DA € 1.449

TOUR CODE: SEGS
GALAPAGOS “CHEAP PRICE”
TOUR DI 9 GIORNI – 8 NOTTI
DA QUITO A QUITO
DA
€ 1.449
Un’avventura di nove giorni, perfetta per coloro che vogliono conoscere la flora e la fauna delle Isole
Galapagos, ma preferiscono dormire sulla costa – in modo che il tempo sull’acqua sia limitato al
passaggio da un’isola all’altra. Un itinerario alla scoperta dell’isola poco conosciuta di Isabela per
trascorrere le giornate con i leoni marini, le mante e le tartarughe giganti.
Molte le attività possibili da scegliere, per entrare in contatto con una delle meraviglie naturali del
mondo, senza spendere una fortuna.
Questo tour fa per me?
Stile: Yolo
Livello del Servizio: Basic
Sforzo fisico: Medio – alto
N.B. – Necessaria la conoscenza della lingua inglese
Partenze garantite di gruppo: Vedere elenco partenze
GRUPPO: Max 16 persone. Normalmente 10/12 partecipanti.
PAESI VISITATI: Ecuador – Isole Galapagos
GROUP LEADER: : Guide naturalistiche sulle isole, Chief Experience officer (CEO) a Quito
Itinerario: Quito – San Cristobal Isl. – Santa Cruz Isl. – Isabela Isl. – Santa Cruz Isl. – Quito
1° GIORNO – QUITO
Arrivo a Quito. Trasferimento in Hotel. Resto della giornata a disposizione
2° / 3° GIORNO – SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
Volo su San Cristobal e trasferimento presso una famiglia locale ove si soggiornerà. Visita
dell’Interpretation Centre ed escursionismo presso “Las Tijeretas” per attività di birdwatching.
Possibilità di nuotare, esplorare la città e fare shopping.
4° GIORNO – SANTA CRUZ
In barca veloce si raggiunge l’isola di Santa Cruz. Visita del centro di ricerca intitolato a
Charles Darwin per vedere la Tartaruga di terra gigante delle Galapagos ed apprendere
qualche nozione sulla storia naturale dell’isola. Possibilità di scegliere tra la visita alle
highlands, praticare nuoto o andare a fare shopping.
5° / 7° GIORNO ISABELA
Il tour prosegue in barca veloce per l’isola Isabela. Visita del centro di allevamento della
tartaruga gigante e del “Muro delle Lacrime”. Possibilità di effettuare un tour al vulcano Sierra
Negra, di prendere lezioni di surf e snorkeling e di trascorrere una delle notti in campeggio
nelle highlands.
8° GIORNO – SANTA CRUZ/QUITO
Ritorno a Santa Cruz in barca veloce e trasferimento a Baltra. Volo di rientro a Quito.
9° GIORNO – QUITO
Volo di rientro (volo intercontinentale non incluso).
SISTEMAZIONE
TRASPORTI
PASTI INCLUSI
Hotel basic (5 Notti)
Van /Pick-up
2 Colazioni
Camping multi-share
(1 notte)
Aeroplano
7 Pranzi
Casa Famiglia
(2 notti)
Bus locali,
trasporti locali
Barca/Canoa
4 Cene
CALENDARIO PARTENZE
PARTENZE 2012
DA LIMA A LA LIMA
MARZO
APRILE
MAGGIO
GIUGNO
30
6, 20
4, 11, 27
1, 22
8
14, 28
12, 19, 4
9, 30
LUGLIO
13
21
AGOSTO
3, 17, 24,
11, 25, 01/9
SETTEMBRE
14
22
OTTOBRE
5, 8, 26
13, 16, 03/11
NOVEMBRE
16
24
Le quotazioni sono espresse in Euro
Periodo
21 Gennaio 2012 – 2 gennaio 2013
Quota individuale di
partecipazione
€ 1.449,00
Supplemento
Camera Singola
N/A
Budget per pasti non inclusi: Circa $ 255-340
10 dollari per acquistare la TOURIST TRANSIT CARD all’aeroporto di Quito e 100 dollari (cash) per l’ingresso
al parco delle Galapagos all’arrivo sulle isole (tassa soggetta ad incremento), 5 dollari per tassa municipale
ad Isabela.
DONAZIONE FONDAZIONE ”PLANETERRA”
Planeterra è un organizzazione non-profit con la finalità di sostenere le comunità locali. E’ un
modo per supportare, attraverso questa tipologia d viaggi, le popolazioni locali interagendo con
le stesse. Donando 1 Euro al giorno per tutta la durata del soggiorno potrai contribuire a far
mantenere vive le tradizioni culturali e la propria identità a tutte le comunità che incontrerai
lungo il tragitto. La donazione è soggettiva e deve essere confermata al momento della
prenotazione.
