What Makes Our Luxury Villa Epic! Custom tailored itinerary to match your group’s interests! Staying in a luxurious villa with full staff, including concierge and private chef! Waking up to sea lion pups playing in your hot tub!

Sample Custom Itinerary At a Glance

Days 1-2: Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

Days 3-8: Explore the Galapagos Islands

Day 9: Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

Day 10: Back to USA

Days 1-2: QUITO or GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR Arrive in Quito. The following day is yours to tour the unique city sites! Visit the highlands, or Otavalo Market! Take a tour of La Compañía Church, made with seven tons of gold, or embark on an adventure to famed Peguche Water Fall!

Days 3-8: The Galapagos Islands Visit various islands in the Galápagos by private yacht, or panga (inflatable skiff). These islands are a haven for some of the world’s most varied wildlife. It was this diversity that first led Charles Darwin to propose that species evolved in response to their environment. Observe Galápagos penguins walking along volcanic ledges, encounter marine iguana, snorkel or SCUBA with playful sea lions and watch sally lightfoot crabs wander the beaches while you sip champagne!

Day 9: QUITO or GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR You will have the option to fly back to with Quito or Guayaquil, and we encourage you to make the most of this day! Go hiking or horse back riding, take a mountain bike for a spin, or visit one of the local Indian markets, such as Crystal Palace! Our recommendation: Don’t miss sunset from Santa Ana Hill!

Day 10: Back to the USA After a hearty breakfast, say goodbye to your new found friends, and head home.

See the Logistics section for details about each islands and the activities available to you.

• Book Trip or call 800-742-9740

Logistics

Adventure Price: Available Upon Request
Adventure Dates: You Decide!
Adventure Length: You Decide!

Getting Here: Where ever you're coming from, we'll arrange all of your international and national (between Ecuador and the Galapagos) flights. All you have to do is pack and show up!

Getting Around: You’ll fly to and from the Galapagos Islands in a standard size commuter jet. A private passenger van or car will be your mode of transportation on the ground to get around Santa Cruz. A luxury charter yacht with changing rooms and bathrooms as well as dinning, lounging, and sunning areas, will be your mode of transportation to and from the neighboring islands. From the charter boat you will use a Panga (inflatable skiff) to get to and from the islands and also for snorkeling excursions. A speedboat will be your transportation to and from more distant islands such as Isabela and Floreana.

Meals: Part of what makes Epic Adventures stand apart from the rest is the mouthwatering, authentic cuisine you’ll enjoy throughout your trip. Vegetarian, food allergies, or special requests? No problem! Just make sure to let us know in advance.

About the Villa: Casa la Iguana is located just outside of downtown Puerto Ayora on Academy Bay, the islands main Marina. Puerto Ayora is a happening little place with something for everyone. Dotted with great shops, art galleries, restaurants, nightlife, and most importantly, friendly people; Puerto Ayora and the Pelican Bay is sure to be one of many highlights of this adventure!

Finished in February 2006, the villa has five big bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms have king beds and three with double beds, each with its own private bath, DVD, TV, air conditioning, cable tv, internet, and safe deposit box. From every corner of Casa la Iguana you’ll find beautiful terraces with spectacular ocean views and outside is a pool, Jacuzzi and BBQ for al fresco dinning!

Villa Amenities:

• Luxury Villa built in 2006
• 5 Bedrooms
• 7 Bathrooms
• Private Chef
• Personal Server
• Personal Bartender
• Cleaning Service
• Concierge
• Sun deck with ocean-view seating
• Pool
• Jacuzzi
• Air Conditioning
• Cable TV & DVD
• Internet
• The list goes on and on!

Your Naturalist Guide: As you may or may not know, the Galapagos Islands are 95% national park and these areas are extremely protected. You are not allowed to set foot in the park without a licensed naturalist. Lucky for you, we have the best naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands, Bolivar Sanchez! Having grown up in the Galapagos Islands, Bolivar Sanchez developed a keen interest in wildlife and the outdoors at an early age. For the past 17 years he has worked as a certified naturalist guide in Galapagos National Park, sharing his knowledge of this unique place with visitors to his homeland. This, combined with his sense of humor and warm personality, makes Boli the perfect person to reveal the secrets of Galapagos to you.

