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Douglass Payne
Douglass Payne
Senior Coordinator of Alumni Education and Travel
Catherine Nichols
Catherine Nichols
Senior Coordinator of Faculty Relations and Travel
Audrey Liles
Audrey Liles
Coordinator of Alumni Enrichment

2024 Galapagos Islands

June 18-25, 2024 ~Limited space available
Tour Operator: Orbridge (Read more and reserve online).
Price: From $5,495 (airfare additional)
Tour Length: 8 days
View brochure
View all UNC-Orbridge tours (digital catalog)

Join fellow alumni and friends as we explore the Galapagos Islands. Designated the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, the Galapagos Islands have been described as a “unique living museum and showcase of evolution.” They are home to a fascinating array of wildlife inhabiting an unspoiled ecosystem, living in harmony with their human visitors.

This exciting journey features a day of guided touring in Quito plus an intimate cruise through the archipelago with up-close access to endemic species. Expert naturalists guide you through the wonders of this national park, whale sanctuary, and marine reserve.

Accommodations for this adventure are aboard the Isabela II, a 40-guest vessel with spacious cabins, local cuisine, and a staff dedicated to ensuring both your comfort and maximum enjoyment of this truly extraordinary destination and its diverse inhabitants. And sailing by small ship allows for flexibility in the itinerary to maximize wildlife viewing, as well as access to exclusive ports.

Schedule of Events

  • Day 1 : Depart U.S.
  • Day 2 : Quito, Ecuador
  • Day 3 : Quito / Flight to Baltra / Santa Cruz: Highlands / Puerto Ayora
  • Day 4 : Bartolomé / Santiago: Sullivan Bay
  • Day 5 : Santa Cruz: Dragon Hill / Santiago: Buccaneer Cove
  • Day 6 : Isabela: Punta Vicente Roca / Fernandina: Punta Espinoza
  • Day 7 : Baltra – Disembarkation / Flight to Quito, Ecuador
  • Day 8 : In Transit

Eligibility

We offer the Tar Heel Travel program as a service to our alumni and friends of the University. As travel is a Carolina Alumni member perk, we require one traveler per room to be a Carolina Alumni member in order to be eligible to travel. For more information or to join, contact the membership office at (800) 962-0742 or become a Carolina Alumni member online.

Mobility Information

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy your tour to its fullest.

Our trips involve a considerable amount of daily standing and walking, up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets. Typical distances are between 2-4 miles per day, unassisted. Some tours have excursions in high altitudes, very early morning departures and/or excursions involving Zodiacs and/or floating docks.

Please contact the tour operator directly with concerns specific to your tour and your needs. For highly active tours, you may wish to speak with your doctor.

Additional Information

Note: Tour schedule is subject to change due to local conditions. Many excursions in this program involve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are located in areas not closely accessible by motorcoach.

Join Tar Heel Travel’s listserv, and don’t forget to connect with Tar Heel Travel on Facebook and Twitter.

All prices and itineraries (including port order) are tentative and subject to change; final pricing adjustments may occur after the release of marketing materials.

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