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 Experience the serenity of the Galapagos Islands as you drift across the Pacific Ocean on this relaxing 10-day adventure. You'll fly from Quito to the Galapagos Islands, located in the equatorial water of the Pacific Ocean. Suddenly you'll find yourself in a very different world. As you board your vessel and follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, you'll start to encounter nature at its finest, all while forming life-lasting friendships with likeminded gay men.
Seemingly frozen in time, the Galapagos is a magical world that has remained untouched by human civilization for thousands of years. Set sail on our exclusive gay adventure cruise and discover what makes this fascinating archipelago such a hotspot of geology and wildlife. Uncover a world like no other, complete with beautiful and bizarre creatures unique to the region. Trace Charles Darwin's evolutionary theories, swim and snorkel in balmy equatorial waters and experience spectacular island paradises that seem more fairytale than reality.
Galapagos Islands Gay Cruise 2015 Itinerary
 Day 1 - Saturday, November 14, 2015
Quito, Ecuador
Quito is a cultured city with a wonderous Old Town, a dynamic nightlife and atmospheric streets showcasing Ecuadorian life in all its splendour.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to our centrally located private boutique casa. OUT Adventures has the exclusive use of this top rated property for our first and last night of the tour. There are no activities planned until our group meeting at 6PM, followed by an orientation walk of the popular area of La Mariscal, and an optional dinner and night out on the town.
Sitting at an altitude of 2,850 m under the gaze of Volcan Pichincha, Quito is one of the most attractive cities in South America. Long and incredibly thin, the city stretches along a central valley formed by the east and west ranges of the Andes. Although compact, Quito's Old Town is full of historic buildings.
Please note that Quito is situated nearly 3,000 meters above sea level. At this altitude you may experience some of the milder effects of altitude sickness, such as dizziness, insomnia and a shortness of breath. If so, we recommend you avoid any strenuous activity.
 Day 2 - Sunday, November 15, 2015
Baltra / Isla Santa Cruz
This morning we transfer to Quito Airport for our early morning flight to the Galapagos Islands. Be prepared for an early start as this could mean leaving the hotel as early as 4AM. A US$10 per person transit card is payable on departure at Quito Airport and a US$100 per person national park entry fee is payable on arrival. Please have cash on hand for these transactions as using credit cards can be time consuming.
On arrival in the Galapagos we are met in the arrivals hall and then transferred to our catamaran, M.C. Queen Beatriz, anchored a short distance away. Once on board we'll be assigned our cabins, and we'll have a chance to meet the crew members and get to know our naturalist guide and fellow travellers over a delicious lunch.
The shallow and protected cove of Punta Carrion is ideal for snorkelling and swimming in the Galapagos. From the zodiac (panga) ride wildlife is plentiful so keep your eyes peeled for Frigate birds, Brown Pelicans, Galapagos herons, great Blue Herons, and Blue-Footed Boobies. Underwater, swim among tropical fish, rays and white-tipped reef sharks and California Sea Lions.
Included Activities
• Snorkelling Punta Carrion
 Day 3 - Monday, November 16, 2015
Isla Isabela
Today you will wake up on the South Coast of Isabela Island, the largest of the Galapagos Archipelago. Isabela was formed by five giant volcanic craters, all of which are still considered active. The island is located in one of the youngest geological areas in the world, having been formed less than 1 million years ago.
We visit Las Tintoreras, where from the viewing walkway you can look down into this narrow channel to see a colony of white-tipped reef sharks swimming and sleeping, and the occasional playful sea lion among them. Blue-footed boobies and penguins, marine iguanas and crabs also make their home here, and the waters provide further opportunities to swim with turtles. We enjoy a nice long walk on a gravel path through 'Ahh-ahh' lava flow and see plenty of Marine Iguanas. The natives of the islands call white sharks "tintoreras", hence the name of this spectacular site. We might also have the opportunity to snorkel off the panga to observe sharks, sea lions and Galapagos penguins.
