SOUTH 4 DAYS B


Day 1: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Station
Transfer to the yacht after arrival at the Baltra airport.

Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Station

Lunch service. Visit to Charles Darwin Scientific Station & Breeding Center* Dry landing
*Charles Darwin Station is the main place to visit in Puerto Ayora. This is a great way to learn about the islands and their formation. Learn about the raising of the Galapagos turtles and meet Jorge, the famous single turtle. On weekends, the Scientific Station hosts many visitors to its beach.

Guide briefing. Welcome cocktail. Navigation to South Plaza and dinner service
Day 2: South Plaza Island & Santa Fe Island

Breakfast service. Dry landing. Visit South Plaza. * Nature walk* Deep-water snorkeling

South Plaza Island

South Plaza's dry landing is the first step. The island is surrounded by a rocky trail that circles it. It displays a combination of coastal and dry vegetation zones. South Plaza is home to one of the most extensive populations of Land Iguanas anywhere in the Galapagos. Once you land, the iguanas are everywhere. These iguanas are larger than the average yellow-brown land iguana and eat the fruits and pads of the prickly cactus. South Plaza also houses Marine Iguanas that live along the coast, and Hybrid Iguanas. Their fathers are Marine Iguanas while their mothers are Land Iguanas. The walk continues along the sea cliffs and you will often see Swallow-tailed Gulls as well as Frigatebirds. Red-billed Tropicbirds. Brown Pelicans. Blue-Footed. Masked Boobies can also be seen. A colony of Bachelor Sea Lions is visible just below the shore.

Santa Fe Island

Lunch service. Navigation to Santa Fe Wet landing. * Nature walk* Deep-water snorkeling. One of the most stunning coves in the Galapagos is located on Santa Fe Island. It is located in the southeast part of Galapagos and is approximately 2 1/2 hours away from Santa Cruz, and 3 hours from San Cristobal. Santa Fe was created by an uplift, rather than a volcano. This gives the island a flat surface instead of the conical shape that is typical for other islands. A panga boat ride through the beautiful turquoise lagoon is the first step to Santa Fe. Once you arrive at the Galapagos, you will be introduced to one of the many colonies of sea lions. While bulls vie for beach master, cows enjoy the sun. It's quite an amazing sight! You can easily approach Galapagos Hawks by following the loop trail that runs around the island. Santa Fe is home of the endemic Land Iguanas. These iguanas, which are large and beige-to-coconut brown in color, resemble small dinosaurs. The cove below is stunning when you reach the summit.

Guide briefing. Navigation to San Cristobal and dinner service

Day 3: Santiago Island, Bartolome Island & Chinese Hat Islet
Breakfast service. Deep-water snorkeling. Bartolome. Dry landing. Nature walk*

Bartolome Island

This is the most photographed and visited island in Galapagos. It has very few plants. It is home to an extinct volcano as well as a variety red, orange and green volcanic formations. Pinnacle rock, also known as the Tuff Cone, is one of the most well-known features on the island. This large, black, partially eroded lava form was formed when magma from the volcano reached sea level. The seawaters cool the hot lava and cause an explosion. The fragments that exploded eventually fuse together to form a rock made of thin layers. Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome, is one of the most famous and photographed spots in the islands. It was a prominent landmark that served as a target for US Airmen during WWII. The Pinnacle Rock is surrounded by twin beaches of half-moon shape.
Visitors can swim with fish, Sea Lions, and Galapagos Penguins at the northern beach. You will also find stingrays and spotted eagle Rays as well as white-tipped sharks and black-tipped Sharks near the southern shore. This barren area is home to very little vegetation. The beach is surrounded by mangroves, and the tiny shrub Tiguilia thrives in the volcanic sands. The tiny, white Chamaesycae flowers and seeds provide food for the island’s finch. These plants can survive in harsh volcanic environments and are common in arid areas.

Santiago Island

Lunch service. Santiago Island. Wet landing at Chinese Hat. * Nature walk Deep-water snorkeling
*Visit Chinese Hat, a small island located just southeast of Santiago. The island's shape is described by its name. It is worth the trip for those who visit the island. It is centrally located, but it is not the most visited site in the region. Chinese Hat has been restricted by the National Park Service. Only multi-day cruises of 14 or fewer passengers are allowed at this location. The landing site is located on a crescent-shaped, white sand beach that is home to Sea Lions as well as Sally Lightfoot Crabs. Sombrero Chino's trail explores the volcanic origin of this island, which is one of the most prominent in the region.
It is extremely fragile and can break apart when people walk on it. These breaks cause sharp outcroppings, so it is important to wear sturdy walking shoes. On the island, you will find patches of Pahoehoe Lava and cracked lava. Although the path doesn't take you up to the red rust sides that make up the Chinese Hat, but it does allow for spectacular views of the waves below. Snorkeling near Chinese Hat can cause a stir. White-tipped sharks, Galapagos Penguins, and Sea Lions all frequent this area.

Guide briefing. Farewell cocktail. Navigation to Santa Cruz Island and dinner service
 
Day 4: Mosquera Islet & Baltra Island
Visit Mosquera Islet*. Wet landing. Nature walk* Breakfast service. Check out at 8 AM and depart for the airport *The Mosquera Islet lies between the islands North Seymour and Baltra. It is a coral reef and great white sand beach. It measures in at 160m wide and 600m long. The lava rocks that make up the majority of the perimeter are evidence of the lava rising. However, the landing is only found on the southwest side. The island is home to one of the most numerous populations of sea lions. There are many species of shorebirds that can be seen on this island. There are occasional reports of Orcas (Orcinus Orca) eating sea lions at this location.

Included

  • Scheduled visits and activities with a professional bilingual guide
  • All meals on board, some snacks, purified water, tea and coffee
  • Accommodation in a standard cabin with private bathroom and air conditioning
  • Snorkeling equipment (mask, lenses, fins), sea-kayaks
  • Assistance at the Airport and 24/7 during the trip

Not Included

  • Air tickets to / from Galapagos from / to Quito, Guayaquil or combined route
  • Entrance to the Galapagos National Park US $ 100 p.p. (cash in the Islands)
  • Galapagos Control Card US $ 20 p.p. (at the airport before check-in)
  • Wet-suits rental on board (in cash)
  • Soft and alcoholic drinks on board; personal expenses, extras and tips guide and crew (cash)
  • Travel insurance with medical, cancellation and other unforeseen coverage
  • Other services in Continental Ecuador and not specified in the program