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GALAPAGOS ISLANDS M/Y Eric M/Y Flamingo M/Y Letty Yacht profile Deck Plan Itinerary

SHIP PROFILE

ABOUT THE M/V ERIC, FLAMINGO AND LETTY - in their own words:
Our signature fleet of three identical Superior first-class 20-passenger motor-yachts, M/Y Eric, Flamingo I and Letty, were custom-designed for Galapagos excursions. The sister yachts offer tremendous value for superior comfort in spacious accommodations for small groups.

Built in 1991 and refurbished every year, each yacht features ten double outside facing cabins located on three decks with polished teak wood interiors, window view or portholes, fully air conditioned throughout, private bath facilities with fresh, hot-and-cold-water shower, hair dryer, toiletries, roomy closet and drawers, overhead storage, separate climate controls, ionizer (iguana and booby deck only), intercom system, life vests, bottled water and fresh towels.

Public areas include a dining room, well-stocked bar and conference area with 29" flat screen television, DVD player, board games, library of books and DVDs. Stereo cassette/CD equipment is available on the bridge.  Picture windows surround the upper two decks and offer a spectacular panoramic view of the ocean and landscape.  Enjoy sea breezes, sunshine or a sky full of stars on lounge chairs and recliners located on the sun deck and observation points.

A seasoned Captain,  eight dedicated crewmembers, and two experienced English-speaking naturalist guides attend to the details of your Galapagos cruise.   Each naturalist takes a group of no more than 10 passengers on all shore excursions and shares extensive insights into the Islands ' diverse wildlife. Small wooden boats, locally called pangas, ferry passengers to shore for Island visits.

Start each day with a casual breakfast buffet that includes fresh, exotic fruit juices, eggs cooked to order, toast, café con leche and a variety of cereals. At lunch, enjoy a buffet of crisp salads, healthy Pastas, assorted fresh vegetables, produce, meats and fish all creatively prepared. Unwind in the evening with creamy soups, ceviche, grilled seafood, roasted potato salad, unique deserts, and other delicacies both Ecuadorian and international cuisines.

Departures are all inclusive . There is no extra charge for beverages (mineral water, soda or juice).  And, snorkeling equipment, custom wet suits, beach towels and sea kayaks are available at no additional cost. 

Trips depart from San Cristóbal every Sundays and offer week-long,  comprehensive itineraries to visit the islands' most spectacular sites.

OTHER SERVICES and INFORMATION:

Galapagos Entrance fee
The Islands are part of the Ecuador National Park system and the entrance fee is $100.00 per person. Children age 11 and younger pay a reduced rate of $50.00. The fee is divided up among various entities including the GNPS, Marine Reserve, agriculture, municipalities, INEFAN and INGALA. The park tax is not included in the cruise rate. However, it will be added to your cruise invoice and prepaid by Ecoventura for your convenience. For any passenger who elects not to prepay the park tax to Ecoventura, their fee will be collected at the airport upon arrival in Galapagos by National Park authorities. The park only accepts cash in U.S dollars as a form of payment and is subject to change without prior written notification.

Gratuities to guides and crew
Aboard our vessels, gratuities are not included. We prefer that our guests reward our crew based on their performance. Tipping is a personal matter and passengers are encouraged to tip an amount they find appropriate. For those passengers who inquire, we suggest they follow international guidelines of US $175.00 per person on a 7-night cruise. Gratuities are divided among all crew members including naturalist guides.

Airfare to Galapagos
Flights to Galapagos for Ecoventura's passengers are serviced by AEROGAL Airlines from Quito and Guayaquil to Galapagos to San Cristobal . Seat reservations for confirmed passengers will be made by Ecoventura. Arrival and departure airports are subject to change according to our itineraries.

International Airfare to Ecuador
Flights to Ecuador are currently serviced by American Airlines (from Miami to Quito and Guayaquil ), Continental Airlines (from Newark and Houston ), LAN Airlines (from Miami and JFK), LACSA via San Jose , COPA via Panama City , IBERIA Airlines via Madrid and KLM via Amsterdam.

Departure tax (from Ecuador )
On International flights from Quito or Guayaquil , there is an airport departure tax of $25.00 per person payable in US dollars.

Purchases on board
Every passenger has an open tab at the bar and boutique, which are paid the last day of the cruise. We accept cash (US Dollars), Travelers checks, Master Card, VISA, American Express and Diners.

Bar
A well-stocked bar with beer (local and imported), wine, premium liquors and liqueurs are available at the bar area. A rate sheet is posted with drink prices.

Boutique
A variety of items for personal care, souvenirs, film, post cards, etc. are available in the vessel's boutique.

Library
Books, magazines and DVDs are available for passengers to use during their trip. If you want to take a book to your cabin, please advise the administrator or guide.

Games
Board games of scrabble, chess, checkers, Monopoly are located in the lounge area and are available for passengers to use in their free time.

laundry service: Passengers on our 7-night itinerary will be offered laundry service provided by a local company in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz . On Friday,   morning, passengers can arrange to have dirty clothes sent to be laundered. The laundry will be delivered in the afternoon when passengers return from the visits. All laundry bills must be paid directly to the company in cash (US dollars).

Reserve a wet suit: Any passenger who would like to reserve a wet suit in their size prior to the cruise may do so at a charge of $25 for 7 nights. The fee will be charged to the account on board and paid at the end of the cruise. Reserved wet suits will be removed from the inventory and set aside for exclusive use during the cruise. Passengers are still entitled to use the remaining wet suits on board at no additional charge. However, they are available on a first come first serve basis and there is no guarantee there will be one available in their size unless they reserve in advance. Wet suits are most popular from June to November when water temperatures are between 65 and 72 degrees F.

Snorkeling equipment: m asks, fins and snorkels in average sizes are available on board free of charge for use during the cruise. There is no guarantee there will be all equipment available in your size and therefore passengers may bring their own equipment.

Sea Kayaks: There are two kayaks per yacht and are available at designated sites during the cruise on a first come first serve basis at no additional charge. The clear bottom tandem model is half canoe and half sit-on-top kayak with a modular transparent hull. The crystal clear hull of the Caribe provides a window to the underwater world.

Scuba diving
Passengers who are certified scuba divers can choose to purchase a scuba package for $350.00 additional per person. The package includes two days of diving (on Tuesday and Friday) with four dives/ tanks total provided by a local dive shop. The dive fee includes filled tanks, weight belt, weights, BCD, regulator, wet suit, boots, hood and gloves. Although not required, we recommend all divers have sufficient experience with at least 20 logged dives or advanced dive certification due to strong currents, cold water, thermo-clines and large marine life. Please inquire for full details.