- Cruise among the islands’ prolific wildlife aboard our newly-built luxurious catamaran
- Enjoy the most intimate encounters with wildlife in the islands' smallest groups of travelers and with your own personal viewing balcony
- Visit the giant tortoise breeding center at Charles Darwin Research Station and live among them in our Private Safari Camp!
Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador, surrounded by open ocean, a volcanic archipelago straddles the equator. The Galapagos Islands, forged of black lava and named for the giant tortoises that are among its most noted inhabitants, are like nowhere else on earth. Home to a profuse array of wildlife, the islands offer an immersion in nature that feels primeval, where iguanas and penguins and blue-footed boobies shared the beaches with human visitors, unconcerned by our presence. Herman Melville called the Galapagos “Las Islas Encantadas” -- The Enchanted Isles – an apt moniker for a realm that remains otherworldly, even today.
Location of Adventure
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Group Size Limit: Approximately 16 Travelers
A very important feature of our trips is the limited group size as nature expeditions are best experienced with smaller sized groups of travelers.
Included
Accommodations, meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on final day, except for 1 lunch and 1 dinner in Quito (no lunches or dinners included in Quito for independent trips), services of NHA's professional Expedition Leaders, land transportation, airport and hotel transfers, snorkel gear, Otavalo Market or Quito City Tour on all NHA scheduled MC Nina departures. Wetsuits are included on all MC Nina departures.
Not Included
Travel to and from Quito, gratuities, beer and liquor at hotels and on board, R/T air Quito to Galapagos (approx. $420 for adults, $220 for children, collected in advance), Galapagos tax and transit card (approx.$110 for adults, $60 for children under 12, collected in advance), airport departure tax (approx. $40), items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.), travel insurance, optional activities.
Physical Requirements
Easy/Moderate/Flexible
The activities on this trip are easy to moderate (depending on activities each guest selects to participate in) and diverse for all travelers, although getting in and out of the pangas can result in a wet boot now and again. Island trails may be rough and uneven. Those interested in longer excursions may be able to do so in the company of our Expedition Leader(s), depending on the park restrictions. Snorkeling can be a big component of this trip with nearly daily excursions offered (no experience required). Travelers are not required to participate in every activity.
Important Information about This Trip
Perhaps nowhere else on earth is a more appropriate destination for Natural Habitat travelers than the Galapagos Islands. With rare and friendly wildlife found at every turn, our Expedition Leaders are able to unveil the beauty and intricacies of nature in a warm and intimate manner. The key to the success of our Galapagos adventures is the small group size. On the M/C Nina we allow just 16 guests and two Expedition Leaders. We break down into even smaller groups when on land. The splitting of the group also serves to allow our guests to move at their chosen pace, although it is important that guests be able to walk on some uneven terrain up to a mile or two, as well as disembark the panga in sometimes rough conditions. In addition to land excursions, we will have the opportunity to snorkel almost every day while in the islands. Another very important and exciting element of this trip is that we are afforded a unique opportunity to stay in the highlands of Santa Cruz at our firstclass camp, a private property with walk-in safari tents and classic outfitted tree houses overlooking the Pacific. On this private land the islands’ famed tortoises roam freely and give us a unique look at the islands in days gone by.
Getting There & Getting Home
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador anytime on Day 1, and depart anytime on Day 11. We are prepared to handle all your round-trip travel arrangements, including flights for your extensions. We can serve you best if Natural Habitat Adventures' Travel Desk makes these reservations for you, as they are intimately familiar with the special requirements of this program and can arrange the most efficient and cost effective travel for you.
Galapagos & Amazon
A wildlife adventure to two of Mother Nature’s greatest treasures in one expedition of a lifetime: the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon.
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World Map
