Family Galapagos Adventure

A family wildlife adventure of a lifetime! Share one of nature's greatest animal-viewing sites with your family

Trip Overview
On this trip, a Special Children's Guide is dedicated to assisting children with activities specially designed for them!

Cruise among the islands’ prolific wildlife aboard a comfortable private yacht
Swim with sea lions, sunbathe with iguanas, and kayak among whales and dolphins
Look for giant tortoises in the wild and meet them up close at Darwin Research Station

There may be no better place on the planet for an intimate encounter between children and wildlife than the Galapagos Islands. Here in the remote Pacific, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the magic of nature is palpable as sea lions, marine iguanas, penguins and blue-footed boobies entertain us at close range, nonchalant about our presence. Herman Melville called this ancient chain of submerged volcanoes “Islas Encantadas,” or Enchanted Isles, an apt name for a destination that is sure to create family memories that can be found nowhere else in the world.

Check out our Galapagos Islands conservation website: www.aboutgalapagos.com

Location of Adventure
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Group Size Limit: Approximately 20 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, all meals while on the boat, breakfast in Quito, dinner on Days 2 & 3 in Quito, NHA’s Expedition Leaders, R/T air Quito to Galapagos, land transfers, city & equatorial tour (except March departures), taxes & service charges except Galapagos park tax.

Not Included
Travel to Quito, gratuities, beer and liquor at hotels and on board, some meals, Galapagos tax and transit card (approx. $110, $60 for children 11 & under), personal items, travel insurance, optional activities, and airport departure tax (approximately $40).

Physical Requirements
Easy/Flexible
The activities on this trip are easy and diverse for all travelers although getting in and out of the pangas can result in a wet boot now and again. Those interested in longer excursions may do so in the company of our Expedition Leader. Travelers are not required to participate in every activity.

Getting There & Getting Home
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador anytime on Day 1, and depart anytime on the final day. 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.

Age Limit on Galapagos Trips
We are happy to welcome children ages seven and older on our scheduled Galapagos departures. However, while some seven-year-olds are well-suited for our Galapagos adventures, others may not be ready for the requirements of group travel. For this reason, we believe that it is more useful to consider this age limit a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule. We believe that you, as a parent or guardian, are best qualified to decide whether or not your child would enjoy the experience without compromising the comfort of others. We strongly encourage to you call our office to speak with an Adventure Travel Specialist about the specific requirements of the trip you're considering so that you can make an informed decision about your child's participation. We are unable to allow children younger than seven on these scheduled departures due to safety regulations, physical limitations, and concerns regarding group dynamics.

Family Costa Rica Adventure
A rainforest adventure of fun and discovery! Enjoy a variety of activities in different ecosystems, and view monkeys and birds on a float trip down the Sarapiqui River.

Family Botswana Safari
An amazing guided family adventure to one of our planet’s last great wild places!

2009 Dates
Jun 19 - 29
Jul 3 - 13
Jul 24 - Aug 3
Jul 31 - Aug 10

Some families prefer to charter their own vessel. Please call us for details: 1-800-543-8917.

Private Group Charters
Natural Habitat Adventures offers private charters of each of the vessels in the fleet. These charters are great for family, friend, or corporate groups and provide privacy and flexibility amidst one of nature’s greatest sites. For full details and pricing call our Adventure Specialists at 1-800-543-8917.

2009 Fees
Iguana Deck (Category 1)
$4,895 (adults)

Booby Deck (Category 2)
$5,295 (adults)

Dolphin Deck (Category 3)
$5,695 (adults)

Children 14 and under will receive a $500 discount off all departures. Children must be at least 7 years old to participate in this trip.

Single Supplement
If available, 1.25 times regular rate on a first come, first served basis on our scheduled trips only. If requested, we can also match you with a roommate during your stay on the boat. If one is not available, you will not be charged the single supplement for the boat portion of the trip, but you will be required to pay the $250 supplement for the land portion of the program.

Deposit: $500 (non-refundable)

NOTE: All of our smaller yachts are available for Family Charters. Please call us for details.

*Please note: We reserve the right to upgrade cabins at our discretion in order to accommodate matches for willing to share passengers.

Prices are per person based on double occupancy and are given in US Dollars. Fees may increase for 2010.

Please note: Due to a new government tax for all ships of a specific size sailing in the Galapagos, we must pass along an additional $150 per person government mandated fuel fee for all trips departing on or after May 30, 2008. This additional fee will be added to your invoice. We expect a similar tax in 2009, the cost of which is yet to be determined.