About Galapagos

Currency

US Currency is accepted

Languages

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

Destinations

• Day 1: U.S./Guayaquil, Ecuador
• Day 2: Guayaquil/Galapagos/Embark
• Days 3 – 8 Galapagos Islands
• Española
• Floreana
• Isabela
• Dragon Hill & Guy Fawkes, Santa Cruz
• Santiago
• Genovesa
• Day 9: Galapagos/Disembark/Guayaquil
• Day 10: Guayaquil/Home

Before Your Trip

What’s Included and What’s Not

What is included?

• 1 night hotel in Guayaquil before the trip at the Hilton Colon
• Complimentary hotel shuttle from the airport to hotel and hotel to airport
• 1 night hotel in Guayaquil after the trip at the Hilton Colon
• Roundtrip airfare from Guayaquil – San Cristobal - Baltra - Guayaquil
• 7 nights aboard the ship, fantastic meals
• Water, coffee, tea and soft drinks throughout the day and at meals
• 1 Expedition DVD for each household
• Galapagos park entrance fee
• Use of snorkeling equipment, wet suits
• Gratuities to Naturalists and ships crew
• Olivia Staff assistance throughout

What’s not included?

• Roundtrip airfare from US to Guayaquil
• Incidentals on board, wine and alcohol
• International Departure Tax from Guayaquil (approx. $30)
• LEX Spa services
• Internet
• NDA charges are not included in the price of the trip but have already been added to your reservation as reflected on your invoice.

Travel documentation and identification

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.

Vaccinations

Please check with your local Public Heath Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on "Traveler’s Health" and then "Vaccinations."

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance. Olivia has recently partnered with Travel Guard to make things easier for you; you can now 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 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 the 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 Guayquil (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 Colon 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

You will need to fly in and out of Guayquil (GYE). Flights can arrive at anytime on May 26, 2012, but hotel check-in begins at 3:00pm. You can leave at any time on June 4, 2012.

Airfare

We are proud to partner with American Airlines.The AA discount code A7852AX applies to flights in and out of Guayaquil (GYE) and Lima (LIM). Dates of travel are May 19 - June 16, 2012. 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). PLEASE NOTE: If booking this trip as a multi-city itinerary (not round-trip), you must book by phone.

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

Getting to your ship

On May 27, you will be transferred from the Guayaquil Hilton Colon to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal in the Galapagos. Once we arrive in San Cristobal, a bus will transfer you a short distance to the dock. Panga boats will be waiting for us to transport us to the ship

Check in

We will be on board just before noon, and will check in on board.

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 June 4 can be arranged for anytime.

While You’re There

Arrival and Transfers

Transportation from Airport

You can arrive anytime into Guayquil (GYE) on May 26. For your departure, you can depart at anytime on June 4 from Guayquil (GYE).
It is approximately 15 minutes from the airport to hotel in Guayaquil. There is an airport shuttle in Guayquil. We will be collecting your arrival itineraries to prepare the hotel to have enough shuttles to meet our group at the airport. Otherwise, taxis are available for about $15 US in Guayquil.
Transfers from the hotel to the Guayaquil Airport/San Cristobal airport to ship and ship to Baltra Airport/Guayaquil airport to hotel are all included.

Check-In

Hotel check-in begins at 3:00pm. When we arrive into San Cristobal by plane, embarkation will begin immediately.

Hotels

Our host hotel In Guayaquil is the Hilton Colon. Should you wish to arrive a day or two earlier or stay later, we recommend booking directly online with them.

Location

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

On Board Information

Amenities

Ship amenities include:

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

All staterooms have:

• Individually controlled thermostat
• Efficiency bathrooms with shower
• Hair dryer
• 110 volt outlet by dressing table mirror and on upper wall
• Beds that can be converted into one double bed
• No TV’s, clocks or phones in the rooms

Money Matters

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.

Gratuities

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

Electricity

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

Telephone

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.

Email, Fax, Mail and Internet

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

Laundry & Dry Cleaning Services

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

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.

Spa Services

You will need to check on board for pricing and amenities. Standard spa treatments such as massage are available.

Medical Services

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

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 www.olivia.com. Just join the Amazing Galapagos discussion group and introduce yourself.

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.

Special Occasions

If you have any celebrations and birthdays, that you have not already advised your travel consultant about please advise us of this information as soon as possible but no less than 90 days prior to the trip.

Special Diets

If you have any medical, mobility needs, or specific dietary requirements, that you have not already advised your travel consultant about, please visit 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.

After Your Trip

Hotels

We will utilize the Guayaquil Hilton Colon for our return Hotel. You may purchase additional hotel nights directly through the hotel online.
Shuttle service from the Guayaquil Hilton to the airport is available, and cabs are available for approximately $15 US.

Disembarkation

We disembark early morning for our transfer to Baltra Airport. Exact flight times from Baltra to Guayaquil will be announced in final mailing.

Vacation Stretchers

We do not have any stretchers for this sailing. However, if you are interested in extending your stay in Machu Picchu or Nasca, we can recommend a Travel Agency to assist you with your plans. Please call for more information.

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