8 DAY LUXURY CRUISE -
Saturday to Saturday *
| Saturday |
am: |
Arrive Baltra airport and transfer to boat |
| pm: |
Bartholome Island
Saturday afternoon
Bartholomew Island is the home to the Pinnacle Rock and the most famous vista in Galapagos. You may see sharks swimming close to the shore. You may also get a chance to swim with the Galapagos Penguin. Climbing to the top of this island rewards visitors with panoramic views of varied lava formations, volcanic peaks and a moon-like landscape.
| |
Highlights: |
Snorkeling, penguins, rays, sharks, turtles, Pinnacle Rock, panoramic views, moon-like landscape, pioneer plants, lava cactus |
|
| Sunday |
am: |
Fernandina Island: Espinosa Point
Sunday morning: Espinosa Point
No foreign species have ever invaded Fernandina Island, and, as a result, it claims to be one of the most pristine ecosystems in Galapagos. Fernandina is the youngest island in Galapagos. The La Cumbre volcano with its lava fields spreading out to the ocean dominates the landscape. We land at Punta Espinosa, and after walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, visitors arrive at the island's highlight - the flightless cormorant nesting site.
| |
Highlights: |
Marine iguanas, flightless cormorant, sea lions, lava cactus, AA lava |
|
| pm: |
Isabela Island: Vicente Roca Point
Sunday afternoon: Vicente Roca Point
The largest and one of the most volcanically active islands, Isabela provides habitat for five subspecies of giant tortoise - one for each of its five volcanoes. We will visit Punta Vicente Roca which has beautiful volcanic scenery, with amazing lava intrusions as well as a huge sea cliff.
| |
Highlights: |
Volcanic scenery, blue footed boobies, pelicans, masked boobies, penguins, snorkeling |
|
| Monday |
am: |
James Island: Egas Port
Monday morning: Egas Port
Puerto Egas (also called South James Bay) is on the northwest side of Santiago Island. The lava and black sand beaches make for great photography. Puerto Egas is one of the few places in Galapagos where you can see Galapagos “Fur seals”. We start with an easy walk along the beach. The lava and black sand beaches make for great photography. Here you will also find good snorkeling off the beach with a broad array of marine life to be seen.
| |
Highlights: |
Fur seal grotto, tide pools, Galapagos hawk, oyster catchers, marine iguanas, finches, snorkeling |
|
| pm: |
Rábida Island
Monday pm
Rábida Island (also called Jervis) is a bird-watcher's delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as 9 varieties of finches, large billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and brown pelicans. The trail starts along the red sand beach and then to the top of a hill where you will have a great view of the surrounding landscape.
| |
Highlights: |
White cheeked pintail ducks, sea lions, snorkeling, red beach, salt water lagoon, palo santo trees |
|
| Tuesday |
am: |
San Cristóbal island-Isla Lobos
Tuesday morning: Galapaguera
Tuesday afternoon: Isla Lobos
In the morning we disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands. From there we take a one hour bus ride to the Galapaguera. The Galapaguera allows you to see the Giant tortoise in its natural environment. You can see baby tortoises and well as the large adults.
After lunch we anchor at Isla Lobos. The name “Isla Lobos” means Sea Lion Island, which is certainly appropriate since many sea lions frolic, leap and make their homes here. This island is also a great place for snorkeling (and if we’re lucky with the sea lions as well).
| |
Highlights: |
Snorkeling, sea lions, great frigate birds, lava lizards, giant tortoise |
|
| pm: |
La Galapaguera |
| Wednesday |
am: |
Española Island: Gardner Bay
Wednesday morning: Gardner Bay
Española Island (also called Hood) is the southernmost island and teems with wildlife. It is the breeding site of nearly all of the world's 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. Gardner Bay has a lovely white sanded beach where you will see a sea lion colony. It is a good place for snorkeling or just relaxing on the beach.
| |
Highlights: |
White sand beach, turquoise waters, sea lions, sharks, pelicans, Darwin finches, Hood mockingbirds, small wading birds, snorkeling |
|
| pm: |
Suarez Point
Wednesday afternoon: Suárez Point
Suarez Point is often listed as a Galapagos favorite visitor site. Along a 2 mile (3km) walk you have the chance to see blue-footed boobies and waved albatross as well as the famous “blowhole” spurt water high into the air. The landscape is great for photography.
| |
Highlights: |
Hood mocking bird, nazca boobies, blue footed boobies, marine iguanas, waved albatross (April-December), swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, Galapagos dove, sea-lions, blowhole, lava lizards, Galapagos hawk, finches |
|
| Thursday |
am: |
Floreana Island: Post Office Bay
Thursday morning: Cormorant Point & the Devil’s Crown
We start the day at Cormorant Point. The trail will take us along the beach where sea lions are basking in the sand. Further ahead, behind white and black mangroves we will reach a vast brackish water lagoon where flamingos can be seen. We will carry on until we reach a look out point and then to the white sand beach which is a sea turtle nesting ground. The nearby Devil’s Crown is widely considered to one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos.
| |
Highlights: |
Reef fish, rays, flamingoes, turtles, white tipped reef sharks |
|
| pm: |
Cormorant Point
Thursday afternoon: Post Office Bay
At Post Office Bay 18th century whalers used a barrel as an unofficial mail drop. In those times ships could often be away from home for 2 years or more. Ships on their outward journey would leave letters and ships returning home would collect them and mail them in their homeland. The custom continues to this day between Galapagos visitors!
| |
Highlights: |
Historical site |
|
| Friday |
am: |
Santa Cruz Island- Charles Darwin Research Station
Friday Morning: Islas Plaza
This island is a very special place for the Galapagos; you will find a big colony of Sea Lions, land iguanas, several birds species, a beautiful view to the ocean from a cliff and a forest of Opuntia Cacti. |
| pm: |
Islas Plaza
Friday afternoon*: Visit the Highlands of the Island
The highland of Santa Cruz is one of the best place to watch wild giant tortoises. As you walk through the forest, be aware to the sound of heavy foot steps and the sound of shrubs being slowly crushed as the tortoises make their way through the brush to enjoy a meal. In the highalnds you will also find the lava tubes, sinkholes and craters to explore. These formations offer a fascinating hike into the belly of the island to view its volcanic make-up.
After this visit, you will have dinner and overnight in a first class hotel in Puerto Ayora town, Santa Cruz Island.
Friday afternoon or Saturday morning**: Charles Darwin Research Station
The visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station allows you to learn about the giant tortoise breeding and repatriation program and the eradication of introduced species. You will be able to walk among the giant tortoises. The station is also home to the world´s rarest animal. There is only one Pinta Island giant tortoise remaining on this planet. He is known as Lonesome George and when he dies the Pinta tortoise will be extinct. Afterwards you will have an opportunity to look around Puerto Ayora (souvenir shopping etc.).
Highlights: Lonesome George, Giant Tortoises
|
| Saturday |
am: |
North Seymour/ Baltra island-Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the main land
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
Saturday morning
North Seymour is a very low-lying island and has a very large population of blue footed-boobies. It is also home to the largest colony of the magnificent frigate birds in Galapagos. The large red pouch of the males makes for quite a spectacle. The first half of the trail is sandy but the second half is rocky (be sure to bring good walking shoes).
| |
Highlights: |
Magnificent frigate birds, great frigate birds, blue footed boobies, marine iguanas, sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls |
|
|
