Calipso Itinerary Naturalist - 4 days
ITINERARY NATURALIST - 4 DAYS
MONDAY
AM: Baltra Airport: transfer to the Boat
PM: South Plazas
TUESDAY
AM: Floreana: Post office Bay / Baroness Viewing Point (HK/SN)
PM: Floreana: Cormorant Point (HK/SN)
WEDNESDAY
AM: Santa Fe (HK)
PM: Santa Cruz: Breeding Center Fausto Llerena (HK)
THURSDAY
AM: San Cristobal: Interpretation Center (HK)
San Cristobal: Transfer to the Airport
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1: MONDAY
AM: ARRIVAL IN BALTRA AIRPORT AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Calipso staff member and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.
PM: SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND
In the morning, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red
DAY 2: TUESDAY
AM: FLOREANA ISLAND: POST OFFICE BAY
In the 18th century whalers passing through the islands placed a wooden barrel on Floreana Island for use as an unofficial mail box. The tradition continues today as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home.
Baroness Viewpoint is a fantastic place to absorb the environment of the Galapagos. Once inhabited by an indulgent baroness and her three lovers, the history of this island is intriguing. The legends about this baroness are associated with a fascinating murder mystery. There are easy trails in this area for exploring the flora and fauna of Floreana.
PM: FLOREANA ISLAND: CORMORANT POINT
This site hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and white-cheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The “Green Beach” named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the “Four Sand Beach” composed of white coral.
DAY 3: WEDNESDAY
AM: SANTA FE ISLAND
Santa Fe (Barrington) is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails, one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest.
PM: SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS: FAUSTO LLERENA BREEDING CENTER
The Charles Darwin Research Station is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept until they are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.
DAY 4: THURSDAY
AM: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: GIANNI ARISMENDY INTERPRETATION CENTER - TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
The Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center was opened in 1998 as a phase of the project “Interpretation and Environment Education Project.” Visitors enjoy expositions on natural history, human history, and conservation. The conservation efforts represent the movement to protect the wildlife and natural environment through means of population and tourist control. The Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center has an outdoor stadium, audio-visual equipment, and meeting rooms.
