isabela Island – Cabo Marshall
6:30, 9:30, 11:30 and 3:00 dives. Sightings include giant manta rays, mobula rays, turtles, hammerheads, black-striped salema. Overnight transit Cousins Rock (8 hours).
 Sunday, 7/18: Cousin’s Rock
6:30 dive – macro diving with excellent chance of seeing sea horses, frog fish, sea lions, eagle rays. Lunch and transit back to Santa Cruz (3 hrs). Land trip to see the giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz and possible visit to the town of Puerto Ayora. Dinner ashore.
Monday, 7/19: San Cristobal
There will be an early morning trip to the beach to see sea lions and marine iguanas. Breakfast; depart the vessel by 9 am. and catch our transfer back to the airport for the flight back to Quito.
Flight from San Cristobal to Quito
Delta flight Quito to Atlanta, 11:30 pm - 6:03 am (arriving 7/20)
Tuesday, 7/20: Atlanta to St. Louis, 7:25 am - 8:09 am
Adding on to the trip:
For travelers wishing to add-on land tour excursions, we can do a 3-night or 4-night option allowing at least 2 land excursions Monday and Tuesday and, with the 4-night option, a free day to do all the great free things on Santa Cruz or take another tour. Contact us for additional information and pricing.
C ost of trip
includes:
•
Roundtrip air from St. Louis to Quito, Ecuador
• All transfers
• Overnight accommodations in Quito
• Roundtrip air from the mainland to San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
• 7 nights/8 days aboard the Humbolt Explorer
• 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• 2-4 dives a day (days vary)
• Use of tanks & weights
 Cost does not
includes:
• $100pp park fee
• $35pp chamber fee
• $150pp fuel surcharge
• $10pp tourist card
• $25pp departure taxes
• $150pp Nitrox for the week
• Gratuities
Cost:
$6,320 per diver. A $1,500 payment is due Nov. 30, 2009, and final payment is due April 30, 2010. Deposits and payments are non-refundable unless we can fill your space and we urge you to carry travel and dive insurance to cover the unexpected.
Travel Alert:
All travelers are required to carry current passports to travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and to re-enter the U.S. Click here for the State Department's website on U.S. Passports.
Download
the flyer HERE!
Contact
Bruce Tanner at (314) 469-8722 or
e-mail him at bruce@inlink.com
for questions or additional information.
We
strongly recommend travel
insurance.
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