Blue footed Boobie

  Marathon Course

Sea Lion

Galapagos Map

Flying Tortoise Marathon/Half-Marathon and 10K events July 31 to Aug 9 or Aug 1 to Aug 9, 2009

The proceeds from the running events benefit the Las Viajetos de la Trecera Idad, a volunteer organization that cares for the elderly and infirm who have no other means here in San Cristobal. It’s as close as we get to social security and The Charles Darwin Foundation

Participating in these events benefits all the people of these islands and the future of the islands themselves.

The Marathon, half-marathon and 10K courses are mostly flat with a few minor undulations almost completely on dirt roads or trails. As you make your way through the scenic, mostly shaded course that runs through coffee, bamboo, fruit, cow and lumber farms you’ll encounter the owners of these farms and their families waiting patiently to pass you a cup of Gatorade. You will be an experience as unique for them as they will be for you and if you happen to run into them in the town in the days that follow, you’ll receive a smile few tourists are granted. The races in August because it is one of the most temperate months here, average day time high seventy degrees. The 2009 the races will be held on Aug. 4.

Galapagos is a wonderfully enchanting place, an ideal vacation spot for families and small groups. As these islands and their native population transition toward a sustainable economic equilibrium, they face enormous challenges, political, cultural, economic and environmental. Simply by choosing to come here and attend these events, you will be a force of positive motion.

See below itineraries for per person prices and package details. Maximum 10 people per package Top Shelf and 12 Economy. Basically, the difference between the two packages are: one extra day and night, a small plane flight to Isabela for two nights and nicer hotels while staying in Quito. Top Shelf per person double occupancy $2,796 and Economy double occupancy $2,316

Top Shelf Marathon Package July 31 to Aug. 9
 
 Friday, July 31: International flight. Arrive from the US, typically between eight and eleven PM. Guide and Limo./Bus service receive guests, transfers them to Hotel Patio Andaluz, (hotelpatioandaluz.com) centrally located in Old Town (Colonial) Quito, charming patio style hotel, four stars, always rave reviews.
 
Quito Notes:
Upon arrival in Quito the group will be met by their bilingual, native guide, who will escort the group to their hotel, be sure all is well, return in the morning to guide them around Quito and out to dinner and then return the next morning to leave for the Galapagos with them. They will be doing the reverse on the return from the Galapagos. Breakfasts in Quito are served at the hotel, lunch will be had at guides recommended restaurant and dinner will be had at either La Choza (lachozaec.com) and/or Café Mosaico (cafemosaico.com.ec).
 
Sat. Aug. 1: Breakfast on the patio in hotel. This day is spent on a fully guided tour of Quito’s main attractions, including: Colonial Quito, Museums, Teleferico, Mitad Del Mundo, Feria Artisanal (shopping) hosted by your bilingual Quito native with tour van/bus at his or her disposal. This tour can be customized somewhat depending on the group’s inclinations. Lunch will be provided at appropriate restaurant depending on location of tour. Dinner will be had at La Choza, (lachozaec.com) premier Ecuadorean food often with live band playing songs of the Andes.
 
Sun. Aug. 2: Flight to San Cristobal Galapagos where you’ll be met by your National Park guide. Typical arrival time 1PM. Lunch, orientation, first snorkel expedition to swim with sea lions, turtles, rays etc. Sunset and dinner.    
 

Galapagos Notes:
Your bilingual guide is available dawn to dusk for whatever you may need. He/she has a thorough knowledge of the geology, biology, history, current status and gossip of the Galapagos, as well as the experience of living here and knows when and where to be in order to make the most of your time, whether it’s iguana watching, sunset viewing, snorkeling or hammock location.
 
Guests stay in the finest hotels available here on San Cristobal and Isabela, however this tour is focused more toward adventure and exploration rather than shopping and fine dining. Breakfasts are had at the hotel. All other meals are provided by the premier restaurants here, Miramar its award winning chef Santiago Teran or The Albemarle on Isabela.
 
