"We want a naturalist cruise, but my husband also wants to do some
diving."
For those who want to extend the naturalist cruise to experience diving
in Galapagos, the alternative would be to stay at a good and comfortable
hotel in the archipelago. There are excellent dive sites nearby. We also
offer diving courses held at beginner level. And for the non-divers,
various other activities can be combined in this program such as visits
to lava tubes, Los Gemelos craters and to the land of the giant tortoise
that gave the name to this archipelago; plus kayaking, mountain biking
and horseback riding. The perfect recommended place to rest after an
extensive diving or naturalist cruise, would be The Royal Palm Hotel.
Trip Details
- Programs from 7 days / 6 nights
and up.
- 5 days / 4 nights in The Royal Palm Hotel and activities
in the islands
- 2 nights in a hotel in Quito, double occupancy (2 options)(*)
- Diving tours, land excursions, hikes, snorkeling, horseback
riding
- Excellent hotel meals; including breakfast and box lunch
during excursions
- Special attention to diet requirements
- Private transfers, personalized attention
- Use of hotel installations: pool, tennis court, gym, massage
parlor, sauna, Jacuzzi
- Rooms featuring: Satellite TV, Internet access, telephone,
CD and DVD recorders, mini bar
- VIP Room services at Baltra Airport (alcoholic beverages
not included)
- Point of arrival/ departure: Quito
(*) Option 1:
5-Star
Swissôtel -
For the same price we upgrade your room to Junior Suite
Option 2: 3-Star Hotel
Café Cultura
Day 1 -
Arrival in Quito, transfer to
hotel.
Day 2 - Flight
to Galapagos and transfer to hotel. Lunch. In the afternoon visit to Los
Gemelos, two craters located on either side of the road and near the
hotel. The entire area is covered by a forest of Scalesia, giving it a
prehistoric ambience. The vegetation is typical of the cloud forests.
This is the ideal place for observing birds such as Vermillion
Flycatcher, Short-eared Owls, Galapagos Dove and Darwin Finches, among
others.
Day 3 - Santa Fe
Island, a basaltic lava rock formation, is located one hour away
from base camp (hotel) Its 4 diving sites generally have good visibility
and more gentle sea currents. This makes it ideal for amateur divers and
beginners. By the same token, the underwater topography (including an
arch formation) and animal life makes it very attractive to intermediate
and expert divers. Here we can catch sight of sting rays, eagle rays,
garden eels, sea turtles, colonies of sea lions, pelagic fish and
surely, white tip reef sharks and hammerhead sharks. Duration: 7 - 8
hours.
Day 4 - Floreana
Island, can be reached in about 90 minutes. There are 9 diving
sites with generally calm waters, ideal for divers of all levels. It is
one of the best places among the central islands to see coral colonies
including the black coral which is endemic to this archipelago. We can
also observe young birds making their first attempts to fly and
barberfish cleaning the sea turtles from parasites. Floreana is also one
of the best places to dive among sea lions and see a variety of rays,
sea horses, sea turtles, long nose hawkfish, barracudas, pelagic fish,
Galapagos sharks and both reef and hammerhead sharks. Duration 8-9 hours.
Day 5 - Gordon Rocks,
a world famous diving site, is located one hour from home base.
There are 4 diving sites, but only 2 are for beginners, the
other 2 are reserved for intermediate and expert divers due to
the strong sea currents and surge. Primarily there are walls
with a deep bottom. The main attraction is the large schools of
hammerhead sharks. There are also reef fish, large pelagic fish,
eagle rays, golden rays, sea turtles and morays. You cannot stop
admiring this natural aquarium. Duration 7-8 hours.
Day 6 - Transfer to
Baltra to take the flight back to Quito.
Day
7 - Depart home or take a trip extension.
Time spent
at each site will depend on environmental variables such as wildlife,
weather, etc. The time to reach each site will depend on sea conditions.
Itinerary
may vary by guide and group decision, due to marine life activity or
weather conditions. Diving activities may be canceled due to
adverse weather conditions.
Proposed dive sites may
be changed depending on divers level of expertise.
①
②
③
④
⑤
2 to 3 immersions per day in sites with moderate to strong currents,
cold water and some times rough seas. Occasionally low visibility.
Hikes through nature trails, on sand, dirt or volcanic rock; horseback
riding.
This type
of adventure is graded MODERATE, you must be an intermediate-expert
diver and should be in
good physical condition.
Quito is situated at 9,180 feet above sea level.
Level of difficulty may be higher or lower
than specified, depending on the dive sites selected.
Hidden Treasures
- 7 Days / 6 Nights (Including
2 nights in Quito)
With
Hotel Café Cultura in Quito
|
Accommodation in Royal Palm
Hotel: |
Price |
|
Veranda Studio |
$ 1,623
|
|
Villas |
$ 2,355
|
|
Presidential Suite |
$ 1,959 |
|
Royal Suite |
$ 2,203 |
|
Imperial Suite |
$ 3,118 |
Hidden Treasures
- 7 Days / 6 Nights (Including
2 nights in Quito)
|
Accommodation in Royal Palm
Hotel: |
Price |
|
Veranda Studio |
$ 1,886
|
|
Villas |
$ 2,618
|
|
Presidential Suite |
$ 2,221 |
|
Royal Suite |
$ 2,465 |
|
Imperial Suite |
$ 3,380 |
- Group size: min. 2 persons
Cost Includes:
-
(see Trip
Details)
- Flight Quito - Galapagos - Quito: $ 335 (Low);
$ 390 (High) (subject to change)
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee: $ 100 (subject
to change)
- Dinner in Royal Palm nor in Quito
- Tips; alcoholic beverages; personal expenses.
Note:
Air tickets and park fees are subject to change
without previous notification
Prices valid until December 31 / 2006 |
