** Next Meeting:  Friday, February 8, 2008 @ 7 pm -- Balboa Park, San Diego **

San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society is going Galapagos.

NOV 13-19, 2008  

EXPLORER II (our ship)

(high season)

Includes: the cruise, $100 park fee, 1 night first class hotel with breakfast in Quito round trip air from Quito to Baltra, 1 night in Baltra, breakfast & picnic lunch box, all transfers from airports to hotels to boat and vise versa, city tour Quito at end of trip, including 22% tax, luggage handling.

+ Air is about $700 - $900p.p.……it’s too early to book……….you can use your miles and meet us if you want………..

Optional extensions:

Stay over extra night in Quito $65

Otavalo  - Indian Market Visit    $118

Visit to the Equator   $45

Quenca – colonial city  (overnight)

The Rainforests of Ecuador – Sacha Jungle Lodge and/or Kapawi Ecological Reserve

 **  Please note that 5% of every cruise (without land or air portion) will be donated back to the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society………..    J 

                                     FOR MORE INFORMATION:  

Call Phyllis @ Rainbow Travel & Cruise

619-464-5345

Thursday – Arrive in Quito, transfer and overnight Radison Hotel

Friday - flight to Baltra AND OVERNIGHT - Visit Darwin Research Center (B,L)

Saturday - Baltra Island and Dragon Hill
Transfer to board the ship.  Visit Dragon Hill visitors center, a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon often frequented by flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. View the bay and a nesting site of land iguanas.  (L,D)

Sunday - Bartolome Island & Egas Port, Santiago (James or San Salvador ) Island
Here you will feel as if you were walking on the moon. Climb a steep slope to the summit of Bartolome's dormant volcano.  Gaze out across a panoramic view.  You will see tropical fish and perhaps, penguins too. On the other side of the island, encounter sea turtles (mating season) and White-tipped Sharks. Stroll along the shore at Egas Port , Santiago Island (James) to look for octopi, starfish, and sea life in the tide pools. See Great Blue Herons, Lava Herons, oystercatchers, and Yellow-crowned Night Herons and fur sea lions. (B,L,D)

Monday - Espinoza Point, Fernandina Island & Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
Find the largest Galapagos colony of marine iguanas basking in the sun. Watch sea lion harems with resident bulls as they guard their territory; and see Flightless Cormorants build their nests, while Galapagos Hawks fly overhead. After lunch, sail to Vicente Roca Point to view dramatically carved cliffs and a system of rookeries and canals that are a geological wonder. This area also promises the highest probability of seeing whales. (B,L,D) 

Tuesday - North Seymour Island & Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
On North Seymour Island, there are hundreds of magnificent Frigate Birds (species distinct from the Great Frigate Bird) that display their red pouches during mating season and nest along side Blue-footed Boobies in a grove of Palo Santo trees. Afternoon, see various vegetation zones in the Santa Cruz highlands.  About 40 giant tortoises live in the wild.  You can find and observe a turtle on your own or to hike to tunnels made by cooling lava.  (B,L,D)

Wednesday - Interpretation Center , San Cristobal Island