  
 
Should anyone wish to, Salsa dancing is available some late nights at the local’s club where you’ll be the only gringos in the place and the locals will likely be buying drinks and showing you some steps.
 
It is entirely possible to snorkel every dawn and sunset with the sea life. Your guide has years of experience snorkeling with everyone from deep water free divers to complete novices. Most of them are certified Dive Masters. Their goal is to be sure you enjoy all the riches of the Galapagos to the fullest and quite a few of those riches are to be found underwater.
 
 
 
Mon. Aug. 3: All day chartered boat trip to tip of the island and islets. Snorkeling with sharks, rays, turtles and sea lions. Visit nesting grounds of Frigate Birds, Pelicans, Boobies, Tropical birds, etc. Roam gorgeous, deserted, pristine beaches that could make travel posters cry.
       
Tues. Aug. 4: Race day. Van takes you to race site. Below are a series of pictures of the course. Dirt roads and trails, minor undulations, no major hills. The vast majority of the course is shaded.
All races start at 8:00 AM
 

Post race late PM Barbeque and post race debriefing and metal presentations.
 
 Wed. Aug. 5: Fish with locals. This is a trip out with the local fishermen where they’ll explain/discuss how they fished in the past, what’s happened to the fisheries, what’s happening now and then you’ll go catch some fish for the night’s meal.
 
That night you’ll eat the fish you caught with the fishermen and their family. Lunch and PM tour of the far side of the island: Commune with the Giant Tortoises in their reserve, visit the local farms where much of the food provided is grown, bananas, bamboo, papaya, guavas etc. People are often surprised at how entertaining this visit actually is.
 
Thurs. Aug. 6: Travel to Isabela Island. This involves a short inter island plane flight. The flight is very scenic and an opportunity few tourists receive to view the Galapagos Islands from the air. The plane lands in Puerto Villamil, Isabela where you will check into either Casa de Marita or Hotel Albemarle (hotelalbemarle.com), the two nicest hotels on Isabela and tour the small town (Pop. 1,000). It is possible to snorkel with penguins there right in front of the hotel. There is a long beach to walk where flamingos can often be seen.
 
Fri. Aug. 7: Your hotel fronts a long sand beach. Depending on your mood/energy level, there’s a hike to a volcano, Sierra Negra, the tortoise breeding station, a private tortoise farm, Campo Duro, flamingos, penguins, various snorkeling sites. Your guide will help you pick and choose among these things. Perhaps some may opt for just hanging on the beach.
 
 Sat Aug 8: Return flight to San Cristobal to catch connecting return flight to Quito. You’ll arrive around four or five, be picked up by your limo./bus service and taken to The Radisson (Radisson.com.ec). By this point in your trip you will be exhausted and ready for some more familiar type surroundings. I can’t tell you how often we get thanked for making this suggestion. It is also much closer to the airport.
 
Sun. Aug 9: Return International Flight. Guide and limo./bus insures that all arrive in the international terminal with your luggage, photos, smiles on your faces and hopefully a place in your hearts for Ecuador and the Galapagos.
 
Included In The Top Shelf Per Person Double Occupancy Group of Eight to Twelve Passengers Quote:
 