La quota comprende




8 pernottamenti negli hotel della categoria evidenziata in camera doppia con
trattamento come da programma.
Trasferimenti da/per l’aeroporto di Quito in arrivo.
Pasti, come evidenziato.
Escursioni con Tour Leader e guide locali.
La quota non comprende



Voli internazionali e domestici e relative tasse aeroportuali
Mance, bevande e spese personali
Tutto quanto non espressamente indicato alla voce “La quota comprende”.
N.B. possibilità di aggiungere notti pre/post Tour a Quito.
VERSIONE ITINERARIO “ALLARGATA” IN LINGUA INGLESE
DAY 1 QUITO
Arrive at any time. There are no planned activities, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.
A G Adventures representative will greet you at the hotel and brief you on the various aspects
of the tour. If you are not able to attend the welcome meeting, our representative will leave all
important information at your hotel’s reception indicating what time to be ready on Day 2 of
your trip. If there is any confusion on arrival, please do not hesitate to call the contact number
listed in this dossier.
Located 2850m (9348 ft) above sea level, the Ecuadorian capital of Quito enjoys a wonderful
spring-like climate, despite the fact that it is only 22 km (14 miles) south of the Equator.
Nestled in a valley flanked by mountains, on a clear day several snow-capped volcanoes,
including nearby Pichincha, are visible from the city centre. Add to its beautiful location a rich
history and well-preserved colonial district, and you begin to understand Quito’s appeal to
thousands of tourists every year.
In 1978 UNESCO declared Quito a World Heritage site, and any new development in Quito's old
town is now strictly controlled. Life in Quito tends to be peaceful, though the drivers are fond
of using their car horns! There are approximately 2,000,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan
area, but the pace is relaxed and the residents hospitable.
Since pre-Columbian times, the site of Quito has been inhabited by the Quitus, the Shyris and
the Puruhas. The Inca reached this city before the Spaniards, but levelled it to the ground
rather than give it up to the Spanish. The present capital was founded by the Spanish on
December 6th, 1534. Quito is separated into two basic sections, the old and the new cities.
The old city is full of historical buildings and churches. One of the more noteworthy is the
Catedral de Quito, located on the Plaza de la Independencia. Built between 1550 and 1562, it
was one of the first neoclassical works in Quito. La Compañía de Jésus Church is considered
one of the most beautiful in the Americas. The decorations in the Compañía contain
approximately one and one-half tons of gold, and construction of the church took 170 years
(1605-1775).
There are several excellent museums scattered throughout the city. The Casa de la Cultura
Ecuadoriana has an interesting display of traditional musical instruments and Ecuadorian
traditional dress, a large art collection, and a small natural history museum. For archaeology
the best museum to visit is the Museo del Banco Central with its well displayed pottery, gold
ornaments, skulls showing deformities and early surgical methods, a mummy and many other
objects of interest. The small, rounded hill dominating the old town is El Panecillo or 'the Little
Bread Loaf,' a major Quito landmark. From here there are marvellous panoramic views of the
entire city and surrounding volcanoes. You can easily take a trolley (streetcar) or a cab
between the Old Town and New Town.
Quito’s large foreign population and steady stream of travellers have given it a varied and
vibrant nightlife, and salsotecas and other dance clubs abound. For a real Ecuadorian
experience though, be sure and drop by a peña if you can; these are great places for meeting
locals and dancing, as well as enjoying local cooking.
Just a couple of hours south of Quito is Parque National Cotopaxi, home to Cotopaxi Volcano
(5897 m/19342 ft). the beautiful cone-shaped, snow covered volcano is Ecuador’s second
highest peak and the highest active volcano in the world. This is a great spot for a days hiking
(up to the refuge on the glacier’s edge) or mountain biking (downhill all the way). True
enthusiasts attempt the climb to the summit (overnight excursion). Allow yourself an extra day
or two in Quito, before or after your trip, if you want to conquer Cotopaxi.
Warning: Please take care when wandering about the city on your own, as pick pockets and
purse-snatchers are common, particularly in the Old Town. Be safe and leave your passport,
credit cards, traveller’s cheques and cash you don’t need in the hotel’s safety deposit box.
Most Quiteños are honest and genuinely helpful and friendly, but be safe and enjoy the city!
