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The Galapagos Islands
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| April 28 | Depart for Ecuador; overnight in Quito |
| April 29 | Fly to Baltra, Galapagos Islands; board the Tip Top IV, first landing at North Seymour. |
| April 30 | Genovesa (Tower): Darwin Bay landing and snorkeling, Prince Phillip's Steps. |
| May 1 | Santiago: Puerto Egas (James Bay) with snorkeling, Fur Seal Grotto, Playa Espumilla. |
| May 2 | Isabela: Punta Vicente Roca with snorkeling; Fernandina for Marine Iguanas and geology. |
| May 3 | Isabela: Tagus Cove, Urvina Bay with snorkeling, panga ride in Elizabeth Bay. |
| May 4 | Isabela: Tintoreras Wetlands, Tortoise Breeding Center, hike to rim of Sierra Negra volcano. |
| May 5 | Floreana: Punta Cormorant, Champion panga ride and snorkeling, and Post Office Bay. |
| May 6 | Santa Cruz: Highlands for tortoises and Darwin's finches, Charles Darwin Research Station. |
| May 7 | Española (Hood): Punta Suárez with Waved Albatross, Gardner Bay with snorkeling. |
| May 8 | San Cristóbal: Interpretation Center, Cerro Brujo beach walk and snorkeling, Kicker Rock. |
| May 9 | Mosquera for final landing; disembark at Baltra, flight to Quito and farewell dinner. |
| May 10 | Enjoy a free day in Quito with optional day trip or city tour available; overnight in Quito. |
| May 11 | Departures home. |
Note: All routings and visitor sites in the Galapagos Islands are subject to change by the Galapagos National Park Service in an attempt to minimize traffic and impact on all visitor sites.
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April 28, Thursday: Flights to Quito
Arrive in Quito by the evening of April 28. A transfer agent will be waiting for you for your transfer from the airport to the hotel. Dinner will be on your own this evening or on your flight. If you would like to arrive earlier, we can book extra nights at the Hotel Alameda and arrange your airport transfer.
Lodging: Hotel Alameda (also called the Grand Hotel Mercure Alameda Quito)
April 29, Friday: Flight to Galápagos, embarkation and first landing at Isla Seymour Norte
After an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for a morning flight to the Baltra Airport in the Galápagos Islands. On arrival, meet our guides Greg and Martin. Each visitor then pays the Galápagos National Park fee of US$100 (cash). Transfer by bus to the Baltra dock and board the Tip Top IV, our home for this glorious adventure to the best landing sites in the Galápagos.
After lunch, we'll make our first landing at North Seymour Island. We'll have until sunset to wander past many breeding Blue-footed Boobies and a large colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds. Males will be in full display, calling for females with their dramatic inflated red throat pouches, an unforgettable sight with fabulous opportunities for photography. We also have the chance to see Galapagos Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas, Striated Herons, Brown Noddies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and Lava Gulls. The endemic Palo Santo and low bushy Opuntia plants add great scenery to the amazing abundance of Galápagos wildlife.
Be back on board for a welcome cocktail and first dinner onboard. The chef on the Tip Top IV serves international cuisine and is happy to prepare special dishes to fulfill dietary requests (with advance notice). Meet all the members of this very friendly, professional crew, including the captain, first mate, engineer, chef and his assistant, waiter and two sailors. This evening, travel to Genovesa in the outer archipelago. Before dark, it's possible to spot marine mammals and seabirds from the open deck. After dark, look for phosphorescence from ctenophores (comb jellies) and other plankton on the surface of the water. If you're lucky, you may even see these tiny invertebrates glowing on dolphins as they bow-ride with the boat after dark. Each evening there will be an informative lecture about the Galápagos as well as a briefing about the schedule and activities for the following day.