-Full time bi-lingual super Quito tour leader will meet group outside of customs (occasionally inside of customs to help with bags, but sometimes not, owing to the vagrancies of a sliding scale of airport security) and say good-bye as the group enters the international terminal for their return flight
-All airport transfers in Quito and the Galapagos (a 2007 Mercedes twenty passenger bus is used in Quito)
-All ground transportation to tours and boat trips (a Mercedes 2008 sixteen passenger bus is used on San Cristobal and 1980 converted flat bed Ford (shabby/ chic, former farm vehicle) on Isabela
-All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and non-alcoholic beverages, some snacks (breakfasts taken at hotels-lunches at appropriate restaurant, depending on location of tour, box lunches for day trips on boats and when away from civilization-Dinners: two in Quito, one at La Choza (lachozaec.com) and one at Café Mosaico (cafemosaico.com.ec), in the Galapagos, one dinner with a fisherman and his family, other dinners had at either Miramar Restaurant on San Cristobal or at the Hotel on Isabela. Guest speakers at two dinners, one from the Charles Darwin Foundation and one from the town of San Cristobal, we’ve had the Mayor, the chief of police, the Governor once and the great grand son of one of the original colonists. Fun stuff.
-Two nights (double occupancy) Hotel Patio Andaluz (patioandaluz.com)
-All day tour of Quito and surrounding areas (itinerary flexible)
-Round trip air between Quito and San Cristobal
-Four nights (double occupancy) Cabanas Pimampiro, Casa Blanca or Casa de Nelly San Cristobal
-An all day privately chartered boat tour to islets and far side of island (see details on web page or itinerary)
-Half day tour of the tortoise reserve and remote farms (see details on web page or itinerary)
-Fishing tour with local fishermen to catch the night’s meal
-Round Trip flight San Cristobal-Isabela
-Two nights (double occupancy) Hotel Albemarle  (hotelalbemarle.com) or Casa de Marita, Isabela
-All day tour of Isabela including: Sierra Negra (active volcano), penguins, tortoise breeding ground and flamingos.
-Unlimited snorkeling, exploring, surfing, animal watching, swimming with the help of your guide
-Snorkeling equipment for duration of Galapagos leg of tour
-One night (double occupancy) Radisson Hotel, Quito (Radisson.com.ec)
 
 
Not included: Race registration ($80) International airfare, airport taxes (Quito $42, Isabela $15), Galapagos National Park entrance and transit/entrance card fee ($210), alcoholic beverages and tips.
 
Per person cost 8 to 12 passengers $2,796
Single Supplement $610

Economy Flying Tortoise Marathon and Running Events Package Aug. 1 to Aug. 9, 2009

Sat. Aug. 1: International flight. Arrive from the US, typically between eight and eleven PM. Guide and Limo./Bus service receive guests, transfers them to Hotel San Francisco (sanfranciscodequito.com.ec) centrally located in Old Town (Colonial) Quito, charming patio style hotel.

Quito Notes:
Upon arrival in Quito the group will be met by their bilingual, native guide, who will escort the group to their hotel, be sure all is well, return in the morning to guide them around Quito and out to dinner and then return the next morning to leave for the Galapagos with them. They will be doing the reverse on the return from the Galapagos. Breakfasts in Quito are served at the hotel, lunch will be had at guides recommended restaurant and dinner will be had at either La Choza (lachozaec.com) and/or Café Mosaico (cafemosaico.com.ec).

Sat. Aug. 2: Breakfast on the patio in hotel. This day is spent on a fully guided tour of Quito’s main attractions, including: Colonial Quito, Museums, Teleferico, Mitad Del Mundo, Feria Artisanal (shopping) hosted by your bilingual Quito native with tour van/bus at his or her disposal. This tour can be customized somewhat depending on the group’s inclinations. Lunch will be provided at appropriate restaurant depending on location of tour. Dinner will be had at La Choza, (lachozaec.com) premier Ecuadorean food often with live band playing songs of the Andes.



Sun. Aug. 3: Flight to San Cristobal Galapagos where you’ll be met by your National Park guide. Typical arrival time 1PM. Lunch, orientation, first snorkel expedition to swim with sea lions, turtles, rays etc. Sunset and dinner.



Galapagos Notes:
Your bilingual guide is available dawn to dusk for whatever you may need. He/she has a thorough knowledge of the geology, biology, history, current status and gossip of the Galapagos, as well as the experience of living here and knows when and where to be in order to make the most of your time, whether it’s iguana watching, sunset viewing, snorkeling or hammock location.

Guests stay in the finest hotels available here on San Cristobal and Isabela, however this tour is focused more toward adventure and exploration rather than shopping and fine dining. Breakfasts are had at the hotel. All other meals are provided by the premier restaurants here, Miramar its award winning chef Santiago Teran or The Albemarle on Isabela.



Should anyone wish to, Salsa dancing is available some late nights at the local’s club where you’ll be the only gringos in the place and the locals will likely be buying drinks and showing you some steps.

