Sea Lion Pup
M.V. Eclipse, Galapagos Islands
Fernandina Volcano, Galapagos Islands
Tortoise Galapagos Islands
M.V. Eclipse Jacuzzi, Galapagos Islands
Española Island, Galapagos
Baked fish is served on board
The Yellow Warbler
Pelicans at Santa Cruz
Heron
Galapagos Islands & South American Wines Cruise
28 January - 5 February 2011
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!
This wine cruise was a unique and spectacular adventure, for current Arblaster & Clarke Wine Cruises on small luxury ships in the Mediterranean and elsewhere – please visit Wine Cruises
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!
Our 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.
M.V. Eclipse – An award winning ship!
Harper’s Bazaar has named the Eclipse one of the 6 “Top Boat Breaks” of the world in 2010. The M.V. Eclipse is the only Galapagos yacht listed in the Harper’s Bazaar article. In 2010 Conde Nast listed the M.V. Eclipse in it’s “Top Small Cruise Ships” Reader’s Poll, the top of only three Galapagos cruises which featured in the poll.
Notes
The itinerary: We will stay as close as we can to the itinerary, subject to weather conditions, port authorities and the captain’s discretion.
Weather: December – June is the hot season in the Galapagos with occasional tropical showers, the temperature during January and February is 22 – 29 °C, with a sea temperature of 24 – 25 °C.
Evening wine tasting & wines with dinner.
Water Sports The ships snorkelling equipment and wetsuits are free of charge, and recommended as sea can be cool and/or protect from sunburn.
Diving: 2 dives are possible for trained divers at the Charles Darwin Centre on Santa Cruz. Bring your PADI card with you (chargeable).
NB:Taking the diving option in Puerto Ayora will require you to forfeit all other activities at this site since it is a full-day, independent excursion. Divers go on their day trip early and return late afternoon. Also, it is very important that divers know that the Galapagos are considered an advanced dive spot. There are sites and dives that even beginners can do, but the best dives are for more advanced divers.
IMPORTANT: Dive sites vary depending on availability as well. Our diving provider, as all other reputable providers on the islands, will want to make sure that the diver has his / her official dive certificate (such as PADI for example), dive insurance (separate from travel or health insurance, it is a dive-specific coverage), and they will also need to know how many dives the diver has done in the last year and in what kind of conditions.
Food, drinks & wine on board The meals onboard are all served as a buffet with all soft drinks included. Whenever weather conditions permit, meals will be served in the alfresco dining room.
Engine Noise As this is a small ship and sailing is at night, there is noise from the engine deck, though you are likely to adapt to this relatively quickly (lower cabins are noisier).
Dress Code This is casual wear and flat soled shoes / deck shoes plus sturdy walking shoes are essential. Shorts during the day are the norm and although this is not obligatory clients do tend to change into something smarter in the evening. You will not need a jacket or tie, however, shorts are not permitted in the dining room for dinner.
Mobility The ship is not adapted for anyone with mobility restrictions and there is no lift. So you need to feel confident that you could climb from a moving tender onto the ship, though the captain and crew are very happy and used to assisting passengers with limited mobility. Activities ashore may be limited, however walking sticks are provided.
Watch the Video!
Extend your holiday
You can combine this trip with our Chile, Argentina & Uruguay tour, or various other options throughout South America.
Extra nights in Quito before the cruise: 1 extra night at the 4* hotel, plus a full morning guided tour of Quito is £100pp in twin or £125pp DSO (Strongly recommended!).
Please call us, we are happy to discuss the possibilities!
28 January - 5 February 2011
£4,399.00 
per person
Tour completed.Price Includes:
One night in Quito, 4* hotel. Return internal flights Quito – Baltra via Guayaquil. 7 nights on M.V. Eclipse, breakfasts, lunches onboard with soft drinks included, 7 dinners with South American wines selected by the A&C team. Porterage, tipping, pre-payable taxes & Park entrance fees. Kayak & wet suit loan. 2 members of the A&C team will accompany the trip.
Meet at Baltra: deduct £400, no internal flights and no night in Quito before the cruise.
Extra Pre-trip: 1 extra night at the 4* hotel, plus a full morning guided tour of Quito is £100pp in twin or £125pp DSO (Strongly recommended!)
Travel: Meet at QuitoSole Occupancy: n/a
Deposit: £750.00
Room Upgrade: n/a
Galapagos Islands & South American Wines Cruise
Outline Itinerary
Day 1. A day in Quito
Day 2. Santa Cruz Island, Las Bachas Beach
Day 3. AM Santiago Island, Puerto Egas; PM Bartolomé Island
Day 4. AM Santa Cruz Island, Cerro Dragón; PM Rábida Island
Day 5. AM Isabela Island, Tagus Cove; PM Isabela Island, Elizabeth Bay
Day 6. AM Fernandina Island, Punta Espinoza; PM Isabela Island, Punta Vicente
Day 7. AM Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora, Charles Darwin Research Centre; PM Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora – choice of activities
Day 8. AM Española Island, Gardener Bay; PM Española Island, Punta Suárez
Day 9. AM Santa Cruz Island, Black Turtle Cove
Flights & transfers
Return internal flights are included in the tour price Quito – Baltra and Baltra – Quito via Guayaquil. LAN Chile offers excellent flight timings from London to Quito and Guayaquil via Madrid. American Airlines also has good connections from Miami, so you can fly to Miami with BA, Virgin and others. There are local departure taxes payable in cash (currently, Feb 2010, the exit tax in Ecuador is $42)
Cabin Prices and Descriptions:
Boat Deck :
Cabins 17 – 20 are 210 sq ft approx, have a fixed double bed (Cabins 19 & 20 have double or twin) & a picture window. (Deluxe Stateroom, Complimentary mini bar inc. Beer, Wine & Soft drinks)
£6250, includes a suite in Quito.
Cabins 21 – 28 are 170 sq ft approx, have double/twin beds & a picture window. (Superior Stateroom)
£5550, includes a superior room in Quito.
Main Deck :
Cabins 6, 7, 9, 10 & 12 -14 are 170 sq ft approx, have double/twin beds & large porthole windows. (Stateroom) Cabins 7 & 10 have £100 reduction due to the stairways being lifted & lowered outside.
£4399
Cabins 3-5, 8, 11 &15 are 170 sq ft approx & have a double bed and 3 porthole windows. (Sole Occupancy)
£5550
Wine Notes...
Click here to read wine notes by Tim Clarke and other guest writers on the wine regions visited.
