Grand Queen Beatriz Itinerary B - 5 days
ITINERARY B - 5 DAYS
WEDNESDAY
AM: Baltra Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: Santa Cruz: Highlands (HK)
THURSDAY
AM: North Seymour (HK/SN)
PM: Mosquera Islet (HK/SN)
FRIDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove (PR)
PM: Santa Cruz: Dragon Hill (HK)
SATURDAY
AM: Chinese Hat (HK/SN)
PM: Rabida (HK/SN/PR)
SUNDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Bachas Beach (HK)
Baltra: Transfer to the Airport
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1: SUNDAY
AM: BALTRA: ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
Welcome to the Galapagos!
When you arrive, you'll be met by the National Park Guide and transferred to your boat, the M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz – a first-class boat with all of the creature comforts you’ll need.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS
After, head up into the highlands for a total change of scenery. Beginning at the coast you'll travel across Santa Cruz through the agricultural region and into the misty forests. This is a lush humid zone containing miconia bushes, scalesia and inactive volcanic cones. Santa Cruz has more endemic plants than any of the other islands. Plus, you are likely to see Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat, and perhaps even the bright red feathers of a vermillion flycatcher!
Included Activities
● Santa Cruz Highlands
Meals Included
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 2: THURSDAY
AM: NORTH SEYMOUR
Take a morning excursion to North Seymour, which is one of the most visited islands in the Galapagos. The trail on North Seymour crosses inland through the island and then explores the rocky coast. Along the way, the trail passes colonies of blue footed boobies and frigate birds.
The magnificent frigate bird, a large black bird with a long wingspan and a hooked beak, is extremely fast and has excellent vision. Frigate birds are known for the large red pouch on their necks. During mating season, the males throw back their heads, inflate the pouch (sometimes to the size of a soccer ball), and shake – trying to capture the attention of female frigates. Boobies and frigates have an interesting relationship. Sharing the same nesting area on North Seymour, blue-footed boobies nest on the ground making their nests from the twigs of the palo santos trees, while the frigate birds nest just above them in the saltbushes.
Your walk is followed by snorkeling where you will discover a colourful variety of fish and, possibly, some white-tipped reef sharks, rays and sea lions.
PM: MOSQUERA ISLET
After lunch, visit the small sandy island of Mosquera, a relaxing stop situated between Baltra and North Seymour. Along the rocks and in the tide pool, Sally Lightfoot crabs (red lava crabs) scamper back and forth, skipping across small pools of water in search of food. These crabs with their bright red shell tops and blue under shells are stunning against the black lava. The island also has a very large colony of sea lions as well as a sizeable resident brown pelican population. Depending on the tides and visibility, you may have a chance to go snorkelling here.
Included Activities
● Isla Mosquera Beach
● Isla North Seymour Walk and Snorkel
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 3: FRIDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: BLACK TURTLE COVE
Today you'll take a panga (Zodiac boat) to Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) – a red mangrove wetland on the north shore of Isla Santa Cruz. Paddle among the cove’s peaceful waters, for your first taste of the underwater riches of this region – it’s a wonderful place to see green turtle and is a nursery for golden cow-nose rays, eagle rays and Galapagos sharks. There is also abundant birdlife, such as the yellow warblers and lava herons. This is also a breeding area for turtles, so it is not uncommon to see them mating.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: DRAGON HILL
In the afternoon, cruise over for a walk on Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) this afternoon. This is one of the best places to see land iguanas in the islands! From your dry landing, you'll walk to a brackish lagoon frequented by lagoon birds including stilts, pintail ducks, sandpipers, sanderlings and occasionally flamingos. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a nesting site for land iguanas, which is constantly monitored and assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The arid-zone vegetation makes for an ideal location for birdwatching with Darwin's finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galapagos flycatcher and yellow warblers all regulars here. The path can be challenging but it will be worth it with a spectacular view of the bay!
Included Activities
● Black Turtle Cove Visit
● Cerro Dragon
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 4: SATURDAY
AM: CHINESE HAT
Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It's shaped like a Chinese hat (Sombrero Chino) when seen from afar, and is geologically fascinating, with many lava tubes leading from the cone to the coast. Approach Sombrero Chino via a beautiful crescent-shaped, sandy beach that's home to sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Keep a look out for Galapagos penguins on the rocky shoreline of nearby Santiago, opposite Sombrero Chino. Follow a trail that circles the cove and passes through colonies of sea lions marine iguanas. The cove also offers some great snorkelling opportunities, hopefully with sightings of some penguins and sharks.
PM: RABIDA ISLAND
On to Isla Rabida, also known as Jervis Island, which is a tiny island sitting roughly five kilometres south of Santiago, having one of the most striking of the archipelago. Introduced species were eradicated in 1971, meaning that the native wildlife has now been returned to a state of isolation. Additionally, volcanic activity here has produced a vivid spectrum of colours, not least the red sand beaches and scarlet cliffs.
From the shore, the trail leads through to what is one of the finest lagoons in the Galapagos for viewing flamingos. Rabida is also a wonderful place to spot nesting pelicans. Elsewhere, spot pintail ducks, marine iguanas and sea lions. There is an opportunity for snorkelling in a cove full of sea stars, damsels, gobies and surgeon fish.
Included Activities
● Rabida Island, snorkeling
● Sombrero Chino
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 5: SUNDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ BACHAS BEACH - BALTRA TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
As flights to the mainland from Galapagos depart mid-morning, it is an early start for your last morning on the islands.
Today, you'll take an early morning excursion to Las Bachas, which was so named after the barges abandoned by the American Navy here in the 1940s. The sand beaches of Las Bachas on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island are a nesting site for the Pacific green turtle, and marine iguanas are also commonly seen. The sand here is particularly white and soft, as it is made of decomposed coral. The rocks provide great snorkelling and are the perfect habitat for the Sally Lightfoot crabs, which are plentiful on the island. A saltwater lagoon near the beach is home to flamingo, whimbrel and great blue herons. This is your final excursion before you return to the airport in Baltra for your flight back to the mainland.
Included Activities
● Bachas Beach Visit
Meals Included
● Breakfast