Sea Lion
April 30, Saturday: Darwin Bay and Prince Phillip's Steps
We will anchor in Darwin Bay, the huge flooded volcanic caldera of remote Genovesa. This very special day begins with a landing at the small beach in Darwin Bay. Genovesa's four species of Darwin's finches – the Large Ground Finch, Large Cactus Finch, Small-beaked Ground Finch, and Warbler Finch – show huge variation in bill size and shape. All four species can be found here at this landing, making it one of the two most outstanding sites that we will visit for Darwin's finches (the other being the Highlands of Santa Cruz). Noted evolutionary biologist Rosemary Grant has done much of her research on Darwin's finches here at Darwin Bay. This is also the only place we are likely to see Red-footed Boobies as they perch and nest in the vegetation; the largest Red-footed Booby nesting site in the islands is here on Genovesa. Great Frigatebirds also nest here with unparalleled density and we hope to find babies of both species. Following the cliff edge, we will find ourselves in a flyway for incoming boobies and frigates, an ideal opportunity for photographing these incredible birds in flight. The frigates are ceaseless with aerial displays of kleptoparasitism as they "dog-fight" along the cliffs for scarce nesting material.
Snorkeling in the Galápagos is a very enjoyable experience with so many beautiful species of tropical fish to discover along with the chance of seeing sea turtles and rays. This is a great place for the first snorkel of the trip in the calm caldera waters of Darwin Bay. Martin and Greg will assist you in the techniques of snorkeling if you have not yet tried this wonderful sport, which we equate to "birding underwater."
The walls of the caldera provide wonderful ledges for Galápagos Fur Seals, a rare fur seal that we may see along their haulout area in the vicinity of the stone stairway known as "Prince Philip's Steps." There are also nesting sites for Red-billed Tropicbirds along the caldera walls. This afternoon, we will hike up the stone steps for a great view of Red-footed and Nazca booby colonies on the way to the Wedge-rumped (Galápagos) Storm-Petrel colony. These three bird species need the open ocean for feeding so they tend to nest in the outer archipelago. Red-footed Boobies are adapted to hunting far out to sea and can only rear a single young every two years. Blue-footed boobies, by contrast, fish shallow waters close to their nests and raise two or three young in a brood, if conditions allow. We will also keep a sharp eye out for the elusive Short-eared Owl that hunts for petrels during the day by hiding within the colony. Tonight we will travel southwest to Santiago.

Exploring Lava
May 1, Sunday: Isla Santiago: Puerto Egas, Fur Seal Grotto, and Playa Espumilla
We'll have an early landing at Puerto Egas (also known as James Bay), a wonderful visitor site and the best place to see Galápagos Fur Seals at the so-called "Fur Seal Grotto." A walk along the tidepools at low tide reveals a fascinating and photogenic inter-tidal zone, where American Oystercatchers and Yellow-crowned Night Herons hunt for exposed crustaceans and Marine Iguanas graze on inter-tidal algae. At our walk's end, we will look down on beautiful blue and green grottos formed by collapsed lava tubes, perfect hideouts for Galápagos Fur Seals. It is enchanting to watch and photograph not only fur seals, but bright red-orange Sally Lightfoot Crabs (so named because they contain so little meat). The inland trail also gives a chance to see the endemic Galápagos Snake and Galápagos Hawk. This site offers a great diversity of ecosystems and geological strata, as well as great snorkeling along underwater lava tubes that hide any number of interesting marine creatures.
Our afternoon landing will be at Playa Espumilla, a golden sandy beach where sea turtles nest. Yellow Warblers, wading shorebirds, and ghost crabs also frequent the beautiful beach. Head inland past the mangroves for a hike in the hills among the archipelago's largest Palo Santo trees. Here you may see some of the ten types of finches that inhabit Santiago as well as Vermillion and Broad-billed flycatchers. Tonight we continue west to the largest island of the archipelago – Isabela.
