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ECUADOR and THE GALAPAGOS (WBG2010)

A 9-Day Avalon Waterways tour starting from $3,379

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Starting Price:	$3,379
Tour Length:	9 Days
Countries Visited:	Ecuador, South America, Galapagos

Single Supplement Waived on Select River Cruises
Save $100 per person on Groups of 5 or more

More Information About This Tour:

Tour Type:

Escorted Tour

Tour Category:

RIVER CRUISE

Tour Operator:

Avalon Waterways

Tour Code:

WBG-2010

Cities Visited:
See Description

Vacation Overview
This exciting Galápagos vacation lets you sample the natural wonders of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Quito, have your photo taken at the “Center of the World,” and spend time at leisure in Guayaquil. Also, fly over the Pacific to San Cristobal Island, where you’ll embark on an exciting 4-day cruise among various Galápagos Islands. Then, spend two nights on Santa Cruz Island at the Finch Bay Hotel to learn more about incredible plants and vastly different animals unique only to the Galápagos!

City Highlights

Cruise:
3-night cruise in the Galápagos in an outside stateroom

Quito:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide; Legislative Palace, San Francisco Monastery, La Compania Church, Workshop & Museum of Oswaldo Guayasamin, and Equatorial Monument; welcome dinner

Galápagos Islands Cruise:
Three nights cruising Galápagos National Park aboard the Santa Cruz; Charles Darwin Research Station; guided sightseeing each day with a local Naturalist

Galápagos Islands Finch Bay Hotel:
Two nights for relaxing and further exploration of the Galápagos; farewell dinner

All Intra-Tour Flights
Notes:Wine with dinner on cruise.Maximum elevation on tour: 9,200 ft.The ship’s itinerary may vary according to Galápagos National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, and seasonal changes to create the perfect cross-section of sites visited.

Ship
M/V Santa Cruz

Meals
American breakfast daily (B), 5 lunches (L), and 6 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Quito and a farewell dinner at the Finch Bay.

Hotels

Quito
Swissotel Quito (SF),

Galápagos Cruise
Santa Cruz (F),

Galápagos Hotel
Finch Bay Hotel (F),

Guayaquil
Oro Verde (SF)M/V Santa Cruz

Day 1:
Fly to Quito, Ecuador. (Wed.) Board your flight to Quito. Your flight to South America arrives late this evening and will be met by your Local Host.

Day 2:
Quito. (Thu.) An included sightseeing tour showcases Quito’s treasures: the historic stone murals of the LEGISLATIVE PALACE, Independence Plaza and the 16th-century SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY, the Jesuit’s LA COMPANIA CHURCH with its stunning golden altars, and the impressive paintings at the WORKSHOP & MUSEUM of Oswaldo Guayasamin. Have your photo taken in front of the EQUATORIAL MONUMENT, the “Center of the World.” This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner. (B,D)

Day 3:
Quito–San Cristobal–Galápagos Islands (Embarkation)–Cruising. (Fri.) A morning flight to San Cristobal, one of the remote Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the sleek Santa Cruz and enjoy four days of CRUISING among various Galápagos Islands. Each day, travel ashore to the remote islands with your expert Naturalist who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Today, visit San Cristobal Island, where Charles Darwin first set foot in the Galápagos back in 1835. This island is home to seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, and frigatebirds. Also look for the Chatham (San Cristobal) Mockingbird and Chatham Lava Lizard—both species are endemic to this island and seen nowhere else in the Galápagos. (B,L,D)

Day 4:
Galápagos Islands Cruising. (Sat.) Your exploration continues on Española (Hood Island), one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. Here you will see the famous blowhole as well as unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April-December), Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and Darwin’s finches. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas and a rookery of sea lions right at the landing site. This afternoon, visit a brackish-water lagoon on Floreana, where you may observe Greater Flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, and sandpipers. For marine enthusiasts, this is a great place for snorkeling! (B,L,D)

Day 5:
Galápagos Islands Cruising. (Sun.) This morning brings you to the youngest island, Fernandina. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment and the highest density of marine iguanas. Sharing their habitat are sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and hawks. In the afternoon on Isabela Island, enjoy coastal exploration by panga along the cliffs of sunken Ecuador Volcano. Your Naturalist guides explain the dramatic geology of the area with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants, the only birds in the world that have changed from flying birds to diving birds. Wildlife here includes sea lions, Galápagos penguins, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, and noddy terns. (B,L,D)

Day 6:
Galápagos (Disembarkation)–Santa Cruz–Finch Bay Hotel. (Mon.) This morning, disembark on Santa Cruz Island, where your Naturalist introduces the island’s lush and vibrant green highlands, pit craters, lava tunnels, the Scalesia forest, and the giant tortoises’ wild habitat. After checking in at the Finch Bay Hotel, visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Islands’ natural habitat and protect the famous giant tortoises. (B,L,D)

