Wildlife Group Tour

Cruise the Galapagos Islands with Charles Clover and Telegraph Tours

Departing 19th - 28th May 2019

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10 days

from $6,595pp

Visit the Galapagos Islands with Charles Clover, former environment editor of The Telegraph
The best ratio of guide to passengers in the Galapagos Islands of 1: 10
Explore nine varied islands including Isabela and Fernandina with superb marine life
Eight days sailing on the Infinity, a motor boat purpose built for the Galapagos

Join our exclusive Galapagos holiday travelling with Charles Clover, the former environment editor of The Telegraph for 20 years. Spend eight days on our private charter, the Infinity, and visit islands such as Isabela, Fernandina, Bartolome, Santa Fe and Santa Cruz.

There are few places on earth that can rival the wildlife of Galapagos, with an abundance of colourful creatures seemingly unafraid of humans. There will be many opportunities to get close to the islands' unique wildlife, either on foot, by kayak, by panga (a small motorised boat) or when snorkelling. With two naturalist guides on board in addition to Charles Clover, you can be assured of receiving personalised and insightful narrative on all the wildlife and islands seen. Wildlife highlights include flightless cormorant, land and marine iguanas, two types of booby (blue-footed and Nazca), giant tortoises, Galapagos penguins, frigate birds, sea lions and many finches.

WHY SHOULD I JOIN THIS TOUR?

As an environment journalist with 30 years’ experience, Charles has covered virtually every issue that arises out of man’s treatment of nature- he is perfectly placed to share fascinating insights into his work as the executive director of the Blue Marine Foundation NGO, which campaigns to create marine reserves. Charles will give lectures during the cruise and join the excursions.

What wildlife CAN BE seeN in May in the Galapagos?

The Galapagos Islands are a wildlife haven, both on and off the islands. During May in the Galapagos Islands, you may be able to witness

Blue-footed boobies begin courtship rituals
Sea turtles continue hatching
Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting
Marine iguanas and land iguanas nesting
Magnificent and great frigate birds nesting
Tortoises laying eggs
Flightless cormorants, penguins and greater flamingos breeding and nesting

What is the Infinity boat like?

The Infinity is a brand new motorboat, due to start sailing in mid-2018. She is a 49-metre boat, with contemporary design, purpose-built to cruise the Galapagos Islands. 20 passengers can be accommodated across the 10 cabins, two suites and eight cabins all with private balconies and huge floor to ceiling windows.

Social areas are plentiful and spacious with both internal and external dining areas, lounge and a large sundeck with loungers and jacuzzi. Throughout the boat, windows are huge to allow plenty of natural light and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Attention to detail is high with a cruise director on board, Charles Clover and two naturalist guides, meaning a ratio of one guide to every ten clients. Snorkelling equipment, wetsuits, and kayaks are available to use during the trip.

Will the sea be rough in May in the Galapagos?

In May, the waters are usually calm, with good weather and light winds.

Is May a good month to travel to the Galapagos Islands?

May is a lovely time of year to travel to the Galapagos islands. The days are generally warm, with clear skies and temperatures averaging 25 C. Sea temperatures are also at their warmest at this time and visibility is good, so snorkelling can be fantastic.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE | GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST

Steppes is a Gold Corporate Member of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, the only UK charity that is focussed solely on conservation in the archipelago. As such we continue to support ongoing conservation projects in the archipelago and recently donated to the development of a citizen’s science website on which the public can post information about single-use plastic pollution in the Galapagos. When you book a trip to the Galapagos Islands with Steppes Travel, you will also benefit from a complimentary, six-month membership with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

Departing on:

19^th May 2019

For a detailed itinerary or to book your place on this tour, please contact us.

