Our private cruise aboard the Beagle has four different variations. This is our 15-day trip that includes the Ecuadorian Amazon followed by the week-long cruise. The price is $6495.

Click here to read about our 16-day trip which includes the week-long cruise followed by Peru's famed Inca attractions for $7960.

Click here to read about our shortest version, a 10-day trip for the cruise only with nights before and after in Quito for $5355.

To read about our 21-day trip which bundles the cruise, the Ecuador Amazon and Peru's Inca attractions for $10430 click here.

March 17-31, 2010  
One of the real challenges to visiting the Galapagos, today, is avoiding congestion: congestion on the seas, on the islands and when booking. Successfully doing so performs two vital tasks: it conserves the environment and it gives you a far more pleasurable trip.

Hosted by EWT's Carol Mantey this program achieves this greatest challenge by chartering a small but much-loved yacht whose owners are among Ecuador's most prominent environmentalists. A privately chartered cruise personalizes and enriches a Galapagos experience. You'll travel with like-minded, conservation-oriented people respectful of the fragile ecosystem and incredibly enthusiastic to learn about every twig underfoot.

The variety of the islands is as astounding today as it was to Charles Darwin 150 years ago. Every single day of our week-long cruise is distinctly different and rewarding. Many Galapagos itineraries are growing shorter. This is not an analytical decision. Shortening the cruise length maximizes the number of trips a company can sell. But anything less than a week is a serious contraction of what has otherwise been a half-century-long success story.

Professional interpretation can make or break a Galapagos trip. Galapagos guides are all government certified, but the better ones get their choice of work and naturally, they choose private yachts with upmarket clients. On the larger ships there is usually only one guide for every 20 or more people. Our yacht only carries 12 people.

We're equally excited about our five days on the mainland. In two weeks you'll see the Amazon, highland forests, and the unique island-world of the Galapagos. The experience combines several vacations into a single, exciting trip. After a thorough introduction to lovely Quito, you'll journey to one of the best ecotourism projects in the Amazon. Together with the best Galapagos cruise on the market, this itinerary guarantees a most memorable trip!

The prices include: ** An EWT Host who stays with you throughout and manages the entire program; ** Academically trained and certified local guides assigned just to this group; ** Professionally-trained, English-speaking drivers operating private vehicles for all transfers and sightseeing; ** Meals as detailed in brackets following each day's description below; ** All park entrance fees, VAT and other government taxes; ** Local flights and other transport used between Quito and the Amazon; ** Comprehensive pre-trip material with discount coupons for travel gear and equipment. Additional expenses not included: - Local flights to/from the Galapagos and international flights - Meals not included; - Most beverages; - Requisite visas and other travel preparations like inoculations; -Tipping.

Contact EWT for the best international air fares and for recommendations on how to use your frequent flyer miles.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Most flights get in quite late, so nothing is included, today. You'll be personally met whenever you arrive and privately transferred to the boutique city hotel, the Hotel Patio Andaluz.  [no meals]

Thursday, March 18
The day is spent getting to know Quito, with comprehensive sightseeing featuring especially the beautiful historic center. There will also be time to see some exciting modern art galleries and enjoy local cuisine. Expert local guides join us for this day. Overnight at the Hotel Patio Andaluz.  [b- - ]

Friday, March 19
The day is almost entirely devoted to getting to this very remote part of the Amazon basin, but is filled with exciting things to see on the way. The first short half-hour flight is south of Quito to the town of Shell, the last town in Ecuador with a standard airport. The route down the valley of the volcanoes is breathtaking. The flights from Shell into Kapawi are determined by weather and the arrival and departure of its guests, and during the time in Shell a Kapawi representative will attend to sightseeing and snacks. Finally, the bush flight of just under an hour over unbroken pristine rainforest arrives in the tiny Achuar community located on the Amazon tributary, the Pastaza River. From here it's a 30-minute canoe ride down the river to the lodge. Arrival in time for sundowners before a fabulous dinner prepared from local ingredients. Overnight in the Kapawi Ecolodge.  [b-s-d],

Saturday, March 20
A typical day at Kapawi begins with a dawn hike before it gets too hot. All excursions are led by fantastic Achuar guides. Guests are polled as to their specific interests, and guides are available specializing in birds, plants, animals and local culture. The different excursions are then created, and usually you'll be able to do everything of special interest to you. Return to the lodge for a large breakfast, and midday is perfect for relaxing, swimming or enjoying the lodge grounds, but guides are available for those interested in doing more. The late afternoon excursion is usually on water, by canoe or kayak. There is a major lagoon near the lodge filled with wildlife, and many smaller lakes off the main river. Meals and overnight at Kapawi Ecolodge.  [b-l-d]

Sunday, March 21
There is nothing rigid in the daily routine, and opportunities will arise for longer, extended excursions, particularly on the river. Many of these lead to traditional villages, where the Achuar are in an amazing transition. Within a single generation hunter-gatherers are becoming teachers and engineers, and the villages are motivated by and supply the operations for the ecolodge. This area of the Amazon is incredibly rich in plants, animals and birds, and the opportunity to see some of the jungle's most spectacular species is excellent. Meals and overnight at the Kapawi Ecolodge.  [b-l-d]

