Galapagos 2008

Program Itinerary

Day 01, Tuesday, May 20

• Leave San Francisco and arrive in Quito, transfer to the Hotel Alston, settle into the hotel rooms.

Day 02, Wednesday, May 21

• Trip to Galápagos: travel from Quito to Guyaquil, and then on to San Cristobol. Late afternoon trip to one of the local beaches for snorkeling, swimming, beach combing and or viewing marine Iguanas---much of this depends on the arrival time.

Day 03, Thursday, May 22

• Trip to Galápagos tortoise reproduction center. Here students will learn about the arrival, evolution, history and current status of the sub-species of tortoise on San Cristobol. Students will be guided through the reproduction facility and will be able to view and photograph recently hatched tortoises and large individuals. Details related to their reproduction will be explained.
• Hike to look out and lighthouse. Here students will have a view of the coastal area surrounding Puerto Chino, which was one of the first areas that Darwin landed in Galápagos. There is a fenced off section protecting a very rare plant species there and students will also be able to climb up an antique lighthouse for a more ample view of the coast line.
• Hike to Puerto Chino Beach over lava fields. Here students will see first hand the dry forest habitat particular to San Cristobol. At Puerto Chino Beach there are many opportunities for viewing some of the more well know shore birds of the islands including the blue-footed booby and the magnificent Frigate Bird.
• Puerto Chino is a white sand beach, and there are great opportunities for body surfing here. Lunch will be at Puerto Chino.
• Return to Cerro Verde for a snack stop and then on to the EL Junco Volcano where students will view the most significant body of fresh water in the islands. There a various endemic bird species found at this high elevation site.
• Return to the Jatun Sacha-San Cristobol Biological Stationi- Dinner and evening lecture on Ecuador's Natural history and related conservation and development themes.

Day 04, Friday, May 23

• Snorkeling. This is a day spent down at the some of the world's most spectacular snorkeling sites near Puerto Baquerizo about 30 minutes from the station. We will start at Tijerettas Bay with short snorkeling lessons and then in small groups will explore the rocking reefs in this spectacular snorkel site. We will have field guides available and will lead groups to some of the most species rich portions of the bay for viewing fish. Explanations of where the different fish assemblages come from and information on the effects of currents will be presented to the group either at the site or during an evening lecture.
• Evening--Dinner, Music, and short orientation to the following days boat activity

Day 05, Saturday, May 24

• Trip to Sleeping Lion Rock, Puerto Grande and the Sea Lion Island. All three sites are spectacular for snorkeling and offer very different assemblages of fish for viewing. At Sleeping Lion, groups will swim through "Shark Alley" where they will likely see "White Tipped and Galapagos Sharks" and occasionally Hammerheads. Sea Turtles are often seen along this se wall-cliff which rises about 600 feet out of the water. Along the sea wall are opportunities to see many fish species, sponges and corals.
• The sea lion island is a great place for viewing Marine Iguanas both on the rocks and diving to feed on Algae, Sting Rays, Manta Rays, and many other species. On the island itself are colonies of Galapagos Sea Lions, and nesting colonies of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds.
• Puerto Grande is a shallow bay where we will stop and eat lunch at mid-day. Here there is a beautiful white sand beach, mangroves, and good snorkeling especially for viewing puffer fish along the rocking portions of the shoreline.
• Evening barbeque dinner. Shopping and strolling in town.

Day 06, Sunday, May 25

• Boat trip to Punto Pitt. Here is a small rocky island which is one of three sites in the islands where the red-footed booby can be observed. Many other species including owls can be observed on the island. The beach here is green and there are huge colonies of sea lions and many large Marine Iguanas with some impressive very dry canyons as a backdrop. We will lead the group up one of the canyons for a view of the landscape. There will also be ample time on the beach for close-up observation of some very large marine Iguanas.

Day 07, Monday, May 26

• Trip to Isabella: Isabella is the largest and most active island in the Galápagos’ archipelago. It is made up of 5 volcanoes. The town Puerto San Vincente is on the southeastern point of the island. It is a beautiful beach-front town with about 2.000 residents. From town it is possible to see penguins, flamingos, frigit birds, blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, sea-turtles, white tip reef sharks and many other species.

• Excursión Volcán Sierra Negra (horse back ride)-Tintoreras.(snorkel). The trip up the volcano is spectacular. Sierra Negra is the 2nd largest caldera in the world. It is one of the active volcanoes in Galápagos. Tintoreras is a short boat ride from the town. At low tide the white tip reef sharks get trapped in these lava channels. when I was there I saw about ten all at once. They rest in the channels and when the tide goes up they leave to feed. Overnight at a hotel in San Vicente.

1. Volcanic formations
2. Colonizer species
3. Myths and reality about sharks.

Day 08, Tuesday, May 27

• Túneles (bajo el agua)-Centro de crianza, Wall of tears. The tunnels are one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen. It is an area where the lava ran into the sea and has formed channels, bridges, and tunnels in the ocean. The lava protects it from the open ocean so it is calm for snorkeling. There are tons of sea turtles, sharks, schools of fish, eels and lots more. It is a great place for breeding because it is protected so you see a lot of young animals. The Wall of Tears is a huge wall that prisoners in the penal colony on Isabella were forced to build. Many people say that you can hear the prisoners crying when you go to the wall.

1. Geologic formations
2. Marine ecology
3. Protected fisheries
4. Special look at the Galapagos Marine Reserve
   
   

• Return to San Cristobol.

Day 09, Wednesday, May 28

• Return to Quito. Afternoon tour of colonial downtown. Evening farewell dinner.

Day 10, Thursday, May 29

• Return to US

Cost

• Round trip flights from SFO to Quito and from Quito to Galápagos
• Food and lodging for 9 days (from May 20-29, 3 meals per day (including non-alcoholic drinks)
• Instruction by field guide
• All ground transportation in Ecuador and Galápagos
• All field trips in the program (including boat costs, horse back riding, etc)

• Departure tax each person must pay upon leaving Quito ($36.00)
• Medical and accident insurance
• Passport costs (US citizens do not require visa to visit Ecuador)
• Personal items such as telephone charges, etc
• Snorkel and mask rental ($8 dollars a day - it is best to bring your own!)