Custom Itinerary Options: Epic Adventures will work with you to build the Galapagos Itinerary of your dreams. Already located on the island of Santa Cruz, you're in the perfect location to experience the Galapagos the way YOU want to. Home to giant tortoises, the Darwin Center, and the world famous, Tortuga Bay, you won't have to go far to immerse yourself in the magic of the Galapagos! But we know you didn't come all the way to the Galapagos just to see one island! Your luxury charter boat is standing by to take you to any of these outstanding options below! Don't worry, an adventure consultant is standing by to help you craft the perfect itinerary.

Islands Options:
1. Santa Cruz
2. North Seymour
3. South Plaza
4. Bartolome
5. Isabela
6. Floreana
7. Santa Fe

1. Santa Cruz:

Santa Cruz is home to a wide variety of activities and sites. Your villa is located in the town of Puerto Ayora, the largest population center in the Galapagos Islands. Puerto Ayora is a wonderful town where colorful, family run restaurants, shops, art galleries, and bars dot the main street. Puerto Ayora is also home to the Darwin Center where you can spend a few hours learning about the conservation projects going on throughout the Galapagos National Park. A short bike ride or walk from town holds a true gem of the islands, Tortuga Bay. Spend the day at this beautiful beach, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, or just lounging, and enjoy a picnic lunch complete with champaign. A few minutes drive in your private coach into the highlands will reveal a totally different aspect of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to natural breading grounds for the giant tortoise, and you'll have a chance to observe these monsters up close and personal. Also in the highlands, explore a lava tunnel and sink holes, take a tour of a coffee plantation, have an authentic porch lunch at a family's home, or you even visit a local school.

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2: NORTH SEYMOUR & BACHAS BEACH On this small, flat, uplifted island you’ll be introduced to magnificent frigate birds, blue footed boobys, Galapagos gulls, land iguanas and playful sea lions. After spending a couple of hours exploring the island, why not try your luck in the water? A large channel between North Seymour and Baltra, is a perfect place for snokeling! Keep your eyes open for Galapagos and Hammer Head sharks, rays, and sea turtles! After a mouth watering, Galapagos boat lunch, head to “Bachas Beach” located on the northern part of Santa Cruz. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, teeming with wildlife and crystal clear water. Here you'll see a flamingo lagoon, sally light foot crabs, marine iguanas, pelicans and boobys flying by.

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3: SOUTH PLAZA South Plaza Island is a small island that holds a large colony of Galapagos sea lions. Walk along the magnificent cliff formation, where you can see many other sea birds including pelicans, nazca boobys, tropicbirds, gulls, noddy terns and more! The landscape is also very colorful and full of unique vegetation. This island is also great for snokeling! Explore the unique underwater life and different types of fish and marine life!

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4: BARTOLOME Bartolome Island is the most photographed island in all of the Galapagos! You can hike up the the famous 372 stairs to the summit of this extinct volcano for breathtaking views of legendary Pinnacle Rock and the neighboring island of Santiago. Galapagos penguins, sea lions and pelicans are plentiful here. You'll have the opportunity to snorkel in waters full of marine life. In addition to dozens of varieties of colorful tropical fish, watch for stingrays, spotted eagle rays, white tipped sharks, sea turtles, sea lions, and penguins!

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5: ISABELA Take a speedboat or small plane to the largest island in the Galapagos, Isabela. Visit the small fishing village of Puerto Villamil. Located on a beautiful white coral beach you'll have a great opportunity to enjoy the calm, azure water. Head back out for another outstanding snorkeling session, or take a bike ride down the shore to the Wall of Tears; a mystical wall built by the penal colony that once inhabited this area. Do you like kayaking? Go for a paddle in Villamil Bay in search of the area's unique wildlife, including penguins, sea lions, oyster catchers, marine turtles and white tip sharks, before going further through small islets to Las Tintoreras Trail where hundreds of marine iguanas, reef sharks, scenic beaches and lava formations can be seen. Looking for something even more active? Why not hike the Sierra Negra Volcano (last eruption was October 2005)? This is one of five active volcanoes on Isabela, and has the second largest caldera in the world!

