Galapagos Islands & South American… (trip)
Galapagos Islands & South American Wines Cruise
- Quito, Ecuador
- Boats, Barges & Small Ship Cruises
| from £4,399* per person | 9 Days | January |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours | 24 people max | |
When we recently discovered the award winning M.V. Eclipse, we knew it was the answer to what we had been looking for a long time – a small, comfortable ship to arrange a wine tour of South America on! Of course, there is no wine worth mentioning in Ecuador, but there is so much to offer from the rest of the continent with Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and fast up and coming Brazil, that tasting all these wines in such a stunning setting seemed too perfect an opportunity to turn down!
Tim Clarke and Cindy-Marie Harvey are already planning their vast wish list of their favourite of the top wines from the best South American producers they want to take onto the ship to share with you – and which new ones they want to try! We will prove to you that South America has so much more than drinkable well-made wine with vivid fruit. This is now maturing as an industry with innovative wine makers producing stellar wines. These wines will be presented by the Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours team each evening before and during dinner.A&C have been operating small ship cruises since 1994 and those who have joined us always liken these to a floating house party, and to the experience being more like cruising as an honoured guest on a private yacht. The M.V. Eclipse ticks all the right boxes for us: Being a small ship she has a wonderful itinerary that allows her to go into some of the smaller bays where we will often be alone, or just with a few other small crafts; there is a large crew of 18 to look after you including four naturalist guides so that the trips ashore will be in small parties of no more than 12; there is the opportunity to snorkel just about every day and there is an al fresco dining deck that where we will enjoy our meals whenever weather permits. There are 24 comfortable en-suite, air conditioned guest cabins and we will restrict the maximum party numbers to no more than 44.
Each day there is a full active programme of guided walks with the naturalist guides ashore, the opportunity to kayak, swim, snorkel, bird-watch or you can just choose to relax on the sun deck or in the jacuzzi with your book or pisco sour! As most of the sailing is done at night, this gives a full day at each island, allowing plenty of time to really experience the stunning flora and fauna in its spectacular natural setting. Darwin’s studies on the Galapagos, of course, are core to the writing of Origin of Species.
The M.V. Eclipse is widely recognised as the most comfortable of the smaller expedition vessels in the Galapagos and with Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours as the exclusive charterer on this trip, you will meet like-minded travellers who enjoy the good things in life! Tim Clarke & Lynette Arblaster have now spent a week on the ship and are more convinced than ever that you will really enjoy this amazing holiday.
There are just 44 places – so early booking is essential to not miss out on this unique experience! We do hope that you can join Cindy-Marie and Tim on this genuine trip of a life-time!
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Locations visited/nearby
Chile, South America
Itinerary
Day 1 – Friday 28 January
Meet in Quito, Ecuador. Stay one night in this beautiful former Inca
city, with the Andes as a backdrop. Quito has the best preserved Old
Town in the Americas. Our modern Four Star hotel is a short taxi ride
from the old town.
Day 2 – Saturday 29 January
Transfer & Flight Quito to Baltra to join the ship. Santa Cruz is
the second largest island of the archipelago. Las Bachas beach has soft
white sand making it a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. A small
lagoon behind the beach is home to flamingos, who are nesting at this
time of year!
Evening wine tasting & wines with dinner.
Day 3 – Sunday 30 January
A ‘wet’ landing at Puerto Egas. Trail to discover the tidal pools,
urchins, octopus and starfish. There is time to swim or snorkel where
you can see sea lions, turtles and reef sharks. Then Bartolomé Island
for snorkelling to see the penguins or a short dingy ride to a dry
landing to climb to the highest point.
Evening wine tasting & wines with dinner.
Day 4 – Monday 31 January
Cerro Dragón is one of the few sites land Iguanas are found, a dry
landing leads to a hike to see pintail ducks and flamingos, followed by
an optional swim. After lunch more water activities on Rábida Island,
kayaking; snorkelling or a panga ride for the chance to see pelicans
nesting.
Evening wine tasting & wines with dinner.
Day 5 – Tuesday 1 February
Our hike features a spectacular view of the whole cove and Darwin Lake
and see the names of ships painted on high ridges by pirates &
whalers. Whilst kayaking or deep water snorkeling spot yourself a blue
footed boobie and even a dolphin or whale. There are also rays in
Elizabeth bay.
Evening wine tasting & wines with dinner.
Day 6 – Wednesday 2 February
Fernandina is a volcano and Punta Espinoza is a strip of land where many
Galapagos species can be seen in one small area. Punta Vicente is
wonderful for snorkeling for turtles and all kinds of fish.
Alternatively take a panga ride to see the spectacular geological rock
formations.
Evening wine tasting & wines with dinner.
Day 7 – Thursday 3 February
This morning we visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre to see the efforts to preserve this UNESCO
World Heritage site. There is time for shopping in the town before
lunch onboard and a choice of activity in the afternoon, including a
visit to the highlands to search for giant tortoises. Evening wine
tasting & wines with dinner.
Day 8 – Friday 4 February
Gardener Bay has a beautiful white sandy beach where you can swim,
snorkel and kayak. Punta Suárez is isolated and attractive, we see
blue-footed boobies and Nazca which nest almost on the trail itself.
Amongst the other species you may see the only population of Waved
albatrosses on the planet (this depends completely on Mother Nature and
the availability of food that they had during the breeding season!) The
guides will take you to a beautiful sugar-white beach packed with sea
lions as well as other birds such as blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies
and marine iguana colonies. Evening wine tasting & wines with
dinner.
Day 9 – Saturday 5 February
There is the option today to take a 6am panga (small dinghy) ride to
Black Turtle Cove the resting site of sea turtles, rays and sharks.
Return flight from Baltra, you can choose to alight at Guayaquil or
Quito.
More information from Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours:
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