Aida Maria

The sixteen passenger yacht Aida Maria offers a great combination of comfort, style and economy for tours in the Galapagos. Since 1997 it has been offering 4, 5 and 8 day cruises for charter or for individuals. Its efficient size and design bring comfort and ample social areas. Each of the eight double cabins has a private bath and hot shower, air conditioning.

Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.

Moderate

These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.

Active

These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.

Strenuous

While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.

Extreme

Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).

Departures Sunday and Thursday weekly, all year

4, 5, and 8 Day cruises

2010 Rates, per person in double cabin

Galapagos Airfare (from Quito or Guayaquil:) $325 to $425, depending on the routing and season. Subject to change

Additional Fees:

$100 Galapagos Park Fee,  $10 INGALA Tourist Card

Single Supplement: +80%

Children's Discount: 20% for children under age 12

Day 1 Sunday

AM: Arrive Baltra airport, transfer to dock

PM: Baltra Island: Bachas Beach

Day 2 Monday

AM:  Plazas Island

PM:  Santa Fe Island

Day 3 Tuesday

AM:  Espa¤ola Island: Punta Suarez

PM: Espanola Island: Gardner Bay

Day 4 Wednesday

AM & PM:  Floreana Island

Day 5 Thursday

AM: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Center

PM: Santa Cruz Island: Santa Cruz Highlands

Day 6 Friday

AM:  Rabida Island

PM: Santiago Island: James Bay

Day 7 Saturday

AM:  Bartolome Island

PM: Santiago Island:  Sullivan Bay

Day 8 Sunday

AM:  North Seymour Island

PM: Baltra Airport, return flight to mainland Ecuador

Included in the cruise rate:

All meals on board, services of crew and staff, twice-daily island excursions led by English-speaking naturalist guide

Not included:

$100 Galapagos Park Fee, $10 INGALA Tourist Card, round-trip airfare between Quito or Guayaquil & Galapagos; bottled beverages, tips to guide and staff, insurance, airport departure taxes (currently $41 from Quito / $28 from Guayaquil.)

Length: 66 feet

Beam: 16.5 feet

Type: Motor-cruiser

Safety: meet or exceeds US Coastguard requirements

Crew: 6 + naturalist guide

Speed: 9 knots

8 cabins. Four on main deck, two on upper deck, and two on sun deck. Cabins have upper/lower berths, private bathroom with hot water.

• 4, 5 & 8 Days
• 16 Passengers
• Departures Sunday & Thursday
• 66 feet long
• Motor-Cruiser
• Naturalist Cruises