ULTIMATE GALAPAGOS PHOTO TOUR August 16 – 31, 2019
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ULTIMATE GALAPAGOS PHOTO TOUR August 16 – 31, 2019 With professional photographer Suzi Eszterhas and famed Galapagos wildlife photographer Tui De Roy Photo De Roy by Tui Luxurious accommodation aboard the EVOLUTION Photo De Roy by Tui HIGHLIGHTS Photo De Roy by Tui • While most tours offer only one-week at sea, this tour offers a full two weeks, sailing island by island. • Our daily program will have us on shore and photograph- ing at first and last light, when the pace of wildlife behavior picks up to a vibrant crescendo, and other tour groups are noticeable by their absence. • Once on the national park paths, our pace will be relaxed and sensitive to photographers’ needs and wildlife activity, with flexible timing to make the very best of each oppor- tunity encountered. • Crucially, we will never have more than 8 photographers with one guide (the legal size is 16), something no other tour offers, so there well be no stumbling over each other even during the most exciting moments. • Our chosen season is a time when soft overcast skies should give us extra long hours of shooting, enhancing delicate details of texture and color, and minimizing the pitfalls of photography under harsh equatorial sunlight. • We have chosen the coolest time of year in Galapagos, when the seas are most productive and many species are nurturing cute babies, Suzi’s specialty. This should include adorable fluffy chicks of waved albatross, blue-footed booby, swallow-tailed gull and more. • We’ve chosen a luxurious, family owned ship, the EVOLUTION, which is large enough to avoid any dis- comforts of sea motion yet small enough to be warm and homey. Her staff is friendly and helpful and she offers plenty of indoor/outdoor space for relaxation, observation and learning. • You will receive one-to-one instruction from professional Photo De Roy by Tui wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas and famed Galapagos wildlife photographer, Tui De Roy, plus regular illustrated talks. MORE DETAILS Photo De Roy by Tui For the first time ever, this tour combines the knowledge, expe- rience and charisma of two world-renown wildlife photographers to bring you a Galapagos experience like no other. Suzi’s expertise in documenting the special bond between mother and offspring of all species will bring to life a whole new facet in photographing Galapagos, a place so often depicted through the cool scientific lens rather than the warmth of natural family emotions. This will be complimented by the deep insight of Tui’s 50 years experience documenting these magic islands, bringing to life daily details of behavior, lighting, composition and more, which are so easily missed during shorter, fast-paced tours. Tui will also share her vast Photo De Roy by Tui island background in daily slideshows ranging from what it was like to grow up as a pioneer child on these shores, to the spectac- ular functioning of their active volcanoes, and much more. Suzi will share her instinct for capturing the best of special natural moments. Together, both will impart their great love for their work and their wild subjects. Above all, this tour offers a lower visitor-to-guide ratio than any other Galapagos tour available, providing the most amount of flexibility, information and time to take in the wonders of Galapagos, through the lens or through the heart. Our two-week itinerary will let us discover the startling differenc- es each place has to offer, from vibrant seabird colonies to pre- historic-looking iguana gatherings, and from moonlike volcanic landscapes to moss-draped highland forests. One of the most amazing things about the wildlife of the Galapagos is their com- plete lack of fear of people, and we will be able to photograph these animals in close proximity. We’ll photograph by foot during beach strolls and hikes, via zodiac boats, and by snorkel. The Galapagos offers some of the best snorkeling in the world, and we’ll swim with various species, including the Galapagos sea lions that are famous for their underwater antics and playful nature. Snorkeling is always an optional activity, of course. This tour has been uniquely designed to offer maximum wildlife photography opportunities of iconic Galapagos species, includ- Photo De Roy by Tui ing Galapagos sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, waved albatross, blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins, swallow-tailed gulls, flamingos, Darwin’s finches, flight- less cormorants, tropicbirds, frigatebirds, and much more. ITINERARY Day 1, August 16, 2019 Arrive Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), transfer to the Patio Andaluz Hotel Day 2, August 17, 2019 Flight to Baltra Island, afternoon cruise around Daphne Island, famous for ground-breaking evolutionary studies of Darwin’s Finches; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 3, August 18, 2019 Morning at Isabela Island photographing boobies and other seabirds; snorkel in search of sea turtles, sea lions, and penguins; afternoon at Fernandina Island photographing marine iguanas and flightless cormorants; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 4, August 19, 2019 Morning at Isabel Island photographing bright-yellow land