Eric, Letty, Flamingo

Eric, Letty and Flamingo are a fleet of three identical yachts, custom-designed for the Galapagos. Carrying a maximum of only 20 passengers, this small yacht is perfect for families, and those seeking an intimate experience. Small groups of 10 per naturalist guide give you personal up-close encounters on island excursions. Environmentally conscientious, this fleet has been praised for practicing minimal impact on the Galapagos Islands, and has earned the Smart Voyager Ecological Certification by the Rainforest Alliance. Three decks of spacious staterooms are handsomely decorated with polished teak interiors and brass fittings. All cabins face outside with a window or porthole, one double bed or two twin lower beds, and are fully air-conditioned. Social areas include a dining room, bar, conference area with panoramic windows, open sun deck and observation areas. Excellently maintained and top-rated guides, you get all this at very reasonable prices!

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, weekly throughout the year

8 Days & occasional 6-Day itineraries (Sun-Fri)*

2010 & 2011 Rates, per person

Special Departures:

- Family, Teens and Graduates -- call for departure dates & rates

- 6-Day/5-Night itinerary, certain dates -- please inquire

- Women only

Included in the cruise rate: cabin accommodation; all means and snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, purified water, Captain's welcome & farewell cocktail; guide services, shore excursions; complimentary use of wetsuits, snorkeling equipment & sea kayaks; transfers between airport and the dock.

Additional fees:

Galapagos Airfare (from Quito or Guayaquil): $325 to $420, depending on the routing, season, and subject to change

Fuel Surcharge, if applicable

$100 Galapagos Park Fee; $10 INGALA tourist card

Single Supplement: single cabin rate (see above)

Discounts:

Children's discount: 25% for children 7-11, allowed only on Family-designated departures; 50% on internal air. Ages 12-14 receive 15% on cruise rate only and are allowed on any departure date.

*6-Day/5-Night Itinerary: Sunday to Friday, disembarking on Friday in Baltra. Rates are 20% off the normal 8 Day cruise rates. Dates available for 2009: Weekly from August 30 - December 13 departures. For 2010, please call us for applicable dates.

Early Bird Discount: if you book your cruise 180 days prior to departure (6 months) you can receive a 10% discount off the cruise rate.

Day 1 Sunday

Morning: San Cristobal Island: arrival; cruise to Playa Ochoa

Afternoon: Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Day 2 Monday

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

Afternoon: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay

Day 3 Tuesday

Morning: Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza

Afternoon: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove

Day 4 Wednesday

Morning: Santiago (James) Island: Puerto Egas

Afternoon: Santiago Island: Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat)

Day 5 Thursday

Morning: Bartolome Island

Afternoon: North Seymour Island

Day 6 Friday

Morning: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands

Afternoon: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station

Day 7 Saturday

Morning: Espanola (Hood) Island: Punta Suarez

Afternoon: Espanola Island: Gardner Bay

Day 8 Sunday

Morning: San Cristobal Island: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Interpretation Center.

Afternoon: Fly back to Ecuador mainland

Included in the Cruise rate: all meals on yacht, snacks, purified drinking water and non-alcoholic beverages; daily excursions led by experienced English-speaking naturalist guides in groups of 10/per naturalist guide; complimentary use of snorkeling equipment,wetsuits & sea kayaks; captain's welcome and farewell cocktails

Not included: Round-trip airfare (figured separately & prepaid); Fuel Surcharge (2009 only), Galapagos Park Fee & Galapagos Transit Control Card (figured separately & prepaid;) tips to guide, crew and staff; premium liquor, beer and cocktails on board.

Length: 83'

Beam: 24'

Type: motor cruiser

Safety: ISM & SOLAS, EPIRB

Crew: 9+ 2 naturalist guide

Cruising speed: 10 - 12 knots

Air Conditioning: Yes, throughout

Diving: Yes, occasional diving available

Number of passengers: 20

Number of Days: 8 days only, 6 days occasionally, on request

Cabins are located on 3 decks.  All cabins have private bath with hot and cold water showers, with soap/shampoo dispensers & hair dryer. Cabins have plenty of storage space with closet & drawers. There is an intercom, and individual climate controls.

Dolphin Deck, top deck, has 4 cabins, each with picture windows. Average size is 95 square feet (8.8 sq. meters).

Cabins #1, #3, & #4 have 2 twin lower beds

Cabin #2 has one double bed

Booby Deck, middle deck, has 2 cabins,

Cabins #5 & #6 each have double bed and picture windows. Average size is 90 square feet (8.4 sq. m)

Iguana deck, lowest deck, has 4 cabins, the largest sized cabins. Average size is 110 sq. ft (10.2 sq. m)

Cabins #7 & #8 have  two twin lower beds with port lights

Cabins #9 & #10 have two twin lower beds and one upper berth (for triples) with port lights.

Single cabins are limited and assigned by the yacht to the best cabin available at the time of sailing.

Triple cabins are available on the Iguana deck only, in cabins 9 & 10.

Females and males willing to share are available on the Iguana deck only. Shares that remain unmatched 60 days prior to departure are subject to pay the difference to a single rate.

• 8 days only (occasional 6-day cruises available)
• 20 passengers
• Sunday departures
• 83 feet long
• Motor-cruiser
• Naturalist and family cruises
• Occasional diving