LUXURY GAY GALAPAGOS CRUISE OCTOBER 2017

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1 LUXURY GAY GALAPAGOS CRUISE OCTOBER 2017 The Nomadic Boys are returning to Ecuador! You are cordially invited join them for a once-in-alifetime experience on a Galapagos Islands cruise aboard the most exclusive charter yacht in the archipelago, the M/Y Passion! ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Day 1: 12 Oct (Thu) International arrival and transfer in to hotel Situated near the lively Mariscal neighborhood, Cultura Manor is Quito s newest 5-star, gay-friendly boutique hotel that offers an authentic yet luxurious colonial setting with excellent services and elegant, well-appointed suites. The hotel has been booked exclusively for our group and is the perfect base from which to start our adventures in Ecuador. Day 2: 13 Oct (Fri) Quito (B/L/-) A day designed to give us a taste of our new environment. No trip to Ecuador is complete without a visit to the equator and so first we visit Mitad del Mundo for a great photo opportunity with one foot simultaneously in both northern and southern hemispheres. Then for lunch we go to El Crater, a restaurant perched spectacularly above the extinct Pululahua Volcano. 1 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortrips.info

2 In the afternoon we head to Quito s superb historic center the best-preserved colonial center in Latin America declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in We will spend time exploring the cobbled streets, squares and churches of this fascinating area. Afterwards we return to our hotel to relax before heading out to dinner on our own. An early night is suggested as it s an early rise tomorrow for the flight to the Galapagos Islands! 2 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortours.info

3 M/Y PASSION EASTERN ISLANDS ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Day 3: 14 Oct (Sat): Quito to Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island Black Turtle Cove (B/L/D) Our naturalist guide will meet us in the exclusive Baltra airport VIP lounge before taking us on to the yacht. After lunch, we will navigate a short distance to Black Turtle Cove, a large mangrove lagoon on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. Pelicans and herons roost on the branches while marine dwellers such as green sea turtles and golden rays may cruise right next to the panga as we make our way through the mangroves. After this visit we return to the Passion for dinner and to start the navigation to Genovesa Island. 3 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortrips.info

4 Day 4: 15 Oct (Sun): Genovesa Island Darwin Bay and Prince Phillip Steps (B/L/D) The horseshoe shaped island of Genovesa is one of the youngest in the archipelago being a mere one million years old. Famous for its many species of birds, including the world s largest colony of red-footed boobies, the island is a paradise for birdwatchers. Being the only island north of the equator to allow visitors makes it an even more special and coveted destination. At Darwin Bay, a 2.5 km-wide natural harbor formed by the collapse of a volcanic caldera, we have a wet landing on a small coral beach to take an easy walk along the white sands through winding mangroves to turquoise tidal pools. For those looking for a bit of action, there is also a more demanding walk over lava rock to reach the cliff for stunning views of the bay. There will be time to watch and take pictures of the amazing bird life that includes swallow-tailed gulls, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, large ground finches, large cactus finches, sharp-billed ground finches and great frigate birds. After lunch we disembark at Prince Phillip Steps locally known as El Barranco, a series of steep, roughhewn steps in the cliff face, which we climb to follow a path through busy seabird colonies to a forest of Palo Santo. This fragrant tree, found along the coast of South America, is used to produce incense and sweet essential oil and is a member of the same family as frankincense and myrrh. At the end of the path is revealed the highly impressive sight of over 200,000 pairs of Galapagos storm petrels seemingly all taking to the skies at the same time. 4 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortours.info

5 Day 5: 16 Oct (Mon): Bartolomé Island Pinnacle Rock and Chinese Hat (B/L/D) Dry landing at Bartolomé to climb up the wooden steps and reach the summit of this spatter cone for a most breathtaking panoramic view of the island s well-photographed Pinnacle Rock, views of neighboring Santiago and many other central islands in the distance. Less than a quarter of one square kilometer in size, this island get its name from being shaped like a Chinese hat. The hat shape is best appreciated from the north side. Lava formations can be seen on the western side of the island, formed under the sea and raised upward. For this reason it is possible to observe coral heads on the lava. Be amazed by the landscapes covered by sea lion colonies, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins. 5 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortrips.info

6 Day 6: 17 Oct (Tue): Rábida Island and Santa Cruz Island Dragon Hill (B/L/D) We will make a wet landing onto Rábida s deep-red beaches to explore the red island s fascinating interior and saltwater lagoon. Darwin s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, and yellow warblers feed off the vegetation. We may see brown pelicans nesting on saltbushes that fringe the beach. Then we head across to Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) on Santa Cruz s northwest shore (dry landing) to visit a saltwater lagoon, home to Greater Flamingos, black-necked stilts, and white-cheeked pintails. Further inland we find a fantastic land iguana nesting site. 6 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortours.info

