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Galapagos & Ecuador
The Enchanted Isles and Cloud-forests

Thursday 26 June - Sunday 6 July 2008 (11 days)
Ecuador extension to Sunday 13 July 2008 (7 days)

Thursday 23 October - Sunday 2 November 2008 (11 days)
Ecuador extension to Sunday 9 November 2008 (7 days)

Lying 600 miles away from the continent of South America, the remote isles of the Galapagos have played a central role in the history of man's ideas. Named "The Enchanted Isles" by the first sailors because of the mist that often hid them from sight, they have had a long history as a haven for both explorers and pirates. But it was Charles Darwin's observations of the relationships between the islands' species, inspiring one of the most revolutionary of scientific theories, that ultimately caused the human species to look at itself quite differently.

Today the scientific value of these isles in providing a natural laboratory of ecology and evolution is probably greater than ever. The Galapagos Islands are one of the most remarkable wildlife sites in the world. As well as their twenty-six endemic bird species and amazing seabird colonies, they have many unique creatures, including Giant Tortoises and Marine Iguanas. Formed by volcanic action, never joined to any continent, and still very isolated, these islands display a classic evolutionary history. Colonisation, almost at random, followed by the evolution of the few colonising species into a variety of often strangely adapted forms has produced an incredibly distinct and characteristic assemblage of life forms. The islands today form a fascinating but fragile evolutionary laboratory, and are still the subject of intense biological study. But it is probably the tameness and abundance of the birds and other wildlife that make the Galapagos uniquely attractive to anyone with an interest in the natural world.

Their position in the cold Humboldt current flowing north from the Antarctic, and bringing nutrients to the surface, make the surrounding waters rich in fish and plankton, and account for the huge numbers of seabirds here, including, amazingly on the equator, Galapagos Penguin. The underwater world is no less fascinating, and, although the water can be surprisingly cool, there will be several chances to snorkel over the reefs and submerged volcanoes around the Galapagos shores, looking at the enormous diversity of fish, including huge Manta Rays, sharks (including Scalloped Hammerhead), as well as turtles and some of the other abundant marine life.

To get the best out of our visit, we're opting to cruise around the islands on a small luxury motor-yacht, the Beluga. With just 16 passengers in double cabins, each equipped with private facilities, the yacht is fully air-conditioned (lovely when you come back in for lunch!) and has a nine-man crew. It is a longer boat than most of its class, and there is plenty of deck space for watching seabirds and marine life, also providing superb photographic opportunities. It is also one of the fastest, meaning less time spent travelling between the islands. Smaller yachts have much more flexibility than the larger vessels, and we'll be able to enjoy a really top quality experience during our voyage through the islands. Landings - some wet, some dry - will be made from small open 'pangas' or dinghies.

Our extensions take us to the cloud forests and high altitude páramo of the Andes, for a feast of birdwatching, where we search for some fabulous birds including Andean Cock-of-the Rock, Andean Condor, Sword-billed Hummingbird and Torrent Ducks! Please note that we can also quote for tailor-made extensions and itineraries in Ecuador, including the Amazon.

Prices
Main tours £ 3,495

Single supp. (Quito only): £ 120
Single cabin supp.**: £ 845

Ecuador extensions : £ 1,445
Single supp.: £ 155

Deposit: £ 400 per person

The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of economy scheduled return flights London-Quito*, internal flights to Galapagos, airport taxes, National Park entry tax, full board accommodation, road and boat transport as described, incidental tips and the services of the leader and local guides.

The price excludes travel insurance, optional tips to local guides, drivers and boat crew, drinks and other personal expenses.

*For an ex-international flight cost (starting and finishing in Quito), please deduct £ 625 per person from the tour cost.
**It may be possible to offer one or two cabins as singles subject to availability.

Tailor-made extensions
If any clients would like to extend their stay with a trip to the Amazon or to other places in Ecuador, we'd be happy to provide a quote.

Tailor-made Galapagos holidays
We can provide tailor-made Galapagos holidays at almost any time of the year - please contact us to discuss details and prices.

Both trips will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays.

Leaders: June/July – Richard Thaxton and local guides
October/November – Paul Harvey and local guides

Itinerary:
Day 1
We take a scheduled flight from London to Quito, arriving in the evening.
Overnight Quito

Days 2 - 8
We take a morning flight from Quito to the small island of Baltra in the Galapagos, where we board Beluga, our boat that is to be our home for the next seven days. Where we go depends on the weather, but a provisional itinerary should proceed as follows:

After we meet our local guide and the crew, we set sail from Baltra to tiny North Seymour, where we make our first landing, after having had lunch offshore. Here we'll see our first incredibly tame Blue-footed Boobies to step carefully around, with Magnificent Frigatebirds inflating their outrageous gular pouches at eye-level.

As next day dawns we'll find ourselves off Española, with immense colonies of Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, and the superb Waved Albatross. Here too can be found highly distinctive pink and purple Marine Iguanas of this remote island. The following day we head west to Floreana, an island with a poignant human history, and the famous barrel in which to post your cards (and wait for our leader to post them back!). The Devil's Crown is a sunken volcano with nesting Audubon's Shearwaters and Swallow-tailed Gulls, and a chance to snorkel with sea-lions!

