Day 1 Friday morning: Baltra airport, Galapagos
The
flight from Quito (via Guayaquil) to the Galapagos is approximately 2 ½ hours on
a Boeing 727. Upon arrival at Baltra travelers pass
through an airport
inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to
the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid). Your
guide will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride
to the harbor. Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will then transport you
to the M/C Galapagos Journey I and our crew will welcome you onboard.
After a safety briefing, we set sail and eat lunch, after which the first
island visit is made.
through an airport
inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to
the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid). Your
guide will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride
to the harbor. Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will then transport you
to the M/C Galapagos Journey I and our crew will welcome you onboard.
After a safety briefing, we set sail and eat lunch, after which the first
island visit is made.Friday afternoon: Plazas Islands
These are two small islets that were formed a short
distance from the East Coast of Santa Cruz. 
Despite its small size, some
of the most interesting and outstanding species of the archipelago occur
here. The principal attractions of
Plazas are the land iguanas, sea lions and swallow–tailed gulls. It is
possible to observe land iguanas relaxing in the shade of cactus plants and
swallow-tailed gulls nesting on the rugged southern cliffs (which we will see
along with various other sea birds).
And that´s not all as the protected rocky seashore is a prime habitat
for a large colony of noisy sea lions. Also we will be able to see yellow
– tailed mullets, Audubon’s shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds,
and brown pelicans gliding past the cliffs.
Despite its small size, some
of the most interesting and outstanding species of the archipelago occur
here. The principal attractions of
Plazas are the land iguanas, sea lions and swallow–tailed gulls. It is
possible to observe land iguanas relaxing in the shade of cactus plants and
swallow-tailed gulls nesting on the rugged southern cliffs (which we will see
along with various other sea birds).
And that´s not all as the protected rocky seashore is a prime habitat
for a large colony of noisy sea lions. Also we will be able to see yellow
– tailed mullets, Audubon’s shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds,
and brown pelicans gliding past the cliffs.
(B,L,D)
Day 2 Saturday morning: San Cristobal Island - Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill
Built with the cooperation of the Spanish Science
Centre, the interpretation centre gives a very good introduction to the
Galapagos islands; its marine and land life and fauna and flora. It is located
in the outskirts of the small city of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, (the capital of
the Galapagos Province).
The trip to Tijeretas Hill takes approximately 20-40 minutes
. Once there,
visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the white beaches on one side and
the roofs of Puerto Baquerizo on the other. The hill is named after the
Frigatebirds who frequent the area. Here you will be able to see both the
Magnificent Frigatebirds and Great Frigatebirds in the same colony so this is
the perfect place to compare and learn to distinguish them.
. Once there,
visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the white beaches on one side and
the roofs of Puerto Baquerizo on the other. The hill is named after the
Frigatebirds who frequent the area. Here you will be able to see both the
Magnificent Frigatebirds and Great Frigatebirds in the same colony so this is
the perfect place to compare and learn to distinguish them.
This site offers some safe snorkelling, a great place for beginners as there
are no strong currents and a brilliant opportunity to look out for stingrays,
barber fish and butterfly fish.
Saturday afternoon: Isla Lobos (Sea Lions Islet)
This small islet, located only an hour by boat from
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is separated from the main Island by a narrow stretch
of calm water. Upon its rocky shores blue-footed boobies nest and sea lions
rest. The atmosphere is one of tranquillity and primitive beauty and reveals a
very typical Galapagos environment.
(B,L,D)
(B,L,D)
Day 3 Sunday morning: Española island - Gardner Bay
Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner
Bay is an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming and observing sea lions. Here
we will also have the opportunity to observe sharks in the crystal-clear ocean
waters.
Sunday afternoon: Española Island - Suarez Point
in the Galápagos.
Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea allowing the visitor
spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow hole, a lava tube where
water can spout up to 75
feet into the air according to the intensity of the
surf.
(B,L,D)Day 4 Monday morning: Floreana Island - Cormorant Point and Devil´s Crown
This site offers one of the largest and best flamingo
lagoons
in the Galapagos. It is situated between two tuff cones, giving the
area its special atmosphere. Aside from the flamingos, various species of
shorebirds can be seen, the most common being ilts, white-checked pintail ducks
and other migratory birds. This is a unique zone due to the huge amount of
endemic plant life. It is also very interesting to observe the two distinct
beaches: the “green sand beach (due to the high percentage of olivine crystals
in the sand) and the “Flour sand beach” which is made up of coral.
in the Galapagos. It is situated between two tuff cones, giving the
area its special atmosphere. Aside from the flamingos, various species of
shorebirds can be seen, the most common being ilts, white-checked pintail ducks
and other migratory birds. This is a unique zone due to the huge amount of
endemic plant life. It is also very interesting to observe the two distinct
beaches: the “green sand beach (due to the high percentage of olivine crystals
in the sand) and the “Flour sand beach” which is made up of coral.Monday afternoon: Post Office Bay
This
site is home to a wooden barrel, historically placed there in the 18th century
by the crew of a whaling ship. Ever since this time the barrel has been
used by mariners and tourists as a sort of postal service. Whalers and Galapagos residents used to leave their mail inside it,
waiting for the captain of any boat headed to where the mail was addressed to
deliver it… why not try it out to see if it still works?
What´s more, apart from being the location of the Post Office Barrel, this site
was also the landing area for some of the first colonists to the Galapagos
Islands. (B,L,D)Day 5 Tuesday morning: Santa Cruz Island - Charles Darwin Research Station
Although
the majority of Galapagos visitors come here to
observe and appreciate the natural
wonders the Islands have to offer, many also find it interesting to learn more
about the protection and conservation programs in place on the islands.
