ULTIMATE GALAPAGOS PHOTO TOUR August 16 31, 2019 With professional photographer Suzi Eszterhas and famed Galapagos wildlife photographer Tui De Roy Luxurious accommodation aboard the EVOLUTION
highlights While most tours offer only one-week at sea, this tour offers a full two weeks, sailing island by island. Our daily program will have us on shore and photographing at first and last light, when the pace of wildlife behavior picks up to a vibrant crescendo, and other tour groups are noticeable by their absence. Once on the national park paths, our pace will be relaxed and sensitive to photographers needs and wildlife activity, with flexible timing to make the very best of each opportunity encountered. Crucially, we will never have more than 8 photographers with one guide (the legal size is 16), something no other tour offers, so there well be no stumbling over each other even during the most exciting moments. Our chosen season is a time when soft overcast skies should give us extra long hours of shooting, enhancing delicate details of texture and color, and minimizing the pitfalls of photography under harsh equatorial sunlight. We have chosen the coolest time of year in Galapagos, when the seas are most productive and many species are nurturing cute babies, Suzi s specialty. This should include adorable fluffy chicks of waved albatross, blue-footed booby, swallow-tailed gull and more. We ve chosen a luxurious, family owned ship, the EVOLUTION, which is large enough to avoid any discomforts of sea motion yet small enough to be warm and homey. Her staff is friendly and helpful and she offers plenty of indoor/outdoor space for relaxation, observation and learning. You will receive one-to-one instruction from professional wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas and famed Galapagos wildlife photographer, Tui De Roy, plus regular illustrated talks.
more details For the first time ever, this tour combines the knowledge, experience and charisma of two world-renown wildlife photographers to bring you a Galapagos experience like no other. Suzi s expertise in documenting the special bond between mother and offspring of all species will bring to life a whole new facet in photographing Galapagos, a place so often depicted through the cool scientific lens rather than the warmth of natural family emotions. This will be complimented by the deep insight of Tui s 50 years experience documenting these magic islands, bringing to life daily details of behavior, lighting, composition and more, which are so easily missed during shorter, fast-paced tours. Tui will also share her vast island background in daily slideshows ranging from what it was like to grow up as a pioneer child on these shores, to the spectacular functioning of their active volcanoes, and much more. Suzi will share her instinct for capturing the best of special natural moments. Together, both will impart their great love for their work and their wild subjects. Above all, this tour offers a lower visitor-to-guide ratio than any other Galapagos tour available, providing the most amount of flexibility, information and time to take in the wonders of Galapagos, through the lens or through the heart. Our two-week itinerary will let us discover the startling differences each place has to offer, from vibrant seabird colonies to prehistoric-looking iguana gatherings, and from moonlike volcanic landscapes to moss-draped highland forests. One of the most amazing things about the wildlife of the Galapagos is their complete lack of fear of people, and we will be able to photograph these animals in close proximity. We ll photograph by foot during beach strolls and hikes, via zodiac boats, and by snorkel. The Galapagos offers some of the best snorkeling in the world, and we ll swim with various species, including the Galapagos sea lions that are famous for their underwater antics and playful nature. Snorkeling is always an optional activity, of course. This tour has been uniquely designed to offer maximum wildlife photography opportunities of iconic Galapagos species, including Galapagos sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, waved albatross, blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins, swallow-tailed gulls, flamingos, Darwin s finches, flightless cormorants, tropicbirds, frigatebirds, and much more.
itinerary Day 1, August 16, 2019 Arrive Quito s Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), transfer to the Patio Andaluz Hotel Day 2, August 17, 2019 Flight to Baltra Island, afternoon cruise around Daphne Island, famous for ground-breaking evolutionary studies of Darwin s Finches; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 3, August 18, 2019 Morning at Isabela Island photographing boobies and other seabirds; snorkel in search of sea turtles, sea lions, and penguins; afternoon at Fernandina Island photographing marine iguanas and flightless cormorants; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 4, August 19, 2019 Morning at Isabel Island photographing bright-yellow land iguanas in arid jungle; afternoon photographing landscapes, Darwin s finches, cormorants, and possibly penguins; snorkel with harlequin wrasses, giant red starfish and possibly fishing penguins; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 5, August 20, 2019 Morning at Bartolome Island photographing volcanic landscapes and cruise/snorkel in search of penguins; afternoon at Santiago Island photographing lava flows and volcanic landscapes; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 6, August 21, 2019 Morning on Santa Cruz Island s white sand beaches photographing marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, shorebirds, bright red crabs, and possibly flamingos; afternoon at Rabida Island photographing sea lions and marine iguanas; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 7, August 22, 2019 Morning on Santa Cruz Island photographing at the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise breeding center; afternoon in the highlands to photograph giant tortoises; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 8, August 23, 2019 Morning on Española Island photographing waved albatross and their chicks, Nazca boobies, tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, lizards, iguanas