ITINERARY “E”
FRIDAY to FRIDAY – 15D/14N
Friday:
BALTRA – BACHAS BEACH
AM Depart
from Guayaquil/Quito to Galápagos. BALTRA ISLAND. - This island was a strategic point during the
Second World War. It is the main airport
for the Galapagos Islands where tourists and colonists arrive and depart. At the Arrival
at Baltra Airport, our naturalist English speaking guide will assists you.
Transfer by bus to the dock (5 mins.) to board the yacht. Welcome and briefing.
PM - BACHAS BEACH.- After
lunch, disembark (wet landing) in the Bachas Beach, located in the north shore of
Santa cruz, this is one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles and the
crystal waters invite you to relax and swim. Return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for next day.
Saturday: GENOVESA ISLAND
This is one of the most
important islands because of the number of colonies of birds found here, that
is the reason why it is called the Bird Island. The boat excursion to Genovesa is
a little long but very worthwhile, because many different natural attractions
are seen.
AM - EL BARRANCO.- Also known as Prince Phillip's Steps, El
Barranco’s steep, rocky paths lead up to a high cliff-face. A marvelous view
can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to Palo Santo vegetation
as well as Red-footed Boobies, Short-eared Lava Owls, Galapagos Swallows
storm-petrels and Galapagos Doves.
Hiking: 2km., dry landing. Lunch
on board.
PM - DARWIN BAY.- This enormous bay
dominates the island and like the Prince Philip’s Steps, this site is the home
of large colonies of frigate birds and a wide variety of seabirds. Briefing
and dinner on board.
Sunday:
BARTOLOME – SANTIAGO
AM - BARTOLOME. - Lava formations and
ash cones can be seen on this Island. A beautiful view of the nearest bays is
waiting at the high part, after climbing a wood staircase for 30 to 40 minutes
to the top (Walk up to the top of volcano 114
meters, 375 wooden steps). This is one of the most visited Islands because of its
unique and famous Pinnacle Rock that consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic
formations. Time for snorkeling and possible sightings of the Galapagos
Penguin. Hiking: 2kms. Dry and wet landings.
PM - SULLIVAN BAY
(SANTIAGO ISLAND).- You can swim and snorkel here
with seals and penguins. The landing is on a beautiful white sand beach where
you will see lava formations. Wet landing.
Briefing
and dinner on board.
Monday:
SOUTH PLAZAS ISLAND – SANTA FE ISLAND
AM - PLAZAS ISLAND.- This
small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by
Opuntia cacti. This Island is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as
well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas.
Many birds like the tropicbirds and fork-tailed seagulls rest on the
cliffs. The most
characteristic plant is the Sesuvium, during the rainy season its color is a
greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January)
a bright red. Hike: 2 ½ km. Dry landing. Lunch on board.
PM - SANTA FE. - Colonies of sea
lions, land iguanas, fork-tailed seagulls, terns and petrels are observed. A
trail leading into the heart of the island takes you to a forest of giant
cactus and palo santo trees. After this visit on land, you can swim and snorkel.
Wet landing. Briefing and dinner
on board.
Tuesday:
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND – LOBOS ISLAND
AM - LEON DORMIDO. - After breakfast we visit Kicker Rock a giant rock was formed by a volcanic eruption. A narrow
canal cuts through it and allows the passage of small boats. This rock is the
home of many sea birds and is considered a great snorkeling and diving
site. No landing.
CERRO BRUJO. - This site is located
on the north shore of San Cristobal Island. This
eroded hill and its surroundings present one of the most picturesque beaches in
the Galapagos with its main attraction that is the coral sand beach and its
wildlife includes sea turtles, rays, and various types
of Booby Birds. Lunch on board.
PM - LOBOS ISLAND. - The most important
colony of sea lions and blue-footed boobies is on this Island. The scenery is
beautiful and it is the perfect spot to snorkel. Briefing and dinner on board. Return
to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for next day.
Wednesday: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND
AM - SUAREZ POINT.- Breakfast. This natural
is home for see blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, colonies of marine
iguanas, fascinating albatross from April to June, sea lions, Galapagos doves
and Darwin finches. There is another natural attraction: the lava blowhole,
spurting water high into the air. Hike:
3km. Dry landing. Lunch on board.
PM - GARDNER BAY. - On the eastern side
of the island, is the breeding site of nearly all of the world´s 12,000 pairs
of Waved Albatrosses. It takes 45 minutes by boat to reach this site. . The white
sand beach is home to a group of sea lions. Swimming and snorkeling are
excellent possibilities here. Wet
landing
GARDNER ISLET. - Sea lions, marine turtles and finches can be
seen here.