Santa Cruz is one of the oldest islands, with lush vegetation in the highlands. We travel up to the brim of an extinct volcano to look for a number of landbird specialities, including the dashing Vermilion Flycatcher and Cactus Finch and see some of the local farms. This is the best place for Giant Tortoises, often seen grazing alongside cattle at this time of year, and much endemic flora. Back down at Puerto Ayora, the main Galapagos town, we'll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station for a look at their captive breeding programme, and a chance to meet Lonesome George, the last tortoise of the Isla Pinta race.

Overnight we'll make the long crossing west to Isabela and Fernandina. Here we can see one of the key endemic species, Galapagos Flightless Cormorant. As in the other islands, we'll also be able to see a variety of Darwin's Finches, including Large Cactus Finch. The endemic Lava Gulls can also be found. Wedge-rumped Storm-petrels nest, and, true to Galapagos' unique style, they are active by day! The waters to the west of the islands offer the best chances for encountering cetaceans, including both Bottle-nosed and Common Dolphins, and with a chance of Humpback and Bryde’s Whales.

We then head back to Bartolomé, a spectacular islet with some wonderful views across Santiago, superb geology, and a colony of Galapagos Penguins. We then cross to Santiago, or James Island. The volcanic lava cones of James Island have some good surrounding rock pools, alive with the orange and yellow Sally Lightfoot Crabs, but it is the Galapagos Fur Seal that is the main wildlife attraction here together with some recent lava flows. Here it is possible to go swimming or snorkelling, sometimes in the company of Pacific Green Turtles!
Seven nights Galapagos cruise

Day 9
We bid our farewells to the Enchanted Isles, and fly back to Quito. There should be time for a short optional city tour, and a chance to shop for local crafts near the hotel, before our farewell dinner at one of the city's fine Ecuadorian restaurants.
Overnight Quito

Day 10
We depart on a scheduled flight returning to London, arriving on Day 11.

Ecuador extension
Superb birdwatching in the Andean Cloud-forests
Days 10 - 12
Instead of flying home we drive north and head straight over the crest of the western Andes, stopping for lunch in temperate forest with a wonderful array of hummingbirds and tanagers amongst others. We continue down to the subtropical forest at about 1,200m. We continue to our lodge near Mindo where we get our first taste of the mixed flocks dominated by exquisitely-coloured tanagers. The forest here holds toucans, cotingas, hummingbirds, parrots, the startlingly-coloured Toucan Barbet, Golden-headed Quetzal and many more Neotropical gems. Favourites in the past have included two superb toucan species: delectable Pale-mandibled Aracari and the very local Plate-billed Mountain Toucan.

One morning we rise early to look for one of Ecuador's most sought-after and yet most elusive species, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. These incredible scarlet-orange creatures must surely be one of the world's most beautiful birds. We'll spend the rest of the day birdwatching amidst the superb cloud forest here. Next day we drive to a lower altitude for a new range of forest specialities.
Three nights Mindo

Day 13
We drive south and then east over the high Andes, with time to look for the impressive Giant Hummingbird, and across the Papallacta pass. If the weather is on our side, we have a chance to see Andean Condors in a magnificent setting, together with few high altitude specialities, including Tawny Antpitta, Andean Tit-spinetail and White-chinned Thistletail. Other species here at around 4,000m include Paramo Ground-Tyrant, and if conditions allow us to go off-road, the very local Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. We spend one night at Guango, a small lodge with outstanding hummingbird feeders.
Overnight Guango Lodge

Days 14 -15
After a morning walk in the lodge grounds, we descend the eastern slopes of the Andes to Hacienda San Isidro. This is situated in a lovely valley near Cosanga surrounded by forest-covered ridges, and we should encounter our first cloud-forest eastern slope specialities, including Highland Motmot, Inca Jay and numerous flycatchers and tanagers. This is a superb birdwatching area, and we make it our base for a two-night stay.

Nearby rivers cascading down from the Andes are host to superb Torrent Ducks, and Sunbittern, while the surrounding forests hold toucans, antbirds, warblers, thrushes and vireos galore. If time allows we have the option of driving down to more lowland forest for a further range of species.
Two nights San Isidro Lodge

Day 16
After a final morning’s birdwatching at San Isidro, we head back over the Papallacta pass, pausing again if we have time, into Quito for our final night’s stay.
Overnight Quito

Day 17
We depart on a scheduled flight returning to London, arriving on Day 18.

Accommodation: In Ecuador we stay in hotels and lodges with en suite facilities throughout. On the Galapagos cruise we use the Beluga, a 16-berth motor vessel, with twin en suite cabins. Single cabins are available subject to availability.

Transport: in Ecuador we travel by bus (or minibus) with local driver.

Walking: Mostly easy walks; the going is moderate at times in the Andes, but always taken at a slow pace.

Numbers: Max. 15 clients