Monday, March 22
After a final early morning excursion and a wonderful breakfast, we return to Quito over the same route taken Friday to get here. The actual route and the time it takes is very weather dependent, but normally you'll be back in Quito by mid-afternoon. The evening is free. Overnight at the Hotel Patio Andaluz  [b-l- ]

Tuesday, March 23
The morning flight to the Galapagos Islands from Quito takes just under 3 hours. Sailing begins immediately, and usually the small island of North Seymour is visited in the afternoon. It is home to a large population of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, pelicans, tropicbirds and a very large population of frigate birds. All these are ridiculously tame, and visitors must avoid stepping on nesting pairs and their eggs. There is also a shoreline teaming with life including sea lions and marine iguanas. Meals and overnight aboard the M/S Beagle.  [b-l-d]

CAUTION ABOUT THE ITINERARY. By law, no itinerary is guaranteed. The Galapagos authorities may alter any planned itinerary at any time with little notice. This rarely happens, and so we feel pretty confident about the brief itinerary outlined below, but no one should travel to the Galapagos contingent upon seeing certain things or visiting specific islands. DAILY ROUTINE. The daily routine on board the yacht will vary with the length of sailing that's required, but normally a robust breakfast is followed by a morning excursion. Depending upon the length of the excursion, a picnic is carried, or we return to the vessel for lunch. Part of the afternoon is often spent sailing, although there are afternoons with excursions as well. There are numerous opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and diving. An expert crew prepares outstanding meals, many of which are of course freshly caught from the sea.

Wednesday, March 24
The second day is usually spent on Santa Fe island. (There are often many smaller islands and volcanic outcrops that are also visited in the same region.) One of the most interesting islands for land animals, Santa Fe's land iguanas and lava lizards are among the most unusual animals on earth. Walks on the island reveal the Opuntia cactus, the largest cactus found in the Galapagos, along with several other unusual varieties. Some steep cliffs provide havens for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds and shear-waters petrels. Meals and overnight aboard the M/S Beagle.  [b-l-d]

Thursday, March 25
This day is often spent on Espanola (formerly Hood) Island, the southern-most in the archipelago. This is the oldest of all the Galapagos islands, with many of its rocks dated more than 3.5 million years old. In part because of its remote location and in part because it's so old, this is home to a large number of endemic species, and many of these species have easily traceable evolutionary paths. Marine iguanas on Espanola, for example, change color during the breeding season (whereas they don't on other islands). The Hood Mockingbird lives and breeds only here. The island serves as one of the unique breeding grounds for the waved albatross. There is a great beach, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Meals and overnight aboard the M/S Beagle.  [b-l-d]

Friday, March 26
Most of this day is usually spent on Santa Cruz, one of the populated islands. The day will give you a glimpse into what Ecuadorians think of conservation and development of their precious resource. This is where the Charles Darwin Research Station is located and where park headquarters are. There is an important tortoise breeding center, and in the interior highlands wild tortoise are found in the lava tubes. Lunch is usually taken somewhere on the island. Black Turtle Cove is a site surrounded by mangrove which sea turtles, rays and small sharks sometimes use as a mating area. Cerro Dragon, is part of the island known for its flamingo lagoon. Meals and overnight aboard the M/S Beagle.  [b-l-d]

Saturday, March 27
Nearly as far south as Espanola but much bigger, Floreana is famous for its flamingo ponds and green turtles. This is also where the "patapegada" or Galapagos petrel is found, a sea bird which spends most of its life away from land. The island was the most often visited by early commercial shipping, and since the 18th century whalers kept a wooden barrel that served as a mailbox. Each sailor arriving would peruse the contacts to see if any letter was traveling in the same direction they were, and similarly, would leave letters addressed to their own homes. "Devil's Crown" is an underwater volcanic cone with brilliant coral formations that excite many snorkelers and divers. Meals and overnight aboard the M/S Beagle.  [b-l-d]

Sunday, March 28
Also an inhabited island, Santiago is famous for its goat and pigs which caused grave destruction of a number of habitats. Both species are being eradicated. The island's coastal areas provide the most interest to visitors, including large number of marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, land and sea turtles, flamingos, dolphins and sharks. Darwin Finches and Galapagos Hawks are usually found here as well. A scenic lava flow is found at Sullivan Bay. Meals and overnight aboard the M/S Beagle.  [b-l-d]

Monday, March 29
One of the most interesting islands is usually left for last. Formerly known as Tower Island, Genovesa has among the densest colonies of unusual birds in the islands. The tiny 5.4 sq mile island is the most remote in the archipelago, and the nickname "Bird Island" is well deserved. There are large colonies of frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin finches. Prince Philip's Steps is a famous bird-watching plateau with Nazca and red-footed boobies. Meals and overnight aboard the M/S Beagle.  [b-l-d]

Tuesday, March 30
After breakfast on board the yacht, we bid goodbye to the crew and fly back to the mainland, arriving Quito in the late afternoon. The evening is free. Overnight at the Hotel Patio Andaluz.  [b- - ]

Wednesday, March 31
Hotel checkout is at 10 a.m. The hotel shuttle transfers guests to the airport.  [no meals]