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About Our Destination

Currency
$USD is accepted.
Languages
Spanish is the main language, but English is spoken widely.
Climate
November in the Galápagos is temperate, staying between 69°-78°F (20°-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.
Itinerary
  • Saturday, November 16 — Guayaquil, Ecuador (overnight)
  • Sunday, November 17 — Guayaquil / Baltra, Galápagos / Embark
  • Monday, November 18–Saturday, November 23 — Galápagos Islands:
    • Española
    • Floreana
    • Isabela
    • Dragon Hill and Guy Fawkes, Santa Cruz
    • Santiago
    • Genovesa
  • Sunday, November 24 — Baltra, Galápagos (Disembarkation) / Guayaquil (overnight)
  • Monday, November 25 — Guayaquil / Home
NOTE: Itinerary is subject to periodic changes by the Galápagos Parks to keep the ecological balance of the island healthy for the endemic species of plants and animals.
Vacation Stretchers
Extend your stay with an unforgettable experience in Machu Picchu! Information on these will be available 9 months prior to the trip. Please check our stretcher tab for more information. Please check our Vacation Stretcher tab for more information.
Activity Level
These trips do require a certain level of mobility, including steep stairwells on the ship, walking on rocky, boulders, or uneven terrain, gentle hiking uphill and getting in and out of panga boats from the ship and on shore. There are no elevators on the ship. If you do have limited mobility that requires assistance, you are required to travel with someone who can assist you.

Before Your Trip

What's included?
  • 1-night hotel stay at the Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil before the trip on November 16 prior to embarkation
  • Complimentary hotel shuttle from airport to hotel for November 16 arrivals, and from hotel to airport for November 24 or 25 departures
  • 1-night hotel stay at the Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil on November 24 after disembarkation (or day room for late night departures on November 24)
  • Internal Ecuador flights (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
  • Voyage Expedition DVD (one per cabin/household)
  • Galápagos National Park entrance fee (subject to increase)
  • Use of kayaks, snorkeling gear, and wetsuits
  • Gratuities 
  • Olivia staff assistance throughout
  • New for 2019! Free WiFi daily (up to 1 hour per person)
  • New for 2019! All alcoholic beverages included (certain premium brands not included)
What’s not included?
  • Roundtrip airfare from the U.S. to Guayaquil, Ecuador
  • Incidentals on board
  • LEX Spa services
  • Internet connection over one hour per day
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 U.S. 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 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 that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.
Vaccinations
Please check with your local Public Health Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s website at: www.cdc.gov. Click on the Travelers’ Health section, then click on the Destinations link and choose your destination in the “For Travelers” pull-down menu.
Cancellation Policy
Unexpected events can cause you to cancel your vacation. Because we are committed to this charter, we must strictly adhere to our cancellation policy as outlined in our Olivia Terms & Conditions.
 
2019 AMAZING GALAPAGOS ADVENTURE
 START DATE END DATE CANCEL PENALTY
TRIP DATE 11/16/2019    
Cancellation Fee 270 days or more prior to trip date   2/19/2019 $500 per person
Cancellation Fee 210-269 days prior to trip date 2/20/2019 4/20/2019 25% of trip cost
Cancellation Fee 150-209 days prior to trip date 4/21/2019 6/19/2019 50% of trip cost
Cancellation Fee 120-149 days prior to trip date 6/20/2019 7/19/2019 75% of trip cost

Cancellation Fee 0-119 days prior to trip date
(NON-REFUNDABLE)

7/20/2019   100% of trip cost

Travel insurance
Olivia recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to protect yourself and your trip investment. Now more than ever it’s important to think about the unexpected. We recommend you purchase the travel protection within 15 days of your initial invoice date to receive the most comprehensive coverage, but it is never too late. Consider travel protection for Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.
Please refer to the Policy/Description of Coverage for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan.
For a travel insurance quote, more information or to purchase a protection plan, please call Olivia at 800-631-6277 and select option 1 for a travel consultant.
Olivia’s preferred travel agency

We are pleased to partner with Conlin Travel, one of the “Top 50” Travel Agencies in the country ranked alongside some of the globe’s largest agencies. In business for almost 60 years, Conlin Travel’s core belief is aligned with Olivia in delivering that personal concierge service to each and every traveler, every time. A full-service, LGBTQ-friendly agency with staff located across the country, Conlin Travel looks forward to assisting you with your air travel and hotel reservations for stays outside of Olivia’s pre- and post-trip packages. For air and hotel bookings, a small fee will be applied to your overall cost.
For assistance in making a reservation, please call Conlin Travel: 888-278-1698 (Monday–Friday: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm EST)
If you already have a reservation with Conlin and need emergency after-hours service, please call 800-823-1189.
Joining the Facebook trip group
If you'd like to chat with people who are going on the trip, you can join Olivia’s Amazing Galápagos Adventure 2019 Group on Facebook.
Special occasions
If you have any celebrations and birthdays during the trip 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.
Olivia Honeymoons and Celebrations
Register at Olivia Honeymoon Wishes for your honeymoon, anniversary or other special celebration; browse through the selections and let your friends know just how easy it is for them to purchase a gift for you.
Olivia Travel Gear Store

To help you get ready for your next vacation, we’ve partnered with New Headings to create Olivia Travel Gear, our own online gear and apparel store, featuring items from leading brands, including Craghoppers, Patagonia, Teva, Outdoor Research, and Eagle Creek. Visit olivia.newheadings.com for more information!