Some of the principal attractions of the National Park Information Center are;
the Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young
tortoises, Lonesome George (the last surviving tortoise from Pinta Island) and
other adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.
observe and appreciate the natural
wonders the Islands have to offer, many also find it interesting to learn more
about the protection and conservation programs in place on the islands.
Some of the principal attractions of the National Park Information Center are;
the Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young
tortoises, Lonesome George (the last surviving tortoise from Pinta Island) and
other adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.Tuesday afternoon: Santa Cruz - Highlands
The
trail to the highlands leaves from Bellavista and passes through the
agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone and then
goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable) this
area offers beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones
covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. (B,L,D)Day 6 Wednesday morning: Chinese Hat
Chinese hat (sombrero chino) is a tiny Island just off
the southeastern tip of Santiago Island and is less than a quarter of 1 sq km
in s
ize. It is a recently-formed volcanic cone and its descriptive name
accounts for the fact that it appears to take the shape of a downward-facing
Chinese hat. (The hat shape is best appreciated from the northside.) Opposite
Sombrero Chino, on the rocky shoreline of nearby Santiago island, Galapagos
penguins and eagle rays are often seen.
The island is home to a large sea lion colony and plenty of marine
iguanas who cover the volcanic landscape.
There are some excellent snorkeling opportunities in the cove.
ize. It is a recently-formed volcanic cone and its descriptive name
accounts for the fact that it appears to take the shape of a downward-facing
Chinese hat. (The hat shape is best appreciated from the northside.) Opposite
Sombrero Chino, on the rocky shoreline of nearby Santiago island, Galapagos
penguins and eagle rays are often seen.
The island is home to a large sea lion colony and plenty of marine
iguanas who cover the volcanic landscape.
There are some excellent snorkeling opportunities in the cove.Wednesday afternoon: Santiago Island - Egas Port
The excursion to Puerto Egas with
its black sand beaches leads to one of the more rewarding visits of the
Galapagos. The island was the site of a
small salt mining industry in the 1960s, one of several unsuccessful attempts
to commercialize the Galapagos. A hike inland to the salt crater is an
excellent opportunity to see land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. A
walk along the rugged shoreline, especially at low tide, will allow us to
observe many marine species as Iguanas bask on the rocks and sea lions laze in
the tide pools. At the end of the trail there is a series of grottoes or sea
caves where fur seals and night herons are regularly found resting on the shady
ledges. For many, this is the only
opportunity to see the Galapagos fur seal, once thought to be on the verge of
extinction.
(B,L,D)
(B,L,D)
Day 7 Thursday morning: Santiago Island - Sullivan Bay
This visitor site provides a unique opportunity to
view lava flow that is approximately 100 years old. The Sullivan Bay Lava is
known a Panoehoe (Hawaiian for Rope) due to the lava flow having solidified in
a mostly ropey-like appearance; it is rare to the rest of the world but is
common to the volcanoes of Hawaii 
and Galapagos. Only a few plants have managed to take root
in this harsh environment. The low-lying Mollugo is commonly the first plant to
emerge from a bare lava field. Together with the Lava Cactus (Brachycereus) found here these plants are evidence of life returning to Sullivan Bay.
and Galapagos. Only a few plants have managed to take root
in this harsh environment. The low-lying Mollugo is commonly the first plant to
emerge from a bare lava field. Together with the Lava Cactus (Brachycereus) found here these plants are evidence of life returning to Sullivan Bay.
Thursday afternoon: Bartolome Island
A small barren island that is located across from
Sullivan Bay just off James Island, Bartolome has two main visitors’
sites. The first site offers the possibility to climb to the summit of
the island, from where visitors can
observe a variety of volcanic formations
including lava bombs spatter and cinder cones, lava flows and lava tubes.
The moon like landscape provides one of the most scenic panoramas in the
archipelago. At the second site, visitors have the chance to relax on a
beautiful beach, which offers great snorkelling opportunities. Multi
–coloured fish and occasionally penguins and sea turtles have been seen at the
base of the tall pinnacle rock, which dominates Bartolome’s landscape. A short walk across to Bartolome´s second
beach and swimming is strictly prohibited.
Here visitors can see White-tipped Reef Sharks at a safe distance
swimming along the shoreline. (B,L,D)
observe a variety of volcanic formations
including lava bombs spatter and cinder cones, lava flows and lava tubes.
The moon like landscape provides one of the most scenic panoramas in the
archipelago. At the second site, visitors have the chance to relax on a
beautiful beach, which offers great snorkelling opportunities. Multi
–coloured fish and occasionally penguins and sea turtles have been seen at the
base of the tall pinnacle rock, which dominates Bartolome’s landscape. A short walk across to Bartolome´s second
beach and swimming is strictly prohibited.
Here visitors can see White-tipped Reef Sharks at a safe distance
swimming along the shoreline. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Friday morning: Santa Cruz Island - Bachas Beach
Located
to the West of Turtle Cove, the sand on these two small beaches is made of 
decomposed coral. As a result the sand
here is very white and soft, making it a favorite nesting site for sea
turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small water lagoon, where
occasionally it is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such
as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer and has
two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA
used Baltra Island as a strategic military point in order to protect the Panama
Channel.
decomposed coral. As a result the sand
here is very white and soft, making it a favorite nesting site for sea
turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small water lagoon, where
occasionally it is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such
as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer and has
two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA
used Baltra Island as a strategic military point in order to protect the Panama
Channel.
After your visit to Bachas, a bus transfer to Baltra airport is provided
allowing you to catch your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.
(B)
(B)
Note: Itineraries
are subject to change due to weather conditions or Galapagos National Park
regulations. B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner.