ARCHIPELL ITINERARY A - 5 DAYS
ITINERARY A - 5 DAYS
THURSDAY
AM: Baltra: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: Santa Cruz: CC Fausto Llerena (HK)
FRIDAY
AM: Isabela: Moreno Point (HK/SN)
PM: Isabela: Urbina Bay (HK/SN)
SATURDAY
AM: Fernandina: Espinoza Point (HK/SN)
PM: Isabela: Vicente Roca Point (HK)
SUNDAY
AM: Santiago: Egast Port (HK/SN)
PM: Fernandina: Rabida (HK)
MONDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove (HK)
Baltra: Transfer to the Airport.
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1: THURSDAY
AM: ARRIVAL AT BALTRA AIRPORT.
Upon arrival at Baltra airport, you will pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands. A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: FAUSTO LLERENA BREEADING CENTER.
At this site, you can observe tortoises that come from various islands of the archipelago. They comply with the captive breeding programme and then return to repopulate the areas where their population has been affected. The land iguanas of Santa Cruz, Isabela and North Seymour are also in a captive breeding
programme, as the populations in these areas suffered from feral dogs. One of the main attractions is the famous embalmed Lonesome George. Estimated to have died between 93 and 109 years of age, it is recognised as the last of its kind and a symbol of the efforts invested to conserve endangered species. The captive tortoises are used to the presence of visitors, so it's a great place to take photos with them.
DAY 2: FRIDAY
AM: ISABELA: MORENO POINT.
Moreno Point is located on the north coast of Isabela Island, between the volcanos Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. The trail runs along a solidified pahoehoe lava flow into a complex of coastal lagoons. Its main attractions are several species of birds, which are found around the lakes and mangroves.
PM: ISABELA: ELIZABETH BAY.
Urbina Bay is located along the west coast of Isabela, between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove. It is close to the base of the Alcedo Volcano. The coastline has undergone a major uplift in 1954, which caused the shore to expand three quar ters of a mile out. Here you will be able to find corals, shells, and many other calcareous organisms exposed above water. Urbina Bay is home to large and colorful land iguanas and giant tor toises of the Alcedo Volcano population. A lot of Darwin finches can be seen as well.
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DAY 3: SATURDAY
AM: FERNANDINA: ESPINOZA POINT.
Fernandina is the third-largest island in the archipelago and has a iguana marine single visitor site: Punta Espinoza, located at the northeastern tip of the island. Marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than on any other island. They bask around in the sand, swim near the shore and sometimes block the way at the landing dock. Among the unique species found here, is the flightless cormorant. This bird had to adjust its way of survival and perfection its skills of finding food in the ocean. Their wings, tails and feet progressively adapted for swimming. To see these birds is to witness evolution happening right in front of you.
PM: ISABELA: VICENTE ROCA POINT.
Whilst having lunch we will cross the Bolivar Channel for the last time to Vicente Roca Point, just at the mouth of Isabela’s seahorse-shape. While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, roaring echoes of the waves will accompany you. Just around the corner the collapsed amphitheatre of Volcan Ecuador offers another impressive view. The calmer waters of the coves are well-protected against the ocean swell and are a fairly cold, but great place for snorkelling amongst various species of shark, penguins, puffer fish and even seahorses!
DAY 4: SUNDAY
AM: SANTIAGO: EGAS PORT.
Puerto Egas is a black beach located on the west side of Santiago Island. Volcanic tuff deposits have favoured the formation of this special black sand beach and this is the main attraction of the Island. This site is called Puerto Egas because there was an attempt of Hector Egas to start the exploitation of salt, which failed. After all, the price of salt on the continent was very cheap and did not justify its exploitation in the Galapagos. The project was abandoned and they left their infrastructure.
PM: RABIDA.
Rábida Island is unique because of the red colour of the rocks and sand. The volcanic material in this island is very porous and external factors such as rain, flamingo animalsaltwater and sea breeze have acted as an oxidizing agent. A short walk along a trail will lead you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach that allows for the observation of land birds as finches, doves, yellow warblers and mockingbirds. There is also a colony of flamingos at the lagoon.
DAY 5: MONDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: BLACK TURTLE COVE.
After breakfast, you will check out and disembark the cruise for the last time at 08:30 am. Your last adventure is brief but enchanting, and will take place enroute to the airport. You will explore onboard the dinghy the green
landscape of Black Turtle Cove, which is mostly composed of mangrove trees that host innumerable aerial and aquatic species. Observe how the quiet emerald lagoon and surrounding shallow bays enables the easy observation of sea turtles and as well as groups of sharks. The visit ends and you will disembark at 09:00 at Baltra island, ultimately reaching Baltra airport at 09:30, where its the official end of your cruise adventure. It has been a pleasure accompanying you on this unique trip and we hope to see you again very soon! It has been a pleasure accompanying you on this unique trip and we hope to see you again very soon!