We'll visit the Arnoldo Tupiza Tortoise breeding center where you can see the five sub species of tortoises from Isabela Island, some of which are bred in captivity. Please note that there's a $20 fee to be paid upon entering Isabela Island.
 Day 4 - Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Isla Floreana
A highlight of any Galapagos cruise, Isla Floreana is rich in natural wonders and wildlife, including seabirds such as boobies, pelicans and frigates, sea lions and perhaps pink famingos! Isla Florena is also home to Post Office Bay, where 18th century whalers used a barrel as an unofficial mail drop - a custom that continues to this day with visitors like you!
Discover the quirky maritime history of Post Office Bay which is the oldest postal system in the Americas. Steeped in history, in 1793 a post office barrel was erected for mariners to post their mail and assist in delivery of mail to the United States and Europe. This custom continues today with Galapagos visitors leaving letters and postcards to be collected by the next passing boat – send one of your own and check if there are any you can deliver back home. Snorkeling and a panga ride will be also included in this outing.
 Today is also one of your finest opportunities to see pink flamingos and other water birds wading in the lagoons, including pintails and stilts. Just offshore, the Devil's Crown is an old eroded volcanic cone and a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans and frigates. Red-billed tropicbirds can also be seen nesting in the rocky crevices.
The centre of the cone is an outstanding snorkelling spot, perhaps the most remarkable in the entire archipelago, full of sea lions and colourful fish. Floreana is also home to Post Office Bay, where 18th century whalers used a barrel as an unofficial mail drop. This custom continues to this day with visitors to the Galapagos – post one of your own, or see if there are any you could deliver back home!
Included Activities:
• Post Office Bay
• Punta Cormorant and Devil's Crown
 Day 5 - Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Isla Santa Cruz
We head to the Highlands of Santa Cruz for a total change of scenery. Beginning at the coast we travel across Santa Cruz through the agricultural region and into the misty forests where we can see the Unique Scalesia cloud forest, dome shaped giant tortoises in the wild, different species of Darwin finches and possibly the world famous woodpecker and warbler finches as well as vermillion flycatchers.
Today we visit Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos.
The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic hub of the archipelago, and is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre and museum are essential stops for anyone interested in the archipelago's natural and human history, and keen to learn more about conservation efforts to preserve the unique ecosystems of the Galapagos. It also offers our best chance for close-up encounters with giant tortoises, and we can see many newborn and young giant turtles - part of the breeding program to reintroduce them to their natural habitat. Observe the Giant Opuntia and Jasminocereus cactus trees. Leisure time to explore Puerto Ayora, check email or have a drink at a local bar and see the local's way of life.
Included Activities:
• Charles Darwin Research Centre
• Santa Cruz Highlands
 Day 6 - Thursday, November 19, 2015
Isla Santa Fe / Isla Plaza Sur
A small island, Plaza Sur or South Plaza is nonetheless a place of great beauty, where we get close to sea lions and onto trails past one of the Galapagos' largest land iguana populations, resting amid cacti and volcanic landscapes coloured bright red and green by sea-purslanes. The island's rugged southern cliffs are an excellent place to spot tropicbirds and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as 'the gentlemen's club', a gathering of male sea lions either too young or too old to be 'beach masters'!
Santa Fe is home to more sea lions, and these ones are very eager for swimming partners! It's a lovely place to take a dip, offers a dense concentration of wildlife, and is a fantastic place to see many of the stars of the Galapagos in one relatively small area. Expect to see the Galapagos hawk, land Iguanas, a variety of finches and the Galapagos mockingbird, sea lions, marine turtles, frigatebirds, Galapagos doves and lava lizards. It's a naturally beautiful island as well, with one of the most attractive coves in the archipelago, the waters jade green and wonderful for snorkelling. . Our trail follows the coast into the Opuntia Forest Santa Fe's trees are the largest in the Galapagos. Hiking into the island you can see a forest of giant cacti and palo santo trees. Once back at the beach we have free time to snorkel in the jade green water. Playful sea lion pups and fluorescent fish make for fascinating company.
