Evolution

This expedition vessel offers passengers the elegance and charm of a 1920's ship while providing the comfort, safety and amenities for the 21st century.  Spacious staterooms, a variety of social areas and deck space, along with excellent staff and naturalist guides make for an exceptional expedition for you, your friends, and for families. Offering naturalist cruises and family cruises, there's something for everyone: specially-designated family departures offer Kids' Club activities like star-gazing and movie nights, specially selected child-oriented guides who provide learning activities and journals to help make the nature experiences more meaningful. There are also children's games, special meals and snacks.

The Evolution has cruising stabilizers for smoother cruising and less motion on the sea. Social areas are handsomely appointed: the salon with bar is also used as lecture room for slideshows and films; the library contains an extensive selection of books on Galapagos, movies & board games. Enjoy dining in both the lovely inside dining room and outside al fresco dining area. Wholesome and plentiful meals are served buffet-style, with a variety of local and international cuisine and plenty of tropical fruits. While cruising, there are many places for relaxation and observation: on the sundeck with beautiful rattan furniture, in the small hot tub on the bow, on the lounge chairs under a canopy or in the open. The small boutique offers some gifts and essentials. A full-time MD and infirmary is available at all times.

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 throughout the year

Rates, per person, double occupancy

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

NO FUEL SURCHARGE FOR 2010

Additional fees:

Galapagos Park Fee $100

INGALA tourist card $10

Single Supplement: + 75% (in double cabins other than the "single" cabins)

Children's discount: 30% for children 6-11 on cruise rates except during holidays; 50% on internal air & Galapagos Park Fee

Holiday Surcharge: $400 per person on departures during Christmas and New Years & Easter weeks

Day 1 Saturday

Morning: San Cristobal Island: arrival

Afternoon: San Cristobal: Cerro Brujo and Kicker rock

Day 2 Sunday

Morning: Española (Hood) Island: Punta Suarez

Afternoon: Española: Gardner Bay

Day 3 Monday

Morning: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands

Afternoon: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Research Station

Day 4 Tuesday

Morning: Santiago (James) Island: James Bay

Afternoon: Bartolome Island: Pinnacle Rock & Overlook

Day 5 Wednesday

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

Afternoon: Genovesa: Darwin Bay

Day 6 Thursday

Morning: Fernandina Island: Punta Espinosa

Afternoon: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove

Day 7 Friday

Morning: North Seymour Island

Afternoon: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove

Day 8 Saturday

Morning: San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center & depart for mainland Ecuador

Included in the Cruise rate: all meals on yacht, snacks 2x/day, drinking water, water bottle and non-alcoholic beverages; daily excursions led by experienced English-speaking naturalist guides in groups of 16/per naturalist guide; ponchos and walking sticks available for use.

Not included: Round-trip airfare (figured separately & prepaid); Fuel Surcharge, Galapagos Park Fee & Galapagos Transit Control Card (figured separately & prepaid;) rental of snorkeling equipment and wetsuits, payable on board; tips to guide, crew and staff; alcoholic beverages.

Number of passengers: 32

Number of Days: 8 days only, Saturday departures

Length: 192 ft

Beam: 29 ft

Type: cruise ship/expedition vessel

Safety: EPIRB, ISM & SOLAS; meets or exceeds US Coast Guard regulations

Crew: 17 + 2 naturalist guides, 1 cruise director and 1 doctor

Cruising speed: 10 - 12 knots

Air Conditioning: Yes, throughout

Diving: No

Located on 3 decks, all cabins have exceptional accommodations with climate controls and ample space to hang and store clothing. There are 3 suites, 9 premium staterooms, and 4 deluxe staterooms, each with either 2 twin beds or one double bed. In many cabins the twin beds can be joined for a double bed. Cabins are quite roomy, ranging from 140 square feet to 260 square feet. Each has good size private bathrooms with hair dryers and storage space for toiletries. Cabins have either 1-2 windows or portholes, all outside facing.

• 8 days only
• 32 passengers
• Saturday departures
• 192 feet long
• Cruise ship / expedition vessel
• Naturalist & Family cruises