OSBORN ISLET.- This small island to
the southeast of Española is a marine visit for snorkeling and swimming. Dinner and
briefing for next day.
Thursday: FLOREANA ISLAND – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
AM - CORMORANT POINT.- Breakfast.
This site hosts a large flamingo lagoon where
other birds such as common stilts, White-cheeked Pintails can also be seen. Olivine crystals in
the beach make to name as the Green Beach. To the other side of the island, there
is very fine white sand beach where marine turtles nest from December to May. Hike:
2km. Wet landing.
DEVIL’S CROWN.- This volcanic crater has
been eroded by the waves leaving the northern and southern sides poking out of
the water. The coral formations make the underwater scenery impressive for
snorkelers where there are schools of multi-colored
fish, sharks and sea turtles. No
Landing.
PM - PUERTO
AYORA (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND).- PM For
leisure
Dinner and
briefing for next day.
Friday:
SEYMOUR ISLAND – MOSQUERA
AM - NORTH SEYMOUR
ISLAND. - This Island is
known for its large number of blue-footed boobies, colonies of magnificent frigate
birds, fork-tailed seagulls, marine iguanas and sea lions. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone, been palo santo (holy
wood) the most remarkable tree in this island. Wet landing.
PM MOSQUERA. - After lunch, disembarkation at Mosquera
Island (wet landing) located
between North Seymour and Baltra. The island consists is a long narrow stretch
of white sand, rocks, and tide pools. Created by Geological uplift the island
has a flat look to it rather than the conical shape of the volcanically formed
islands. It is a great place for
snorkeling, strolling on the beach, and enjoying the animal life without the tourist crowds common at many of the more popular
islands.. This islet is actually home to a huge population of sea lions and is
also home to many shorebirds.
Briefing and
dinner on board.
Saturday: ISABELA ISLAND – FERNANDINA ISLAND
AM - VICENTE
ROCA POINT (ISABELA ISLAND).- After breakfast, panga ride
visit to Vicente Roca Point. Comprised of two separate coves, this site is a
large bay with spectacular sea life, observing seahorses, sea turtles, rays,
puffer fish, the strange yet
fascinating Mola-mola (or sunfish), we see also penguins, blue-footed boobies
and nazca boobies. Lunch on board.
PM - ESPINOZA POINT
(FERNANDINA ISLAND).- In the afternoon disembarkation (dry landing). Walk (600m. round trip, 1½h, flat, sandy and
rocky path) to see lava flows, a colony of marine
iguanas (nesting time: January to June), penguins, pelicans and colonies of
cormorants, lava cactus. Time for
snorkeling. Briefing and dinner on
board.
Sunday:
ISABELA ISLAND
AM - URBINA BAY
(ISABELA ISLAND).-
After breakfast, disembarkation at
Urbina Bay (wet landing), located in the west of
Isabela Island, at the food of the Alcedo volcano. Walk on a sandy and rocky defined path (1 km.
round trip. 2h, flat), observing calcareous organisms (shells, corals) exposed
above water. In this area we see a large colony of land iguanas, Darwin's finches, giant tortoises
(between June – September) and flightless cormorants. After the hike, time for snorkeling along the
shoreline where guests may observe penguins and flightless cormorants.
PM - TAGUS COVE
(ISABELA ISLAND).- After
lunch visit to Tagus Cove that was a port where whaling ships arrived and left their
ships’ names in a cave in 1800. In the high part is the Darwin Lake, a round
salt water crater. Disembark (dry
landing). Walk begins from the shore by
a wooden stairway that rises to the dusty trail passing through Palo Santo Forest
to reach the Darwin Lake. Continue on the trail around the lake through the dry
vegetation zone. Panoramic views to the Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. (2kms round
trip, 2h / starts at 0m, ascending to 50mts).
Later, panga ride through the cliffs to observe the historical graffiti,
penguins, flightless cormorants, boobies, pelicans and Sally Lightfoot
crabs. Snorkeling time in the cove. Briefing and dinner on
board.
Monday:
SANTIAGO ISLAND
AM - EGAS PORT.- Breakfast. The visit to Puerto
Egas begins
with a wet landing on the dark sand beach of James Bay. Walk along a rocky trail to the salt crater
(1.7km. round trip, 1½ h, start at 0m, ascend 30m), observing Darwin Finches,
the endemic Galapagos hawks, marine iguanas, sally light root crabs and fur seals
and sea lions. Time for swimming and
snorkeling.
PM - SOMBRERO CHINO. -
After lunch, disembark (wet
landing) for a short walk of 200m. (30mins. round trip, flat and rocky),
observing lava tunnels, lava cactus, Galápagos Sesuvium. Time to swim and snorkel. Return to the
yacht. Dinner and briefing for next day.
