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Galapagos wildlife holiday

country:Ecuador, Galapagos Islands
location:Galapagos Islands
departures:Up to three departures a month on Mondays throughout the year
price:From £995 - £1025 (7 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. Price includes arrival transfer, cruise transfers, 3-night cruise & activities, an experienced English-speaking naturalist. We can arrange flights from the UK
 
the amazing things you'll be doing
This trip provides a great introduction to the highlights of the northern islands of this spectacular region! From Baltra, we board the San Jose and head for Las Bachas, a haven for a plethora of birds including pelicans, frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. It is also the breeding ground for the sea turtle. We explore the volcanic craters of Rabida, complete with a lagoon and a flamingo rookery. We can also swim with fur seals on Santiago Island and, on the volcanic island of Bartolome we hike to the top for spectacular views across the islands. On Santa Cruz, you’ll visit the Charles Darwin Station and travel into the highlands to check out the amazing variety of endemic plant life.

There’s also the chance to see the giant Galapagos tortoise from which the island group gets its name. For something a little different we spend our last night ashore on Santa Cruz Island in a hotel in the small village of Porto Ayora. It’s a great way to unwind and to get a feel for island life.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Quito
Day 2:Fly Baltra. Las Bachas
Day 3:Rabida & Puerto Egas
Day 4: Sullivan Bay & Bartolome
Day 5: Santa Cruz & Darwin Station. Overnight Puerto Ayora
Day 6: Fly Quito
Day 7End Quito
Highly Commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
The pristine Galapagos Islands are protected as a World Heritage sanctuary for good reason – they are home to a vast array of unique and endemic wildlife. To maintain its unique ecosystem, tourism to the islands is tightly controlled, with a limited number of tourists allowed daily and boats being forced to follow strict guidelines. Small, environmentally friendly vessels are used with a maximum of 16 berths, offering an intimate and enjoyable experience. Waste management is closely controlled on the boats and, when on land, physical contact with the wildlife is strictly forbidden.

We are committed to using local leaders on all our holidays and, on this trip, despite taking only 16 passengers we employ a crew of 9, including a fully qualified local guide. The plight of the waved albatross is a moving one, as many have died as a result of longline fishing off the coast of Peru. We have given substantial financial support to various organisations to help stop the needless slaughter of these magnificent birds by ensuring that relevant international agreements are implemented that will benefit both the birds and the legal fishing industry. The nature of this trip ensures that travellers become acutely aware of the importance of conservation and also become ambassadors for the continual protection of wildlife and wilderness the world over.

By only employing staff born and bred in the regions we visit, we are supporting local economies. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. We are proud to be a member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association), a non-profit association of tour operators, conservation organisations and other concerned groups that are dedicated to the lasting protection of the Galapagos.

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