Day 7:
Galápagos. Finch Bay Hotel. (Tue.) Named after the famous Darwin’s finches abundant in the area, the Finch Bay Hotel offers a private seaside location surrounded by mangroves. Outings today include a list of activities that allow you to have a “Galápagos a la carte” adventure. Choose a walk to Tortuga Bay, a 6-mile-long coralline beach, mountain bike up in the highlands, or swim or snorkel right off the beach. Tonight, enjoy the view of the bay at your farewell dinner at Angermeyer’s Point. (B,L,D)

Day 8:
Santa Cruz–Baltra–Guayaquil. (Wed.) Transfer to Baltra for your return flight to Guayaquil, where you’ll enjoy free time this evening. (B)

Day 9:
Guayaquil–Homebound Flight. (Thu.) Depart this morning for hometown connections. (B)

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Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/18/2010 - 8/26/2010	$3,379
9/22/2010 - 9/30/2010	$3,379
10/20/2010 - 10/28/2010	$3,379
11/10/2010 - 11/18/2010	$3,379
12/1/2010 - 12/9/2010	$3,379

Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

M/V Santa Cruz

Seeing the Galápagos Islands on board the M/V Santa Cruz goes beyond the concept of traditional cruising, evolving into an expedition approach in order to authentically discover and explore the natural wonders of this region. The M/V Santa Cruz is built to luxurious standards and encourages an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere.

The 44-stateroom M/V Santa Cruz features a Jacuzzi and an observation platform for dolphin and whale watching on the top deck. Each ship's dining room, lounge, and bar are elegantly appointed, as is the well-stocked library/reading room. All staterooms are outside and feature air-conditioning, private bathrooms, hairdryers, and safety deposit boxes. The M/V Santa Cruz accommodates 88 passengers.

The M/V Santa Cruz has gained worldwide recognition for its excellent standards, including superb service, expert crew, the most knowledgeable multilingual naturalist/guides, and menus that feature the very best international cuisine and celebrated Ecuadorian dishes.

Staterooms (Click thumbnails to see full size image

Boat Deck Standard Cabin

Boat Deck Standard Cabin - 124 sq. ft. (11 x 11 ft.)

Boat Deck Standard Plus Cabin

Boat Deck Standard Plus Cabin - 156 sq. ft. (10 x 15 ft.)

Main Deck Standard Cabin

Main Deck Standard Cabin - 124 sq. ft. (11 x 11 ft.)

Upper Deck Standard Cabin

Upper Deck Standard Cabin - 124 sq. ft. (11 x 11 ft.)

Ship Facts:

Inagurated: 1979
Refurbished: 1998
Length: 280 ft
Decks: 5
Staterooms: 44
Passenger Capacity: 88
Voltage: 110v with American type outlets
Onboard Currency: US Dollars

Ship Amenities:

Expedition Team of Naturalists
Non-smoking interiors
Lounge and bar
Library (including reference books and videos on the Galápagos Islands)
Observation area for whale or dolphin watching
Jacuzzi and solarium
Complimentary wine with all onboard dinners
Open seating throughout dining rooms for all meals
Breakfasts and lunches with a selection of Ecuadorian specialties
Resident physician

Price Details US
Intra-tour air value: $420Single Room Supplement: $1953Triples are not available.Extra nights per person in Quito:in single room $171; in twin room $97.Extra nights per person in Guayaquil:in single room $150; in twin room $90.Cruise pricing is based on main deck cabins. Upgrades are available. 2011 prices and itineraries are subject to change.

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Save Up To $600 on Egypt, China and Galapagos River Cruises

$600 off per couple on any air-inclusive 2011 Avalon Waterways Egypt, China or Galapagos river cruise vacation.*

$300 off per couple on any cruise only 2011 Avalon Waterways Egypt, China or Galapagos river cruise vacation.*

Knowing that you’re more careful than ever about spending your money, Avalon Waterways is an undeniable value. Prices include accommodations, local sightseeing, many meals and complimentary wine with dinner. You can feel confident investing your valuable vacation dollars with Avalon.

*Book a 2011 Avalon A Taste of the Danube, Egypt, China or Galapagos Cruise air-inclusive vacation to receive the $300 off per person offer. A Taste of the Danube, Egypt, China or Galapagos cruise/land-only bookings are eligible for the $150 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between March 24 and August 31, 2010 for travel through December 31, 2011. Offers not valid with one-another or any other offer other than Journeys Club member coupon. Applies to new 2011 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply

Save up to $1,500 on 2011 Avalon River Cruises

Book Early and Save

$1,000 off per couple on air-inclusive European River Cruise Vacations.*

$500 off per couple on cruise only European River Cruise Vacations.*

Knowing that you’re more careful than ever about spending your money, Avalon Waterways is an undeniable value. Our prices include accommodations, local sightseeing, many meals and complimentary wine with dinner. You can feel confident investing your valuable vacation dollars with Avalon.

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