Galapagos Cruise
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Royal Palm Hotel 4-day/3-night Package: On this 4-day/3-night journey of a lifetime, you will marvel at the unspoiled natural beauty of these volcanic islands as you are touched by the magic of its evolutionary legacy. When on your Galapagos vacation, the Royal Palm Hotel does its best to allow you to fully experience the islands by giving you as many choices as possible to do what you like when you like. On this tour, you are provided with a number of activity packages to help you plan what to see and do while you’re staying at Royal Palm. Whether you are traveling individually, as a couple or in a group, you can choose from the following activities and excursions to suit your particular requirements:
Yacht Expeditions: Bartolomé Island, North Seymour Island, South Plaza Island or Santa Fe Island Relaxation Activities: Swimming pool, spa treatments, shopping, DVD & games Exploration Activities: Visits to a Lava Tunnel, Tortuga Bay, tortoises in the wild, Charles Darwin Station, the fish market & lagoon Active Experiences: Biking, surfing, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, gym/ tennis/table tennis, horseback riding, planting a tree
“The trip to the Galapagos was really fantastic! Although it was quite short, the trip itinerary made time for us to do quite a lot of things. Everything went very smoothly, too.”
AM: This morning, you will check-in at the Quito or Guayaquil international airport. (NOTE: The flight time from Quito to Guayaquil is 40 minutes, plus a 40-minute layover in Guayaquil, while the flight time from the Guayaquil airport to the Galapagos Islands is 1hour and 40 minutes.) Arriving in the Galapagos archipelago at the Baltra Island airport, a Royal Palm representative will meet you and accompany you on a seven-minute ferry ride across the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island. From there, you will take a scenic 50-minute trip by private transportation to the Royal Palm Hotel. After checking in, you will have lunch there at the hotel.
PM: This afternoon, we will mount up for some horseback riding across the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Only a ten-minute drive from the hotel, you will find the ranch where calm and experienced horses are kept. Many of these horses are descendants of pure-bred mounts that were brought here by an American colonist before the Galapagos became a national park. Today, these horses have adapted to the rugged volcanic landscape to give you a safe, comfortable and enjoyable ride. For beginners, the first half hour is spent in an enclosed area where riders and horses can get to know each other. For experienced riders, the ranch has plenty of horses to choose from. This tour takes around 2-3 hours, led by one of the camp’s guides. This is a great way to see the Santa Cruz countryside, passing several properties and estates in the lush highland forests inhabited by giant tortoises.
AM: After dining, we will head for one of the most visited spots in the islands. Located on Santa Cruz Island, the Charles Darwin Research Station is primarily an international scientific research station situated on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. You will be taken to its visitor center to learn about the geology, climate, natural history and the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. However, the highlight of your visit here will undoubtedly be the research facility’s Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center, which breeds giant tortoises. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles can live up to 150- 200 years and weigh between 250 and 300 kg. Approaching them in their humid and forested spaces is always an inspiring adventure. For decades, the Fausto Center was home to “Lonesome George,” who finally died in 2012 as the last of his particular species. The tortoises you will see here are accustomed to humans, so it’s an excellent spot for visitors to take photographs with them. Remember that looking at the animals is allowed, but touching is not; and it’s absolutely forbidden to jump over the walls or open the pen doors at any time.
PM: Thanks to the Galapagos Islands’ unique location, some of the best surfing can be found here, which is why many professional surfers come to the Islands. For those who want to learn this sport, Royal Palm offers surfing classes given by members of the Surf Club of Santa Cruz, who also participate in international competitions. They hold half-day surf classes at the Surf School and take guests out on the hotel’s small boat to Tortuga Bay, where you can learn theory and then practice riding the waves!
AM/PM: This fantastic day-long yacht expedition to Bartolomé Island offers spectacular volcanic landscapes and great snorkeling. The journey in the launch takes almost two hours, during which time you will have a chance to spot dolphins and even whales. The launch will stop at Daphne Island, a volcanic tuff cone formation, to view the sea lions and various seabirds that inhabit it. Upon arriving on Bartolome Island itself, you will discover a fascinating moonscape formed by various volcanic formations — including lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones — as we hike to the island’s summit for striking views of the surrounding islands, Sullivan Bay and the towering Pinnacle Rock. As the beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some of the finest snorkeling in the islands, you can discover a marvelous underwater world here and have a good chance of finding sea turtles gliding gently alongside you. On the rocks beneath Pinnacle Rock, it’s quite possible to spot some of the quick-as-an-arrow Galapagos penguins; at around 25 centimeters tall, these are members of the second smallest species of penguin in the world. Likewise, you’re likely to see harmless Whitetip reef sharks sunning in these waters. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best of snorkeling experiences, as the water here is generally clear, without too much surf and full of marine life.
AM: This morning we will head off hiking along an off-the-beaten-path of lava trails. These stretch through different areas of vegetation that are full of exotic birdlife nesting in Miconia trees. The Galapagos is the perfect place to see “nature in action,” and on foot, you can enjoy this firsthand experience with wildlife and nature. The highest point on Santa Cruz is found in the highlands in the center of the island called Cerro Crocker, which is 864 meters high. This is also one of the best places to see the Galapagos Rail, a bluish purple-black bird that spends most of its time on the ground. On a clear day, you may also see Darwin finches, Galapagos Flycatchers, Mockingbirds, Galapagos Petrels and Vermilion Flycatchers.
PM: Concluding this amazing experience in the Galapagos Islands, you will be transferred to the Baltra Island airport for your return flight to the Ecuadorian mainland. Enjoy your last look back at the “enchanted islands,” a unique paradise with inspiring natural wonders.
| Price per room | ||||||
| Season | Double | |||||
| Casitas | Family Highland Villas | Highland Villa | Presidential Villa | Prince of Wales Villa | Royal Villa | |
| High Season | US$ 4,611 PP | US$ 6,773 PP | US$ 4,995 PP | US$ 5,973 PP | US$ 6,555 PP | US$ 6,006 PP |
Flights from/to Baltra from the Ecuadorian mainland
Entrance to the Galapagos National Park (USD $100)
Transit Control Card (USD $20)
Bottled drinks and alcoholic beverages
Optional activities at an extra cost: kayaking, biking, diving, surfing, local art lessons, and local cooking classes
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“We loved the time at the lodge in Cuyabeno. It was so genuine and natural there and the crew was so knowledgable and helpful. Thank you so much for the recommendation of the real Amazonia-experience.”