Exploring the Galapagos with Grace
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Highlights:
When Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco, Aristotle Onassis gave them a yacht to use for their honeymoon and for state visits thereafter. Notable guests’ included Winston Churchill.
Now you can enjoy this experience. Although it has only nine cabins, the ship is fully stabilized making it less choppy than many of the smaller ships that ply the Galapagos. It also offers rotating 8-day itineraries to give you the complete Galapagos experience. Start you discovery with an elegant stay in Quito, a colonial gem.
When Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco, Aristotle Onassis gave them a yacht to use for their honeymoon and for state visits thereafter. Notable guests’ included Winston Churchill.
Now you can enjoy this experience. Although it has only nine cabins, the ship is fully stabilized making it less choppy than many of the smaller ships that ply the Galapagos. It also offers rotating 8-day itineraries to give you the complete Galapagos experience. Start you discovery with an elegant stay in Quito, a colonial gem.
SKU:
Explore: The Galapagos ISlands
Customizable Itinerary - 12 Days (from $9,895 / person)
Day 1: Arrival in Quito
Upon arrival at the airport in Quito you will be met by your guide and escorted to your hotel. Quito is located in an Andean valley 8,400 feet above sea level making it the 2nd highest capital city in the world. Originally settled by the Quitu tribe in the first millennium, Quito was eventually integrated into the Inca Empire before being destroyed by the Incas as the Conquistadors approached. It was rebuilt in the Spanish Colonial style. Due to the city’s preservation of the historic center’s splendidly restored colonial buildings and churches and its narrow cobbled streets, UNESCO declared Quito to be the first of its World Heritage sites in 1978.
Day 2: Colonial Quito and the Equator
This morning your private guide will show you why Quito deserves its UNESCO designation. You will marvel at San Francisco Church and its museum of religious art. La Compania and the seven tons of gold gilding its glittering walls, and the bustling Independence Plaza, flanked by the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral of Quito. Lunch is at Hacienda Rumiloma, which occupies an incredible location on the slopes of Volcán Pichincha. The views over the city are fantastic, but the food and the ambiance are evening better. Be sure to take a few moments to explore Rumiloma’s impressive collection of antiques. After lunch you drive north to the Equator and the Inti Nan Museum, located on the true Equator, which displays examples of pre-Columbian life in Ecuador and offers demonstrations of the unique geography, astrology, and natural sciences of the area around the Equator.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3: Introduction to Ecuadorian Cuisine
After breakfast you will be met at your hotel by a noted local chef and instructor who will take you to the local market. In addition to absorbing the local color you will pick out the ingredients for a typical Ecuadorian meal albeit with some modern updates. You will then head to the kitchen where you will, under your chef’s carful eye, create a fulfilling meal which you enjoy as your lunch. After lunch the rest of the day is at leisure. You may want to spend more time exploring the quant streets of the old town or head to the shopping in the more modern parts of the city. In the evening, there are many good restaurants within walking distance of the hotel and your guide or the hotel will be happy to make both recommendations and reservations.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Quito-Galapagos
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. You will be met and taken to the ship to begin your discovery. This afternoon will be spent focusing on water activities around the island which was the first one visited by Charles Darwin. After a wet landing you will hike up Punta Pitt on the eastern tip of the island for a spectacular view. Follow this with some swimming, snorkeling or panga rides. Have lunch on board while you move to Cerro Brujo with its magnificent beach and many sea lions. More water activities before returning to the ship for a soak in the hot tub and dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Espanola Island
Today you visit Gardner Bay on Española Island where you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling or kayaking. Gardner Bay offers the chance to enjoy a wonderful white sandy beach. It is home to one of the most important colonies of sea lions, and it is also a nesting site for sea turtles. After lunch visit Punta Suarez, Española Island, home to large populations of Nazca and blue-footed boobies as well as the beautiful waved albatross. The 12,000 pairs represent the entire population of this species on the planet. The trail continues towards a blowhole, which is a fissure in the lava where water spurts high into the air like a geyser.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Floreana Island
Floreana is the most infamous islands given past settlers and your guide will explain. In the morning visit Baroness’ Viewing Point and the Post Office left over from whaling days. You’ll see a lot of Flamingoes this morning and if you are intrepid, visit inside a lava tunnel. As the ship cruises, enjoy lunch on deck. This afternoon enjoy bird watching at Cormorant Point and snorkeling at Champion Islet before returning to the yacht.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Santa Cruz Island
Disembark and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station accompanied by a guide. On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the huge efforts being made by scientists, guides, rangers and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands' namesake. Afterwards take a bus ride to the highlands of Santa Cruz to see wild giant tortoises.
Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Bachas Beach and Sombrero Island
Your morning visit will be to another coast of Santa Cruz Island. Bachas Beach was a World War II base for the US and a floating dock still remains. Today, however it is an excellent beach for swimming along with observing Sea Turtles, Hermit Crabs and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs. You then board the yacht to enjoy an alfresco lunch as you make your way to sombrero Chino Island also known as Chinese Hat since the peak of the island resembles headgear. Here you will find a colony of sea lions and Galapagos Penguins.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Rabida and Santiago Islands
Your first stop this morning will be Rabida Island also known as James Island. This is the place for birds, particularly waterfowl that congregate in the salt-water lagoon. Here you will find boobies and brown pelicans and nine different species of finches. The island has a red tine to the ground because of iron concentrated in the lava.. Return to the ship for lunch as you cruise to Santiago Island, specifically Sullivan Bay where the lava fields have left impressions of trees long since decayed. Along the shore, oystercatchers can be seen busy at work.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Bartholomew and North Seymour Islands
As your exploration begins to come to an end you find yourself trying to capture every image in your own mental Instagram, Today you stop at Bartholomew Island and Pinnacle Rock. Caused by a volcanic eruption a climb to its peak offers a panoramic view of the islands around you. The afternoon is devoted to North Seymour Island. Here you will find the famous marine iguanas; the only one of the species to be at home in the water and on the land you will also see a plenitude of blue-footed boobies and surfing sea lions.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Mosquera Island
Before breakfast take an optional panga ride to Mosquera Islet. Mosquera Islet is a tiny islet, home to a huge population of sea lions and also home to many shorebirds. While at Mosquera, keep your eyes peeled as there are occasional reports of dolphins and orcas. After breakfast you take one last walk around the yacht before disembarking for your airport transfer. You fly to the mainland and connect to your flight back to the USA.
Breakfast
Day 12: Arrival in the USA
In the morning you arrive back home.
Upon arrival at the airport in Quito you will be met by your guide and escorted to your hotel. Quito is located in an Andean valley 8,400 feet above sea level making it the 2nd highest capital city in the world. Originally settled by the Quitu tribe in the first millennium, Quito was eventually integrated into the Inca Empire before being destroyed by the Incas as the Conquistadors approached. It was rebuilt in the Spanish Colonial style. Due to the city’s preservation of the historic center’s splendidly restored colonial buildings and churches and its narrow cobbled streets, UNESCO declared Quito to be the first of its World Heritage sites in 1978.
