Grand Queen Beatriz Itinerary B - 8 days
ITINERARY B - 8 DAYS
SUNDAY
AM: San Cristobal Airport: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: San Cristobal: Interpretation Center Colorado Hill (HK/SN)
MONDAY
AM: Bartolome (HK/SN)
PM: Santiago: Sullivan Bay (HK/SN)
TUESDAY
AM: Santiago: Espumilla Beach (SN/HK)
PM: Santiago: Buccaneer Cove - Egas Port (HK/SN)
WEDNESDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Higlands (HK)
PM: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station (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: SAN CRISTOBAL: 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: SAN CRISTOBAL COLORADO HILL INTERPRETATION CENTER
This afternoon you'll travel into the interior of Isla San Cristobal to visit the highlands site of Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado (Red Hill) where the national park has established a breeding program and information centre for native tortoises. Here, you'll be able to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat and learn all about their origin, evolution and their threatened future.
Included Activities
● San Cristobal Highlands
Meals Included
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 2: MONDAY
AM: BARTOLOME
Arrive at Bartolome – one of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes in the Galapagos, full of parasitic cones, lava flows and home to Galapagos penguins and lava lizards.
Bartolome is a relatively new island in the archipelago and traces of its volcanic past can be seen everywhere, as seen by the amazing lunar-like landscape. The Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos – a rock structure protruding from the earth like a tooth, providing a focal point for two nearby bays.
PM: SULLIVAN BAY
Head to nearby Isla Santiago, where you can hike to the top of a once-active volcano (360 wooden steps) and enjoy superb views across to Sullivan Bay. If you’re in luck, you might catch a glance of the Galapagos Hawk. You also have the opportunity to go snorkelling with plenty of tropical fish, starfish, white-tipped reef sharks, rays and (hopefully) penguins.
On Santiago's eastern coast sits James Island. Here, take a walk on Pahoe-Hoe lava, from an eruption that occurred in 1897, and witness the regrowth of unique plant species since the last eruption. Look out for marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, finches, turtles, sharks and penguins. On a walk, your guide will explain the interesting geological history of the islands.
Included Activities
● Isla Bartolome
● Sullivan Bay
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 3: TUESDAY
AM: SANTIAGO: ESPUMILLA BEACH
Start the morning at Espumilla Beach, on the northern coast of Santiago in James Bay one of the most idyllic locations in the Galapagos. With large waves, it's often a favourite among beach lovers, and is also an important nesting site for marine turtles.
Look around and see Galapagos hawks, ghost crabs, blue-footed boobies (often plunging for fish) and brown pelicans up close. Espumilla is also well known for its forest of palo santo trees and some extraordinary lava formations.
PM: SANTIAGO: BUCANEER COVE - EGAS PORT
You'll 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, including where Charles Darwin camped for nine days while making his study of the islands and their wildlife. If conditions are favourable, you can enjoy some further snorkelling.
The next stop is Puerto Egas, a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago. 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. On the walk along the beach, you’ll encounter hundreds of marine iguanas and Galapagos sea lions. You will also see amazing tidal pools formed from ancient lava flow and home to sponges, snails, hermit crabs, barnacles and fish. Snorkelling with the seals always offers the possibility of thrilling encounters.
Included Activities
● Espumilla Beach and Buccaneer’s Cove
● Puerto Egas
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
Today you'll visit Isla Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, and home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. As well as undertaking vital conservation work, the station also makes for interesting exploration and offers the best opportunities for close encounters with giant tortoises. You'll also see baby tortoises and land iguanas.
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
● Charles Darwin Research Station
● Santa Cruz Highlands
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner
DAY 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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 8: 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