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Galapagos Penguins
May 2, Monday: Isla Isabela: Punta Vicente Roca; Isla Fernandina: Punta Espinoza
In 1954, a portion of the coast of Isabela lifted out of the sea so suddenly that fish and even a sea turtle were trapped literally high and dry on a freshly changed coastline. We will explore this unusual landing site at Urvina Bay at the foot of Volcán Alcedo. Along our walk we will find rocks full of bleached shells and massive coral heads now far from the sea. Very large iguanas of both species, land and marine, live here as well as a few Giant Tortoises, the species for which the Galápagos Islands were named. At Urvina Bay, we will be snorkeling in some of the coldest water of the trip, but there is also great potential for discovery in these rich waters.
After lunch, we arrive at Elizabeth Bay, one of the most spectacular locations for panga cruising. We will join the swimming sea turtles as we cruise this paradise, following channels through the verdant green mangrove forests. The endemic Flightless Cormorants and the marvelous Galápagos Penguins are in their prime habitat here. We'll have a late afternoon departure as we begin our longest navigation of the trip. This is a great time to be on the top deck for whale watching as we will travel through rich whale feeding areas heading around the southwest end of Isabela en route to Floreana.
May 3, Tuesday: Isla Isabela: Tagus Cove, Urvina Bay, and panga ride in Elizabeth Bay
We'll have an early-morning panga ride in Tagus Cove, a natural harbor featuring steep cliffs replete with graffiti carved into the face from ship's crews dating as far back as 1836. The cliffs of the cove are populated by Marine Iguanas, Galápagos Penguins, Galápagos Sea Lions, crabs, and Brown Noddies abound in the crevices outside the bay. Return to the yacht for breakfast en route to Urvina Bay.
After lunch, we arrive at Elizabeth Bay, one of the most spectacular locations for panga cruising. We will join the swimming sea turtles as we cruise this paradise, following channels through the verdant green mangrove forests. The endemic Flightless Cormorants and the marvelous Galápagos Penguins are in their prime habitat here. After returning to the yacht, it will be a great time to be on the top deck for whale watching as we will travel through rich whale feeding areas heading around the southwest end of Isabela.
May 4, Wednesday: Isla Isabela: Tintoreras Wetlands, Tortoise Breeding Center, Sierra Negra
Now along the south coast if Isabela, we can really appreciate the depth of our itinerary, in our third day of exploring this magnificent island. This morning we anchor in the harbor of Puerto Villamil, the second smallest of the four towns in the Galápagos Islands. We begin with an early landing to explore the rich mangrove and wetland habitats of Tintoreras in hopes of seeing sleeping sharks as well as numerous shorebirds. After breakfast, we'll head into Villamil for a visit to the Tortoise Breeding Center. Here they breed repopulation stocks for Isabela's five distinct tortoise subspecies, one for each of the island's volcanoes.
In the afternoon, we will take a bus inland and then hike up the misty slopes of Sierra Negra, the oldest and largest of the six volcanoes forming Isabela. While this site is mostly known for its geology, we may also find the gorgeous Vermillion Flycatcher, Galápagos Hawks, Short-eared Owls, and finches. The views from the rim are tremendous with the dry caldera interior and north slopes stretching out like a stunning landscape pulled from a geology textbook. This evening we'll say goodbye to Isabela and head east to Floreana.

Woodpecker Finch using a Tool
May 5, Thursday: Isla Floreana: Punta Cormorant, Champion, Post Office Bay and the Highlands
We will land behind Punta Cormorant for a walk to the flamingo lagoon in search of teal and shorebirds alongside the flamingoes. Unfortunately, the flamingo population has declined in recent years, but we hope to see at least a few in the lagoon. The sand on Floreana contains a large proportion of fine olivine crystals, a glassy volcanic mineral, giving it an olive-green tone. The waters around Floreana are great for dolphins so keep your eyes open! These waters are also rich with seabirds, such as Waved Albatross, three species of storm-petrels, Audubon's Shearwaters, and large flocks of diving boobies.
