Bonita Yacht Southern Islands Itinerary Galapagos vacation


A short yet complete journey along the Central and Southern Archipelago discovering the natural and geological marvels that every visited site has to offer, An amazing total of 5 islands visited in just 5 days should be a good reason to choose this itinerary, especially when you are cruising the Galapagos on board a wonderful and recently refurbished first class yacht like BONITA, formerly known as Eric. Hop on board for the adventure of a lifetime!
Day 1: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands
SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS: After your arrival and lunch on board, we will visit the interesting HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ, where we will hike and encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat, a natural wonder. For this visit we recommend to use sport shoes, long pants, raincoat, hat and sun block. Dinner.
Day 2: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point & Post Office Bay

CORMORANT POINT: Wet landing, snorkeling and short trekking. This point is located at west of Floreana Island and it is famous for its dark green beach (due to the great quantity of olivine crystals). You can see many marine invertebrates, as well as sea lions, sea iguanas, the frigates and pelicans.
Second visit: DEVIL´S CROWN: Activities in this place: panga ride and optional swimming. Enjoy a panga ride around a small island, a satellite islet of Floreana Island. Here, we will find a group of rocks that resemble a Crown due to the constant erosion caused by the sea. It is one of the better places to snorkel (shallow diving) in the interior and around the crown. Excellent visibility allows guests to admire  a great variety of fish and sea animals. Lunch

POST OFFICE: (Mail Bay): Wet landing. Activities: short walk, swimming, snorkeling, explanation of the mail system. Description: Mail Bay is located on the north side of Floreana Island. Captain James Colnett installed an empty barrel to be used as a post office for the whaling fleets that stopped at the Galapagos Islands. You can leave postcards to your friends and relatives here and/or pick up mail to deliver. Back at the ship, Delicious snacks and beverages are waiting for you. Dinner.

Day 3: Española Island: Suarez Point & Gardner Bay

SUAREZ POINT: Dry landing. Activities: Walking, sight-seeing. We recommend sports shoes, hat or cap, and sunscreen. There is no color more amazing and outstanding in this tropical desert island, than that of the blue-foot boobies. These birds have an impressive form of “greeting” and it is a real thrill to see their mating dance. The blue-footed booby can be seen on several of the islands as nesting grounds and feed are located in several coastal locations. The albatross, an aristocratic bird weighing up to four kilograms, can be observed here. One of the largest birds of the islands, approximately 12,000 couples nest on Espanola Island and a smaller number nest on Silver Island, near mainland Ecuador. This species is considered endemic to this island; during our walk, we will observe these fantastic birds while taking in the beautiful landscapes offered by this island. It is important to note that albatrosses will not be seen between January and March (non-breeding) season. We will also see colonies of marine iguanas, zayapas, masked boobies, finches, Espanola cucuves, and seagulls unique to the islands. Our walk will be on lava rock where we will be able to see lava tubes. Red mangroves are found here. Delicious snacks and fresh beverages are waiting for you on the ship. Lunch

GARDNER BAY: wet landing, activities for this visit: short walk, swimming, snorkeling, and observation of seal colony. The sea lion is one of the animals in Galapagos which gets the total attention of the visitors in the Galapagos: they are curious and playful, but at times aggressive; they are nice and loving, but also lazy. In Gardner Bay, we are going to find many of them relaxing on the beach enjoying the sun. In addition to observing these fascinating animals, while snorkeling, we will be able to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, a diversity of tropical fish, marine iguanas, etc. Dinner.

Day 4: San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center & Lobos Island

INTERPRETATION CENTER: Dry landing. This center is location in the main port. After breakfast, our first visit is to the Interpretation Center of San Cristobal. This modern and sophisticated architectural space was designed for the natural interpretation of the Galapagos. You will learn about the volcanic formation of the islands, the evolution of the species, the history of human settlement, and complex systems and management models. Lunch

LOBOS ISLANDS: Panga Riding, swimming and snorkeling. Here, we can walk, swim and snorkel among the seals, frigates, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the small endemic Galapagos snake. Here, we can swim and snorkeling in the same place it. Dinner.

Day 5: Daphne Island & Transfer Out

DAPHNE: Daphne Major is a rather large tuff cone somewhat eroded by the sea. Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, and blue-footed boobies can be found nesting here. Nearly all of the finches on the island are banded. At Daphne Major, we can also observe sea lions, sea turtles, Eagle Rays, various species of sharks, and other pelagic species.

Or

BACHAS: This beautiful sandy white-coral beach is located in the north of Santa Cruz Island; the beach is one km long. The site was named during WWII (World War II) when the American army left two barges on the beach. The early colonists couldn’t pronounce barges correctly, so they called the area “Bachas”. It is considered as one of the nesting sites for sea turtles. We can also observe, flamingos, seabirds and white-cheeked pintail ducks.

Included

  • Airport assistance
  • Transfers in Galapagos.
  • Accommodation in double cabin
  • All meals during the cruise
  • Naturalist Bilingual Guide
  • All visits & excursions according to the itinerary
  • Snorkel Gear (mask, tube and fins)
  • Kayaks, paddle boards
  • Unlimited purified water, coffee and tea
  • Wetsuits

Not Included

  • Local flight to/from Galapagos
  • Galapagos National Park Entrance fee
  • Galapagos Transit card
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Tips
  • Local Taxes
  • Travel Insurance
  • Services not listed

Highlights

  • Itinerary visits 5 different islands in 5 days.
  • Discover the Central and Southern Galapagos.
  • One of the few cruises to circle the shore of Daphne island
  • Spot flamingos at the lake on Floreana island with the volcanic scenery in the background
  • Visit Lobos island an important nesting site for blue footed boobies and frigate birds