Monserrat Itinerary C+D - 7 Days
ITINERARY C+D - 7 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: Santa Cruz: Highlands (HK)
FRIDAY
AM: Genovesa: Darwin Bay (HK/SN)
PM: Genovesa: El Barranco / Prince Philip Steps (HK)
SATURDAY
AM: Bartolome Island (HK)
PM: Santa Cruz: Bowditch Point (HK/SN)
SUNDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Bachas Beach (P
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
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.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS.
Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz and see the Galápagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. Explore the area and its incredible underground lava tunnels – some are more than 1km long! Wander along the volcanic tubes and keep an eye out for the (mainly) nocturnal barn owls that sometimes roost here.
DAY 5: FRIDAY
AM: GENOVESA: EL BARRANCO: PRINCE PHILIP'S STEPS.
Today we will be visiting the beautiful and remote Genovesa Island. This northern island, famous for its red-footed colony, is a paradise for bird lovers. It is estimated that about 200,00 Red-footed boobies live on this island.
Darwin bay was formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island, another name used for Genovesa. After landing at a small sand and coral beach, it easy to realize why this island is a bird lover paradise. Among the bird species found here, the most common are swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos doves and yellow warblers. We will continue on a short and flat trail to encounter red- footed booby and great frigatebird nests.
We will visit a tidal lagoon where sea lions swim playfully ending our path on a cliff with magnificent views of this remote part of the Galapagos.
PM: GENOVESA: DARWIN BAY
Prince Phillips’s Steps Excursion (PM)
El Barranco or Prince Phillips’s Steps as otherwise known, was named after a visit by the British Monarch in 1964. El Barranco's steep 81-foot stairway leads up to a high cliff-face that opens out onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay.
Here an amazing view can be appreciated. Once at the top of the stairway we will meet Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds, and finches along the way of a palo santo trail. It will also be possible to see wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm and short- eared owls.
DAY 6: SATURDAY
AM: BARTOLOME ISLAND
Bartolomé Island Excursion (AM)
Hike to Bartolomé summit for a stronger perspective of the islands not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy a panoramic view – it’s one of the best among the islands! See other Galápagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark.
Take the opportunity to swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic volcanic rock formations on the islands. Home to Galápagos penguins, friendly sea lions, sea turtles, and a huge variety of fish, Bartolomé and its surrounding waters are a fantastic place to explore the natural wonders of the Galápagos.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: BOWDITCH POINT
Bowditch Point Excursion (PM)
This is a unique place where almost nobody visits, on this amazing spot you can relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals.
In the afternoon, you will visit one of the last off-the-beaten-path sites in the Galapagos Islands. Only a couple of cruises visit Bowditch Point. This pristine site offers you a great snorkeling session with giant schools of black-striped salema, parrotfish, and Mexican hogfish, or you can enjoy kayaking or SUP if you prefer. Afterwards, you spend time on the beach relaxing or walking around it.
DAY 7: SUNDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: BACHAS BEACH / BALTRA ISLAND
Bachas Beach Excursion (AM)
Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles.
Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the waters edge -- these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and sea lions.
Baltra
Disembark at Baltra for flight back to Ecuador mainland.