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6: FLOREANA Take a speed boat to Floreana, an island even more famous for it's human history, than it's natural history! Upon arrival you see giant, colorful marine iguanas. Head up to the highlands to see giant tortoises and mysterious caves! Take a breather in the afternoon to visit the Wittmer family museum (one of the original families) and have lunch served by an actual Wittmer family descendent.

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7: SANTA FE Santa Fe was formed from an uplift (rather than a volcano) giving the island a relatively flat surface rather than the typical cone shape of the other islands. Take a stroll around the islands trail to see large endemic land iguanas, the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, and a variety of finches. After your hike, you'll have the opportunity to snorkel right off the beach with sea lions, unique marine ife, sea turtles, and maybe even manta rays.

• Book Trip or call 800-742-9740

FAQ

• What will the weather be like in November?
• What will the water temperature be in November?
• How many guides will be with me on this adventure?
• Can I touch the wildlife?
• What is the currency in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands?
• What should I pack for this trip?
• What time zone are the Galapagos Islands located in?
• What’s included in the price of this trip?
• What’s not included in the price?
• I’m a vegetarian. Will I starve to death on this trip?
• What kind of beverages come with our meals?
• Is the water safe to drink?
• What is a typical day like on this Galapagos adventure?
• How Strenuous will each day be, and what type of shape do I need to be in for this Adventure?
• What kind of boats will we use to get to the different islands?
• What if I get seasick?
• What will I see?
• What type of equipment/gear should I bring?
• What about SCUBA Diving?
• Will there be cell phone or internet access in the Galapagos Islands?

What will the weather be like in November?

The weather always seems to be nice in the Galapagos. Even though it’s right on the equator, the temperatures rarely get extremely hot. You can expect daily temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. June through December is considered the dry season in the Galapagos, although a light raincoat is never a bad idea for the times we will be in the highlands. Also, pack lots of sunscreen and a hat for your head or the sun WILL get you.

What will the water temperature be in November?

From June to December, a colder Humbolt current is brought north by southern trade winds causing the water to cool off a bit. Average temperature is about 72 degrees, but it varies quite a bit from location to location due to all the different currents that converge on the Galapagos. Don’t worry, wetsuits are provided, and the initial shock is quickly over come by complete amazement at the undersea life.

How many guides will be with me on this adventure?

There will be three guides with you to ensure this adventure is nothing short of Epic - one naturalist, and two guides from Epic Adventures.

Can I touch the wildlife?

Wildlife in the Galapagos Islands has truly evolved without fear of humans and as a result, everything you see will be extremely close up. In order to keep it this way it is a strict park rule that you do not touch any of the wildlife. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get close. In fact Boli, our naturalist guide, is outstanding at getting you more up close and personal with the Galapagos wildlife than you could ever imagine!

What is the currency in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands?

Surprisingly enough, the Ecuadorian government works off of US dollars. US cash is accepted everywhere and most establishments except major credit cards. ATM’s are also available in some locations.

What should I pack for this trip?

Epic Adventures always includes a detailed packing list with it’s pre-trip documents however here are a couple of the most important items. Sturdy walking or hiking shoes are a must. We’ll be on our feet everyday walking trails that at times can be quite rugged. Sunscreen and a hat or some sort of head protection is also a must. We’ll be spending much of our day out in the equatorial sun and the last thing you want is to miss an action packed day due to sun poisoning or heat exhaustion.

What time zone are the Galapagos Islands located in?

Central Time! This is a jet-lag free trip!