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.
Suggested arrival/departure times
Flights into Guayaquil can arrive any time on November 16 and hotel check-in begins at 3 pm. You can leave any time in the late evening of November 24 or on November 25. A day room will be provided up until the time of departure for your late-night flight on November 24. An overnight room will be provided if your flight departs November 25.
Please note, if your flight departs late evening of November 25, you will need to check-out of your hotel room by 12 pm that day. In this case, you may want to consider booking an additional night so you can keep your room up until your departure to the airport. Please call for information and pricing.
Airfare discounts
Save up to 15% on your airfare through our partner airlines. Please visit our airfare discount page for the most up-to-date information.
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
It is approximately 30 minutes from the airport to hotel in Guayaquil, depending on traffic. There is a Hotel del Parque 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 November 16. Otherwise, taxis are available for about $25 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.
Flight guidelines
Most flights arrive into Guayaquil in the late evening. If you arrive earlier, be aware that hotel check-in begins at 3 pm. Departures on November 24 should be after 8 pm, or any time on November 25.
Hotel Check-in
Hotel check-in begins at 3 pm on November 16. We encourage all passengers to arrive a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays.
Hotels
Our host hotel in Guayaquil is the Hotel del Parque. Should you wish to arrive a day or two early or extend your stay, please contact us for availability and pricing.
Getting to your ship
On November 17, 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, a bus will transfer you a short distance to the dock. Panga boats will be waiting to transport us to the ship.
Port location
Our port of embarkation is in San Cristobal. When we arrive by plane, embarkation will begin immediately.
Ship check-in
We will board just before 12 pm and will check-in on board when we arrive on November 17.

During your trip

Accommodations
The National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions ms Islander ship amenities include:
  • One 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
  • Hairdryer
  • 110-volt outlet
  • Convertible twin beds into double bed
  • No TVs, clocks, or phones in rooms
Dining
Open Seating Policy
Dining hours: Breakfast 7 am–8 am, Lunch 12 pm–1:30 pm, Dinner 7 pm–9 pm
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 mobility and dietary needs
If you have any medical, mobility needs, or specific dietary requirements that you have not already advised your travel consultant about, please visit the travel preferences page to update your personal needs information. Please advise us of this information as soon as possible, but no less than 180 days prior to the trip.
Electricity
Ecuador and the Galápagos operate on U.S. electrical current, 110 volts, 60 cycles.
Elevator
There is no elevator on this ship.
Gratuities
Gratuities are included in your NDA fees. Gratuities are provided for your cabin steward, dining room steward, bus person, maître d’ and other behind-the-scenes crew members. Should you receive exceptional service and want to tip more, this is up to you.
Phone
Satellite phones are available on board at costs of up to $12/minute. Check with your phone provider for international coverage.
Internet / e-mail / fax
Internet access is available on board. You can purchase cards in 30-minute increments.
Laundry services
“Self-service” laundry or ironing is not available, however, 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.
Spa services
Standard spa treatments such as massage are available in the LEX Spa. Pricing will be available on board.
Money: Paying for things on board
Upon embarkation, you will register a credit card to your shipboard account to charge drinks, services, etc. You will not be able to get cash advances through your credit card.
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 solos and travelers online in the Olivia's Amazing Galápagos Adventure 2019 Official Facebook Group Page.

After Your Trip

Hotels
We will utilize the Guayaquil Hotel del Parque for our return hotel. Hotel check-in is 3 pm, and check-out is 12 pm. You may purchase additional hotel nights directly through the hotel online.
Complimentary shuttle service from the Guayaquil Hotel del Parque to the airport is available. Taxis are also available for approximately $25 USD.
Disembarkations
We disembark at approximately 9 am for our transfer to Baltra Airport. Exact flight times from Baltra to Guayaquil will be announced in your final documents to be sent 30-45 days prior to the ship.
Vacation stretchers
Please check back to the Vacation Stretcher page for information about a possible Machu Picchu extender, and optional pre-hotel nights on November 15, approximately 9 months from the trip dates.

Didn’t find what you are looking for? Check out our Olivia travel FAQ or call us at 800-631-6277 (inside the U.S. & Canada) or 415-962-5700 (Outside the U.S. & Canada) and select option 2.
For Reservations Call: (800) 631-6277 M-F 8:30am-5:30pm Pacific
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