THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
10 DAYS

Discovered by accident in 1535, today the Galapagos Islands are a UNESCO “Nature Heritage of Mankind Site”.

After flying to the islands from the colonial capital town of Quito, we board our comfortable yacht and begin an unforgettable adventure amongst these huge volcanic peaks rising from the ocean floor. Flora and fauna colonizing the lava beds have evolved undisturbed on the isolated islands and are often    endemic to the Archipelago.

We will explore these extraordinary nature phenomena island by island, visiting one or two new islands each day and cruising to our new destination overnight. Accompanied by our naturalist guide, we will gain insight into puzzles of the natural history of the Archipelago. You will have a chance to walk or swim alongside wild animals and observe them unusually close, as they show little or no fear of humans.

A truly exhilarating experience you could have hardly anywhere else!

Day 1.   Arrive in Quito

Upon arrival in Quito, you are met at the airport and transferred to you comfortable hotel.

Day 2.   Fly to Galapagos. Baltra. Las Bachas Beach

This morning you will be transferred to the Quito Airport for your flight to the Galápagos.  Upon landing on Baltra, you will be escorted to your comfortable yacht.  Once at the boat, enjoy lunch and an orientation to Galápagos National Park, including its rules, as well as description of different species of animals found at your first day’s destinations, Las Bachas Beach and Black Turtle Cove.

Las Bachas Beach, located on the northern coast of Isla Santa Cruz, is home to sea lions, herons, lava lizards, and a large number of pink flamingos. Enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the island’s pristine white sand beach.  You may wish to practice your snorkeling in preparation for your late afternoon journey to Black Turtle Cove, where you will have the chance to snorkel. 

On Black Turtle Cove you may see marine turtles, manta eels, a large variety of heron, and typical coastal vegetation.  Returning to the boat enjoy dinner and relaxation. 

Day 3.   Plazas and Santa Fe Islands

Following breakfast, you will set out to explore Plazas Islands, home to one of the largest colonies of sea lions in the world.  The sea lions grumble in protest as they are chased off the dock so that you can come ashore to South Plaza Island this morning.  You will follow the trail, starting on the low protected side of the island and tracing the high windswept cliffs before returning to the natural rock dock.  There are breeding colonies of sea lions all along the low-lying northern coast. On the less desirable far side of the cliff, bachelor colonies usually lie around. These sheer cliffs are also home to swallow-tailed gulls and the beautiful red-bill tropic birds.  The landscape is dominated by Opuntia cactus trees.  A close look under each tree usually reveals a solitary land iguana patiently waiting for a succulent cactus pad to fall. 

Enjoy lunch on board the yacht while we set sail for Santa Fé Island.  Walk into the highlands to spot the unusual Santa Fé land iguana, not found anywhere else.  A short trail leads to one of the tallest stands of Opuntia cactus in the islands with some of the cacti reaching over 33 feet!  This afternoon enjoy Santa Fe’s quiet, secluded cove featuring a beautiful beach and excellent snorkeling. 

Day 4.   Española Island

Following breakfast you will disembark onto Spanish Island, the southernmost island and only nesting site of the Waved Albatross.  Here you will visit Suarez Point and Gardner Bay.  At Suarez Point you will get ashore through a “wet landing,” well worth the effort to possibly see Mockingbirds, Blue-footed and Masked Boobies, Darwin Finches, Galápagos Doves and Hawks.  Enjoy snorkeling among the iguanas and sea lions, and visit the powerful and photogenic “El Soplador” (or blow hole) at the base of a cliff covered with nesting booby colonies.  You will return to the boat for lunch before visiting Gardner Bay.  Located at the east end of the island is the beautiful, exclusive white sand beach of Gardner Bay.  Here you enjoy swimming and relaxing in the company of sea lions and land birds.  Afterwards, you will return to the boat for dinner and relaxation. 

