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B2B Access > 15 Day Cruise Itinerary 2012
15 Day CruiseItinerary 2012
Day 1 (Tuesday)
MORNING FLIGHT FROM QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL TO BALTRA (GALAPAGOS)
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND

Assistance at the airport by our representative for your Galapagos flight.

You will arrive at Baltra Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim you will be met by Galaven staff and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.

In the afternoon we will visit the North Seymour. Here you will be able to see Galapagos Sea Lions, blue-footed Boobies and magnificent frigate birds that are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by a series of submarine lavas containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.

NORTH SEYMOUR
Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride & hike (1.5 miles / 2 ½ Km)
Difficulty: Moderate /difficult
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Land & marine iguanas, frigate birds, Blue-footed Boobies, sea lions. Great snorkeling: rays, reef shark, colorful fish, garden eels.
Day 2 (Wednesday)
EL BARRANCO & DARWIN BAY (GENOVESA ISLAND)

Genovesa Island is located at the inner part of Darwin Bay. This area contains an abundance of frigate birds and other interesting seabirds. Behind the small beach filled with nesting areas for frigates, Red-footed Boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls are a number of tide pools. At high tide it is likely that the trail will be covered with water.

Our morning visit is to the El Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip's Steps, El Barranco’s steep, rocky paths leads up to a high cliff-face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to Palo Santo vegetation as well as Red-footed Boobies, Short-eared Lava Owls, Galapagos Swallows, and Galapagos Doves.

EL BARRANCO
Activities: Hiking (0.9 miles / 2 Km)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry, Difficult landing
Highlights: Red-footed Boobies, Short-eared Lava Owls, Storm-petres, Galapagos Doves.

In the afternoon, you will head to Darwin Bay, this white-sand coral beach heads a half mile trail (0.5 miles / 0.75km) that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, and Swallow-tailed Gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path are tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully. At the end is a spectacular view off a cliff.

DARWIN BAY
Activities: Hiking (0.9 miles/1.5 km), Snorkeling, Kayaking & Dinghy ride.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Type of Landing: Wet landing.
Highlights: Nazca Boobies, Red- footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, mangroves, coral pebbles beach, snorkeling: rays, colorful reef fish and hammerhead sharks.
Day 3 (Thursday)
SANTIAGO ISLAND – SULLIVAN BAY & RABIDA ISLAND

The morning visit heads to Santiago Island – Sullivan Bay, is located southeast of Santiago; this place is interesting for its archeology, because this area is covered by lava flows. This place has elevations in the form of small volcanoes formed before that lava flows.

SULLIVAN BAY
Activities: Hiking (0.9 miles / 1.5 km)
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Type of Landing: Dry landing.
Highlights: Lava flows, small volcanoes.

In the afternoon we will visit RABIDA ISLAND (or Jervis), that is one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago as well as a great snorkeling site. We will start on Rabida’s famous maroon sandy beach and after an easy hike will arrive to a stunning lookout to enjoy the amazing landscapes.

The island is a birdwatcher’s delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as nine varieties of finches, Large-billed Flycatchers, Galapagos Hawks and Brown Pelicans.

RABIDA ISLAND
Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride & short hike (0.6 miles / 1km)
Difficulty: Easy/ moderate
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: Snorkeling: White-cheeked Pintail ducks, colorful fish, sea lions, brackish water lagoon, penguins, Galapagos Hawk
Day 4 (Friday)
CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION & GARRAPATERO BEACH (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)

This day you can know the Charles Darwin Station- Breeding Center "Fausto Llerena"; this is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Sub-species of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans, stretching out their heads for a pet. The babies are kept until they are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.

CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
Activities: Walking
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Giant Tortoises, land and marine iguanas, variety of birds

After, you will enjoy Garrapatero Beach, Situated on the Northern side of Santa Cruz, El Garrapatero is a gorgeous sandy beach surrounded by mangroves. A fresh water lake behind the beach is home to flamingos, herons, stilts and other shore birds. The beautiful turquoise waters provide a good opportunity for swimming and snorkeling.

