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Start: San Cristobal Airport, Galapagos Islands (SCY)
Finish: Baltra Airport, Galapagos Islands (GPS)
Physical rating: Moderate
Style: First Class
Ages: Min 12
Group size: Min 1 – Max 16
Day 1 Sunday: San Cristobal Island: Airport transfer & Galapaguera Cerro Colorado
Welcome to the Galapagos!
Today you will be meeting other travellers arriving from Quito or Guayaquil at San Cristobal Airport. You will be met in the arrival hall of the airport by the National Park Guide, and transferred to your motor yacht ‘Grand Queen Beatriz’.
This afternoon you will travel into the interior of the island to visit the highlands site of ‘Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado’ (Red Hill) where the national park has established a breeding program and information center for tortoises. Here, we will be able to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat and learn all about their origin, evolution and their threatened future.
Accommodation
M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz (1 night)
Meals
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Isla San Cristobal – Highlands Walk (1.5 hours) – Dry Landing
Day 2 Monday: Bartolome Island & Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay
Bartolomé is a relatively new island in the archipelago and traces of its volcanic past can be seen everywhere, as evidenced by the amazing lunar-like landscape.
The Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos – an abrupt jag of rock protruding from the earth like a tooth, while nearby two golden bays back onto each other.
You can hike to the top of a once-active volcano here, and enjoy superb views across to Sullivan Bay, on nearby Santiago Island.
Accommodation
M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Isla Santiago – Sullivan Bay – Walk (1.5 hours) – Dry Landing
Isla Bartolome – Walk (1.5 hours) – Dry Landing
Isla Bartolome – Snorkeling (1.5 hours)
Isla Bartolome – Panga ride (30 mins)
Day 3 Tuesday: Santiago Island: James Bay, Espumilla beach, Buccaneer Cove & Egas Port
Today you will visit some wonderful places. Espumilla Beach, on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay, is one of the most idyllic locations in the Galapagos Islands and is an important nesting site for marine turtles. Espumilla beach is also well known for its Palo Santo Forest and some extraordinary lava formations.
This morning you will also visit Caleta Bucanero (Buccaneer Cove), a natural monument of rocks caused by sea erosion. This cove was used by pirates to careen their ships. It is a place of local legends and stories! Port Egas is a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island.
South of the beach is Sugarloaf Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff. This site is named Puerto Egas, after Hector Egas who last attempted to mine salt here. The walk along the beach offers hundreds of marine iguanas, California sea lions and Galapagos fur sea lions.
Accommodation
M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Isla Santiago – Puerto Egas – Walk (1.45 hours) – Wet Landing
Isla Santiago – Puerto Egas – Snorkeling (1 hour)
Isla Santiago – Espumilla Beach – Panga ride or Snorkeling (45 mins)
Isla Santiago – Buccaneer’s Cove – Panga Ride (45 mins)
Day 4 Wednesday: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station / Baltra Island: Airport
As flights to the mainland from Galapagos depart mid-morning, it is an early start for our last morning on the islands. Depending on the time of our flight, our time spent on this final excursion could be limited. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic hub of the archipelago and is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station’s visitor center and museum offer a great insight for anyone interested in the archipelago’s natural and human history, and keen to learn more about conservation efforts to preserve the unique ecosystems of the Galapagos. It also offers our best chance for close-up encounters with giant tortoises, and we can see many newborn and young giant turtles – part of the breeding program to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.
This will be your final excursion before you return to the airport in Baltra for your flight back to Quito. As you will be leaving the boat this morning, please remember that if you have enjoyed the services provided by your guide and crew, a tip would be very much appreciated by them. As a guideline we recommend each passenger consider US$15 per day for the crew and US$10 per day for your guide. You can leave tips in envelopes that are placed in your cabin on this last day of your journey.
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Isla Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Research Station (1 hour) – Dry Landing
Special Information
Please bear in mind that this and all our yacht’s cruise itineraries are subject to variation without prior notice; itinerary modifications may be made in accordance with the Galapagos National Park’s regulations itemized by the local authorities, weather conditions and/or sea-currents events that may affect the authorized cruise itinerary.
Your guide will inform you of changes (if any) in the regular itinerary on your first briefing on board the Yacht on Day 1 and will explain in detail about the authorized itinerary and visits to be enjoyed during your expedition on board our Yacht.