Looking for information on our other Amazing Galapagos Adventure Cruise (Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2013)? CLICK HERE

About Our Destination

Currency

$USD is accepted.

Languages

Spanish is the main language, but English is spoken widely.

Climate

October in the Galápagos is temperate, staying between 67°-78°F (19°-26°C) during the dry season. There could be a rain shower or two during the week so be sure to pack a light rain jacket or umbrella to stay dry.

Destinations

• Saturday, September 28 – Guayaquil, Ecuador (overnight)
• Sunday, September 29 – Guayaquil/San Cristobal/Galápagos/Embark
• Monday, September 30 – Saturday, October 5 – Galápagos Islands
• Española
• Floreana
• Isabela
• Dragon Hill & Guy Fawkes, Santa Cruz
• Santiago
• Genovesa
• Sunday, October 6 – Baltra, Galápagos/Disembark/Guayaquil (overnight)
• Monday, October 7 – Guayaquil, Ecuador

Before Your Trip

What’s Included and What’s Not

What is included?

• 1 night hotel in Guayaquil before the trip at the Hilton Colón on September 28, 2013
• Complimentary hotel shuttle from the airport to hotel and hotel to airport for September 28, 2013 arrivals
• 1 night hotel in Guayaquil after the trip at the Hilton Colón on October 6, 2013 (or day room for late night departures on October 6, 2013)
• Roundtrip airfare: Guayaquil – San Cristobal; Baltra - Guayaquil
• 7 nights aboard the National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions ms Islander
• Water, coffee, tea and soft drinks throughout the day and at meals
• Expedition DVD for each household
• Galápagos Park entrance fee
• Use of snorkeling equipment, wet suits
• Gratuities to naturalists and ship’s crew
• Olivia Staff assistance throughout

What’s not included?

• Roundtrip airfare from U.S. to Guayaquil
• Incidentals on board
• Wine and alcohol
• LEX Spa services
• Internet

Travel documentation and identification

Passport

You will need a passport that is valid for six months past the date of the trip. If you are not a US citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the consulates of the countries we will be visiting to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Visa

If you are a U.S. Citizen, you DO NOT need a visa. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the consulates of the countries we will be visiting to make sure you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Vaccinations

Though none are required, please check with your local Public Health Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” followed by “Vaccinations.”

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance. Olivia has partnered with Travel Guard to make things easier for you; you can add your travel insurance when you book your trip, all in one call. In order to receive the most comprehensive coverage, please purchase your insurance within 15 days of your initial invoice. If you have questions about Olivia’s travel insurance, call 800-631-6277 or 415-962-5700 option 1 to talk to one of our travel consultants.

Joining the Olivia.com trip group

If you’d like to chat with people who are going on this trip, sign up for the official Olivia trip group.

Travel and arrival

Air travel

Where to fly into/out of

You will need to fly into Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE). Most flights arrive in the evening. We encourage all passengers to arrive a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays. Additional hotel nights at the Guayaquil Hilton Colón can be made directly with the hotel on their website. If you book a standard room, you will not have to change rooms when your program begins.

Suggested arrival/departure times

Flights into Guayaquil can arrive any time on September 28, 2013 and hotel check-in begins at 3:00pm. You can leave any time in the late evening of October 6 or on October 7, 2013. A day room will be provided up until the time of departure for your late night flight October 6. An overnight room will be provided if your flight departs October 7.

Please note if your flight departs late evening of October 7, you will need to checkout of your hotel room by noon on October 7. For this you may want to consider booking an additional night directly with the hotel so you can keep your room up until your departure to the airport.

Discount airfare offer

The AA discount code A8793BB applies to flights in and out of Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE). Dates of travel are September 21-October 14, 2013. Airfare can be booked no earlier than 11 months before the trip. This reservation can be booked by calling 800-433-1790 ($25 booking fee applies) or visiting AA.com/rainbow (no booking fee and please remove the preceding “A” when booking online).

Olivia’s preferred travel agency

We are happy to partner with Panorama Travel, which provides excellent service and competitive airfares. As a full service agency, they do charge a fee for the service of booking your air or add-ons. For a small fee, they can also assist you with using your frequent flyer miles for free tickets and upgrades. You can reach them at 800-523-0093 or 503-682-6800.

Should any of you wish to add an extension to Machu Picchu or another South American destination, Panorama Travel can put a package together for you.

