MOTOR YACHT PASSION

GTEG-132 MOTOR YACHT PASSION
ITINERARY WEST
EIGHT DAYS / SEVEN NIGHTS
SATURDAY TO SATURDAY

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: Saturday – Arrival in Galapagos

SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS & CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
After arriving at Baltra airport, we will be greeted by our personnel to cross the Itabaca channel and reach Santa Cruz Island for our first visit in the Archipelago: The Highlands of Santa Cruz. This area, in contrast to the coastal region, has lush vegetation and forest due to the humidity in the higher regions.
We will visit one of the tortoise ranches of the area where it is possible to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The giant tortoises of Santa Cruz migrate from the highlands to the coastal zone and back to lay their eggs, when you see the tortoises at the ranch, they will be roaming freely. After visiting the tortoise ranch, we will head to the M/Y Passion for lunch with time to freshen up.

The second visit of the day will be to the Charles Darwin Research Center, also known as the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center. During this visit, it will be possible to view giant tortoises from various islands in large semi-natural pens for their protection and for conservation program purposes. The pens are divided according to four different stages; eggs, neonates, juveniles that are held here until they are mature enough to be “repatriated” to their original island, and adults. Afterward, we will head back to Puerto Ayora with time to explore the small port town and window shop. This will be the one opportunity to purchase any last-minute personal items or souvenirs before boarding the M/Y Passion around 5:00 p.m.

When returning to the Passion the crew and captain will welcome us with a short introduction and safety drill. Dinner is then scheduled, as well as a short briefing on the next day’s activities.
Meals: Lunch, dinner

DAY 2: Sunday – Galapagos Islands

FLOREANA ISLAND
PUNTA CORMORANT / DEVIL’S CROWN (AM) & ASILO DE LA PAZ (PM)

PUNTA CORMORANT & DEVIL’S CROWN
With a wet landing onto the olivine beaches of Punta Cormorant we will begin a walk on the island looking for Greater Flamingos in a brackish lagoon. We may be able to get a close-up view if we are quiet as the flamingos are shy. The second visit at Punta Cormorant is a back on the other side of the island with fine sand and clear blue waters. Sea turtles nest here, so please do not go off trail. In the shallow water, watch your step as many stingrays and sharks visit regularly. We end the outing with a short panga ride to snorkel at Devil’s Crown, an old volcanic crater that is now a key snorkeling site with many tropical fish and opportunities to see hammerhead sharks.

BLACK BEACH & ASILO DE LA PAZ
In the afternoon we will visit Black Beach on Floreana Island to learn more about the intriguing human history of the island and its first inhabitants. We will ride up into the highlands of the island to visit a freshwater source known as the Asilo de La Paz and caves that initially served as hideouts for pirates and the birthplace of the first person to be born in Galapagos. One of the many mysteries on Floreana involves the infamous Baroness Eloise Wagner von Bousquet and her two lovers who inexplicably began to disappear after settling on the island. Following this visit, we will head back to the Passion for dinner and a short briefing on the next day.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 3: Monday – Galapagos Islands

FLOREANA ISLAND & ISABELA ISLAND
POST OFFICE BAY (AM) & AFTERNOON NAVIGATION
In the morning we will visit Post Office Bay with a wet landing. During the 18th century, Galapagos was a strategical stop for whalers and pirates during their long voyages. As these trips could last many months and sometimes years, a group of whalers decided to create an unofficial post system with a wooden barrel. Ships that were bound to return would stop in the bay and pick up the post with their same destination. This tradition has continued to this day, so make sure you are equipped with your letter or note to leave in the barrel for another visitor to deliver for you.

AFTERNOON NAVIGATION & DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING
In the afternoon after we’ve had lunch and rested a bit, we will have the best opportunity for a not‐so‐common, yet exciting activity in the archipelago: a full afternoon navigation for dolphin and whale watching. The channel between Isabela and Fernandina is a popular whale watching site as the whales use this same route when migrating due to the strong currents. This is an area where even orcas may be seen. The impressive landscapes of Isabela and the Cerro Azul volcano add to the experience.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 4: Tuesday – Galapagos Islands

ISABELA ISLAND
PUNTA MORENO (AM) & URBINA BAY (PM)

PUNTA MORENO
We arrive at Isabela Island, the largest of all within the Galapagos. After breakfast, we step ashore at Punta Moreno onto an enormous pahoehoe lava flow surrounded by giant shield volcanoes in the distance, some of which are still active. From here we will do a short hike along the lava fields to a lagoon where flamingos may be present. The lava fields can make walking difficult; we have walking sticks aboard if needed and sturdy shoes should be used as the lava fields are uneven, rocky, and have sharp and jagged formations.

