LOCK IN DEC 1-8, 2014 FOR THE GALAPAGOS ON EXPLORER VENTURES!!! WE'LL BE DIVING THE MOST AMAZING PLACE IN THE WORLD TO DIVE.... SAVE THE DATES!!! STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS...
IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATE AS OF 12-9-12:
Since the deposit amount was so high (over $6k to hold this date) and I have just put out thousands of dollars for deposits for 2013 trips...I will be opening this trip up shortly after the new year for bookings. This is possible since it will be a stand alone destination. My goal will be to provide a sample itinerary as if the trip were Dec 2013 so you get a feel for the side tours that will be available and how many days to reasonably book etc. The price of the trip will be firm and the sidetours will be subject to change but I hope to have a pretty close approximation to what the full trip will be like when I open it up. I will also offer several VERY EARLY BOOKING SPECIALS for anyone who books and pays in full during the early booking timeframe.
So don't spend all your pennies on xmas... you'll need a few to hold your spot on the trip!
Here is what a trip to Galapagos aboard Explorer Ventures should look like:
PRICE FOR 2013*:
$4295 high season Jun 1 - Dec 31st
$3995 low season Jan 1 - May 31th
ESTIMATED PRICING FOR 2014*:
$4595 high season Jun 1 - Dec 31st
$4295 low season Jan 1 - May 31th
*These prices do not include fuel surcharge or local taxes and fees or domestic flights. Domestic flights from Quito are $500-$550 and from Guayaquil $475-$525. The current fuel surcharge for the Galapagos is $150 per person (payable on board), but is subject to change and will be confirmed 30 days prior to departure. National park fee of $100 and $10 tourist card are payable at the airport. Chamber support fee of $35 is payable on board.
WATER TEMPS:
Our summer is winter in Galapagos so our late Fall and Winter are the warmest months for Galapagos. (We went in late Oct on our first trip and had very warm temps on Darwin and Wolf of 78 which was very nice and usually winter temps. Islands closer to mainland were much colder around 65 degrees.)
San Cristobal Departures
If meeting the vessel in San Cristobal, a guide will meet you upon exiting the baggage claim area for transfer to the vessel.
Monday: San Cristobal
Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the islands mid-day. Guests are met at the airport and taken to the vessel.
Boarding the vessel after 1 p.m., guests will depart for a short crossing to the a calm site for a check out dive and safety briefing. After dinner the vessel will depart to the next scheduled destination.
Tuesday: Punta Carrion
6:30, 9:30, dives. Bartoleme: Possible 3:00 dive depending on weather. Sightings include rays and sea lions. Depart for Northern Islands.
Wednesday: Wolf Island - Landslide, Shark Bay, Pinaculo
6:30, 10:30 and 2:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Night at anchor.
Thursday: Morning - Wolf Island / Darwin Island
Wolf Island: 6:30 dive. Darwin Island: 11:00 and 2:30 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, red-lipped batfish, sea lions, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. Night at anchor.
Friday: Darwin Island
6:30, 10:30 and 2:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads,whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles and silky sharks.
Saturday: Wolf Island
6:30, 9:00 and 11:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles and silky sharks. Transit to Cousin's Rock.
Sunday: Cousin’s Rock
8:30 dive –This is a great macro diving with an excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions, and eagle rays. Lunch will be served while transiting to Santa Cruz (3 hrs). In Santa Cruz, visit the giant tortoises in the highlands, visit the town of Puerto Ayora and the Darwin Centre on your own, dinner on your own in town.
Monday: Baltra/San Cristobal
Breakfast; depart the vessel by 9 am. Guests are free to visit the beach in town to see sea lions and marine iguanas in their natural habitat or take a short walk to the Interpretive Centre. Transfer back to the airport for 1 p.m. flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.
THOSE WANTING TO BE ON THE NOTIFY LIST WHEN THIS TRIP OPENS UP:
1. Kamala aka WreckWench
2. Keith aka MNJoe
3. Tim aka Buzo Guero
4. Melissa aka MelB
5. MR aka SharkaLover
6. Scot aka Handyman
7. Ed aka Diver Ed & Sister
8. Dan aka Rookie and Seastar
9. Jim aka Twin Screws
10. Larry aka Orcaman
11. Carla aka rkymtwy
12. Steve aka soonerdiver
13. Dennis aka DrDiver
14. Larry aka Lorenzo
15. Jennifer aka ItsScubaJen
16. Mike aka Going Postal
17. Mandi aka Landlocked
18. Ellen aka TCdamsel
19. Amy aka AnemoneAmy
20. Mike aka MikeNJ
21. Jose aka JesterDiver
22. Butch aka Cajun Diver
23. Suzi aka CoralReefer
24. Marc aka Muktuk
25. Fred aka ev780
Kamala,
So do you have any inclination of doing a Galapagos Trip in the few years?
Keith
aka MNJoe
Keith I am ALWAYS ready to go back to Galapagos! I
/>/>/>/>/>/> it sooooooooooooo much! It was one of my top 5 trips in my life...maybe even top 3. In my opinion the best time to go is fall when the water is warm and the whalesharks are in season. The only dates for this timeframe are for 2014 so that is the earliest we could go in my preferred timeframe. Help me get some more people interested in this or any other place and we'll get it on the calendar!
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