The Galapagos Islands need little fanfare. Darwin started the chorus of praise, amazement, and enchantment in 1835, and the music hasn’t slowed.
We’re very aware that all serious travelers aim to tour the Galapagos Islands, and that there is a lot of competition to take them there. With the launch of the new, 48-passenger, environmentally state-of-the-art yacht La Pinta, we offer travelers the opportunity to explore the fabled islands in good conscience – and comfort. We are confident that no other ship in the Galapagos combines such a high level of luxury and modernity with an attention to environmental impact. We cordially invite you to call us for comparisons and details about these claims!
Among its innovative amenities, La Pinta is the only Galapagos vessel that offers interconnecting cabins, ideal for families (Adds our president, Jim Sano, “Having been down to the Galapagos with my wife and pre-teen kids, I bear witness that they are a wonderful place for a family trip.”) The yacht also features central air conditioning with individual controls in each cabin and convenient in-cabin recharging stations, with available adaptors, for laptops and cameras. The yacht’s 24 cabins are all outside and located on the same deck. Other facilities include a spacious bar/salon, well-stocked library, sky bar, sundeck, Jacuzzi and gym with cardio machines.
The new ship’s ecology-conscious features include engines that emit very low amounts of carbon dioxide, an ultra-modern waste treatment plant, an on-board desalinization plant that allows the yacht to avoid transporting water from island sources, and four-stroke outboard Zodiac motors that minimize noise and exhaust. All inorganic waste generated aboard is taken to a recycling center at Puerto Ayora, the Galapagos’ main town. In addition, following the recommendations of the Charles Darwin Research Station, La Pinta’s deck lights are designed not to attract large numbers of nocturnal insects, thus vastly decreasing the chances of inter-island insect dispersal.
We’re very aware that all serious travelers aim to tour the Galapagos Islands, and that there is a lot of competition to take them there. With the launch of the new, 48-passenger, environmentally state-of-the-art yacht La Pinta, we offer travelers the opportunity to explore the fabled islands in good conscience – and comfort. We are confident that no other ship in the Galapagos combines such a high level of luxury and modernity with an attention to environmental impact. We cordially invite you to call us for comparisons and details about these claims!
Among its innovative amenities, La Pinta is the only Galapagos vessel that offers interconnecting cabins, ideal for families (Adds our president, Jim Sano, “Having been down to the Galapagos with my wife and pre-teen kids, I bear witness that they are a wonderful place for a family trip.”) The yacht also features central air conditioning with individual controls in each cabin and convenient in-cabin recharging stations, with available adaptors, for laptops and cameras. The yacht’s 24 cabins are all outside and located on the same deck. Other facilities include a spacious bar/salon, well-stocked library, sky bar, sundeck, Jacuzzi and gym with cardio machines.
The new ship’s ecology-conscious features include engines that emit very low amounts of carbon dioxide, an ultra-modern waste treatment plant, an on-board desalinization plant that allows the yacht to avoid transporting water from island sources, and four-stroke outboard Zodiac motors that minimize noise and exhaust. All inorganic waste generated aboard is taken to a recycling center at Puerto Ayora, the Galapagos’ main town. In addition, following the recommendations of the Charles Darwin Research Station, La Pinta’s deck lights are designed not to attract large numbers of nocturnal insects, thus vastly decreasing the chances of inter-island insect dispersal.
La Pinta has also been granted an excellent itinerary by the Galapagos National Park. Each of the 80+ vessels operating in the waters of the Galapagos has permission to visit only certain landing spots, and quite frankly – some are better than others. La Pinta’s itinerary currently includes a bevy of wonderful island visits, but some that will cause even your over-qualified naturalist guide to get excited, week after week after week. Fernandina generally steals the show with a combination of marine iguanas (thousands, literally), flightless cormorants, penguins, tortoises, hawks, herons, crabs, and more. Bartolomé gives you a view of the iconic Pinnacle Rock and a chance to snorkel with penguins. And Española, home to the gigantic waved albatross, has a beach that will make you want to retire there and become a sea lion. Put simply, a great itinerary makes you forget about the boat – even if it is La Pinta – and La Pinta has a great itinerary.
Embodying an unprecedented combination of comfort and conscience, La Pinta represents the latest innovation in the evolution of cruising among the Enchanted Islands.
Itineraries may vary according to season and
National Park scheduling, but the following
is typical:Day 1, Wednesday:
fly to Quito, Ecuador
Day 2, Thursday:
Private tour of Quito, including the historic colonial quarter
Day 3, Friday:
Morning - Fly Quito to Galapagos and board La Pinta
Afternoon - Zodiac ride through Isla Lobos to view aquatic life; shore excursion to spot lizards at Playa Ochoa on San Cristobal Island
Day 4, Saturday:
Morning - Encounter blue-footed boobies and frigate birds, and then snorkel with sea lions on North Seymour Island;
Afternoon - Visit the booming iguana and flamingo populations of Cerro Dragon, on Santa Cruz Island
Day 5, Sunday:
Morning - Learn about the past adventures of pirates and whalers at Post Office Bay on Floreana Island then snorkel or boat around Champion Islet
Afternoon - Watch the flamingos, and swim, snorkel or kayak around Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island
Day 6, Monday:
Morning - Witness dramatic scenery of pahoe-hoe lava at Punta Moreno on Isabela Island, with a panga ride to see rays, young sharks, and penguins
Afternoon - Observe marine iguanas, sally-light foot crabs, and the flightless cormorant at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina
Day 7, Tuesday:
Morning - Walk among giant tortoises in the lush Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Afternoon - Explore the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island
Day 8, Wednesday:
Morning - Visit striking volcanic landscapes of Pinnacle Rock and snorkel with penguins on Bartolomé Island
Afternoon - Stroll along the colorful beach of Rábida to see swarms of reef fish, sea lions and often large rays
Day 9, Thursday:
Morning - Enjoy the white coral beach of Gardner Bay on Española Island; snorkel or kayak with sea lions nearby
Afternoon - Hike over lava terrain to visit Española’s unique sea bird colonies at Punta Suarez, including the Waved Albatrosses (seasonal)
Day 10, Friday:
Morning - Ride up to La Galapaguera for a last chance to see the Galapagos tortoise before departing for Guayaquil
Day 11, Saturday: depart Guayaquil
Galapagos Islands Aboard La Pinta
Trip Details
Departures:
11 days
Activity Type:
Walking,
Cruising,
Kayaking
Trip Price:Low Season $5660, High Season $7000, Includes internal air, land and boat.
- Please call us to schedule your departure.
11 daysActivity Type:
Walking,
Cruising,
Kayaking
Trip Price:
Low Season $5660, High Season $7000, Includes internal air, land and boat.SPECIAL OFFER
Save $1000 per person on weekly departures January 6 - March 17, 2010.
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