7 Day 7: 18 Oct (Wed): Santa Cruz Island Highlands and Charles Darwin Research Station (B/L/D) We will spend today visiting Santa Cruz Island s most famous highlights. After a dry landing at the pier in Puerto Ayora we board our transportation and head to the island s highlands. This area, in contrast to the coastal region, has lush vegetation and forest due to the humidity that gathers due to the higher altitude. Our first visit of the day will be to one the ranches of the area where it is possible to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. As these animals migrate from the coastal area to the highlands and back, the chosen ranch will depend on the presence of the tortoises, as they roam free and change locations throughout the year. This is also a good place to see the Galapagos hawk and barn owl of this island and the surrounding forests are filled with birds such as the vermilion flycatcher and yellow warbler. After lunch at the ranch we head back to Puerto Ayora for our second visit of the day, the Charles Darwin Research Station and Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Here, we will see tortoises from several different islands. The animals are found in large semi-natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure an easy view for the visitors. The pens are divided according to four different stages: eggs, neonates, juveniles (held here until they are mature enough to be repatriated), and adults. 7 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortrips.info

8 After this visit, we will have some time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora and its many souvenir shops before boarding the Passion for the evening briefing and dinner. Day 8: 19 Oct (Thu): South Plaza Island and Santa Fe Island (B/L/D) We make a dry landing on one of the oldest docks of the archipelago. Colorful South Plaza is home to vibrant green prickly pears, deep red Sesuvium and coppery-orange land iguanas. Impressive seaward cliffs are excellent for a variety of coastal birds. This is also a great place to observe the adult and pup sea lions swimming along the shores. After a wet landing on Santa Fe onto a white beach where sea lions are usually resting, we will be looking for the endemic species of land iguana, larger and yellower than land iguanas on other islands. The largest prickly pear cacti in the Galapagos are also found here. 8 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortours.info

9 Day 9: 20 Oct (Fri): Española Island Punta Suárez, Gardner Bay and Osborn Islet (B/L/D) Punta Suárez (dry landing) is where we will take a spectacular walk to give us insight into the intimacies of life at sea, with nesting sites of blue-footed and Nazca boobies as well as the fascinating breeding rituals of the waved albatross (April to December). Sea lions are often seen near the landing place and also can be spotted body surfing in the large breakers. We can also spot large marine iguanas, oystercatchers, the Galapagos hawk, shallow-tailed gull, Galapagos dove, red-billed tropicbirds in flight, the Española mockingbird and Española lava lizard. The trail is about 4 km (2 miles) long and the walk takes around two hours. At an impressive blowhole near the trail water sprays some 25 m (75 feet) into the air. This is one of the most popular visitor sites in the Galapagos. We will later spend the afternoon in fantastic Española, starting with Gardner Bay (wet landing), an outstanding beach with sea lions, marine iguanas, and the intrepid Española Mockingbird. We will snorkel at Osborn Islet, a great place to observe large quantities of marine life. 9 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortrips.info

10 Day 10: 21 Oct (Sat): Santa Cruz Island Twin Craters and Baltra airport (B/-/-) This is our last day in the islands. After breakfast we will disembark in Puerto Ayora to take our transport to the Baltra airport making a short stop to visit the Twin Craters found in the highlands. The Gemelos are two deep craters located to the side of the road that leads to Puerto Ayora from the other side of the island. These huge holes were probably created in a volcanic explosion or my magma chambers underneath the island s surface. After this visit we will make our way to the Baltra airport for our flight to mainland Ecuador. As our plane will make a stop in Guayaquil on the way back to Quito, international flight connections can be made today in either city. ---END OF SERVICES--- Note: In addition to the land visits we offer a good balance of other activities such as snorkeling, panga rides and kayaking. 10 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortours.info

11 PASSION ITINERARY MAP 11 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954)

12 COST AND WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE RATES: Stateroom: Suite: US$7,275 US$8,235 Single supplement: Contact us for availability and rate. Included in the rates: Two nights accommodation in Quito at a luxurious 5-star boutique hotel in double room Accommodation on board the Passion in double cabin Meals as specified All airport transfers Transit control card Galapagos National Park entrance fee All specified activities and excursions English-speaking certified guides throughout the tour Round trip airfare Quito Baltra Quito/Guayaquil Use of snorkeling gear and wet suits Alcoholic and bottled beverages on board the Passion Not included in the rates: International airfare Additional optional activities, services and meals Travel / medical insurance Gratuities Personal expenses Take a virtual tour of the M/Y Passion: Learn more about the Nomadic Boys: To contact the Nomadic Boys about their 2017 tour of South America: info@nomadicboys.com 12 Tels (2) & U.S. +1 (954) ishpingotours@ecuadortours.info