We Customize Private Tours For Couples and Groups.

And in 2009 we are offering several package tours for all of the individuals and couples on tight budgets that we haven’t been able to accommodate in the past. (see below for more details)

We present the Galapagos Islands to our clients (or “hearts” as my wife refers to you all) personally. For our hearts that means a flexibility of schedule, access to opportunities very few visitors receive, small plane flights between islands, chartered boats, personal Galapagos National Park guide with local knowledge of where and when to be to be to experience the most intimate encounters with wildlife. Choosing to travel with us is to be involved in the Galapagos. What you’ll see, learn and experience can not be offered any other way. We live here. We will receive and care for you. Our goal is simple: to develop sustainable economies here and better care for the environment while providing a superior level of service, attention to detail and experience for our hearts. Plus, we’d like to share where we live with you, have a good time and open a place in your hearts where you can receive the Galapagos reality as it really exists. If we can’t accomplish that, at least you’ll come away with better stories and photos.

Start the process of developing your Galapagos/Ecuador trip by dropping us a line through “contact us”.

Every group is slightly different with their dates and needs, group size, etc., but many groups follow roughly what our new packages will offer. Have a look at the itinerary below and imagine it is just for your family or group of friends.

Quito/Galapagos Tour Packages 10 day (nine nights) Eight to Twelve Guests Maximum. Details of what is included in the per person price follow the itinerary below. Write or call for availability.

January 2009 “Flight of the Penguins Tour” Begins Friday January 23rd and ends Sunday February 1st.

May 2009 “Lisa’s Travel Writer’s Tour” Begins Friday May 8th and ends Sunday May 17th.

August 2009 “Flying Tortoise Marathon” Packages, Begin on either July 31 or Aug. 1. Please see the Marathon page on this web site and write for itinerary.

November 2009 “Big Birds Thanksgiving Tour” Begins Friday November 20 and ends Sunday November 29.

Friday Day One: International flight. Arrive from the US, typically between eight and elevenPM. Guide and Limo./Bus service receive guests, transfers them to Hotel Patio Andaluz, (hotelpatioandaluz.com) centrally located in Old Town (Colonial) Quito, charming patio style hotel, four stars, always rave reviews.

Quito Notes:
Upon arrival in Quito the group will be met by their bilingual, native guide, who will escort the group to their hotel, be sure all is well, return in the morning to guide them around Quito and out to dinner and then return the next morning to leave for the Galapagos with them. They will be doing the reverse on the return from the Galapagos. Breakfasts in Quito are served at the hotel, lunch will be had at guides recommended restaurant and dinner will be had at either La Choza (lachozaec.com) and/or Café Mosaico (cafemosaico.com.ec).

Sat. Day Two: Breakfast on the patio in hotel. This day is spent on a fully guided tour of Quito’s main attractions, including: Colonial Quito, Museums, Teleferico, Mitad Del Mundo, Feria Artisanal (shopping) hosted by your bilingual Quito native with tour van/bus at his or her disposal. This tour can be customized somewhat depending on the group’s inclinations. Lunch will be provided at appropriate restaurant depending on location of tour. Dinner will be had at La Choza, (lachozaec.com) premier Ecuadorean food often with live band playing songs of the Andes.


Sun. Day Three: Flight to San Cristobal Galapagos where you’ll be met by your National Park guide. Typical arrival time 1PM. Lunch, orientation, first snorkel expedition to swim with sea lions, turtles, rays etc. Sunset and dinner.

Galapagos Notes:
Your bilingual guide is available dawn to dusk for whatever you may need. He/she has a thorough knowledge of the geology, biology, history, current status and gossip of the Galapagos, as well as the experience of living here and knows when and where to be in order to make the most of your time, whether it’s iguana watching, sunset viewing, snorkeling or hammock location.

Guests stay in the finest hotels available here on San Cristobal and Isabela, however this tour is focused more toward adventure and exploration rather than shopping and fine dining. Breakfasts are had at the hotel. All other meals are provided by the premier restaurants here, Miramar its award winning chef Santiago Teran or The Albemarle on Isabela.

Should anyone wish to, Salsa dancing is available some late nights at the local’s club where you’ll be the only gringos in the place and the locals will likely be buying drinks and showing you some steps.

It is entirely possible to snorkel every dawn and sunset with the sea life. Your guide has years of experience snorkeling with everyone from deep water free divers to complete novices. Most of them are certified Dive Masters. Their goal is to be sure you enjoy all the riches of the Galapagos to the fullest and quite a few of those riches are to be found underwater.

Mon. Day Four: Fish with locals. This is a trip out with the local fishermen where they’ll explain/discuss how they fished in the past, what’s happened to the fisheries, what’s happening now and then you’ll go catch some fish for the night’s meal.

That night you’ll eat the fish you caught with the fishermen and their family. Lunch. Hiking tour of the largest coffee plantation in Ecuador. Shade grown, organic, Galapagos coffee is famous for its rich taste and mellow texture. There are some coffee plants on the plantation more than a hundred years old. Everything you ever wanted to know about growing coffee can be answered and of course there will be a taste test. For groups larger than six, we’ll break the group up into smaller groups and alternate fishing and the coffee plantation in order to give them a more intimate experience of both.