iguanas in arid jungle; afternoon photographing landscapes, Darwin’s finches, cormorants, and possibly penguins; snorkel with harlequin wrasses, giant red starfish and possibly fishing penguins; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 5, August 20, 2019 Morning at Bartolome Island photographing volcanic landscapes and cruise/snorkel in search of penguins; afternoon at Santiago Island photographing lava flows and volcanic landscapes; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 6, August 21, 2019 Morning on Santa Cruz Island’s white sand beaches photographing marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, shorebirds, bright red crabs, and possibly flamingos; afternoon at Rabida Island photographing sea lions and marine iguanas; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 7, August 22, 2019 Morning on Santa Cruz Island photographing at the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise breeding center; afternoon in the highlands to photograph giant tortoises; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 8, August 23, 2019 Morning on Española Island photographing waved albatross and their chicks, Nazca boobies, tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, lizards, iguanas and more; afternoon photographing sea lions on land and by snorkel; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 9, August 24, 2019 Morning at San Cristobal photographing the town’s sea lions which raise their pups on park benches and sidewalks and walk to find the lava lizard and mockingbirds; afternoon at La Loberia photographing blue-footed boobies in courtship displays and with chicks; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 10, August 25, 2019 Morning at South Plaza Island photographing land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, Darwin’s finches, and flying seabirds; midday snorkeling; afternoon at Mosquera Islet photographing sea lions and their pups playing along the shore; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 11, August 26, 2019 Morning at Chinese Hat Islet photographing a miniature volcanic landscape and bright red crabs, snorkeling; afternoon at Santiago Island photographing herons, iguanas, lava lizards, sea lions, fur seals, and more; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 12, August 27, 2019 Morning at Genovesa Island photographing nesting seabirds, including spectacular swal- low-tailed gulls up close and at eye level, Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and great frigatebirds; afternoon at Tower Island photographing more seabirds, including storm petrels and search for daytime hunting short-eared owls; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 13, August 28, 2019 Morning at North Seymour Island photographing sea lions, iguanas, and seabirds, includ- ing nesting and courting frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies; afternoon at Santa Fe Island photographing land iguanas, in giant cactus forest, sea lions, and snorkeling in emerald waters; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 14, August 29, 2019 Morning at Floreana Island visiting the historic post office of whale ship crews; snorkel with playful sea lions; afternoon photographing flamingos; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 15, August 30, 2019 Morning at Santa Cruz Island’s Tortuga Bay photographing Darwin’s finches, shorebirds and marine iguanas; afternoon photographing landscapes and flowers in a cloud forest; o/n MV Evolution (BLD) Day 16, August 31, 2019 Morning cruising Santa Cruz Island’s mangrove inlet photographing sea turtles, herons and pelicans, and possibly sharks and rays, transfer to the airport for return flight to mainland to catch your international flight home (B) ACCOMODATION The Evolution is a luxurious small expedition ship that accommodates 32 passengers. A historic feel combined with modern amenities give this yacht the adventurous atmosphere of a smaller boat. Her artful combination of size and amenities results in a yacht that offers excellent service, luxury accommodations and attention to detail, while causing minimal impact on the environment. The yacht features both inside and al-fresco dining areas and a sky deck lounge on Albatross Deck with a bar and beautiful rattan furniture. At the bow of the yacht is a Double Suite jacuzzi with lounge chairs for sunbathing and ample out- side deck space. There is also a lounge with a bar, library and facilities for lectures, slide shows and films. The Evolution offers 3 suites, 8 premium staterooms and 5 deluxe staterooms all with exceptional accommodations, private facilities, climate controls, safe-boxes and ample space to hang and store clothing. All cabins have private bathrooms with hair dryers, amenities like those of any fine hotel and ample space to store toiletries. Premium Twin Stateroom ACCOMODATION TOUR LEADERS Photo De Roy by Tui Suzi Eszterhas is a professional wildlife photographer based in California. She is best known for her images of baby ani- mals in the wild. Suzi has photographed over 100 magazine covers and feature stories, which include TIME, Smithsoni- Professional an, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Scientific American, Audubon, Ranger wildlife photographer Rick, and National Geographic Kids.