Day 2: Colonial Quito and the Equator
This morning your private guide will show you why Quito deserves its UNESCO designation. You will marvel at San Francisco Church and its museum of religious art. La Compania and the seven tons of gold gilding its glittering walls, and the bustling Independence Plaza, flanked by the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral of Quito. Lunch is at Hacienda Rumiloma, which occupies an incredible location on the slopes of Volcán Pichincha. The views over the city are fantastic, but the food and the ambiance are evening better. Be sure to take a few moments to explore Rumiloma’s impressive collection of antiques. After lunch you drive north to the Equator and the Inti Nan Museum, located on the true Equator, which displays examples of pre-Columbian life in Ecuador and offers demonstrations of the unique geography, astrology, and natural sciences of the area around the Equator.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3: Introduction to Ecuadorian Cuisine
After breakfast you will be met at your hotel by a noted local chef and instructor who will take you to the local market. In addition to absorbing the local color you will pick out the ingredients for a typical Ecuadorian meal albeit with some modern updates. You will then head to the kitchen where you will, under your chef’s carful eye, create a fulfilling meal which you enjoy as your lunch. After lunch the rest of the day is at leisure. You may want to spend more time exploring the quant streets of the old town or head to the shopping in the more modern parts of the city. In the evening, there are many good restaurants within walking distance of the hotel and your guide or the hotel will be happy to make both recommendations and reservations.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Quito-Galapagos
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. You will be met and taken to the ship to begin your discovery. This afternoon will be spent focusing on water activities around the island which was the first one visited by Charles Darwin. After a wet landing you will hike up Punta Pitt on the eastern tip of the island for a spectacular view. Follow this with some swimming, snorkeling or panga rides. Have lunch on board while you move to Cerro Brujo with its magnificent beach and many sea lions. More water activities before returning to the ship for a soak in the hot tub and dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Espanola Island
Today you visit Gardner Bay on Española Island where you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling or kayaking. Gardner Bay offers the chance to enjoy a wonderful white sandy beach. It is home to one of the most important colonies of sea lions, and it is also a nesting site for sea turtles. After lunch visit Punta Suarez, Española Island, home to large populations of Nazca and blue-footed boobies as well as the beautiful waved albatross. The 12,000 pairs represent the entire population of this species on the planet. The trail continues towards a blowhole, which is a fissure in the lava where water spurts high into the air like a geyser.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Floreana Island
Floreana is the most infamous islands given past settlers and your guide will explain. In the morning visit Baroness’ Viewing Point and the Post Office left over from whaling days. You’ll see a lot of Flamingoes this morning and if you are intrepid, visit inside a lava tunnel. As the ship cruises, enjoy lunch on deck. This afternoon enjoy bird watching at Cormorant Point and snorkeling at Champion Islet before returning to the yacht.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Santa Cruz Island
Disembark and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station accompanied by a guide. On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the huge efforts being made by scientists, guides, rangers and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands' namesake. Afterwards take a bus ride to the highlands of Santa Cruz to see wild giant tortoises.
Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Bachas Beach and Sombrero Island
Your morning visit will be to another coast of Santa Cruz Island. Bachas Beach was a World War II base for the US and a floating dock still remains. Today, however it is an excellent beach for swimming along with observing Sea Turtles, Hermit Crabs and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs. You then board the yacht to enjoy an alfresco lunch as you make your way to sombrero Chino Island also known as Chinese Hat since the peak of the island resembles headgear. Here you will find a colony of sea lions and Galapagos Penguins.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Rabida and Santiago Islands
Your first stop this morning will be Rabida Island also known as James Island. This is the place for birds, particularly waterfowl that congregate in the salt-water lagoon. Here you will find boobies and brown pelicans and nine different species of finches. The island has a red tine to the ground because of iron concentrated in the lava.. Return to the ship for lunch as you cruise to Santiago Island, specifically Sullivan Bay where the lava fields have left impressions of trees long since decayed. Along the shore, oystercatchers can be seen busy at work.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Bartholomew and North Seymour Islands
As your exploration begins to come to an end you find yourself trying to capture every image in your own mental Instagram, Today you stop at Bartholomew Island and Pinnacle Rock. Caused by a volcanic eruption a climb to its peak offers a panoramic view of the islands around you. The afternoon is devoted to North Seymour Island. Here you will find the famous marine iguanas; the only one of the species to be at home in the water and on the land you will also see a plenitude of blue-footed boobies and surfing sea lions.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Mosquera Island
Before breakfast take an optional panga ride to Mosquera Islet. Mosquera Islet is a tiny islet, home to a huge population of sea lions and also home to many shorebirds. While at Mosquera, keep your eyes peeled as there are occasional reports of dolphins and orcas. After breakfast you take one last walk around the yacht before disembarking for your airport transfer. You fly to the mainland and connect to your flight back to the USA.
Breakfast
Day 12: Arrival in the USA
In the morning you arrive back home.