DAY 2-3 SAN CRISTÓBAL (1B)
Fly to the Galapagos and the island of San Cristóbal, and transfer to your family homestay
located in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands. Learn about the
cultural and natural history of the Galapagos Islands at the Interpretation Centre in town and
enjoy an included hike to the lookout point of "Las Tijeretas" for some fantastic bird spotting.
There will be plenty of free time for optional activities like enjoying nearby beaches and
shopping.
San Cristóbal is the easternmost island of Galapagos and one of the oldest. The Galapagos
Islands are located about 1000 km (620 miles) off the Pacific coast of South America. The
archipelago is comprised of 13 major islands and scores of islets that served as a living
laboratory for Charles Darwin, the renowned evolution theorist. Long before Darwin arrived in
the Galapagos, seafarers knew these isolated islands as home to some of the strangest and
most wonderful wildlife imaginable, including birds that could swim but no longer fly, aquatic
iguanas, dragon-like lizards left over from prehistoric times, and the giant Galapagos tortoises
for which the islands were named.
Covering nearly 5000 square km (3100 square miles), the Galapagos Islands are now a
National Park. The Galapagos National Park is the institution that controls the preservation of
this environment, assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station. Inaugurated in 1964 and
based in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, the Charles Darwin Research Station is the one
place where visitors can easily see the famous Galapagos Tortoises, which may live up to two
hundred years. This is also the training centre for naturalist guides who accompany all visitors
landing at more than 40 approved sites on the islands, and members of the international
scientific community often come to study at the station.
The National Park charges a visitor fee of $100 USD, payable on arrival, which funds Park
maintenance and supervision in the Galapagos, as well as ecological study, conservation and
infrastructure development in Ecuador's other National Parks. Entry fees and the funds they
generate for the National Park System are among measures taken by the Ecuadorian
government to protect its natural heritage.
DAY 4 SANTA CRUZ (1B)
Travel in the morning by speedboat to the island of Santa Cruz and the town of Puerto Ayora,
the largest settlement in the Galapagos Islands. Visit the world-famous Charles Darwin
Research Station to learn about and get up close and personal with the fascinating Giant
Galapagos Land Tortoise. Optional activities abound from Santa Cruz, including fabulous
beaches, a visit to the highlands, and diving or snorkelling trips to name just a few.
Santa Cruz is the second largest in the island group and also boasts the most varied of the
islands’ vegetation zones: coastal, transition, scalesia, miconia and pampa. The Charles Darwin
Research Station is a 10 minute walk from the centre of the town. Here, an exhibition centre
displays photos of recent volcanic eruptions, charts outlining geological formations and
drawings of the evolutionary development of endemic species. A corral houses adult Galapagos
Tortoises, and a nursery cares for young tortoises until they are about three years old, when
their shells have hardened enough to resist attack from feral dogs.
DAY 5-7 ISABELA
Another speedboat trip brings us to Isabela Island, the largest and one of the most volcanically
active in the Galapagos. Shaped like a seahorse, Isabela stretches over 100 kms long and is
extremely narrow. Six active volcanoes dominate the island - Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin,
Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf. All of these volcanoes except Ecuador are still active, and two
of them are over 1,700 metres high - Wolf and Cerro Azul.
We include visits to the local attractions of the Giant Tortoise breeding centre and the "Muro de
las Lagrimas," and offer lots of free time for individual exploration and optional activities, of
which there are plenty!
One optional day tour on Isabela Island could be a trip up the Sierra Negra Volcano, one of the
most active volcanoes in Galapagos boasting the second largest crater in the world. Either
hiking or on horseback (optional), you can experience a birds-eye view of this magical
landscape.
Another option could be to visit the “Tintoreras“ Shark Alley to observe the white tip reef
sharks found swimming in the channels between the rocks. Get a close-up view of pelicans,
frigate birds and diving blue footed boobies. Watch for manta rays and rare Galapagos
penguins, of which only 800 pairs exist.
Isabela also boasts some beautiful, long, sandy beaches for those who just want to relax under
the palm trees, take a swim, or try your hand at surfing.
1 night will be spent camping, which will be sure to leave lasting memories and to offer a
unique and special experience that most visitors to the Galapagos miss. Please note that
bedding will be provided for the camping.
DAY 8 SANTA CRUZ/QUITO
Travel by speedboat back to Puerto Ayora and transfer across the island by public bus to Baltra
for the flight back to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to the hotel for one last night on the
town. Our representative in Quito will be able to advise you and help with some of the many
day tours available in and around Quito.
DAY 9 QUITO