and more; afternoon photographing sea lions on land and by snorkel; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 9, August 24, 2019 Morning at San Cristobal photographing the town s sea lions which raise their pups on park benches and sidewalks and walk to find the lava lizard and mockingbirds; afternoon at La Loberia photographing blue-footed boobies in courtship displays and with chicks; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 10, August 25, 2019 Morning at South Plaza Island photographing land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, Darwin s finches, and flying seabirds; midday snorkeling; afternoon at Mosquera Islet photographing sea lions and their pups playing along the shore; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 11, August 26, 2019 Morning at Chinese Hat Islet photographing a miniature volcanic landscape and bright red crabs, snorkeling; afternoon at Santiago Island photographing herons, iguanas, lava lizards, sea lions, fur seals, and more; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 12, August 27, 2019 Morning at Genovesa Island photographing nesting seabirds, including spectacular swallow-tailed gulls up close and at eye level, Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and great frigatebirds; afternoon at Tower Island photographing more seabirds, including storm petrels and search for daytime hunting short-eared owls; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 13, August 28, 2019 Morning at North Seymour Island photographing sea lions, iguanas, and seabirds, including nesting and courting frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies; afternoon at Santa Fe Island photographing land iguanas, in giant cactus forest, sea lions, and snorkeling in emerald waters; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 14, August 29, 2019 Morning at Floreana Island visiting the historic post office of whale ship crews; snorkel with playful sea lions; afternoon photographing flamingos; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 15, August 30, 2019 Morning at Santa Cruz Island s Tortuga Bay photographing Darwin s finches, shorebirds and marine iguanas; afternoon photographing landscapes and flowers in a cloud forest; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 16, August 31, 2019 Morning cruising Santa Cruz Island s mangrove inlet photographing sea turtles, herons and pelicans, and possibly sharks and rays, transfer to the airport for return flight to mainland to catch your international flight home (B)
accomodation The Evolution is a luxurious small expedition ship that accommodates 32 passengers. A historic feel combined with modern amenities give this yacht the adventurous atmosphere of a smaller boat. Her artful combination of size and amenities results in a yacht that offers excellent service, luxury accommodations and attention to detail, while causing minimal impact on the environment. Double Suite The yacht features both inside and al-fresco dining areas and a sky deck lounge on Albatross Deck with a bar and beautiful rattan furniture. At the bow of the yacht is a jacuzzi with lounge chairs for sunbathing and ample outside deck space. There is also a lounge with a bar, library and facilities for lectures, slide shows and films. The Evolution offers 3 suites, 8 premium staterooms and 5 deluxe staterooms all with exceptional accommodations, private facilities, climate controls, safe-boxes and ample space to hang and store clothing. All cabins have private bathrooms with hair dryers, amenities like those of any fine hotel and ample space to store toiletries. Premium Twin Stateroom
accomodation
tour leaders Professional wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas Suzi Eszterhas is a professional wildlife photographer based in California. She is best known for her images of baby animals in the wild. Suzi has photographed over 100 magazine covers and feature stories, which include TIME, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Scientific American, Audubon, Ranger Rick, and National Geographic Kids. She is also the author of twelve children s books, and co-author of the coffee-table books A Future for Cheetahs and Sloths: Life in the Slow Lane. She has won numerous awards and is represented by several of the world s leading natural history agencies. More information about her work is available at www.suzieszterhas.com Professional wildlife photographer and famed Galapagos expert Tui De Roy Tui De Roy is a professional wildlife photographer who grew up in the Galapagos Islands, where her parents took her to lead a pioneering lifestyle when she was two years old. After more than 35 years in these islands, Tui relocated to New Zealand. She still spends much time every year in the Galapagos and is the known throughout the world as an esteemed Galapagos photographer and expert. Tui has won numerous awards, has published many magazine features and 14 large format photo books, including Galapagos: Preserving Darwin s Legacy, Galapagos: Islands Lost in Time, and Albatross: Their World, Their Ways. More information about Tui s work is available at www.rovingtortoise.com
inclusions Group size: 28 places available Price: per person sharing Suite A1: $18,390 Suite A2 and A3: $17,590 Premium Cabin C1 C3 and C5-C9: $15,690 Deluxe Cabin D D3: $14,890 * Please inquire for single supplement availability Price includes: 15 nights accommodation, roundtrip airfare from Quito to Galapagos, private charter vessel, ground transportation, meals noted on itinerary above, non-alcoholic beverages at meals, park entry, transit control card, services of Suzi Eszterhas and Tui De Roy as photographic leaders and their one-on-one instruction, local driver/guide services, and info package. Price does not include: international flights to and from Quito, visa fees, travel insurance (required), unexpected increases in park entry fees, meals not noted on itinerary above, alcoholic beverages, in-room dining, staff gratuities, laundry, phone calls, personal items and anything not listed in the price includes list above. booking details and more information Please contact Suzi Eszterhas at suzi@suzieszterhas.com or +1 831 588 3505 www.suzieszterhas.com