Location: Ecuador
PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
Galapagos Islands and Ecuador Photo Tour ~ Contact Strabo Tours
- 10-day land and cruise program to the Galápagos Islands, including Quito, Ecuador.
- Price includes Quito/Galapagos Islands Airfare, Galapagos National Park Fee, and tourist card.
- 7-night cruise aboard the 16-passenger motor yacht The Daphne. The small boat experience provides the most in-depth and personal way to experience the islands, and with 12 participants it will be an exclusive charter for our group.
- Features of the Daphne include: safety, comfort, eight air-conditioned cabins, private bathrooms, library, TV with VHS video, restaurant, bar, and sundeck.
- Pre-trip extension to the Antisana Ecological Reserve.
- Departure limited to 14 participants to optimize your photographic experience.
Region
Latin America and Caribbean
Destination
Ecuador
Dates
TBD
Duration
10 days
Available Pre-Trip Extension
Antisana Ecological Reserve
$4995
per person, double occupancy*
This tour is not currently scheduled. Contact us if you want details when tour dates are announced, or if you are interested in running a private trip for your group.
*U.S. dollars based upon minimum of 8 participants. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested (subject to availability), or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, there is a single room surcharge of $255.
Tour Overview
Land/Cruise cost includes National Park Fee and Galapagos Airfare. The Galápagos archipelago is a distinctive world heritage site. Since Charles Darwin’s famous voyage, it has provided a wealth of information and inspiration for people throughout the world. The “Enchanted Islands” still continue to play an important role in our understanding of life on earth. This remote volcanic archipelago remains much as it was millions of years ago, some 600 miles off the coast of South America. Over...
Land/Cruise cost includes National Park Fee and Galapagos Airfare. The Galápagos archipelago is a distinctive world heritage site. Since Charles Darwin’s famous voyage, it has provided a wealth of information and inspiration for people throughout the world. The “Enchanted Islands” still continue to play an important role in our understanding of life on earth. This remote volcanic archipelago remains much as it was millions of years ago, some 600 miles off the coast of South America. Over the course of centuries, animal and plant life from the Americas reached the islands and gradually evolved into new forms. Many of its species are unique to the rest of the world. The Galápagos offer a way to magically step back in time, to visit an isolated, relatively untouched place where you can be at one with nature as nowhere else. Animals have no fear of humans — birds light on your arm, curious sea lions come to get acquainted, fur seals and penguins join you for a swim in the clear waters. You will visit nurseries where young Galápagos sea lions cavort among the rocks under the watchful eyes of their mothers and the huge male beachmaster. You will see elegant red-billed tropicbirds with their long plumed tails, marine and land iguanas basking on black lava rocks, parrot and puffer fish, morays and Moorish idols, and brilliant Sally Lightfoot crabs. Blue-footed boobies show off their unique footwork and perform their graceful courting ritual. Throughout the islands are Darwin’s finches, whose unique adaptations helped to lead Charles Darwin to his revolutionary theory of evolution. At the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, you will be within arm’s reach of the galápagos themselves, the huge land tortoises for which the islands were named. The Galápagos offer a good example in which tourism has been instrumental in preserving a fragile island ecosystem. While island groups throughout the world have had their wildlife and habitat devastated, the Galápagos have yet to lose a single native species. Nature tourism and the Galápagos Islands are now interdependent, relying on each other for survival.
What to Expect Our trip to the Galápagos will give us wonderful opportunities for photographing birds, reptiles, seascapes and volcanic landscapes. Wildlife is easy to approach, and has virtually no fear of humans at all. You can get within feet of a nesting bird or inches away from a resting marine iguana. Long telephoto lenses are not often required. There are some restrictions for Galápagos visitors. We must abide by the national park rules and heed the advice of our guide. Although approaching birds is easy, discretion must be used to avoid having a bird abandon a nest. The rule is that you should not get closer than two meters from a bird (although a mockingbird might fly right up and perch on your lens). We are restricted to staying on the trails, a regulation that is quite important. This restriction, however, does not cause much of a sacrifice to our photography. If you see an interesting animal in the distance, chances are you will see the same animal around the next corner next to the trail. Tripods can be used, but again they must be used on the trails. Flash is not allowed. We must wait until first light to venture onto the islands; and we must be off well before dark. But we should have plenty of time for lingering and photographing what we like. Our boat holds sixteen passengers. We only need twelve to have exclusive use of it, which we hope to get. In this case, we will have as much time as we like in each location. If we don’t have twelve, there may be others with us. This should not hamper our photography, but our guide will need to take their interests into account as well. Each day, there will be time for photographic instruction on board the boat, as we rest during island visits after lunch. Our naturalist guide will also give us briefings in the evening about the next day’s activities and the natural history of the island we’ll visit. Our guide will also give on-shore talks about biology, geology, and conservation. Pack as much as you can into your carry-on luggage, of course. There is usually plenty of space in the overhead compartments. Pack tripods and other less fragile equipment in the check-in luggage. If you have any questions about weight limitations, let us know.
Single rooms may not be available while on the Galapagos cruise portion of the tour. The single room supplement charge is for Quito only. Please contact our office regarding possible availability on cruise, surcharge is approximately 35% of tour cost.
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Photo Leader TBD
Pre-Trip Extension
Extension Name
Antisana Ecological Reserve
Price
$445*
Dates
TBD
Duration
TBD
* Based upon minimum of 5 participants. There is a small group surcharge of $50 if 3-4 participants. Single room surcharge is $85.