M/S CACHALOTE I
FERNANDINA ITINERARY
8 Days / 7 Nights
Start / End: Wednesday / Wednesday
Drop Off / Pick Up: Baltra / Baltra
Wednesday
Arrive at Baltra airport and Santa Cruz: Highlands
- Highlands of Santa Cruz
Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz.
Thursday
Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat) and Rábida
- Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat)
Sombrero Chino is a small volcanic island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. The name of the island describes the shape of the island. Fauna includes Sea lions, marine iguanas and the Galapagos penguin.
- Rábida (Jervis)
Rábida is a small island with a dark red coral sand beach. Highlights include the lagoon with flamingoes, pelican nesting site, sea lion bachelor colony, and a snorkeling site at the end of the beach.
Friday
Isabela Island (Arbermarle): Puerto Villamil, Tintoreras and Sierra Negra
The largest of the Galapagos Islands formed by five active volcanoes fused together. Wolf Volcano is the highest point in the entire Galapagos at 1707m.
- Puerto Villamil
Puerto Villamil is a charming small town on a white sand beach. Highlights include the Tortoise Breeding Station and the flamingo lagoon.
· Tintoreras
The islet Las Tintoreras is located south of Puerto Villamil. It has a small bay of completely calm waters inhabited by sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc.
· Sierra Negra
Volcan Sierra Negra has a caldera with a diameter of 10km. View recent lava flows, moist highland vegetation, and parasitic cones.
Saturday
Isabela Island (Arbermarle): Punta Moreno and Elizabeth Bay
· Punta Moreno
Punta Moreno is located in the central southwestern coast of Isabela Island. The site has spectacular views of volcanoes Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. Some highlights include impressive lava flows, desolate and pristine landscape, varied and unusual arid zone vegetation.
· Elizabeth Bay
This spot is only accessible by dinghy. It is possible to see penguins on the small islets in the bay. The end of the bay is long and narrow surrounded by three species of mangroves. Galapagos Sea Turtles and rays can usually be seen in the water.
Sunday
Isabela Island (Albermarle): Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove
· Urbina Bay
Urbina Bay is located at the central-west coast of Isabela Island at the foothills of Alcedo and Darwin volcanoes. Highlights include the colourful land iguanas, Galapagos Giant tortoises and the coral uplifting from 1954.
- Tagus Cove
Tagus Cove is a natural harbor where centuries ago whalers and pirates left their ship's names painted or carved on the rocks. A walk uphill to Darwin's Crater salt-water lake will provide an excellent view.
Monday
Fernandina Island (Narborough): Punta Espinoza and Isabela Island: Punta Vicente Roca
Fernandina is the youngest volcanic island and is still active.
· Punta Espinoza
Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, among others.
· Isabela Island (Albermarle): Punta Vicente Roca
This site is visited by dinghy rides along the cliffs or the partially sunken cave at the water’s edge. Nasca boobies, blue-footed boobies and flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline.
Tuesday
Santiago Island (James): Puerto Egas and Bartolome
This Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals.
· Puerto Egas
A walk along the rocky coast line that will you show you a view of some of Galapagos' best tide pools. Some highlights include: Sugar loaf volcano, fur seals, oystercatchers, marine iguana colony, and old salt mine.
· Bartolome Island (Bartholomew)
A hike will take you to the highest point on Bartolome for a spectacular view. Sea lions and penguins can be seen around Pinnacle Rock. There is a sandy beach with great swimming and snorkeling.
Wednesday
North Seymour and Baltra airport
This flat piece of land originated after an uplifting event thousands of years ago. The island is home to endemic Palo Santo trees, colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow tailed gulls, and the magnificent frigate birds.
Baltra
M/S CACHALOTE I
TOWER ITINERARY
8 Days / 7 Nights
Start / End: Wednesday / Wednesday
Drop Off / Pick Up: Baltra / Baltra
Wednesday
Arrive at Baltra airport and Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable): Charles Darwin Station
· Charles Darwin Station
Visit the Charles Darwin Station is a research facility and National Park Information center. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation center.
Thursday
South Plaza Island and Santa Fe (Barrington)
- Plazas
Plazas consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.
· Santa Fé Island (Barrington)
Santa Fe is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.
Friday
San Cristóbal Island (Chatham): Cerro Brujo, Galapaguera and El Junco
San Cristóbal is the easternmost island of Galapagos and also one of the oldest.
· Cerro Brujo
Cerro Brujo is a white sand beach on the west side of San Cristóbal. Highlights include: Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas, and sea lions, Chatham mockingbird, lava lizards
· Galapaguera & El Junco
The lagoon is the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristóbal. Rainwater has collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon.
Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment.
Saturday
Española Island (Hood): Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez
Española is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved here
· Gardner Bay
Located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies.
· Punta Suarez
The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Nascar boobies, and Española lava lizards.
Sunday
Floreana Island (Charles): Punta Cormorant, Devils Crown and Post Office Bay
Floreana is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.
- Punta Cormorant
Punta Cormorant has two contrasting beaches and a large inland lagoon where pink flamingoes can be seen.
· Devils Crown
This is a snorkeling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged volcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown.
· Post office bay
This is one of the few sites visited for its human history. Visit the wooden mail barrel where letters are dropped off and picked up and remains of the Norwegian fishing village.
Monday
Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable): Dragon Hill and Santiago: Sullivan Bay
· Dragon Hill
Dragon Hill is located in the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island. Some highlights include small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees, and Opuntia cactus.
Santiago Island (James)
Santiago Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals.
· Sullivan Bay
This site is of great geological interest. Highlights: 100 hundred year old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations, lava bubbles
Tuesday
Genovesa Island (Tower): Darwin Bay and El Barranco
Genovesa is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island.
· El Barranco
There is a good possibility of seeing the unique "Short eared owl” at this site. During the dinghy rides along the cliffs fur seals and several species of seabirds can be spotted.
- Darwin Bay
The steep cliffs of this area dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, Noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin's finches.
Wednesday
Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove) and Baltra airport
Turtle Cove is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat.
Baltra
Return flight to Quito or Guayaquil
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