TAHITI TO EASTER ISLAND MARQUESAS, TUAMOTUS & PITCAIRNS

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1 TAHITI TO EASTER ISLAND MARQUESAS, TUAMOTUS & PITCAIRNS October 10 29, Days Aboard the Island Sky Nuku Hiva MAP NOT TO SCALE MARQUESAS ISLANDS Photograph the exquisite Marquesas with their sky-piercing volcanoes, lushlycarpeted canyons, and chiseled bays. Hiva Oa Fatu Hiva Apataki PA C I F I C OCEAN Puka Puka Papeete TAHITI TUAMOTU ISL ANDS Puka Rua Henderson Pitcairn Ducie PITCAIR N ISLA ND S NUKU HIVA Wildlife Highlights E A STE R ISLA ND View Easter Island s giant volcanic stone statues, or moai representing deified ancestors, oral traditions suggest they walked from the quarry to their stone platforms along the coastline. Meet the residents of tiny Pitcairn Island; most are direct descendants of the HMS Bounty crew. Visit Henderson and Ducie Islands, home to rare and endemic bird species, from Murphy s and Phoenix petrels to the Henderson Island crake and Stephen s lorikeet. Enjoy excellent snorkeling and diving nearly every day to discover healthy reefs teeming with colorful, tropical fish. Itinerary... page 2 > Flight Information... page 3 > Ship, Deck Plan & Rates... page 4 > Featured Leader... page 5 > Know Before You Go... page 5 >

2 WHITE TERN EASTER ISLAND Itinerary Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing enhancements to this itinerary. Thursday, October 10, 2019 DEPART USA / PAPEETE, TAHITI Board your independent flight to Papeete. Arrive in the late evening and transfer to our hotel. Friday, October 11 PAPEETE / EMBARK ISLAND SKY Relax during a morning at leisure, then join a tour of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia s largest island. Pass by orchards of papaya as you drive along the stunning coast. Visit the renowned Museum of Tahiti, which traces the islands history. Birders will seek a variety of native birds including Gray-green Fruit-Dove. Embark the Island Sky this afternoon. Saturday, October 12 APATAKI, TUAMOTU ISLANDS Though remote and sparsely populated, the far-flung Tuamotus comprise the world s largest atoll chain. With few visitors, and little industry, the dazzling lagoon of Apataki offers a pristine underwater landscape for snorkelers and divers to explore. Birders will thrill to the site of Red-footed Booby, Lesser Frigatebird, noddies, terns, Blue Lorikeet, and Tuamotu Reed- Warbler. Monday Wednesday, October MARQUESAS ISLANDS Considered one of the most beautiful island groups in the South Pacific, the Marquesas lie farther from a continental coast than any other islands in the world. Unlike other Polynesian islands, the Marquesas have no surrounding reefs or placid lagoons. Their wide, deep bays are havens for vessels such as ours. Spend three days exploring this dazzling collection of islands whose breathtaking vertical peaks reach into the clouds, while carpets of lush tropical vegetation drape cliffs and canyons that descend to sea-sculpted bays. Countless Sooty, White, and Bridled terns circle tiny, rocky pinnacle islets. Zodiacs bring you ashore on a variety of islands, to be greeted by dancers and drummers adorned in leis and tapa cloth. On walks you may see petroglyphs or tiki figures representing deified ancestors flanked by banyan trees, fragrant plumeria, blooming orchids, and silvery waterfalls. Open-air craft markets display baskets, shell jewelry, and wooden carvings. Birders search for the endemic Nuku Hiva Pigeon and Marquesan Swiftlet. Though the islands lack fringing reefs, snorkelers and divers will discover colorful fish against a backdrop of sheer walls and dramatic arches. Thursday, October 17 PUKA PUKA, TUAMOTU ISLANDS Delightful music and dancing welcome you to this idyllic island the first land sighted in the Pacific by Europeans. Visit the small village whose residents raise taro, bananas, and coconut palms for copra (dried coconut). Birders search for Brown Noddies while snorkelers and divers explore the fringing reef. Sunday, October 13 Attend informative lectures, and from the ship s viewing decks we ll scan the seas for Wedge-tailed and Tropical shearwaters. < 2 >

