Galapagos – 14 days in Paradise

June 23, 2006

***5/6/06 UPDATE***

47 days and counting…

Hopefully all passports are in order. We will buy the tickets within the next 2 weeks DEFINITELY.

I will be keeping more frequent contact with those of you who are leaving from LAX because of

The need to purchase tickets in a timely fashion. If you would like for me to use your credit card and

Purchase your ticket for you when I purchase mine, please send me 2 emails. 1 with your

Name, Billing Address, and Phone and the 3 digit code on the back of the card, and

Then another email with the credit card number, this will add security.

We will most likely leave 6/23 or 6/24 and return 7/7. I am shopping fares like crazy!

They have not dropped yet, but I believe they will drop shortly.

WHAT TO PACK: I suggest packing very light. T-shirts or light cotton shirts(1 shirt for each day).

Several pairs of shorts, can be trunk-type,water resistant, don’t need many if trunks because we swim daily

And you can wash by hand in the ocean and re-wear often. Some walking shorts-cotton, maybe 2.

One pair of lightweight cotton pants just in case, a light windbreaker/jacket is a maybe for nites.

Good pair of walking shoes, either running shoes, nice “walking-type” sandals, sports-type hike boot.

Shoes are the most important cause we will walk several hours each day, blisters suck!

Bring at least 1 pair of thick socks for each day-thus 12 or more pairs. Toiletries as needed.

All camera needs, extra batteries a must, good film, I suggest Fuji Velvia 50 or 100 for slides or

Kodak 100UC for prints, you can purchase photo stuff at www.bhphoto.com. Buy enough, don’t regret!

I shoot 3 rolls of film per day. Plan to shoot 2 rolls of 36exp per day if you love photos.

If shooting digital, bring chargers or plenty of batteries, I mean plenty, and extra memory cards.

Try and stuff all your clothes in 1 small/medium duffle(easier to carry on if needed)

Your second bag should have your cameras, supplies, toiletries, etc…Plastic Poncho Set for rain

Please try to limit yourself to 2 bags. Wear your “walking” shoes on the flight over to save room.

You can bring sandals to wear on boat and wet landings and pack in bag as they take no room.

I will have a satellite phone which I carry on these trips. You are welcome to use it, but the price

Per minute is usually very high, around $2-$3. I will let you know the cost when we meet.

IMMUNIZATIONS: Not necessary, totally up to you. I sometimes get Gamma globulin for Hep A, but I

Don’t think we need anything at all, and I will most likely do nothing for this trip.

Bring stuff for sea sickness, I get sick so I will. Don’t take a chance.

MONEY: You will charge your airfare from LAX to Quito before we go – around $700, maybe less.

The flight from Quito to Galapagos may be chargeable, but carry enough cash for this and the rest of

The trip. Thus, we expect to spend $125 per day at 10 days on boat = $1250. plus air to Galap $400.

Plus overnite in Quito $100 with meals, plus reserve $200, plus any souvenir money you need $$$

Minimum cash carried by each traveler should be $1250+400+100+200= $1950 you will probably

Spend less, but again, don’t regret, banks are hard to find and get cash from out of the country.

You will pay your own way as we go along. When we meet our guide in Galap, you will pay the

$1250 when we board the boat or a deposit the day before. Remember all meals and transport and

Sleeping fees for the 10 days at sea are covered by the $1250. You can tip the crew if you like.

INITIAL PLAN: We will land in Quito in the late afternoon or evening. All flights to Galap are in the

Early morn or noon time, thus we will have to overnite in Quito are first nite and board the first

Flight to Galap the next day. We may walk around a little in Quito, but not much time really.

Upon arrival in Galap, we will meet up with Jordi(from Spain) and Steve W. and his wife(from

Atlanta). Peter and Sibille will either meet us in Quito or Galap, not sure just yet.

We will check into our hotel to dump bags and then head to Darwin Station and/or Santa Rosa

Preserve to see tortoises the first day. We will board the boat day 2 and live on the boat for

10 days. Our boat will be about 80 feet and motor propelled yacht with private bath per cabin.

We will sleep doubles-2 bunks per cabin. I have paired couples and others are same sex pairs.

We will visit several Islands and most likely snorkel or scuba each day. You don’t have to have

Diving certification, but if you prefer, do it. You do not have to snorkel, swim at all.

The last day will be spent in Santa Rosa and/or Darwin Station again then leave next morning

As we will most likely overnite in hotel on Santa Cruz island. Leave morning next day for

Quito, then continue Quito to LAX or where ever you began. We are going during great weather

It is high 70’s with low rain during our trip. Tortoises all congregate at water holes, easy to find!

WHAT TO DO NOW: If you are traveling from outside LAX, you already have your tickets. The rest

Of us will need to get our tickets soon. Please email your credit card if possible. This is the way

I have conducted ticket purchases on all the other trips. Otherwise, I will have to call you on the

Spur of the moment and have you call in your card to the airline yourself when I find the right

Price! Make sure your passport is in order, buy your supplies, especially camera stuff, find duffles.

Sit back and relax after you have all that stuff until you have to pack a couple days before we leave.

Please Please Please make sure you have your passports in order.  If not, please handle ASAP!

Also, you may wish to work on taking long walks to get ready for this trip.

Most walks will be easy, but we can be out for hours walking each day.

Galapagos – 14 days – Guided by Dr. Peter C.H. Pritchard – Cost Approx. $2500 + $300 guide fee

Maximum 14-16 travelers.  Confirmed = 16*  Still open spaces = 0 – Sign up NOW

We will sail about 10 days to several different locations to visit the amazing animal and plant life of

The Galapagos, focusing on the giant tortoises.  A couple days will be spent on the mainland

And 2 days will be spent traveling to and from.  As usual, everyone is responsible for their own

Expenses.  I will collect a $300 guide fee which will help cover Peter’s expenses and other miscellaneous Expenses. 

Airfare will be about $800 roundtrip. We will charter one or more yachts to serve as our

Hotel on the sea.  We will eat, sleep, and travel on the yacht(s).  Cost per day per person for Full board

On the yacht will be in the $125 range.  For 10 days estimate $1250.  2 days on mainland will cost about

$200 for room and meals and ground travel.  Thus, grand total around $2250, give or take.

I will collect the deposits for this adventure no later than 8/31/05 $300. 

Deposit is fully refundable up To 2/1/06. 

You will pay your own way as we go, I will not handle anyone’s money.  Enough about money!

We will pick up our licensed naturalist guide upon arrival in Galapagos and board our vessel.  Daily, we will

Usually visit 2 different sites to explore.  A daily schedule may look at follows:

6:30am Breakfast, 7:30am Visit first site of the day, Noon Lunch, 12:30 sail to 2^nd site, 1:30pm visit 2^nd site,

5:30pm Dinner, 6:30 begin travel to next day’s site.  Diving/Snorkeling can be mixed into schedule as well.

Some days, we may spend the entire day at one site, such as Alcedo.

We will have special permission to visit restricted sites.  We will visit the Research station and meet with

The local researchers for information and a tour.  The itinerary is currently in process.  Watch for info!

Completely Confirmed

Cabin 1:  Peter, Sibille (Florida)

Cabin 2:  Michael, Andrew (Los Angeles)

Cabin 3:  Diane, Lydia (Los Angeles)

Cabin 4:  Jeanette, Mario (Los Angeles)

Cabin 5:  Dorothy, Open (Los Angeles)

Cabin 6:  John L., Jordi (Los Angeles,Spain)

Cabin 7:  Steve W., Mrs. W. (South Carolina)

Cabin 8:  Marty, Vel (Northern Cal)

Waiting list still in process