Tues. Day Five: All day tour of the far side of the island: Commune with the Giant Tortoises in their reserve, visit the local farms where much of the food provided is grown, bananas, bamboo, papaya, guavas etc. People are often surprised at how entertaining this visit actually is. Visit Puerto Chino (pristine isolated beach) and El Junco, the highest elevation on the island and volcano crater now filled with water.

This night at dinner there will be a guest speaker from the Charles Darwin Foundation who will give a brief presentation.

Wed. Day Six: All day chartered boat trip to tip of the island and islets. Snorkeling with sharks, rays, turtles and sea lions. Visit nesting grounds of Frigate Birds, Pelicans, Boobies, Tropical birds, etc. Roam gorgeous, deserted, pristine beaches that could make travel posters cry.

 

Typical hectic morning, Galapagos, Ecuador

Note sea turtle just beyond reach

Thurs. Day Seven: Travel to Isabela Island. This involves a short inter island plane flight. The flight is very scenic and an opportunity few tourists receive to view the Galapagos Islands from the air. The plane lands in Puerto Villamil, Isabela where you will check into either Casa de Marita or Hotel Albemarle (hotelalbemarle.com), the two nicest hotels on Isabela and tour the small town (Pop. 1,000). It is possible to snorkel with penguins there right in front of the hotel. There is a long beach to walk where flamingos can often be seen.

Fri. Day 8: Your hotel fronts a long sand beach. Depending on your mood/energy level, there’s a hike to a volcano, Sierra Negra, the tortoise breeding station, a private tortoise farm, Campo Duro, flamingos, penguins, various snorkeling sites. Your guide will help you pick and choose among these things. Perhaps some may opt for just hanging on the beach.

Sat Day 9: Return flight to San Cristobal to catch connecting return flight to Quito. You’ll arrive around four or five, be picked up by your limo./bus service and taken to The Radisson (Radisson.com.ec). By this point in your trip you will be exhausted and ready for some more familiar type surroundings. I can’t tell you how often we get thanked for making this suggestion. It is also much closer to the airport.

Sun. Day 10: Return International Flight. Guide and limo/bus insures that all arrive in the international terminal with your luggage, photos, smiles on your faces and hopefully a place in your hearts for Ecuador and the Galapagos.

 Included In This Per Person Double Occupancy Group of Eight to Twelve Passengers Quote:

-Full time bi-lingual super tour leader will meet group outside of customs (generally inside of customs to help with bags, but occasionally not, owing to the vagrancies of a sliding scale of airport security) and say good-bye as the group enters the international terminal for their return flight
-All airport transfers in Quito and the Galapagos (a 2007 Mercedes twenty passenger bus is used in Quito)
-All ground transportation to tours and boat trips (a Mercedes 2008 sixteen passenger bus is used on San Cristobal and 1980 converted flat bed Ford (shabby/ chic, former farm vehicle) on Isabela
-All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and non-alcoholic beverages, some snacks (breakfasts taken at hotels-lunches at appropriate restaurant, depending on location of tour, box lunches for day trips on boats and when away from civilization-Dinners: two in Quito, one at La Choza (lachozaec.com) and one at Café Mosaico (cafemosaico.com.ec), in the Galapagos, one dinner with a fisherman and his family, other dinners had at either Miramar Restaurant on San Cristobal or at the Hotel on Isabela. Guest speakers at two dinners, one from the Charles Darwin Foundation and one from the town of San Cristobal, we’ve had the Mayor, the chief of police, the Governor once and the great grand son of one of the original colonists. Fun stuff.
-Two nights (double occupancy) Hotel Patio Andaluz
-All day tour of Quito and surrounding areas (itinerary flexible)
-Round trip air between Quito and San Cristobal
-Four nights (double occupancy) Cabanas Pimampiro, Casa Blanca or Casa de Nelly, San Cristobal
-An all day privately chartered boat tour to islets and far side of island (see details on web page or itinerary below)
-An all day bus trip to tour the tortoise reserve and remote farms (see details on web page or itinerary below)
-Fishing tour with local fishermen to catch the night’s meal
-Hiking tour of the largest coffee plantation in Ecuador
-Round Trip flight San Cristobal-Isabela
-Two nights (double occupancy) Hotel Albemarle Isabela (hotelalbemarle.com)
-All day tour of Isabela including: Sierra Negra (active volcano), penguins, tortoise breeding ground and flamingos.
-Unlimited snorkeling, exploring, surfing, animal watching, swimming with the help of your guide
-Snorkeling equipment for duration of Galapagos leg of tour -One night (double occupancy) Radisson Hotel, Quito (Radisson.com.ec)

Not included: International airfare, airport taxes (Quito $42, Isabela $15), Galapagos National Park entrance and transit/entrance card fee ($210), alcoholic beverages and tips.

Per person cost 8 to 12 passengers $3,289
Single Supplement $610