GalapagosOur 2009 itineraries sold out fast. Book now to reserve your spot in 2010!
With Cruise West, you’ll explore the very best of this unusual ecosystem in up-close, casual and personal style. And because this destination has been so overwhelmingly popular with our guests, we’ve increased capacity for 2010 by deploying a larger all-suite ship for this itinerary.
Watch fur seals gaze at you with trusting eyes as you stroll near them along the beach. Come face-to-snorkel with friendly sea lions in the drinking glass-clear waters. Watch seabirds dance, mate and feed their young just an arm’s reach away from you. See rare birds like the Darwin’s finch, found only in this archipelago, and the waved albatross, which breeds only on Española Island. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to see a place that is unique on our planet. And with Cruise West, you’ll see it all.
Cruise West Enrichment Programs help you make sense of this strange and wonderful world. Your experience will be further enhanced by our signature Enrichment Programs. Our carefully planned itineraries and included shore excursions are designed to give you a more authentic understanding of your destination. When you return to the ship, your “destination experience” continues with ongoing presentations and dialog by occasional guest speakers and our resident Exploration Leaders. These professionals have backgrounds in natural history, botany, marine biology, ecology, and they delight in giving you one-on-one personal attention to satisfy your curiosity.
Cruise OnlyDay
01 | Quito
Arrive in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and transfer to the Hotel Hilton Colón Quito where you will overnight. | Day
02 | Quito
Enjoy a walking tour of historic downtown Quito, with the best-preserved colonial historic center in Latin America. Drive up El Ventanal for a bird’s-eye-view of the city. You may purchase an optional excursion to the volcano Antisana offering spectacular views of glaciers, wildflowers and the occasional condor. Your included welcome dinner is at the Theatrum Restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Hilton. BD | Day
03 | Quito, Guayaquil, San Cristobal, Cerro Brujo
This morning we’ll escort you to the Quito airport for your flight to San Cristobal in the Galápagos Islands via Guyaquil. Once there, transfer to the dock to board the M/V Galápagos Explorer II, your all-suite home away from home. We’ll make our way to Cerro Brujo and make a wet landing, giving you time to swim, snorkel or admire the rich bird life. BLD | Day
04 | Española (Hood) Island
The southernmost island in the archipelago, Hood Island has a large population of indigenous wildlife. Watch for sea lions and iguanas, masked and blue-footed boobies, Hood mockingbirds, lava lizards and more. If you’re experienced in deep water snorkeling, head to Gardner Rock, home to white-tipped
reef sharks. BLD | Day
05 | Santa Cruz Island, Rabida Island
Visit Darwin Station and the tortoise breeding center, and stroll through Puerto Ayora, the largest town on the islands. In the afternoon head to Rabida Island with its startling red sands and teal waters. Sea lions, fur seals and flamingos are often seen here, and there’s great snorkeling as well. BLD | Day
06 | Santa Cruz Island
Make a wet landing on Santa Cruz Island and divide your time between Bachas Beach and Dragon Hill. Highlights include nesting sites for sea turtles, flamingos, marine iguanas, Darwin finches, sea lions and more. BLD | Day
07 | Bartolomé Island, Santiago (James) Island
Make a wet landing in a cove on Bartolomé Island to see sea lions and a small colony of Galápagos penguins. In the afternoon, land on James Island and hike past the remains of a salt-mining enterprise on the way to Puerto Egas and the fur seal grottos. Watch for land iguanas and birds along the way. BLD | Day
08 | Fernandina Island, Isabela Island
Some of the most unusual Galápagos species can be seen on Fernandina Island, the youngest and westernmost in the chain. As you land near a small mangrove forest look for penguins diving off the rocks into the water. This island is home to the archipelago’s largest groups of marine iguanas, and you’ll likely see them basking in the sand, swimming near shore or grazing on the exposed seaweed. In the afternoon visit Isabela Island with its massive volcanoes. Watch for sea turtles, colonies of fur seals and marine iguanas along shore as we make our way to a large cave. Here you can snorkel with manta rays, sea turtles and even the occasional dolphin. BLD
| Day
09 | North Seymour, Santa Cruz Island
A dry landing takes you to a sandy beach where sea lions and marine iguanas congregate. Hike inland to a small cactus forest inhabited by blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate bird colonies. In the afternoon, board a bus bound for the Santa Cruz Highlands where about 40 giant tortoises live in the wild. BLD
| Day
10 | Galápagos to Guayaquil
After breakfast, head to the airport for your flight back to Guayaquil. B
