KINKAID SCHOOL QUITO & GALAPAGOS ISLANDS JANUARY 7 – 15, 2016 Day 1 ~ Thursday, January 7, 2016 Houston/Quito Depart Houston flying to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival, meet, assist and transfer to the hotel. Colon Hilton Quito Day 2 ~ Friday, January 8, 2016 Quito Spend the morning in Quito’s Colonial Quarter, which is a UNESCO World Hertiage Site. Begin in Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Visit the temple of La Compania de Jesus with its gilded interior. Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that led to its Baroque interior influence. After a lunch at a restaurant in Quito or the equator area, continue through the bustling city and small villages to the Intiñan Solar Museum. This eccentric and interactive museum has demonstrations of various equator and solar-related phenomena, such as the Coriolis Effect and strength tests. Learn about the effects of the magnetic line 00°00’00”. The museum also houses a collection of totem poles, respresentative artwork of America and other continents whose territories are intersected by the equator, a coral of Andean camelids and models of traditional houses. This evening, enjoy a typical Ecuadorian dinner at La Choza, accompanied by a traditional folklore show of music and dancing by the Jacchigua Folklore Ballet Group. Colon Hilton Quito (B, L, D) Day 3 ~ Saturday, January 9, 2016 Quito Morning transfer to Quito airport for flight to the Galapagos Islands. Arrive Baltra Island Airport, for a bus transfer to Santa Cruz Island via the Itabaca Channel. After lunch, embark on a complete tour of the area, exploring various vegetation zones and microclimates. Walk around pit craters, through lava tunnels and get acquainted with endemic Scalesia and Guayabillo forests. Observe the emblematic giant tortoises in their natural habitat and the abundant bird life of the highlands at the Tortoise Reserve. The tour will end at the Galapagos Safari Camp, to enjoy the sunset followed by dinner. Galapagos Safari Camp (B, L, D) Day 4 ~ Sunday, January 10, 2016 Galapagos The boat will depart from Puerto Ayora for Santa Fe Island this morning. Here is where blue- footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and many other species of birds that nest in the cliffs can be seen. Afterwards, snorkel with sea lions, surgeonfish, damsels, parrotfish, stingrays and white tip reef sharks! Following a picnic lunch, head to Playa Escondida, which is a beautiful beach with crystalline waters, ideal for snorkelling and swimming. Galapagos Safari Camp (B, L, D) Day 5 ~ Monday, January 11, 2016 Galapagos Begin the day with a drive to the Itabaca Channel, for a boat trip to North Seymour. Created by seismic uplift, rather than being of volcanic origin, North Seymour is a low island consisting of submarine lava. The dry landing is rich in wildlife: sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans. Head along the shore, crossing a wide expanse of sand, which is a nesting area for marine iguanas. Just off the trail, frigate-birds guard their nests in the saltbush clumps and another trail leads to a flat area that is a nesting site for blue-footed boobies. Next, pass through the Palo Santo Forest, where plants such as the Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela and Sesuvium can be seen. Then, visit Las Bachas Beach, with its white sand, making it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind the beach there is a small brackish lagoon where flamingos and other coastal birds can be seen. This beach is also ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Galapagos Safari Camp (B, L, D) Day 6 ~ Tuesday, January 12, 2016 Galapagos Start the day with a drive to the eastern part of the island to Cerro Mesa, which is 490mts above sea level. It offers dramatic views and has the largest crater on Santa Cruz and numerous endemic plants as well as up to 7 subspecies of finches and the Vermillion Flycatcher. After lunch, visit Garrapatero, a pristine beach which has mangroves, black lava, white sand, turquoise waters and a small pink flamingo lagoon. Next, visit the Charles Darwin Research Center, with most impressive attraction being the tortoise breeding center. The center houses tortoises of all shapes and sizes, including the famous Lonesome George, at 90+ years old, and the last remaining member of the Pinta Island subspecies. Galapagos Safari Camp (B, L, D) Day 7 ~ Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Galapagos This morning, embark on a 2 hour boat trip from Puerto Ayora to Santa Fe Island. Anchor at a beautiful sheltered bay, where snorkeling with sea lions, surgeonfish, damsels, parrotfish, stingrays and white tip reef sharks is available. This rugged island is composed of uplifted basaltic lava, and much of it is a faulted plateau covered with Opuntia cacti. The trail, where Santa Fe land iguanas and Galapagos hawks can be spotted, leads to a beach that is inhabited by sea lions and blue-footed