After our morning landing, we'll take a panga ride around the nearby islet of Champion for the chance to see the Floreana Mockingbird, one of the most endangered of the Galápagos endemics. The Floreana Mockingbird, no longer surviving on Floreana, can be seen on the shores of Champion from the pangas (landings are not allowed here). The snorkeling around Champion is also excellent. In these waters, we often see many rays and sea turtles as well as surgeonfish, parrotfish, jacks, wrasses, and other tropical fish.
After lunch, we'll learn about some of the human history of the islands with a visit to the highlands and the one small settlement on the island. The plant life here is unique and includes another species of the endemic composite Scalesia. We may have time for a brief stop at Post Office Bay, where you can follow in the whalers' tradition of dropping a letter or postcard in the box and taking one to deliver for someone else that has already passed through.
May 6, Friday: Isla Santa Cruz: Highlands and the Charles Darwin Research Station
Upon reaching Santa Cruz Island, we will anchor in Academy Bay beside the bustling small town of Puerto Ayora. This is the islands' primary population center. This morning we hope to have a short visit with Jacqueline DeRoy, the mother of internationally known photographer, author, and conservationist Tui DeRoy. Jacqueline is a silversmith and one of the original settlers in Puerto Ayora. There are many birds in this part of town and Jacqueline likes to keep the local passerines well fed at her bird feeders, so you'll be able to see and compare finches and other birds up close.
We'll spend the rest of the morning in the Santa Cruz Highlands to seek some of the elusive island endemics in beautifully unique habitats. We will explore Los Gemelos, two incredible volcanic sinkholes surrounded by tall Scalesia forest. This is excellent habitat for some of the highland Darwin's finches. The genus Scalesia is a classic example of adaptive radiation in the plant world, a parallel to the Darwin's finches. The elegant tall Scalesia tree evolved from beach composites, essentially the world's largest daisy. Here in the highlands it is possible to see the shy Galápagos Rail, Short-eared Owl, Large and Small tree finches, Vegetarian Finch, and the famous tool-using Woodpecker Finch. We will also visit a small population of Giant Tortoises that inhabit the highlands and, if time permits, we will take a walk through a lava tube left over from Santa Cruz's active volcanic island-building days.
After lunch, we'll return to Puerto Ayora for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, the center of evolutionary science and conservation in the Galápagos. Our visit to the station will include the opportunity to see the resident tortoises, including, we hope, the famous Lonesome George (last surviving tortoise of the Isla Pinta race). Enjoy intimate looks at the captive breeding programs that are designed to return the Galápagos to a more pristine, pre-colonization state. This will be one of our best opportunities to photograph tortoises up close.
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May 7, Saturday: Isla Española: Punta Suárez, with Waved Albatross, and Gardner Bay
This morning we'll have an early landing at Punta Suárez on Española (Hood Island) for one of the great highlights of the Galápagos – the Waved Albatross. We plan on an early landing to have a bit of time before other groups arrive as this is a heavily visited site being the only place to see these albatross nesting. Observing and photographing the beautiful Waved Albatross is an unforgettable experience. In May, the albatross are well into their breeding season. Young adults and birds that have recently paired will be displaying, a most enticing expression of the lifelong bond that their breeding and survival depend upon. We also expect to find Española Mockingbirds, Blue-footed and Nazca boobies, Swallow-tailed Gull, Red-billed Tropicbird, Galápagos Hawk, Marine Iguana (a red and black race unique to this island), Lava Lizard, Galápagos Sea Lion, and beautiful seascapes complete with a blowhole for incredible photos.
In the early afternoon, we'll explore the fine snorkeling at nearby Tortuga Rock, where sea lions playfully show off their aquatic prowess. A large diversity of fish can also be found congregating along the steep cinder cone reef walls. Later we'll visit Gardner Bay with one of the most beautiful beaches in all of the Galápagos. Sea lions populate the surf while the remarkably brave Española Mockingbird may come near enough to peck at your shoelaces. Photograph shorebirds and sea lions and look for the Large Cactus Finch (which looks very different from the subspecies elsewhere), or just walk the beautiful beach.

Red-billed Tropicbird
May 8, Sunday: Isla San Cristóbal: Interpretation Center, Cerro Brujo and Kicker Rock
San Cristóbal is geologically one of the oldest islands in the archipelago and is the fifth largest. It has the second largest population and the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of Galápagos Province. The island's vegetation includes flowering plants such as Calandrinia galápagosa and Lecocarpus darwinii. We'll start the morning here for a visit to the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center followed by a bit of free time in town for shopping on your last full day in the islands.
This afternoon, a panga ride along the towering cliffs of Cerro Brujo, a striking eroded tuff cone, is quite an experience and we'll keep an eye out for frigatebirds, sea lions, turtles, boobies, tropicbirds, and dolphins. We will make a wet landing at Cerro Brujo, one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin. The landing site is a beautiful white sand beach with Brown Pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, Galápagos Sea Lions, and Marine Iguanas. We will also enjoy a good snorkel here or around Kicker Rock.
Not far from Cerro Brujo, Kicker Rock, also called León Dormido (or sleeping lion), dramatically rises straight out of the water to the height of about 500 feet. Kicker Rock is also a volcanic tuff cone. A panga ride around this striking formation gives you the opportunity to see Nazca Boobies, Blue-footed Boobies, and frigatebirds along the cliffs.
May 9, Monday: Isla Mosquera for final landing; disembark at Baltra, flight back to Quito
Our last landing in the archipelago will be at Mosquera, a small islet between North Seymour and Baltra (South Seymour). A large population of Galápagos Sea Lions is usually found on this low, sand spit of an island, and we'll be at our leisure to watch and photograph their playful antics. Perhaps find a pup, just born and nursing for the first time, or photograph a proud bull male in the morning light. Mosquera is also a nesting site for the world's rarest gull, the Lava Gull, a Galápagos endemic. Other familiar wildlife includes Lava Lizards, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, plus a variety of seabirds flying over-head.
We must reluctantly say goodbye to the Captain and crew of the Tip Top IV and depart for Baltra and our return flight to Quito, arriving back on the mainland in the late afternoon. This evening, we'll have a special Ecuadorian farewell dinner at a restaurant on Panecillo Hill for a spectacular view of the city by night and we'll pass through and learn a bit about Old Town Quito on the way to dinner.
Lodging: Hotel Alameda
May 10, Tuesday: Free day to enjoy the city of Quito
Today you will have a full day to explore the beautiful city of Quito or take a day trip outside the city. We would be happy to arrange a city tour or a day trip to one of the local sites for you (not included in tour cost). Please contact us for descriptions of possible activities for this day or if you would like more information about longer extensions. Breakfast at the hotel is included, however lunch and dinner will be on your own today (or included in the cost of a day tour, if you choose to book one).
Lodging: Hotel Alameda
May 11, Wednesday: Flights homeward
After breakfast, our agent will transfer you to the Quito Airport to arrive more than two hours before your flight home, or you may choose to extend your stay in South America to see more amazing sites.
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The Tip Top IV
Yacht:We will travel aboard the comfortable M/Y Tip Top IV, a First Class Steel-hulled Motor Yacht, built to impeccably high standard in Guayaquil, Ecuador in 2006. The Tip Top IV accommodates 16 passengers. Each cabin has two lower berths which may be arranged as double bed if requested in advance. Each cabin has a private bathroom with toilet, shower, washbasin, vanity, and hair dryer, plus a small dresser, closet, and safe. All cabins have air conditioning with individual temperature controls. Public areas include a spacious dining room with bar, salon with couches, TV, VCR, DVD player, and library, and rear and top sun decks. Additional ship information and deck plan are available on our website or sent by request. View the deck plan and more details.
