Alta

Deluxe Class. Cruise in elegant style and comfort in the Alta, a 3-masted sailing ship, one of the most beautiful yachts in the Galapagos, ideal for travelers seeking exclusivity, style and uniqueness. Gorgeous detailing and furnishings carry that grandeur and special charm that only sailing ships carry. When conditions permit, the sails will be hoisted, engines turned off and Alta will become one the most striking ships in the Galapagos! Diving is available as dive-only cruises, charters, or "occasional" diving on naturalist cruises. Please inquire.

Cabins are roomy and beautifully decorated with climate controls and ample space to hang and store clothing. All cabins have modern, updated private bathrooms with hair dryers, amenities and plenty of storage space.

Alta features a comfortable salon for the evening lectures and presentations, with the aid of a modern entertainment center. Meals are served in either the inside dining room, or Al Fresco out on deck. All meals are served buffet style and prepared by specially trained chefs, offering wholesome, ample food and a variety of menus with tropical exotic fruits always available. Vegetarian and children’s meals are available on request. Outside areas include a sundeck with lounge chairs, and a resting area at the stern of the ship. Sea kayaks, snorkeling gear, and wetsuits are available for your enjoyment, at no extra charge. The Alta offers 3 different special-interest cruises: family departures, naturalist departures and active departures with more kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and occasional diving. Please contact Andean Treks for more information.

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:

Saturday, weekly, all  year / diving available (see below)

Rates, per person, double cabin:

2010:

$4,695 cabins 3-8

$4,895 cabins 1 & 2

Fuel Surcharge included in rates

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

Additional fees:

Galapagos Park Fee: $100

INGALA tourist card: $10

Holiday Surcharge (Christmas, New years and Easter weeks): $400 per person

Single Supplement: 75% additional

Children’s discount: 30% off cruise rate for ages 7-11, not applicable during Holidays (Christmas, New years and Easter weeks);

50% discount off Galapagos Park Fee & Galapagos airfare.

Diving:

Full diving-only departures offered each week July through November. Includes diving at Wolf and Darwin islands.

2010 Rates for dive-only departures:

$3,750 cabins 1 & 2

$3,550 cabins 3-8

Single occupancy: + 75%.

Fuel Surcharge: $150

Nitrox: $100

Includes: all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, all guided services, including 2 dive masters, air tanks, weight belts and snubas for the week

Divers must be pre-qualified prior to acceptance onto the cruise by the tour operator.

Day 1: Saturday

Morning: Arrival to San Cristobal Island

Afternoon: San Cristobal: Playa Ochoa and Kicker Rock

Day 2: Sunday

Morning: Tower (Genovesa) Island: Prince Phillip's Steps

Afternoon: Tower Island: Darwin Bay

Day 3: Monday

Morning: Fernandina (Narborough) Island: Punta Espinosa

Afternoon: Isabela (Albemarle) Island: Tagus Cove

Day 4: Tuesday

Morning: Isabela (Albemarle) Island: Urbina Bay

Afternoon: Isabela (Albemarle) Island: Punta Vicente Roca

Day 5: Wednesday

Morning: Bartolome (Bartholomew) Island: Pinnacle Rock & Overlook

Afternoon: Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Island: Black Turtle Cove

Day 6: Thursday

Morning: Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Island: Highlands

Afternoon: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station

Day 7: Friday

Morning: Hood (Española) Island: Punta Suarez

Afternoon: Hood (Española) Island: Gardner Bay

Day 8: Saturday

Morning: San Cristobal: Interpretation Centre

Afternoon: Depart for Mainland Ecuador

Included in the Cruise rate: all meals on yacht, daily excursions led by experienced English-speaking naturalist guides; non-alcoholic beverages; use of snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit)

Not included:Round-trip airfare (figured separately & prepaid); Galapagos Park Fee, Galapagos Transit Control Card & Fuel Surcharge (figured separately & prepaid); tips to guide, crew and staff; alcoholic beverages

Number of passengers: 16

Number of Days: 8 days only

Departures: Saturday, weekly, all year

Class: Deluxe

Cabins: 8 double cabins: 6 convertible as twin or double, 1 twin cabin and 1 double cabin. All cabins have private facilities

Air Conditioning: Yes, throughout

Diving: occasional diving available

Length: 140'

Beam: 21'

Type: Three-masted Staysail Schooner

Safety: meets or exceeds USA coast Guard Regulations

Crew: 8+ naturalist guide

Cruising speed: 10 knots under power

Cabins are roomy and beautifully decorated with climate controls and ample space to hang and store clothing. All cabins have modern, updated private bathrooms with hair dryers, amenities and plenty of storage space,

• 8 days only
• 16 passengers
• Saturday departures
• 104 feet long
• Three-masted Staysail Schooner
• Naturalist, active & family departures
• Diving cruises available

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