It is entirely possible to snorkel every dawn and sunset with the sea life. Your guide has years of experience snorkeling with everyone from deep water free divers to complete novices. Most of them are certified Dive Masters. Their goal is to be sure you enjoy all the riches of the Galapagos to the fullest and quite a few of those riches are to be found underwater.

Tues. Aug. 4: Race day. Van takes you to race site.  Dirt roads and trails, minor undulations, no major hills. The vast majority of the course is shaded.
All races start at 8:00 AM

Post race late PM Barbeque and post race debriefing and metal presentations.

Wed. Aug. 5: All day chartered boat trip to tip of the island and islets. Snorkeling with sharks, rays, turtles and sea lions. Visit nesting grounds of Frigate Birds, Pelicans, Boobies, Tropical birds, etc. Roam gorgeous, deserted, pristine beaches that could make travel posters cry.


Thur. Aug. 6: Fish with locals. This is a trip out with the local fishermen where they’ll explain/discuss how they fished in the past, what’s happened to the fisheries, what’s happening now and then you’ll go catch some fish for the night’s meal.

That night you’ll eat the fish you caught with the fishermen and their family. Lunch and PM tour of the far side of the island: Commune with the Giant Tortoises in their reserve, visit the local farms where much of the food provided is grown, bananas, bamboo, papaya, guavas etc. People are often surprised at how entertaining this visit actually is.

Fri. Aug. 7: Free day. You will have a good understanding of the ins and outs of San Cristobal and this day will give you the opportunity to enjoy our world outside your group. Perhaps you’ll want to do some shopping or enjoy the beach and animals on your own.

Sat Aug. 8: Return flight to Quito. You’ll arrive around four or five, be picked up by your limo./bus service and taken to The Hotel Magic Bean (magicbeanquito.com).

Sun. Aug. 9: Return International Flight. Guide and limo./bus insures that all arrive in the international terminal with your luggage, photos, smiles on your faces and hopefully a place in your hearts for Ecuador and the Galapagos.

Included in Economy Marathon Package:

-All airport transfers in Quito and the Galapagos (a 2007 Mercedes twenty passenger bus is used in Quito)
-All ground transportation to tours and boat trips (a Mercedes 2008 sixteen passenger bus is used on San Cristobal)
-All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and non-alcoholic beverages, some snacks (breakfasts taken at hotels-lunches at appropriate restaurant, depending on location of tour, box lunches for day trips on boats and when away from civilization-Dinners: two in Quito, one at La Choza (lachozaec.com) and one at Hotel Magic Bean (magicbeanquito.com), in the Galapagos, one dinner with a fisherman and his family, other dinners had at either Miramar Restaurant or Miconia. Guest speakers at two dinners, one from the Charles Darwin Foundation and one from the town of San Cristobal, we’ve had the Mayor, the chief of police, the Governor once and the great grand son of one of the original colonists. Fun stuff.
-Two nights (double occupancy) Hotel San Francisco (sanfranciscodequito.com.ec)
-All day tour of Quito and surrounding areas (itinerary flexible)
-Round trip air between Quito and San Cristobal
-Five nights (double occupancy) Cabanas Pimampiro, Casa Blanca or Casa de Nelly, San Cristobal
-An all day privately chartered boat tour to islets and far side of island (see details on web page or itinerary)
-Half day tour of the tortoise reserve and remote farms (see details on web page or itinerary)
-Fishing tour with local fishermen to catch the night’s meal
-Unlimited snorkeling, exploring, surfing, animal watching, swimming with the help of your guide
-Snorkeling equipment for duration of Galapagos leg of tour
-One night (double occupancy) Hotel Magic Bean (magicbeanquito.com)


Not included: Race registration ($80) International airfare, airport taxes (Quito $42, Isabela $15), Galapagos National Park entrance and transit/entrance card fee ($210), alcoholic beverages and tips.

Per person cost 8 to 12 passengers $2,316
Single Supplement $$390


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