URBINA BAY
The following activity in the afternoon will be at Urbina Bay with a wet landing. We walk onto a black sand beach to dry our feet off; it is also a nesting site for green sea turtles so make sure to stay within the trail as to not step on any eggs beneath the sand. We then enjoy a brief hike inland searching for land iguanas and Isabela giant tortoises that may be migrating to the coast from the highlands to breed.

At the beach, we will admire the remains of a geological uplift exposing coral heads and marine fossils, and if the sea conditions and time allows, we will also snorkel in this area.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 5: Wednesday – Galapagos Islands

ISABELA ISLAND & FERNANDINA ISLAND
TAGUS COVE (AM) & PUNTA ESPINOSA (PM)

TAGUS COVE
In the morning we visit Tagus Cove with a dry landing. This area is known as a historic pirate hideaway where names of countless ships are graffitied on the surrounding cliffs with the year they visited. The very first visitors engraved their name and year higher up at the beginning of the hike. The hike leads us to a beautiful lookout and a viewpoint to Darwin Lake, a salt-water lagoon surrounded by tuff stone.

PUNTA ESPINOSA
Aboard again on the M/Y Passion we cross the Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island, one of the world’s most pristine sites and currently still active with a recent eruption in 2018. We will disembark with a dry landing at Punta Espinosa. Strolling along the shoreline, we will be on the lookout for flightless cormorants, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos penguins and hawks, sooty‐colored marine iguanas and bright red and orange Sally Lightfoot crabs.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 6: Thursday – Galapagos Islands

SANTIAGO ISLAND
PUERTO EGAS (AM) BUCCANEER’S COVE & ESPUMILLA BEACH (PM)

PUERTO EGAS
At Puerto Egas, we arrive by wet landing and disembark on a dark sand volcanic beach with a fascinating history of human settlement. With luck, we will see the Galapagos fur seals lounging on the edges of the lava fields and playful sea lions under arches of lava carved by erosion from the ocean. In these crystalline pools known as “grottos,” we walk along the shore observing the abundant marine life and shorebirds they attract.

BUCCANEER COVE & ESPUMILLA BEACH
At Buccaneer Cove we can enjoy a panga ride around the beautiful coastline. This place is named so as it was once a refuge for British Buccaneers who anchored here to collect supplies and clean their ships. The cove is scenic with views of the cliffs and a dark beach, and unusual rock formations known as ‘the monk’ and ‘elephant rock.’

After Buccaneer’s Cove, we are en route to central Santiago Island to disembark at Espumilla Beach with a wet landing onto golden‐colored sand. This area is also used by green sea turtles as a nesting site. A trail through the forest will take us through some of the largest specimens of Palo Santo on the islands to best observe yellow warblers, the Galapagos flycatcher, and Darwin finches.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 7: Friday – Galapagos Islands

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND & NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
BACHAS BEACH (AM) & NORTH SEYMOUR (PM)

BACHAS BEACH
This morning we will visit Las Bachas Beach. Located on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island, this quiet little beach is the perfect spot to unwind. It got its name during World War II when the American army abandoned its barges. Two of those barges found their way to the shore of the Galápagos. The locals couldn’t quite wrap their heads around the word “barge” and called them “bacha” instead. This pristine white-sand beach is known for its incredible wildlife. Home to flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and countless birds, this is a nature lover’s paradise.

NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
We disembark on North Seymour Island directly onto this small, uplifted island. We will walk through a large bird nesting colony of the two different species of frigatebirds, blue‐footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. Depending on the season we will be able to watch the spectacular mating rituals being displayed.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 8: Saturday – Depart Galapagos Islands

MOSQUERA ISLET & DEPARTURE
Mosquera is a small islet located between Baltra and North Seymour Islands, measuring about 160 meters wide and 600 meters long. We will visit this islet via panga to view the shorebirds and aquatic life that frequent this area.

After this visit, the yacht will sail to Baltra Island where passengers will disembark and be assisted to the airport for their departing flight.
Meals: Breakfast