From $4,250.00
Book now!Western Islands Galápagos Itinerary
Wednesday to Monday
Six Days / Five Nights
This itinerary together begins straight from the airport of Baltra, where we’ll sail to the island of North Seymour, a great introductory site to the islands and their wildlife. Overnight, we sail round the seahorse-shaped Isabela Island to the two great visitor sites of Punta Vicente Roca and then to Fernandina Island’s wild and pure Punta Espinosa. We continue our exploration of Isabela at the beautiful pirate bay of Tagus Cove and then on to the uplifted Urbina Bay. From there, we sail back round to Santa Cruz to visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station and then spend the afternoon enjoying a range of activities. The following day finds us on Floreana, exploring its human history and stunning wildlife at both Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant. An amazing odyssey round this magical archipelago!
All the crew aboard the Santa Cruz will do our utmost to ensure your Galápagos experience is truly, deeply moving and memorable.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Wednesday – Start your Galapagos Islands Experience (L/D)
Baltra Island/North Seymour Island
We arrive by plane at Baltra Island and transfer to the dock to board the M/V Santa Cruz where we receive our welcome introductory briefing, boat drill and lunch.
North Seymour Island
This is a great introductory site to the islands and their wildlife, full of bird colonies of blue footed boobies, two species of frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas.
DAY 2: Thursday – Galapagos Islands (B/L/D)
Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)/Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
After breakfast, we explore the coast by “panga”, while our naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area, nesting place for a Galápagos highlight: flightless cormorants. Depending on weather conditions, we can snorkel along the cliffs of this area rich in marine life, seasonally-visited by green sea turtles and oceanic sun fish (Mola-mola).
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina, which, having no introduced mammals, boasts a very unique environment with a very high density of marine iguanas, who share their space with sea lions, Sally light-foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorants.
DAY 3: Friday – Galapagos Islands (B/L/D)
Tagus Cove/Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)
After breakfast, we land at this cove on the northwest of Isabela. It provided a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. An uphill hike takes guests to the rim of a crater, Darwin lake, filled with salt water and to a dramatic viewpoint. After our walk, we take a “panga” ride to spot local wildlife, with the possibility of swimming or snorkeling.
Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)
After lunch we disembark at Urbina Bay, the fascinating result of an uplifting of the ocean floor in 1954. Here we can admire corals, shells and many other calcareous organisms exposed above water. First we enjoy a snorkel from the beach, with the chance of swimming with flightless cormorants. This are is also home to a large and very colorful Galápagos land iguanas, and occasionally to giant tortoises. We return back on board for our expedition plan for Saturday and dinner.
DAY 4: Saturday – Galapagos Islands (B/L/D)
Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)
In the morning, we disembark (dry landing) for our visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station’s giant tortoise Breeding Centre within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Following our visit, we board our transport to enjoy lunch in the cooler highlands of Santa Cruz Island, a completely different ecosystem.
Santa Cruz Island
We have several options available (mountain biking, kayaking in Tortuga Bay, hiking) for the afternoon, which can be discussed in advance with your Expedition Leader. At the end of the afternoon’s activities, we return to Puerto Ayora and embark on the Santa Cruz.
DAY 5: Sunday – Galapagos Islands (B/L/D)
Post Office Bay / Champion Islet and Cormorant Point (Floreana Island)
A short walk leads us to the historic barrel where postcards are traditionally left for guests from other vessels to hand-deliver to their destinations. Near Post Office Bay, we explore the north shore of Floreana along narrow channels teeming with life. We then head back on board for lunch.
Champion Islet and Cormorant Point (Floreana Island)
Following lunch and a siesta, we take to the “pangas” and glass-bottom boat to explore the underwater wonders around Champion Islet, an extinct shield volcano, regarded as one of the best snorkeling spots in the archipelago. From there, it’s on to Cormorant Point, beginning with a wet landing on the olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species such as greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others gather. We continue our walk over to a white-sand beach, where sea turtles emerge from the sea at night to nest (from December to May).
DAY 6: Depart Galapagos Islands (B)
Baltra Island
We disembark at Baltra Island in order to transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
RATES PER PERSON SINGLE OCCUPANCY
Horizon Deck Voyager Cabin Category: $4,887.00
Horizon Deck Explorer Cabin Category: $4,887.00 (*)
Expedition Deck Explorer Cabin Category: $5,088.00
Panorama Deck Explorer Cabin Category: $5,232.00
Panorama Deck Darwin Suite Category: $5,928.00
(*) Horizon Deck Explorer stateroom category – Double occupancy: From $4,250.00
RATE INCLUDES:
Six day Galapagos cruise program as per itinerary aboard the M/V Santa Cruz II. Fully escorted daily excursions by English speaking naturalist guides. Daily briefings. All meals during the cruise as per itinerary. All transfers in Galapagos between airport and cruise. Taxes and fees.
NOT INCLUDED:
Galapagos National Park entrance fees $120 per person (Subject to change). Land services, tours not indicated in itinerary. Meals not indicated in itinerary. Gratuities and tips to guides. Expenses of personal
© Images courtesy of Metropolitan Touring
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Western Islands – Wednesday to Monday
Six days / Five Nights
Join us to explore North Seymour, Isabela Island at Punta Vicente Roca, Tagus Cove and Urbina Bay, as well as Fernandina Island, the Charles Darwin Research Station, Floreana’s Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant. An amazing odyssey round this magical archipelago!
From: $4,888.00 – Based on Horizon Deck Explorer stateroom category – Single occupancy
From: $4,250.00 – Based on Horizon Deck Explorer stateroom category – Double occupancy
© Images courtesy of Metropolitan Touring