START	FINISH	Price Excluding Flights $	Flight cost from	Single Supplement	Tour Expert	Status		Tour Details
19^th May 2019	28^th May 2019	$ 8,903.25	$ 1,350	$ 6,675.75	Charles Clover	Limited	{"DepDate":"2019-05-19T00:00:00","RetDate":"2019-05-28T00:00:00","PricePerPax":"8,903.25","FightCost":"1,350","TourLecturer":"Charles Clover","SingleSupp":"6,675.75"}

Click here to see what is included/excluded

what is included

Accommodation aboard the Infinity boat
Bed and breakfast accommodation in Quito
Domestic flights between mainland Ecuador and Galapagos Islands
English speaking National Park guide in the Galapagos
Full board meals and snorkelling equipment on the boat
Tourist card $20 and national park fee $100
Transfers throughout
Travel with Charles Clover throughout
Welcome meal and city tour in Quito

what is excluded

Gratuities
International flights to Ecuador
Travel Insurance
Visa

TO ALLOW FLEXIBILITY, OUR GROUP TOURS DO NOT INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AS STANDARD. WE CAN ARRANGE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ON YOUR BEHALF AND THE ABOVE IS AN INDICATION OF COST, BASED ON RETURN FLIGHTS DEPARTING FROM LONDON. ALL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM THE UK ARE ATOL PROTECTED.

Itinerary at a glance

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Day 1

Quito

Arrive in Quito
Today arrive in Quito, you will be met and transferred to the Patio Andaluz. The day is free to rest and relax after your flight or begin to explore the city.

With Pichincha Volcano on one side and Machangara Gorge on the other with the equator passing directly through, few cities can rival Quito's setting. Few also can match the splendour of its old town, with its colonial churches, mansions and plazas.

Quito was named as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978. This historical city sits at 2,850 metres and has the largest and best preserved historic centre and colonial quarters in Latin America.

You will be staying at Mama Cuchara, bed and breakfast

Day 2

Quito

Half Day Colonial City Tour
This tour starts in the wonderfully preserved colonial area of Quito. Visit Independence Square, San Francisco Plaza and the ornate La Compañía church.

From here continue up to Itchimbía Hill to take in the views of downtown Quito and the surrounding mountains. Visit the modern city stopping at La Capilla del Hombre (Chapel of Man), a cultural complex that describes the history of Latin America's indigenous people from pre-Columbian times to the present. It has an enormous mural painted by the famous artist Oswaldo Guayasamin, the best Ecuadorian painter of all times and founder of the complex. End at Guayasamin's former house and workshop, which has been restored to show the intimate ambience in which Guayasamin lived and worked.

Welcome Meal
This evening a welcome meal for the group will be hosted at a local restaurant.

You will be staying at Mama Cuchara, bed and breakfast

Day 3

Quito - Galapagos Islands - San Cristobal Island

Fly Quito to San Cristobal Island

San Cristobal Island
Arrive on San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos archipelago. After passing through Galapagos National Park inspection your national park guide will be waiting to meet you and will accompany the group on the short bus ride to the waterfront. At the dock, board a panga (dinghy) to make the short crossing to the Infinity yacht. Settle into your cabin before lunch and an introdution briefing.

After lunch visit the Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Centre, a new visitor site in the northeast part of San Cristobal Island. At the Breeding Centre you will be able to admire the hatchling turtles from their birth until they are four years old when the grown turtles are taken to their natural habitat. Later visit Puerto Chino, this walk takes approximately 30 minutes to the white sandy beach where you are likely to find sea birds and maybe have the opportunity for snorkelling.

There will be two naturalist guides leading the daily excursions and giving evening briefings. Charles Clover will give two lectures on board during the voyage as well as accompanying the daily excursions.

It was Charles Darwin's 1835 exploration of the Galapagos Islands, whilst serving as a naturalist on HMS Beagle, and his subsequent 1859 publication On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection that first brought the world's attention to these fascinating islands.

Today the Galapagos remain a living laboratory of evolution where birds and animals have no fear of man. Blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, land and marine iguanas and giant tortoises roam freely making a visit to these islands an unforgettable experience.

Located some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the archipelago is now a National Park and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There are 13 islands (isles) in total and dozens of smaller islets and rocks - all the result of volcanic activity with exotic plant life, unique wildlife species and an extraordinary landscape fringed with blue sea.