GARRAPATERO BEACH
Activities: Swimming, snorkeling, kayaking.
Difficulty: Easy.
Type of Landing: Dry landing.
Highlights: Gorgeous white sand beach, flamingos, herons, grebes, stilts.
Day 5 (Saturday)
SANTA CRUZ: DRAGON HILL & BACHAS BEACH

In the morning we will visit the Dragon Hill in Santa Cruz. The visitors’ site at Dragon Hill is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island, and consists of a trail that runs through three different environments at just 1,600 m long. The beach is very rocky. At high tide it's a nice place for snorkeling. At this visiting site you can find vegetation of typical the intertidal zone and dry zone.

DRAGON HILL
Activities: Panga ride & short hike
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: frigate birds, herons, blue-footed boobies, rays, reef sharks

The afternoon visit, Bachas Beach, located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest off the beach.

BACHAS BEACH
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: World War II remnants, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, whimbrels, sea turtles
Day 6 (Sunday)
POST OFFICE BAY & CORMORANT POINT OR DEVIL'S CROWN (FLOREANA ISLAND)

We will visit two sites on Floreana Island. In the morning, we will visit the famous Post Office Bay. You will land on a beach and head to a spot where 18th century whalers placed a wooden barrel for use as an unofficial mail box. The custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So, don´t forget your postcards, and don´t be surprised if the post card arrives to its destination before you even get home!

POST OFFICE BAY
Activities: Short hike (less than 0.6 mi / 1km) & snorkeling
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: Barrel Post Office, nice sandy beach

In the afternoon, we will head to Cormorant Point. Here you will enjoy a hike to a salt-water lagoon which is home to flamingoes. You will also get to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Devil´s Crown. This extinct volcano peaks out of the waters just off of Floreana´s coast and offers a magnificent snorkeling experience.

CORMORANT POINT
Activities: Snorkeling & panga ride & hike (1.2 mi / 2km)
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: Flamingoes, Devil’s Crown: The best snorkeling site in Galapagos Islands with sharks, rays, rock formations, lots of tropical fish.
Day 7 (Monday)
SUAREZ POINT & GARDNER BAY (ESPAÑOLA ISLAND)

Española Island is the southernmost island of the Galapagos and is the breeding site of nearly all of the Waved Albatrosses in the entire world. Española is densely populated with mockingbirds, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, Darwin finches, Galapagos Doves, hawks, red and green marine iguanas, and loads of sea lions.

The morning trip will head to Suarez Point on a trail where you will have the chance to see blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca Boobies. We will also visit a beautiful site on the ocean front where there is a cliff that the large albatrosses use as a launching pad! You’ll have the chance to see the famous blowhole that spurts water into the air. The landscape is great for photography.

SUAREZ POINT
Activities: Hike (1.9 mi / 3 km)
Difficulty: Difficult
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights: Hood Mockingbird, Nazca Boobies, Waved Albatross, Red-billed tropicbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos Hawk, Blue-footed Boobies, blow hole, amazing landscape

In the afternoon, we will visit the spectacular Gardner Bay. After landing, you can walk across a lovely white-sand beach amongst a busy sea lion colony or dive into the water to swim with sea lion pups. It is the breeding site of nearly all of the world´s 12,000 pairs of Waved Albatrosses.

GARDNER BAY
Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride, kayaking, short hike of (0.6 mi / 1km)
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: White sandy beach, sea lions, mockingbirds. Snorkeling: colorful fish, sea lion nursery
Day 8 (Tuesday)
INTERPRETATION CENTER & PUERTO CHINO OR
GALAPAGUERA COLORADO HILL (SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND)

In the morning we will visit The Interpretation Center was opened in 1998 as a phase of the project “Interpretation and Environment Education Project.” Visitors enjoy expositions on natural history, human history, and conservation. The conservation efforts represent the movement to protect the wildlife and natural environment through means of population and tourist control. The Interpretation Center has an outdoor stadium, audio-visual equipment, and meeting rooms.

INTERPRETATION CENTER
Activities: Short walk.
Difficulty: Easy.
Type of Landing: Dry
Highlights:
Information and history about Galapagos Islands.

In the afternoon we will visit Puerto Chino located (15,2 miles / 24.5 km) away from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and a few miles from the Breeding Centre Cerro Colorado, this walk takes approximately 30 to the beach.