3 Friday, October 18 PUKA RUA Coconut palms and breadfruit trees cover the beautiful islets that surround Puka Rua s lagoon. Garland-bedecked dancers greet you in the tiny village whose 150 hospitable inhabitants earn a living selling copra. Witness the process of coconut drying, visit a local crafts market, or stroll along the lagoon s shores to search for Pacific Reef-Heron and White-capped Fruit-Dove. Saturday, October 19 EXPEDITION STOP Today, conditions permitting, explore one of the many uninhabited Tuamotu Islands and enjoy swimming, snorkeling, or diving. A sighting of the Tuamotu Sandpiper, one of the world s rarest shorebirds, is possible today. Sunday, October 20 Spend a day at sea as the ship continues towards the remote Pitcairn Islands. Join naturalists on deck to search for a variety of seabirds and marine mammals. Monday, October 21 PITCAIRN Remote, enchanting, and tiny at six miles around, volcanocrowned Pitcairn was the fabled hideout of the HMS Bounty mutineers in Step ashore and visit with the 50 hospitable inhabitants of Adamstown, who are the direct descendants of the nine mutineers and 18 Polynesians, or go off in search of birds such as Blue-Gray Noddy and Pitcairn Reed-Warbler. Thursday & Friday, October 24 & 25 Relax on deck and enjoy the ongoing lecture series as you cruise toward Easter Island, a World Heritage Site and one of the most mysterious places on earth. Saturday & Sunday, October 26 & 27 EASTER ISLAND, CHILE Spend two full days exploring Easter Island. View the intriguing stone heads, moai, built on massive stone platforms at Tahai, along with nearly 400 monolithic statues in various states of completion at the spectacular volcanic tuff quarries. Visit the ceremonial center of Ahu Vinapu, and at Ahu Tongariki visit the largest ceremonial site. Drive to the Rano Kau volcano to view the giant caldera, home to a sprawling lake dotted with small floating reed islets, and the ceremonial village of Orongo, dedicated to the fascinating birdman cult. Redtailed Tropicbirds and Polynesian Storm-Petrels may be seen in the offshore waters. Monday & Tuesday, October 28 & 29 EASTER ISLAND / DISEMBARK / SANTIAGO / USA After breakfast disembark the Island Sky and enjoy a short tour before heading to the airport for your afternoon flight to Santiago; arrive in the USA October 29. Flight Information You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/papeete and Easter Island/Santiago/home city. Please call VENT (8368) or to learn more about air arrangements. Tuesday, October 22 HENDERSON Sheer limestone cliffs surround this elevated coralline island, a World Heritage Site, pockmarked by caves and blowholes. Henderson s astounding natural selection has produced ten endemic flowering plants and four endemic species of land birds, including the Henderson Island Crake and Stephen s Lorikeet. There will also be an opportunity to snorkel or dive in the marinelife-rich waters. Wednesday, October 23 DUCIE This small, uninhabited, and rarely-visited atoll is rimmed in white sand beaches that in turn surround a crystalline lagoon. As you walk along the shore, witness a vast variety of seabirds tens of thousands nest here, including Murphy s and Phoenix petrels, Masked Boobies, frigatebirds, and Red-tailed Tropicbirds. Underwater forays bring you face-to-face with legions of rainbow-hued fish in the warm, clear waters. Rodica Woodbury < 3 >