Included Activities
• Plaza Sur
• Santa Fe Island
 Day 7 - Friday, November 20, 2015
Isla Espanola
Today we cruise to the island of Española - the southernmost island of the Galapagos and one of the most spectacular. Because of its remote location this island has a large population of endemic fauna. It is the breeding site for nearly all of the world's 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses and also home to colonies of blue-footed and masked boobies. Trails from the golden beaches, where sea lions bathe and marine iguanas make their way towards the water, lead us right through the middle of booby colonies, and Galapagos doves and mockingbirds are also often seen. We land at Punta Suarez, one of the most attractive locations in the Galapagos and home to large and varied wildlife population - a walk along its trails takes us to a cliff top viewpoint, where we gain a magical panorama. Boobies line the rocky shoreline beneath us, while frigate birds may be seen overhead; nearby enormous male sea lions can be seen lounging and albatross use the cliffs as their 'runway', helping become airborne by the southeast winds that blow across this part of the island. If we're lucky we'll see the elaborate courtship rituals performed by albatrosses before the female chooses her lifelong mate.
 We head to Gardner Beach which is considered by many as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos Islands and full of California sea lions and Hood Mocking birds. Enjoy the beach and do some snorkelling which could be great for playing with sea lion pups and lots of fish. The rocks off the coast provide excellent snorkelling opportunities, with reef sharks, turtles and many species of tropical fish, including surgeon and angelfish, often seen. The small white-tipped reef sharks are also often spotted resting under the rocks.
Included Activities:
• Gardner Bay
• Punta Suarez
 Day 8 - Saturday, November 21, 2015
Isla San Cristobal
We visit Punta Pitt on the eastern end of San Cristobal Island, one of the most spectacular landscapes that resulted from the erosion of an ancient volcanic ash cone. Walk to the top of the volcanic hill for expansive views of the sparsely vegetated area. A variety of seabirds nest here, including blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies and frigates. From the panga ride we can observe the three varieties of boobies nesting in the Galapagos and enjoy a snorkel from the beach!
Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido) is the magnificent basalt remains of a crater in the middle of the sea, the shape resembling a sleeping lion. The rock rises 150 metres above the surface and is divided into two parts by a narrow channel. We cruise through the channel, with nesting seabirds on either side of the boat, tropic birds overhead, marine iguanas in the water and resting on the rocks and many sea lions also present. Snorkelling gives us the opportunity to see Galapagos sharks, and possibly a hammer head shark among sea turtles and an incredible biodiversity of invertebrates on the wall.
We also visit Isla Lobos, a tiny island almost touching San Cristobal Island. This is the perfect time to witness the always friendly sea lions as they play in the calm shallow waters here. Blue Footed Boobies, frigate birds and marine iguanas are also easily seen.
Included Activities:
• Isla Lobos
• Kicker Rock – Snorkelling
• Punta Pitt
 Day 9 - Sunday, November 22, 2015
Isla San Cristobal / Quito
We visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center. The centre brings the history and geography of the archipelago to life, from its volcanic origins to the present day. The human history exhibit offers an insight into the discovery and colonisation of the Galapagos, and the reality of the problems the islands face today is also explored. This is a great way to complete your time in the Galapagos.
Sadly all good things must come to an end and this is our final excursion. We say farewell to The Galapagos Islands and head to the airport for our flight back to Quito for the last night of the tour. Upon arrival in Quito Airport we are transferred back to our casa where we'll have time to freshen up before our farewell dinner and drinks.
Included Activities:
San Cristobal Interpretation Center
Day 10 - Monday, November 23, 2015
Isla San Cristobal / Quito
Your Galapagos' voyage comes to an end today after breakfast.
There are no activities planned, and you are free to depart at your leisure. We hope you enjoyed your time in Quito & The Galapagos Islands with OUT Adventures.
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