PUERTO CHINO
Activities:Hiking, swimming, snorkeling
Difficulty:Moderate / Difficult
Type of Landing: Dry
Highlights:
White-sandy beach, Marine birds, Snorkeling

“Galapaguera” Colorado Hill is a new visitor site in the northeast part of San Cristobal Island and can now be reached in roughly one hour by road from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. On the trees and shrubs surrounding the site, you may see land birds like warbler, finches and mockingbirds can be observed and on the trails, giant tortoises. They live there wild but in a protected area to assure their survival by sealing them off from introduced predators, like pigs and goats. Once the tortoise perceives danger, it goes into its defensive stance, retreating into its hard shell.

BREEDING CENTER "GALAPAGUERA"
CERRO COLORADO
Activities: Short Hike (0,6 mi / 1 Km)
Difficulty: Easy /moderate
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Giant Tortoises in captivity, Snorkeling with sea lions, land and sea birds, Blue-footed Boobies
Day 9 (Wednesday)
SANTA FE & SOUTH PLAZA ISLANDS

Our morning visit is to the Santa Fe Island (Barrington), which is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails, one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest.

SANTA FE ISLAND
Activities: Hiking
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Land Iguanas, giant tunas

In the afternoon, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.

SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND
Activities: Hike (1.5 mi / 2 ½ km)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon´s shearwaters, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, amazing landscape with cliffs
Day 10 (Thursday)
CHARLES DARWIN STATION & TWIN CRATERS (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)

This day you can know Charles Darwin Station- Breeding Center "Fausto Llerena" this is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Sub-species of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans, stretching out their heads for a pet. The babies are kept until they are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.

SULLIVAN BAY
Activities: Walking
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Giant Tortoises, land and marine iguanas, variety of birds

The afternoon visit is a site called Los Gemelos (The Twins). Los Gemelos wait for you at the end of a short hike. These sinkholes are often referred to as craters, though the term is only descriptive, not literal. They were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers. The endemic Scalesia Forest surrounds the site, where you may see Vermillian Flycatchers, Short-eared Owls, and finches.

THE TWINS CRATERS
Activities: Hike (0.9 mi / 1 ½ km)
Difficulty: Easy /moderate
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Pit craters, Scalesia Forest, giant cactus, lava lizards, giant tortoises, land birds: finches, warblers, flycatchers.
Day 11 (Friday)
HUMEDALES - WALL OF TEARS – BREEDING CENTER
& SIERRA NEGRA (ISABELA ISLAND)

The morning will consist of a visit to the Wetlands, The Wall of Tears (El Muro de las Lágrimas), (65-feet / 25-meters) high and an important piece of island history. A penal colony existed on Isabella from 1945-1959, and the prisoners were forced to build the wall, stone by stone, while in isolation from the rest of the world. Thousands died in its construction. Many claim to feel the heavy energy of this historical site, and locals claim to hear cries in the wind. The last site we will visit in the morning is the Breeding Center in Isabela.

THE WALL OF TEARS
Activities: Hiking
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Historic site

The afternoon visit will head to Sierra Negra. The Sierra Negra Volcano boasts the largest basaltic caldera in Galapagos at 9 x 10km. The site offers impressive views and the opportunity to observe up to 7 species of finch and a rich display of vegetation. The north side of the caldera provides evidence of its most recent volcanic activity in 2005.

SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO
Activities: Hiking, horseback riding, walking
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Basaltic caldera, stunning views, finches
Day 12 (Saturday)
MORENO POINT & URBINA BAY (ISABELA ISLAND)

In the morning we will visit Moreno Point, located south west of Elizabeth Bay. Here, a dry landing onto what was once flowing lava is possible. The lava has left craters in its wake, which formed crystal tide pools. By looking into the pools, you can peer into another world, as the marine life drifts by your window. In the brackish pools of this area, you may see pink flamingos, White-Cheeked Pintails, and Common Gallinules. If you look carefully into the pools you may see white tip reef sharks and some sea turtles.

MORENO POINT
Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride & hike
(1.2 mi / 2km)
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Highlights: Flamingoes, gallinules, Pintail ducks, turtles, whitetip reef sharks.