4 The Island Sky Deck Plan The all-suite Island Sky is a spacious 100-guest expedition vessel. Public spaces include a large lounge, elegant bar with piano, library, single-seating dining room, and a rear sun deck where meals are served in pleasant weather. All suites have an ocean view and feature a sitting area, en suite bathroom, flat-screen television, spacious wardrobes, small refrigerator, and dressing table. EXPLORER DECK ERIKSON DECK Outdoor Cafe Bar MARCO POLO DECK Beauty Center Sun Deck OWNER S SUITE Bridge The Club Library COLUMBUS DECK Lounge Reception MAGELLAN DECK Doctor Restaurant Rates CATEGORY 1 $20,680 CATEGORY 4 $27,280 OWNER S SUITE $40,780 CAT 5 / SOLO $29,880 CATEGORY 2 $22,380 CATEGORY 5 $29,880 CAT 2 / SOLO $22,380 CATEGORY 3 $25,180 CATEGORY 6 $33,880 CAT 3 / SOLO $25,180 Solo Travelers: No Solo supplement in select categories (limited availability)! Scuba Diving is available on this expedition for an additional cost of $500 per person. Limited to 16 Advanced Open Water (AOW) certified scuba divers. You must complete two open water dives within the 12 months prior to the trip s departure. INCLUDED: Daily activity options including cultural tours, nature walks, snorkeling, and Zodiac cruises All gratuities All accommodations World-class lecture and expedition team All onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner All entrance fees, taxes, and landing and port charges Arrival and departure transfers on group dates Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear and reading materials Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance NOT INCLUDED: Airfare from your home city/papeete and Easter Island/Santiago/home city Excess baggage charges Airport arrival and departure taxes Transfers for independent arrivals and departures Passport and/or visa fees Travel insurance Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages (other than listed at left), and other incidentals /Internet/fax/telephone charges A 25% per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. All rates are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure. Visit to view the details and terms and conditions for this expedition. < 4 >

5 Featured Leader Our leaders have visited the South Pacific numerous times and will provide valuable insight and commentary on the history, culture, religion, and current events of these intriguing countries. Fascinating lectures, photo presentations, daily recaps, and informal discussions will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the wonders you will see. Leaders from additional fields of study will join the leader featured below. BRIAN GIBBONS (VENT LEADER) Brian grew up in suburban Dallas where he began exploring the wild world in local creeks and parks. Chasing butterflies and any animal that was unfortunate enough to cross paths with the Gibbons boys occupied his childhood. A wooden bird feeder kit sparked a flame that was stoked by a gift of the Golden Guide and family camping trips to Texas state parks. More than twenty-five years ago Brian attended two VENT camps for young birders. Birds are now his primary interest, but all things wild continue to captivate him. After college, Brian undertook a variety of field biology research jobs that have taken him to the Caribbean, the Bering Sea, and the land of the midnight sun, arctic Alaska. He enjoys working with kids, hoping to spark environmental awareness through birds. For many years Brian s field research has involved bird banding. His most amazing recoveries were a female Wilson s Warbler that had been banded in Alaska and was captured by Brian in Colorado, and a Sooty Tern that perished after a hurricane on the Texas coast; it had plied the Gulf of Mexico and the oceans of the world for 24 years. Brian s recreational bird-seeking has taken him to Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great FATU HIVA Wall in China, the plains of East Africa, and the Himalayas in Nepal. Brian leads birding trips in the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe. As well as being a fanatical birder, he loves capturing birds with photography. He lives in Tucson, Arizona with his wife, Lacrecia Johnson, and their son, Grayson. Jack Grove i Know Before You Go For most activities, a moderate level of exertion is required. You will need to climb into and out of Zodiacs and tenders for diving and snorkeling activities and excursions ashore. Ashore, you must be able to walk moderate distances over beaches and sometimes rough terrain. Average daily temperatures will range from the low to upper 80s F, though high humidity can make it feel warmer, with cooler temperatures in the Pitcairns and Easter Island. Though this voyage occurs during the dry season, rainfall is always a possibility. (800) (512) FAX (512) Wallingwood Drive #1003 Austin, TX info@ventbird.com To reserve, visit < 5