One of the advantages of dealing with a Travel Agency who books your ticket is having assistance while traveling. This becomes extremely helpful when there are flight cancellations or delays in travel; you can call the agency for faster service. For many, it is well worth the additional fee which starts from $75, depending on cost of fare/package. /dd>

Luggage allowances

While there is no luggage limit on the cruise itself, airlines often restrict (or charge) for excess baggage. Because each airline is different, and the regulations change over time, please check with your airline for baggage allowances.

Transfers and Meeting up with Olivia

Transportation from Airport

You can arrive anytime into Guayaquil (GYE) on September 28, 2013. For your departure, you can depart on the late flight any time after 8:00pm on October 6, 2013 or at any time on October 7, 2013 from Guayaquil (GYE).

It is approximately 10-15 minutes from the airport to hotel in Guayaquil, depending on traffic. There is a Hilton airport shuttle in Guayaquil. We will be collecting your arrival itineraries to prepare the hotel to have enough shuttles to meet our group at the airport on September 28. Otherwise, taxis are available for about $15 USD in Guayaquil.

Transfers from the hotel to the Guayaquil Airport, San Cristobal airport to ship, ship to Baltra Airport and Guayaquil airport to hotel are all included.

Hotel Check-In

Hotel check-in begins at 3:00pm on September 28, 2013.

Hotels

Our host hotel in Guayaquil is the Hilton Colón. Should you wish to arrive a day or two early or extend your stay, we recommend booking directly online with the hotel and request a Standard Room.

Getting to your ship

On September 29, you will be transferred in the early morning after breakfast from the hotel to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal in the Galápagos. Once we arrive in San Cristobal, a bus will transfer you a short distance to the dock. Panga boats will be waiting to transport us to the ship.

Location

Our port of embarkation is in San Cristobal. When we arrive into San Cristobal by plane, embarkation will begin immediately.

Check-in

We will board just before noon and will check-in on board when we arrive on September 29, 2013.

Flight Guidelines

Most flights arrive into Guayaquil in the late evening. If you arrive earlier, be aware that hotel check-in begins at 3:00pm. When we arrive into San Cristobal by plane, embarkation on the ship will begin immediately. Departures on October 6 should be after 8:00pm, or any time on October 7.

During your trip

Accommodations

National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions’ ms Islander

The ms Islander ship amenities include:

• 1 restaurant
• Small boutique
• Small fitness center and lounge
• LEX Spa with masseuse

Room Amenities

• Individually-controlled thermostat
• Efficiency bathrooms with shower
• Shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap
• Hair dryer
• 110 volt outlet
• Convertible twin beds into double bed
• No TV’s, clocks or phones in rooms

Dining

Open Seating Policy
Dining hours: Breakfast 7 – 8am, Lunch 12 - 1:30pm, Dinner 7 - 9pm

Restaurants
There is one restaurant on board. Meals are served buffet style for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is sit-down style with Ecuadorian flair.

Electricity

Ecuador and the Galápagos operate on US electrical current, 110 volts, 60 cycles.

Gratuities

Gratuities are included in the cost of your trip. Gratuities go to the naturalists, cabin stewards, dining room staff and other behind-the-scenes crew members.

Internet / e-mail / fax

Internet access is available on board. You can purchase cards in 30-minute increments..

Laundry and dry cleaning

There is no self-service laundry or ironing. The ship does offer laundry service and pressing.

Medical services

There is a doctor with a minimal medical center on board. Your first visit is complimentary.

Money: Paying for things on board

Upon embarkation, you will register a credit card to your shipboard account in order to charge drinks, services, etc. You will not be able to get cash advances through your credit card; however, you will be able to cash traveler’s checks.

Phone

In Santa Cruz, you’ll have the ability to phone home at reasonable rates. Satellite phones are available on board at costs of up to $12/minute.

Smoking policy

The ship is completely non-smoking except for the aft area of the exterior Upper Deck. Smoking is not permitted on the uninhabited islands.

Solo Travelers

We average a few solo travelers on these trips who mix and mingle with everyone. For a trip this small, there are no solo coordinators. You can start to meet other solo travelers online at the official Olivia Amazing Galápagos trip group.

Special Diets and Special Needs

If you have any medical, mobility needs, or specific dietary requirements that our travel consultants don’t know about, please go to your olivia.com profile and click on Travel Preferences to update your personal needs information. Please advise us of this information as soon as possible but no less than 90 days prior to the trip.

Special Occasions

If you have a celebration or birthday that occurs during the trip dates that you have not already advised your travel consultant about, please let us know of this information as soon as possible but no less than 90 days prior to the trip.

Spa services

Standard spa treatments such as massage are available. Pricing will be available on board.

After Your Trip

Didn’t find what you are looking for? Check out our Olivia travel FAQ. Or call us at 800.631.6277