Day 02: Santa Cruz Island
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Departure from Quito to Baltra (2 hour flight)
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The highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green, contrasting beautifully with many of the dry, lower islands.
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Lunch on Santa Cruz before boarding motorized dinghies taking us out to the private cruise ship, The Beluga, Anchored offshore.
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The Beluga will be our home and transportation as we explore the Galapagos Islands!
Day 03: South Plaza Island/ Santa Fe Island
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South Plaza Island: Plazas consist of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plaza has a visitor site.
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The highlights include tall Opuntia Cacti, Land and Marine Iguana's, rocky cliffs that overlook the open ocean. This area is a nesting site for Red-Billed Tropic Birds, gulls and a Sea Lion bachelor colony.
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Santa Fe Island: Santa Fe is a smaller island of 24 square Kilometers. The visitor site of Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island.
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Highlights include Santa Fe land Iguana, Pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, endemic mockingbirds and Palo Santo trees.
Days 04: San Cristobal Island
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This is one of the oldest of the Archipelago and the furthest eastern island
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Watch Hill (Cerro Brujo) is a volcanic cone that looks over a beautiful, white, sandy beach which has plenty of sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, waders and marine iguana's
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Galapaguera and El Junco: The lagoon is the only freshwater reservoir in the Galapagos and has breathtaking views from its altitude of 700 meters in the highlands of San Cristóbal.
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Rainwater has collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon.
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Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment.
Day 05: Espanola (Hood) Island
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Gardner Bay: located on the northeast of the island, this site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies.
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Islote Gardner and Islote Osborn: These islets are snorkeling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks and turtles
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Punta Suarez: The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff, visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20 meters into the air.
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The highlights are the Galapagos Hawks, Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Española Lava Lizards as well as Waved Albatross that are found on the Española island.
Day 06: Florean Island
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Punta Cormorant: Punta Cormorant has two contrasting beaches and a large inland lagoon where Pink Flamingo's can be seen
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Devil's Crown: This is a snorkeling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged vulcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown.
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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 tour the remains of the Norwegian fishing village.
Day 07: Santa Cruz and James Island
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Dragon Hill: Cerro Dragon has a hyper-salinic small lagoon behind the beach, often frequented by flamingo's
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James Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This island offers a wide variety of sea birds, marine Iguana's and Fur seals
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Sullivan Bay: this site is of great geological interest. Highlights are a one hundred year old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations and lava bubbles.
Day 08: Tower (Genovesa) Island.
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Tower is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island.
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Darwin By: 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
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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 ask several species of seabirds can be spotted.
Day 09: Santa Cruz Isand
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Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove): Turtle Cove is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz Island and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create riche and unique habitat.
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We disembark the Beluga, one night stay at the Enchanted Galapagos Lodge (bed and breakfast), with access to shopping and the Charles Darwin Station.
Charles Darwin Station
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The Charles Darwin Research Station is in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Here you'll experience some of the conservation and research efforts focusing on the Galapagos Isands. Tour the Van Strealen Exhibit hall. The slight be your only opportunity to see the giant Galapagos Tortoises. The Charles Darwin Research station conducts and facilitates research on the Galápagos Islands and the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve of Ecuador. The station is a part of the Charles Darwin Foundation, an international non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research on the Galápagos Islands since 1959
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The Charles Darwin Station Provides
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Information and technical assistant for the Galapagos National Park Service and other branches of the government of Ecuador ​
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Support for residents and visiting scientists who work in Galapagos
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Environmental education for island communities, schools and for the visitor that come to the Galapagos each year.
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Hands-on training in science, education and conservation for Ecuadorian university students who participate in the Darwin Station's volunteer and scholarship programs.
Rates
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US$ 8725.00 per person sharing (33% additional fee for credit card payments)
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50% non-refundable deposit due to hold reservations - limit 13 berths!
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Banalance due Jan 01, 2025
Inclusions
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All accommodations
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Local flights
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All meals (except lunches and dinner at the hotels in Quito and Santa Cruz)
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Transport
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Fuel and tolls
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Bed Levies
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Professional guide Andrew Ray
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Excursions
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Conservation Fee
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Cruise crew gratuities
Exclusions
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International flights and airport taxes
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Drinks
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Hotel extra's
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Items of a personal nature
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Travel insurance
What to Pack Galapagos
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Comfortable neutral clothing. Expect hot days, cooler mornings and evenings. A mixture of light weight breathable clothing (including swimwear) is ideal and a warm sweater along with a rain jacket for possible inclement weather.
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UV is intense in Galapagos. Long sleeve t-shirts and/or snorkeling vests are ideal when walking swimming or snorkeling. Snorkeling gear is available on the Beluga, you are however welcome to bring your own.
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Other essentials include comfortable, durable walking shoes, flip-flops or slip on shoes for aboard the boat.
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Hat, sunscreen, camera, binoculars, toiletries, inset repellant, hand sanitizer etc.
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Important: don't forget to bring any prescription medication along with a broad-spectrum antibiotic, medication for nausea and stomach issues, and antihistamine cream for insect bites and scratches.
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Please provide details of any allergies and specific dietary requirements or preferences (e.g. vegetarian) at time of booking..