Day 5.   Floreana Island

Following breakfast you will disembark onto Floreana Island (Isla Santa Maria), the sixth largest of the islands, studded with small volcanic cones.  Here you will visit Punta Cormorant, reached by a wet landing. Sea lions are often found here along with clear water and coral growth making Floreana ideal for swimming and snorkeling.  Next you will visit Devil’s Crown ("Corona del Diablo"), located less than a thousand feet from Punta Cormorant, a half submerged volcanic cone poking up out of the ocean.  This ragged semicircle of rocks forms one of the most outstanding marine sites in the Galápagos.  While snorkeling, you will have the opportunity to see a large variety of tropical fish, marine wolves, corals, starfish, sea urchins, and sharks.  You will return to the boat for lunch, before visiting the first known post office in the Galápagos on Floreana, which opened in 1793.  The mailbox, or barrel (“el barril”), where whalers historically deposited their mail for captains of passing vessels to deliver, continues to be used, though the barrel has been changed many times! Afterwards, you will return to the boat for dinner and relaxation. 

Day 6.   Santa Cruz Island. Charles Darwin Research Station

Following breakfast will disembark onto Santa Cruz, home of Puerto Ayora, the largest community in the Galápagos and the economical center of the Islands.  Puerto Ayora is one of the only places in the Galápagos where a visitor can get a chance to see the scarce population of Lava Gulls.  You will visit the famous Charles Darwin Research Station, where you can observe the tortoise research and breeding programs. You will also learn about the various scientific and conservation programs underway on the Islands. There will be some time for shopping in the village of Puerto Ayora.  Lunch will be served aboard the boat, before visiting the highlands of the island.  You will hike through all seven Vegetation Zones of the Galápagos to the highlands.  Our hike will bring us to the Lava Tubes, which are underground tunnels of about a half-mile in length, which were formed when a lava flow ceased, and the molten lava inside continued to travel, burning its way through the skin and leaving a tunnel.  After your tour, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the nightlife of the town.  Dinner will be served aboard the boat. 

Day 7.   Rabida and Sombrero Chino Islands

Following breakfast aboard the boat, you will visit Isla Rabida, otherwise known as Jervis Island.  Rabida is a bird watcher’s delight where some of the rarest species of Galapagos birds are in abundance, including nine varieties of finches, Large-Billed Fly Catchers, Galapagos Hawks and Brown Pelicans.  Jervis is ringed with extraordinary red sand beaches, which are one of the best places to see nesting pelicans.  There is a salt-water lagoon where flamingos and white-checked pintails are sometimes seen.  This lagoon is also the site of a sea lion bachelor colony. Following lunch aboard the boat, you will visit Island Sombrero Chino, where you can take a rocky trail and spend some time at the white sandy beach. You are going to see some lava lizards, sea lions, and a special geology formation.

Day 8.   Bartholomé Island

With its lunar-like landscape, Bartolomé offers spectacular views of Santiago Island across the narrow channel of Sullivan Bay.  Here is where you will find the famous Pinnacle Rock, sentinel of the islands.  Pinnacle Rock is probably the most frequently photographed and most famous vista on the Islands.  There are splendid panoramic views from its 259-foot summit.  Here you will also find three unusual cactus species, a nesting beach for the black turtle, and the Galápagos hawks.  You will have two alternative activities to choose from.  You may wish to remain on the beach and swim in a small sandy cove or you may choose to climb to the top of the island.  This requires a little exertion, but it is compensated for by the vast panoramic view of the islands.

Day 9.   North Seymour Island. Baltra. Quito

Following an early breakfast you will disembark on North Seymour, a tiny island located just north of Baltra.  During your visit you will have the opportunity to see young and old sea lions waddle along its shores, magnificent frigate birds display their brilliant red pouches in ritual mating, colonies of blue-footed boobies nest, and swallow-tailed gulls hunt for fish.  There is a circular trail leading through some of the largest and most active seabird breeding colonies on the islands.  There is always at least one pair of boobies that decide the middle of the trail is the best place to build their nest! 

Returning to the boat, you will sail to Baltra.  Here you will disembark and be transferred to the airport for your flight to Quito.  Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.  The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Day 10.   Quito and Departure

You will have some time to do last minute sightseeing or shopping before transfer to the airport and your flight back home.

SUMMARY

Inclusions: 8-days Galapagos cruise on a comfortable yacht, providing accommodation for 12 to 16 travelers; all meals on the cruise; breakfast in Quito; naturalist guides

Start and Finish: Quito

Accommodation: Comfortable accommodation with private facilities throughout

Trip Grade: Easy

Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday all year

Cost joining in Quito: US$ 2,655 (Quito-Baltra return airfare is not included. The Galapagos National Park Fee is an extra US$ 100). 

Note: Please note that all itineraries and prices are subject to change.

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