boobies. Galapagos Safari Camp (B, L, D) Day 8 ~ Thursday, January 14, 2016 Galapagos/Quito/Enroute Following breakfast, transfer to the airport with assistance in departure to Quito. Upon arrival, transfer to the Hosteria Rincon de Puembo, for a special farewell dinner. Return to the airport for an after midnight flight to Houston. (B, D) Day 9 ~ Friday, January 15, 2016 Enroute/Houston Arrive Houston early this morning. FROSCH TRAVEL TOUR PRICE: $7,495.00 All prices quoted are per person, based on a specific number of participants traveling together in the group, and on air and land rates in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change. DEPOSITS & PAYMENTS DEPOSIT $500.00 per person to reserve space at time of reservation. $200 per person of which is non-refundable; additional cancellation fees will apply, see details under “cancellation penalties”. FINAL PAYMENT due on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015 PASSPORTS A passport is required and must be valid for at least 6 months beyond travel dates. WHAT IS INCLUDED 7 nights accommodation at hotel listed and private safari camp, private facilities Meals as outlined on itinerary All transfers and Quito sightseeing by private motorcoach with driver and English speaking guides All sightseeing program while in the Galapagos as outlined on the itinerary with local Naturalists Entrance fees to all sightseeing venues Roundtrip economy class airfare from Houston to Quito via United Airlines Airport departure taxes in all fly in/out cities Intra Ecuador economy class roundtrip airfare from Quito to Galapagos Gratuities to drivers and local guides AIR TRANSPORTATION from Houston, Texas, via United Airlines. The airfare included in the tour price is based upon the Super Advanced Purchase Excursion fare in effect at the time of the printing, and is subject to change. The tariff governing this airfare contains conditions and restrictions on its use. These will be provided upon request. Intra Ecuador air transportation included from Quito-Galapagos-Quito. Airport tax in Ecuador is included. MEALS included are 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners, as per itinerary. PERSONAL TIPS to your guide, driver, and tour manager. TRANSFERS AND TOURING IN QUITO AND THE GALAPAGOS is provided by modern heated motorcoaches, and includes the full sightseeing program outlined in the itinerary. All entrance fees to the places listed in the itinerary are included. TOUR-ESCORT is provided in Quito by a local English-speaking guide and in the Galapagos by local English-speaking “naturalists”. BAGGAGE will be carried free of charge by the airlines for one piece provided that the total combined dimensions (length plus width plus height) does not exceed 106 inches. The one piece of baggage per person may not exceed 50 lbs or 23 kg. Carry- on baggage must not exceed 39 inches and must conform to the underseat shape of 9 by 14 by 22 inches. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED PERSONAL ITEMS such as laundry and telephone calls. PASSPORTS must be carried by each tour member and must be valid 6 months beyond tour date. Prices and Arrangements: Quoted tour prices include planning, handling and operational charges, are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of this printing. Frosch Travel reserves the right and if warranted, will increase tour prices to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange markets, or increases in government airline taxes and/or fuel charges should they come into effect at any time prior to departure. CANCELLATION PENALITIES CANCELLATION OF AIR TICKETS & LAND ARRANGEMENTS Cancellations and refunds are governed by the tariff applying to the Super Apex airfare and/or other tariffs of the airlines concerned. This airfare is non-refundable once ticketed. Land arrangements are non-refundable upon Final Payment Friday, October 1, 2015. TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE IS RECOMMENDED AND IS AVAILABLE THROUGH FROSCH TRAVEL, INC. RESPONSIBILITY This tour is arranged by Frosch Travel, Inc., One Greenway Plaza, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77046 and The Kinkaid School. All tickets and coupons governing transportation and other services and facilities furnished are issued by Frosch Travel, Inc. only as agents for such other companies furnishing such services and facilities, and neither they nor their sub-agents shall be held liable for loss or damage to property or injury to person caused by reason of any defect by any transportation company, agent, or any such party providing such services. Frosch Travel, Inc., Kinkaid School and its sub-agents reserve the right to withdraw services and make changes and alterations in the itinerary as may be necessary in their judgment for the proper handling of the tour. The airlines concerned are not to be held liable for any act, omission, or event during the time the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances.