Galapagos Island Excursion
An 11-day Luxury Sailing Cruise
Typical Itinerary
January 10 – 20, 2013
Galapagos Excursion: $5,995
Price does not include international airfare.
Day 1 – Baltra Island / South Plaza Island
Flight to Galapagos to the island of Baltra, from which you will depart after a short ride to the harbour and start your cruise.
Located on the east of Santa Cruz, the main characteristics on the small island South Plaza are the Opuntia cacti and the carpets of red sesuvium, a succulent plant that turns green in the rainy season. The cactus is the main food of land iguanas, which are usually found resting at the cactu’s shade. The island contains one of the largest sea lion colony of Galapagos, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds nesting, and boobies roosting on the south cliff of the island.
Day 2 – El Barranco / Prince Phillips Steps (Genovesa Island)
Genovesa Island is formed by the remaining edges of a large crater that is now mostly submerged. Genovesa is known as “the bird island” and it certainly honors its name. Darwin Bay Beach is filled with Frigate birds and their bustling activity.
Along the trail are pairs of Swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gulls in the world and Red-footed boobies, with their contrasting red feet and blue bills. Lava gulls, Pintail ducks, Yellow Crowned and Lava herons, Whimbrels, and other birds feed near the shores of a tidal lagoon just beyond the rocky edge that faces the bay. A dinghy ride along the walls of the crater reveals the variety of animals that find shelter in the ledges and crevices of the lava. Above, the elegant Red-billed tropicbirds fly in and out of their nests.
Day 3 – Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island) / Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
The Tagus Cove is renown as a place where many whalers and pirates anchored. At the shore of the deep-blue bay several bird species are breeding such as penguins, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies and pelicans. A steep path leads you over a green, extremely salty lagoon.
The Island Fernandina, which is the most western island of the Galapagos, is a very interesting point to visit. The main attractions of this island are its Lava-Cactuses and the on the surface of the lava growing mangroves as well as numerous animals such as sea lion colonies, penguins, the flightless cormorant and the iguanas. The Punta Vincente Roca is an amazing cliff at the west coast of Isabela and a paradise for divers. In the afternoon you will discover the steep cliffs on a boat trip.
Day 4 – Bartolome Island/ James Bay (Santiago Island)
Arriving at Bartholome you will ascend a lookout point from where you can admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous needle shaped rock, the so called Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some fine snorkelling spots from which you can discover the marvellous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles.
From the visitor center at James Bay on the island Santiago a small path leads you in southern direction along the coast.
Passing by the ruins of a former salt mine company and the many inhabitants of the bank area, like Galapagos sea lions, lizards, doves, herons, and cancers, you arrive at the famous fur seal grotto, the best place at the Galapagos Islands in order to observe these elegant animals.
Day 5 – Charles Darwin Center / Highlands (Santa Cruz Island)
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, with the largest population of the 4 inhabited islands (approx 10.000). Santa Cruz is also the only island where six different zones of vegetation can be seen: Coastal, Arid, Transition, Scalesia, Miconia, and Pampa Zones.
The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based here. You will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of their kind. Scientists, park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing centre, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats.
The lush greenery of the Santa Cruz highlands is a welcome contrast with the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. Points of interest are the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. The trip to the highlands ends with a visit to the Twin Craters. The vegetation around these is very special and is renown for its about 300 fern species and the many sunflowers.
Day 6 – Punta Cormorant / Post office Bay & Devil’s Crown (Floreana Island)
Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Islands of the archipelago.
At Punta Cormorant you land on a green olivine sand beach. Following a 100 m long path you will soon reach a lagoon with flamingoes, white-checked pintail ducks and other shorebirds. The trail goes on to a white beach made of grinned coral, so it looks like flour. This is the green sea turtle’s nesting place. North of Punta Cormorant and eroded volcano, Devil´s Crown , is a snorkel’s delight.
To the west, Post Office Bay keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to send their mail.
Day 7 – Punta Suarez / Gardner Bay (Española Island)
Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and being so isolated, a high percentage of its fauna is endemic. Punta Suarez, on the western coast of the island, is one of the most popular and attractive places in Galapagos. Sea lions, the picturesque marine iguana, blue footed and masked boobies nesting next to the trail are found there. This is also the only place in the world where the waved albatross nests.
Along the cliffs there is spectacular view of a fantastic blowhole. Gardner Bay has a beautiful white sand beach to be shared with sea lions and curious mocking birds.
Day 8 - Baltra Island return flight
This day you will reach the harbour of Baltra Island, here take your flight to the Ecuador mainland to Quito or Guayaquil.
Note: Itineraries may change without prior notice due to park regulations or flight operations.