What’s included in the price of this trip

2 nights of hotel accommodations in Guayaquil(double occupancy)
5 nights of hotel accommodations in the Galapagos (double occupancy)
Roundtrip international airfare from New York City (JFK)
Domestic air...flights to and from the Galapagos
All ground transportation and transfers
Charter and Speed boat transportation
Migration card
All your visits with a Tour Guide on the mainland and a Naturalist Guide in the islands
Snorkeling gear and wetsuit
All tips
Soft drink or water with your included meals

What’s not included in the price?
Travel insurance
Medical care or any medical expenses
Galapagos Park fee of $100.00 (to be paid upon arrival in the Galapagos)
Scuba Diving
Items of personal nature
Alcohol
Fuel surcharge
Single supplement ($300)
Departure tax out of Guayaquil, Ecuador: $29.00

I’m a vegetarian. Will I starve to death on this trip?
Absolutely not! Just let us know well in advance and you’ll be eating like a king or queen!

What kind of beverages come with our meals?
Water is and soft drinks are included with all your meals. If you would like to purchase alcoholic beverages, they are almost always available and you are welcome to do so.

Is the water safe to drink?
An active day in the sun would not be possible without being well hydrated. Rest assured, we will be drinking safe, purified water through out the trip.

What is a typical day like on this Galapagos adventure?
To start with, there really is no typical day in the Galapagos Islands, but we’ll do our best to paint a picture. We’ll typically have breakfast around 7:00am, sometimes earlier if the day’s schedule dictates an earlier start. After that really varies depending on the days itinerary. What we can tell you is that you will be both on your feet and in the water almost every day. Our days are scheduled to a point, but one of the great things about this trip is that if something out of the ordinary is happening, rarely will our schedule keep us from fully enjoying the moment. An example of that is during one of our trips to the Galapagos, we were heading back to Santa Cruz from North Seymour. All of a sudden off in the distance we spotted a large female Orca Whale and her baby. We spent the next hour tracking the whales and actually saw the large female fully breach the water three times! Now that was Epic!

How strenuous will each day be, and what type of shape do I need to be in for this adventure?
The combination of hiking, swimming and sun on any given day can and will be tiring. You will need to be in decent physical shape to participate in all the scheduled activities on a given day. We’re not talking triathlon shape here. If you lead a reasonably active lifestyle, you should be fine.

What kind of boats will we use to get to the different islands?
Two types. For the days we travel to Bartolome and North Seymour, we’ll use a 16-18 person charter boat with a bathroom, changing rooms, and ample room for dining, lounging in the sun, and even napping while we journey to the islands. On the days we travel to and from Isabela we’ll take a speed boat used for one thing...getting us to and from Isabela as fast as possible. The average time spent in transit to and from these islands is about two hours.

What if I get seasick?
We do travel around by boat quite a bit on this adventure and seasickness can be miserable, there's really no denying that. If you think you have a problem with motion sickness, please alert one of Adventure Consultants before you depart. They will talk with you about preventative measures that can be taken to avoid this problem.

What will I see?
A more appropriate question might be, what won’t you see? Here is a list of wildlife that could potentially see...obviously this is not a zoo, so we can’t guarantee anything.
Sea Lions...lots of Sea lions
Land Iguanas
Marine Iguanas
Blue Footed Boobies
Frigit Birds
Giant Tortoises
Sea Turtles
Sally Light Foot Crabs
Lots and Lots of Tropical fish
Sharks (White Tip Reef Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Hammer Head Sharks)
Galapagos Penguins
Rays (Sting Rays, Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Golden Rays)
Finches
Albatross
And so much more

What type of equipment/gear should I bring?
All equipment that is needed for this adventure is provided in the Galapagos Islands. However, if you have your own snorkeling gear, wetsuit, regulator, etc. and would like to bring them along, by all means, be our guest.

What about SCUBA Diving?
As detailed on the itinerary, there are three opportunities for **Optional** SCUBA Diving on this adventure. Unfortunately, any SCUBA Diving you do will have to be in place of the activities scheduled on that day. There is no way around this. SCUBA Diving costs approximately $150 for a full day. This includes, transportation, all equipment, lunch, and two dives. SCUBA Diving in Isabela can not be guaranteed and is subject to number of participants.

Will there be cell phone or internet access in the Galapagos Islands?
Yes. Each cell phone provider has different policies and coverage internationally. Please check with your cell phone provider about rates and coverage if cell phone use is important to you on this adventure. There are internet cafes on the Islands of Santa Cruz and Isabela.