Monserrat Itinerary C - 4 Days
ITINERARY C - 4 DAYS
MONDAY
AM: San Cristobal: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: San Cristobal: Lobos Island (HK)
TUESDAY
AM: Espanola: Gardner Bay (HK/SN)
PM: Espanola: Suarez Point (HK)
WEDNESDAY
AM: Floreana: Cormorant Point (HK/SN/PR)
PM: Floreana: Post Office Bay (SN/HK/PR)
THURSDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station (HK)
PM: Baltra: Transfer to the Airport
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1: MONDAY
SAN CRISTOBAL ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
San Cristobal
Catch an early flight to San Cristóbal Island. After clearing customs and immigration you will be met by our guide and transferred to the M/Y Monserrat. In the afternoon, you will be transfer to visit Isla Lobos and be greeted by sea lions frolicking in the waves.
PM: SAN CRISTOBAL: LOBOS ISLANDS
Isla Lobos Visit (PM)
Explore this tiny island by foot and boat for some great wildlife encounters. Taking a panga ride to view the sea and shore birds nesting and feeding. You will be able to spot a small colony of blue-footed boobies as well as two species of sea lions.
DAY 2: TUESDAY
AM: ESPANOLA: GARDNER BAY VISIT
Enjoy the day on Española Island, one of the oldest in the archipelago. Visit the white sandy beach of Gardner Bays and the bird colonies of Punta Suárez. Arriving in the morning, you will spend the day exploring on shore and snorkeling at Gardner Bay. After lunch, sail to the western side of the islands to Punta Suárez, known for its amazing bird colonies and home to the waved albatross (April and December).
PM: ESPANOLA: SUAREZ POINT.
The morning starts with a visit to Gardner Bays magnificent white sandy beach, home to sea lions and sea birds. Be sure to explore the beautiful turquoise water and its incredible sea life. Spot young sea lions and large schools of surprisingly big tropical fish, including yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrot fish.
Also, you will visit Tortuga Rock for a spectacular snorkeling experience. Spot playful young sea lions and large schools of tropical fish, including yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrot fish. Look for white-tipped reef sharks napping on the bottom.
Punta Suárez Visit (PM)
Visit Punta Suárez, one of most rich wildlife landing sites in the Galápagos. Be greeted by surfing young sea lions on arrival. Head to the trail to find many species of nesting sea birds, and, if lucky, see the waved albatross. Follow the path up to a cliff for great views over the ocean, and watch sea birds gliding in the wind.
DAY 3: WEDNESDAY
AM: FLOREANA: CORMORANT POINT
FloreaLand at Punta Cormorant on Floreana. Guided walks to observe the bird and wildlife and learn about the natural history. Snorkeling excursion at Champion Islet. Visit Post Office Bay.
Punta Cormorant Visit (AM)
Floreana Island Visit Punta Cormorant, the only landing site on Floreana Island, and discover two amazingly different beaches: one with green sand, colored by olivine crystals, and another with white sand particles known as Flour Beach.
Spend the afternoon observing flamingos and other shore birds feeding in the lagoon. Spot penguins and marine iguanas at the water’s edge, and explore the lava tubes with the Galápagos CEO.
Snorkeling (Champion Islet) (AM)
Champion Islet
Jump on in and get up close and personal with the playful sea lion colony that reside in the waters off this tiny island. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays and colorful fish swimming by. There can be currents in this area, this activity should be done by strong swimmers
only.na Island Visit Punta Cormorant, the only landing site on Floreana Island, and discover two amazingly different beaches: one with green sand, coloured by olivine crystals, and another with white sand particles known as 'Flour Beach'. Spend the afternoon observing flamingos and other shore birds feeding in the lagoon.
Spot penguins and marine iguanas at the water’s edge, and explore the lava tubes with the Galápagos CEO.
Champion Islet Jump on in and get up close and personal with the playful sea lion colony that reside in the waters off this tiny island. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays and colourful fish swimming by. There can be currents in this area, this activity should be done by strong swimmers only.
PM: FLOREANA: POST OFFICE BAY
Post Office Bay Visit (PM)
Floreana Island
Visit Post Office Bay and learn about its unique history. In the late 18th century, English whaling vessels placed a barrel here to be used as a post office. Today, the box is used mainly by tourists, who may drop off and pick up unstamped letters to be carried to far destinations. Continue the tradition – leave a letter and take one to deliver (be sure it makes it to the correct location)
DAY 4: THURSDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: CHARLES DARWIN STATION / AIRPORT
Disembark in Puerto Ayora and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant Galápagos tortoises. Fly back to mainland from Baltra airport.
Charles Darwin Research Station Visit (AM)
Puerto Ayora
Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened.
This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.
