Angelito

This custom motor yacht, made completely of solid wooden construction, was built in Galapagos in 1992.  A family-run company, the Angelito is owned, operated and designed by two Ecuadorian brothers who were previously fishermen. As pioneers in Galapagos, the brothers are proud of the yacht's excellent safety record.

Angelito is one of the best small yachts, excellently maintained, and has a wonderful staff. Guests appreciate the spacious sun and shade decks which, together with a large bar/dining room, provide many comfortable areas to read, take a siesta or simply relax between island visits. Families with children are welcome on Angelito I which provides a safe and comfortable environment for all ages. Family charters are specially adapted to accommodate everyone's interests.

The normal 8-day itinerary avoids long, tiring journeys. It is well balanced and thought out to ensure that each day offers a wide variety of landscapes and maximum number of animals and plants. Island excursions take a leisurely pace with plenty of time to walk, enjoy, explore, closely observe and photograph the wildlife.

For 2010, Angelito is offering quite a unique variety of itineraries: not only the typical 4, 5, and 8 Day cruises, but also 11, 12 and 15 day programs! Lots of choices.

For snorkelers, snorkel gear is available for passenger's use. Plenty of time is allocated to explore the amazing underwater world. Beginners are encouraged to try snorkeling, with guides available to help. The dinghy is always close by.

One of the guides who has more than 14 years experience in the Galapagos has been working with Angelito from the beginning.

Some history on the Angelito.

The original boat was named in grateful memory of Angel, the grandfather of Galapagos born brothers Hugo and Leonardo Andrade, who helped his two grandsons build their first fishing boat, with which they could earn a living and support their families. As pioneers in the Galapagos, the brothers gave up fishing and converted their boat to carry visitors to the islands. Their extensive knowledge of the islands, gained over the years of working as fishermen, have made them expert captains and guides, extremely knowledgeable about the natural beauty of the Galapagos.

The brothers took an important step to support the conservation of the Galapagos by moving from fishing to actively promoting the protection of their islands. After more than a decade of working in tourism, the brothers applied their extensive knowledge and experience in the design of the Angelito I, ensuring that it was equipped with all the facilities needed to provide maximum security and comfort for tourists. The Angelito is truly a special yacht in the archipelago.

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 & Thursday, weekly, all year

15 Days, 12, 11, 8, 5, & 4 Day itineraries available!

2010 Rates, per person in double cabin

8 Days, Sunday to Sunday: $2,245

5 Days, Sunday to Thursday: $1,550

4 Days, Thursday to Sunday: $1,125

15 Days, Sunday to Sunday: $4,300

12 Days, Sunday to Thursday: $3,400

11 Days, Thursday to Sunday: $3,200

Single cabin: $3930 (8-day itinerary)

Round-trip airfare from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos: $325-$425 depending on season and routing

Additional Fees:

$100 Galapagos Park Fee; $10 INGALA Tourist Entry Card 

Day 1 Sunday

AM: Arrive Baltra Airport, transfer to dock

PM: North Seymour Island

Day 2 Monday

AM: Santiago Island: Chinese Hat & Sullivan Bay

PM: Bartolome Island

Day 3 Tuesday

AM: Genovesa: Prince Philip Steps

PM: Genovesa: Darwin Bay

Day 4 Wednesday

AM: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas

PM: Rabida Island

Day 5 Thursday

AM: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Station

PM: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands of Santa Cruz

Day 6 Friday

AM: Espanola Island: Punta Su rez

PM: Espanola Island: Gardner Bay

Day 7 Saturday

AM: Santa Fe Island

PM: South Plazas Island

Day 8 Sunday

AM: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove

PM: Baltra Airport, return flight to mainland Ecuador.

2010 Itineraries: 5-day, 4, 15, 12 & 11-day itineraries. 8-Day itineraries same as above.

5-DAYS / 4-NIGHTS, Sun-Thu

Day 1 Sunday

AM: Arrive Baltra Airport, transfer to dock

PM: North Seymour Island

Day 2 Monday

AM: Santiago Island: Chinese Hat & Sullivan Bay

PM: Bartolome Island

Day 3 Tuesday

AM: Genovesa: Prince Philip Steps

PM: Genovesa: Darwin Bay

Day 4 Wednesday

AM: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas

PM: Rabida Island

Day 5 Thursday

AM: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Station

PM: Baltra Airport, fly back to mainland

4-DAYS / 3-NIGHTS, Thu-Sun

Day 1 Thursday

AM: Arrive Baltra; Santa Cruz Island: Puerto Ayora

PM: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands of Santa Cruz

Day 2 Friday

AM: Espanola Island: Punta Su rez

PM: Espanola Island: Gardner Bay

Day 3 Saturday

AM: Santa Fe Island

PM: South Plazas Island

Day 4 Sunday

AM: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove

PM: Baltra Airport, return flight to mainland Ecuador.

For 11, 12, and 15-Day itineraries, please inquire with Andean Treks.

Included in the cruise rate:

All meals on board, services of crew and staff, twice-daily island excursion led by English-speaking naturalist guide, use of snorkel gear.

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 tax (currently $41 form Quito / $28 form Guayaquil, payable in US dollars and subject to change.)

Length: 70 feet

Beam: 22 feet

Type: motor-yacht

Safety: equipment of the highest standards, complying with international Coast Guard regulations.

Speed: 10 Knots

Crew: 7 crew + 1  naturalist guide (Captain, multilingual naturalist guide, first mate, mechanic, 2 sailors, cook and assistant cook)

8 double cabins with upper/lower berths. Four cabins on Upper Deck and four on Lower Deck. Each has private bathroom and shower, air conditioning and fan.

• 4, 5, 11, 12 & 15 Days
• 16 passengers
• Sunday & Thursday Departures
• 70 feet long
• Motor-cruiser
• Naturalist cruises