Tuesday:
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – BALTRA
AM - CHARLES DARWIN
RESEARCH STATION (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND).-
After breakfast, walk for about 20 minutes to the Charles Darwin
Station, to observe the Galapagos turtles breading. The Darwin Station is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the
Galápagos Islands, an international non-profit organization dedicated to
scientific research in the Galápagos Islands since 1959.
PM - HACIENDA
PRIMICIAS.- After lunch,
visit to Hacienda Primicias to see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering
around eating grass and leaves and wallowing. Some highland birds, like cattle
egrets, mockingbirds, finches or flycatchers can be seen here. After the hike
return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for next day.
Wednesday: ISABELA ISLAND
AM - TINTORERAS. - After breakfast, Las Tintoreras is located south of Puerto Villamil.
It has a small bay of completely calm turquoise waters, where you can
appreciate sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc. The bay is
connected to a crevice of crystal clear water, that's shallow and when the tide
is low, the entrance closes. In this crevice, you can see how reef sharks swim
along with other small fish and sea lions. Lunch on board.
PM - BREEDING CENTER ARNALDO TUPIZA. - This center has a captive breeding program
for tortoises from the populations of southern Isabela.
HUMEDALES.- Disembark (dry landing), walk for about 30 mins. This area is
characterized by sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. The area has a number of trails where you can see all four species of
mangroves found in Galapagos and also migratory birds: whimbrel, short-billed dowitcher, wilson’s
phalarope, common tern, blue-winged teal, osprey, black-bellied and
semipalmated plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs to name a few.
WALL
OF TEARS. -
By bus to Wall of tears a sad reminder of the history of Isabela.
The wall was constructed between 1946 and 1959 while Isabela was a penal
colony. As punishment the prisoners were forced to build the wall from
huge blocks of lava. The wall is named for the many convicts that died
while building the wall. Dinner and briefing for next day.
Thursday: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
AM - RABIDA.-
After breakfast disembark (wet landing) in one of the most colorful and volcanically
varied islands in the archipelago as well as a great snorkeling site. We will
start on Rabida's famous maroon sandy beach and after an easy hike (1 km aprox)
will arrive to a stunning lookout to enjoy the amazing landscapes.
The
island is a birdwatcher's delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance,
such as nine varieties of finches, Large-billed Flycatchers, Galapagos Hawks
and Brown Pelicans.
PM - CERRO
DRAGON.-
After lunch, dry landing at a
dock, the walk takes you to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon
behind the beach, often frequented by flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks
and other species of birds. There is a short
walk to the hill, which rewards with a great view of the bay and a nesting site
of land iguanas. Many of the Iguanas that nest here have been repatriated by
the Charles Darwin Research Station. Dinner and briefing for next day.
Friday: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
AM -BLACK TURTLE COVE.-
After
breakfast a dinghy (panga) visit to Black Turtle Bay (Caleta Tortuga
Negra). This is very close to
Baltra. It is very special due to its
lovely beach with sea lions and its clear, calm water. Black (Pacific Green)
Turtles and many different types of birds can be seen feeding here as you are
paddled around the beautiful lagoons hidden in the mangroves. After this visit
transfer to Baltra Airport by bus for your return flight to Guayaquil/Quito.
This is the end of the trip.
Note.- The captain
reserves the right to change the itinerary if circumstances are beyond of this
control as weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations.
RATES:
GOLONDRINA (Tourist) - $ 4.809
FRAGATA (Tourist Superior) - $ 6528
RATES INCLUDE:
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) while tour is taken.
- All excursions and visits.
- Naturalist bilingual guide. (English-Spanish)
- Snacks after excursions in the cruise.
NOT INCLUDED:
- *Airflight ticket to/from Galapagos USD 525 per person
(rate subject to change with no previous notice)
-* Galapagos National Park entrance fee USD 100 per person (subject to change)
USD 6 per Ecuadorian tourist.
-* Transit card USD 20 (subject to change)
- Snorkeling gear (mask, tube, fins)
- Wet suit.
- Extra drinks
- Tip.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the passengers choose to reserve their own airline tickets and this results into delay and incur additional charges (boats, buses, hotels, etc.) for joining their cruise the first day and / or catching the return flights the last days, passengers shall take all responsibility to cover their own costs. Moreover, our yachts will not change their itineraries due to this cause.
For more information, please contact us:
GALAPAGOS GAY TOURS
https://galapagosgay.blogspot.com/
Celular y WhatsApp: (593) 9786 588 404
pais.canela@gmail.com