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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner Cruise + Machu PicchuDay
01 | Quito
Arrive in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and transfer to the Hotel Hilton Colón Quito where you will overnight. | Day
02 | Quito
Enjoy a walking tour of historic downtown Quito, with the best-preserved colonial historic center in Latin America. Drive up El Ventanal for a bird’s-eye-view of the city. You may purchase an optional excursion to the volcano Antisana offering spectacular views of glaciers, wildflowers and the occasional condor. Your included welcome dinner is at the Theatrum Restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Hilton. BD | Day
03 | Quito, Guayaquil, San Cristobal, Cerro Brujo
This morning we’ll escort you to the Quito airport for your flight to San Cristobal in the Galápagos Islands via Guyaquil. Once there, transfer to the dock to board the M/V Galápagos Explorer II, your all-suite home away from home. We’ll make our way to Cerro Brujo and make a wet landing, giving you time to swim, snorkel or admire the rich bird life. BLD | Day
04 | Española (Hood) Island
The southernmost island in the archipelago, Hood Island has a large population of indigenous wildlife. Watch for sea lions and iguanas, masked and blue-footed boobies, Hood mockingbirds, lava lizards and more. If you’re experienced in deep water snorkeling, head to Gardner Rock, home to white-tipped
reef sharks. BLD | Day
05 | Santa Cruz Island, Rabida Island
Visit Darwin Station and the tortoise breeding center, and stroll through Puerto Ayora, the largest town on the islands. In the afternoon head to Rabida Island with its startling red sands and teal waters. Sea lions, fur seals and flamingos are often seen here, and there’s great snorkeling as well. BLD | Day
06 | Santa Cruz Island
Make a wet landing on Santa Cruz Island and divide your time between Bachas Beach and Dragon Hill. Highlights include nesting sites for sea turtles, flamingos, marine iguanas, Darwin finches, sea lions and more. BLD | Day
07 | Bartolomé Island, Santiago (James) Island
Make a wet landing in a cove on Bartolomé Island to see sea lions and a small colony of Galápagos penguins. In the afternoon, land on James Island and hike past the remains of a salt-mining enterprise on the way to Puerto Egas and the fur seal grottos. Watch for land iguanas and birds along the way. BLD | Day
08 | Fernandina Island, Isabela Island
Some of the most unusual Galápagos species can be seen on Fernandina Island, the youngest and westernmost in the chain. As you land near a small mangrove forest look for penguins diving off the rocks into the water. This island is home to the archipelago’s largest groups of marine iguanas, and you’ll likely see them basking in the sand, swimming near shore or grazing on the exposed seaweed. In the afternoon visit Isabela Island with its massive volcanoes. Watch for sea turtles, colonies of fur seals and marine iguanas along shore as we make our way to a large cave. Here you can snorkel with manta rays, sea turtles and even the occasional dolphin. BLD
| Day
09 | North Seymour, Santa Cruz Island
A dry landing takes you to a sandy beach where sea lions and marine iguanas congregate. Hike inland to a small cactus forest inhabited by blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate bird colonies. In the afternoon, board a bus bound for the Santa Cruz Highlands where about 40 giant tortoises live in the wild. BLD
| Day
10 | Galápagos to Guayaquil to Lima
After breakfast, head to the airport for your flight back to Guayaquil. From Guayaquil, fly to Lima, Peru, for the start of your extended South American stay. Check into the Costa del Sol Ramada Hotel, located at the airport. BD | Day
11 | Cusco
Fly from Lima to Cusco. Transfer to your hotel, and spend the morning at your leisure. Enjoy fine examples of Inca history on an archeological tour this afternoon, and experience a taste of Novo Andina cuisine. Overnight at the Hotel Libertador Palacio del Inka. BD | Day
12 | Pisac / Machu Picchu
Visit the Pisac ruins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas before transferring to the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Dinner and overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel. BLD | Day
13 | Machu Picchu
Take a guided tour of the lost citadel. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure with dinner and overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel. BLD | Day
14 | Cusco
Morning at leisure with the option of returning to Machu Picchu on your own before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo. Visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo. Return to Cusco for your farewell dinner and overnight at Hotel Libertador. BLD | Day
15 | Lima / Home
Transfer to the Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Dayrooms are available at the Costa del Sol Ramada Hotel in Lima until evening flights home. B |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner |
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