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Costs, Payments and Cancellations: Upon receiving your deposit, we will send complete trip materials. Deposits are refundable before the final payment date, except for $150. The $150 May go toward another tour if a reservation is made within six months of the departure date of this trip. There are no refunds given after the final payment date. Trip cancellation insurance applications are available. Trip options, if any, and singles are extra.
| Cost per person | |
|---|---|
| Trip cost, double occupancy | $5,200 |
| Single supplement1 | $1,360 |
| Payments Due | |
| Deposit - to reserve your space | $500 |
| October 15, 2010 - second payment | $1,000 |
| January 15, 2011 - final payment | remaining balance |
| For reservations made after the second payment date, the deposit and second payment will be due with registration. 1Single supplement guarantees a single cabin on the yacht. |
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Governmental Tax: In 2008 the government of Ecuador added a tax to all vessels purchasing in excess of 4,000 gallons of fuel per month. Oil being one of Ecuador's primary products on the world market, they had previously opted to subsidize prices within the country, rather than tax them. This relatively new fuel tax has been included in your tour price. While we truly hope there will be no further taxes, we cannot be sure where the government's new policy will go next. We reserve the right to charge for cost increases, including changes in fuel tax, that occur between the date this itinerary is printed and the date of travel.
Included:
Not Included:
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To Make a Reservation: Please contact us to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, print our reservation form, fill it out, and post it to us in the mail with your deposit:
Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
20800 Kittredge Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
Toll Free: (800) 527-5330
Local: (408) 741-5330
Fax: (408) 741-0358
Email: info@cheesemans.com
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Leaders: Born in the United States, Greg Estes first arrived in the Galápagos in 1982 leading the Cambridge Darwin Centenary Galápagos Expedition to conduct research on Marine Iguanas. With a degree in Biology from the University of London, Greg stayed to assist with several ecological projects, including studies on Sperm Whales and the endangered Galápagos Petrel. Greg and his wife Thalia recently spent several years retracing Darwin's footsteps using information from his original manuscripts of the famous voyage. Greg has served as a licensed naturalist guide of the Galápagos National Park Service since 1982 and has worked as a consultant on a number of documentaries including the award-winning BBC series "Galápagos." Greg actively promotes the protection of the Galápagos through his own video work.
Martin Loyola was born and raised in the Galápagos Islands. Following high school, he moved to the mainland to continue his education at the Universidad de Guayaquil. He began guiding in 1990 and is fluent in Spanish, English, and German. His extraordinary knowledge of the islands is surpassed only by his love of sharing them with visitors. Equally at home in the water as on land, Martin is an excellent diver and snorkeler. Martin's personality and sense of humor add to his guiding expertise.
Flight Information: Please let us know if you need help arranging your own air flights. Arrive in Quito no later than the evening of April 28. Most international flights to Quito arrive in the evening. Depart from Quito the morning of May 11 (or May 10 if you prefer not to have the free day and hotel night in Quito). Your airport transfers are included. Please contact us if you would like to arrive earlier or stay later. We can book extra nights at the Hotel Alameda and arrange your airport transfer, unless you prefer to make your own arrangements.
Domestic Flights: The round-trip flights on TAME airlines from Quito to the Baltra airport in the Galápagos will be arranged by Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris. The cost of this round-trip booking will be added to your final trip balance.
Travel Insurance: Emergency Medical Insurance is optional, but encouraged, for this tour. Read about travel insurance and our recommendations and requirements.
Seasickness: Don't let a fear of seasickness prevent you from signing up! Read our suggestions for coping with seasickness.
Non-smoking Policy: We have a strict non-smoking policy - smoking is not permitted at any time or any place during our tours.
Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online information request form or contact us to give us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!
Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner's risk.
Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is registered as California Seller of Travel #2063050-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation (TCRC). In event of a client canceling where a refund is applicable in accordance with the schedule above, or in the event that CES needs to cancel the trip, all payments for transportation or travel service not provided to the client shall be promptly refunded, unless the client instructs us otherwise in writing. All client payments are deposited into a trust account in accordance with California law. If for any reason a valid refund is not forthcoming, the client may request reimbursement from the TCRC within six months of the scheduled end of the tour. Please feel free to ask us for more information.
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All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
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