In the afternoon, we will land at Urbina Bay which presents some fascinating geological formations. In 1954, an uplift from the sea formed the bay; which has been characterized by the resulting terrestrial coral reef ever since. Expect to see stingrays and sea turtles swimming near the surface of the water, along with Flightless Cormorants, pelicans, and marine iguanas. You will be dazzled by the breathtaking view of the Alcedo Volcano.

URBINA BAY
Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride & hike, 2 trails: short (0.6 mi / 1 km), long (1.9 mi / 3km)
Difficulty: Easy /moderate
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: Land iguanas (the biggest in Galapagos), hawks, coral reef, giant tortoises Snorkeling: turtles, rays, tropical fish
Day 13 (Sunday)
ESPINOSA POINT (FERNANDINA ISLAND) & VICENTE ROCA POINT (ISABELA ISLAND)

In the morning we will visit Fernandina Island: No foreign species have ever invaded this island and therefore it is one of the world's most pristine island ecosystems. Fernandina is the youngest island in Galapagos. Access to this site is extremely restricted by the Galapagos National Park and you will be one of those very lucky visitors. The volcano “La Cumbre” dominates the landspace with lava fields reaching the ocean.

Crossing the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina Islands we will land at Espinosa Point, and after walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, reach the island´s highlight: the Flightless Cormorant nesting site. This area provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos Hawk.

ESPINOSA POINT
Activities: Hike of approx (1.2 mi / 2 km)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry and slippery at low tide
Highlights: Flightless Cormorant, marine iguanas, AA lava, sea lions, penguins, active volcano “La Cumbre”

In the afternoon, we will head Isabela Island: The largest in the archipelago, this seahorse-shaped island is also one of the youngest and most volcanically active.

We will visit the Vicente Roca Point. Comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola (or sunfish).

VICENTE ROCA POINT
Activities: Snorkeling & panga ride
Difficulty: Easy /moderate
Type of Landing: No landing
Highlights: Penguins, Blue-footed Boobies, terns, Nazca Boobies, two types of sea lions. Snorkeling: sea turtles, rays and puffer fish.
Day 14 (Monday)
ESPUMILLA BEACH OR BUCANERO COVE (SANTIAGO ISLANDS)
& BARTHOLOMEW ISLANDS

Our morning visit is to visit Espumilla Beach where marine iguanas lounge and the Sally Lightfoot Crabs attract the hunting herons, performing the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkeling is highly recommended as you could find yourself face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark, or a variety of other species of tropical fish.

ESPUMILLA BEACH
Activities: Snorkeling and swimming
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: Snorkeling

Or we could visit the Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. They would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. It is an excellent opportunity to take in the steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach. See if you can spot 'Monk' or 'Elephant' Rock before your guide points them out!

BUCCANNEER COVE
Possible Activities: Short walk along the beach (less than 0.6 mi / 1km)
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights: Sea birds, historical site, snorkeling, rock formations.

In the afternoon we will head for Bartholomew Island, home of the famous Pinnacle Rock. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. We will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! You will also visit a small, beautiful beach, surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see the Galapagos penguins.

BARTHOLOMEW ISLAND
Activities: Panga ride, snorkeling & hike (1.2 mi / 2 km)
Difficulty: Moderate/ difficult. Walk up to the top of volcano 114 meters, 375 wooden steps
Type of Landing: Dry and wet landing
Highlights: Pinnacle rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus. Snorkeling: penguins, reef sharks, rays great colorful fish.
Day 15 (Tuesday)
DAPHNE ISLAND - DEPARTURE

Daphne is made up of two islands, Major and Minor. Daphne Minor is partially eroded and smooth, while Daphne Major has maintained an archetypal volcanic shape, called a tuff cone. Daphne is home to Red-billed Tropicbirds peeking out of crevices and Nazca Boobies nesting along the rim. Under the water there are sharp recesses and steep cliffs. It is highly likely that you will see white tip, Galápagos, and possibly even hammerhead Sharks. There is also a wealth of sea turtles, and rays.

DAPHNE ISLAND
Activities: Bird watching
Difficulty: Boat ride around the island
Type of Landing: No landing
Highlights: Natural Scientific Laboratory, sea birds, finches

After this final visit, you will be transferred to Baltra’s airport in time to catch your flight back to the mainland.

VTA 31-ENE-13