NEMO III ITINERARY SOUTH - 8 DAYS
ITINERARY B (SOUTH) - 8 DAYS
SUNDAY
AM: Baltra Airport: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: North Seymour (HK/SN)
MONDAY
AM: San Cristobal: Lobos Island (HK/SN)
PM: San Cristobal: Kicker Rock / Witch Hill (HK/SN)
TUESDAY
AM: Espanola: Gardner Bay (HK/ SN)
PM: Espanola: Suarez Point (HK)
WEDNESDAY
AM: Floreana: Cormorant Point / Champion islet (HK/SN)
PM: Floreana: Post Office Bay (SN/HK)
THURSDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Highlands (HK)
PM: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station (HK)
FRIDAY
AM: South Plaza (HK)
PM: Santa Fe (HK)
SATURDAY
AM: Bartolome (HK/SN)
PM: Sullivan Bay (HK/SN)
SUNDAY
AM: Daphne (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
Morning: Arrival to the airport in Baltra, reception by the cruise guide and transfer to the yacht.
PM: NORTH SEYMOUR
Afternoon: Lunch service and navigation to Seymour Island, North of Baltra. Dry landing. Nature walk* in North Seymour.
*The trail is approximately 2 km (1.25 miles) in length crossing the inland of the island and exploring the rocky coast. Along the way the trail passes colonies of Blue-Footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigatebirds. The Magnificent Frigatebird, a large black bird with a long wingspan, and a hooked beak, is extremely fast and has excellent vision. Frigatebirds are known for the large red pouch on their necks. Boobies and Frigates share 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 Magnificent Frigatebird nests just above them in the saltbushes. Evening: Guide briefing. Welcome cocktail.
Dinner service and navigation to San Cristobal Island.
DAY 2: MONDAY
AM: SAN CRISTOBAL LOBOS ISLAND
Morning: Breakfast service. Dry landing. Nature walk and more wildlife watching. Deep water snorkeling.
*Lobos Island, as its name suggests is famous for its population of sea lions and fur sea lions. You will also encounter nesting grounds for the great Frigatebird and a small number of blue footed boobies. Breeding center, where will be explained, in a simple manner, the natural phenomena that created the Galapagos Islands. That is the geology and the series of natural processes, such as volcanic eruption and marine current locations that have led to the amazing islands that you are now visiting.
PM: KICKER ROCK / BRUJO HILL
Afternoon: Lunch service and navigation to Cerro Brujo* . Panga boat exploration rides. Wet landing. Nature walk*. Deep water snorkeling.
*One of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin, Cerro Brujo is a beautiful white sand beach where Brown Pelicans, Blue‐Footed Boobies, sea lions, and marine iguanas are all found. An onshore version of nearby Kicker Rock, Cerro Brujo is a very striking, eroded tuff cone.
There is no landing at Kicker Rock. Also known as León Dormido these rocks are located off the coast of San Cristobal. It is the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, the two vertical rocks rising 500 feet from the ocean form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. This natural monument has become a favorite sight for cruises due to the many Tropicbirds, Frigates and Boobies that fill the surrounding air. Beneath the sea the nearly crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Espanola Island.
DAY 3: TUESDAY
AM: ESPANOLA GARDNER BAY
Morning: Breakfast service. Deep water snorkeling. Panga boat exploration rides to Gardner Bay. Dry landing. Gardner Islet, Osborn Islet. Nature walk*. Swimming.
*Gardner Bay is a 45‐minute boat ride from Suarez Point. It has a white sand beach and there is a small colony of sea lions. The possibilities for swimming or scuba diving are excellent here. Visitors find migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly colored Marine Iguanas, Española Lava Lizards, Hood Mockingbirds, Swallow Tailed Gulls, Blue Footed and Masked Boobies, Galapagos Hawks, a selection of Finch, and the Waved Albatross. Snorkel and go on a panga ride at Gardner Islet, and at Osborn Islet snorkel once more.
PM: SUAREZ POINT
Afternoon: Lunch service. Visit to Suarez Point. Dry landing. Nature walk*.
*Suarez point is located on the western tip of Española and it offers great wildlife viewing of such species as Sea Lions, Sea Birds and the largest Marine Iguanas of Galapagos. This is one of the best sites in the Galapagos. The amount of wildlife is overwhelming. Along the beach there are many Sea Lions and large, colorful Lava Lizards and Marine Iguanas. As you follow the trail to the cliff's edge Masked Boobies can be found nesting among the rock formations. After a short walk down to a beach and back up the other side Blue‐Footed Boobies are seen nesting just off the trail.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Floreana Island.
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY
AM: FLOREANA CORMORANT POINT / CHAMPION ISLET
Morning: Breakfast service. Visit to Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Champion Islet, Baroness Viewpoint. Wet landing. Nature walk*. Possible activities: deep water snorkeling, kayaking, panga boat exploration rides.
*The visit to Cormorant Point offers two contrasting beaches. Arriving on shore you will encounter a green sand beach (the green sand is caused by the olivine crystals derived silicates or magnesium and iron). From here you will follow the trail leading to a lagoon where Pink Flamingoes and other shore birds can be seen in the distance making their home. If you look closely at the mud of this lagoon, there appears to be 'cracks' in the mud. These cracks are not caused from dryness but are actual flamingo footpaths. This is also a good spot for seeing Large‐Billed Flycatchers, Small‐Ground Finches, Medium‐Ground Finches or Cactus Finches. The walk continues to another beach on the other side made of fine white sand particles known as "Flour Beach". In the waters Ghost Crabs and Rays can be seen swimming. Time and weather permitting you may even go for a swim or a snorkel. Other activities include a panga ride to Champion Point and kayaking at Baroness Viewpoint.
PM: POST OFFICE BAY
Afternoon: Lunch service. Panga boat ride to Post Office Bay*. Wet landing. Nature walk**. Snorkeling from the beach.
*In 1793 British whalers established the Post Office Barrel to send letters to and from England. This tradition has continued over the years, and even today visitors may drop off and pick up letters, without stamps, to be carried to far destinations. This is one of the few visitor sites that is visited for its human history. Whaling Captain James Colnett established the wooden post barrel in the early 1793. At the time whaling was a big industry, ships were typically gone for 2 years at a time. The Galapagos Islands were a frequent stop for these ships. Outbound ships would drop off letters after rounding the cape and the ships returning home would mail them. Over the years thousands of ships have stopped to send and receive mail at Post Office Bay. Many have posted a sign of driftwood or other materials memorializing their visit. This is the only area in the Galapagos were graffiti is still acceptable.
**Arriving at Post Office Bay you will land on a brown sand beach, passing the sea lions lying in the sun. At the post barrel the guide will pull a handful of letters for the group. Continuing the tradition, the letters are brought home with the traveler and then mailed to the addressee. Visitors also have the opportunity to send letters of their own. There are also the remains of a Norwegian Fishing Village a commercial fishing operation established in 1926 and abandoned a couple of years later. The group of Norwegians arrived with dreams of riches started a fishing and canning operation on $900 each. The tough Galapagos life and a few misfortunes had them abandon their dreams. Time and weather permitting you may have the opportunity to snorkel again from the beach.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Santa Cruz Island.
DAY 5: THURSDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS “LAS PRIMICIAS”
Morning: Breakfast service. Visit to Santa Cruz Highlands*. Dry landing.
*The highlands of Santa Cruz have incredible zones of vegetation. Visit to the private estate “Las Primicias”. This reserve offers you one of the best possibilities to see the huge turtles of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from very close.
PM: CHARLES DARWIN STATION
Afternoon: Lunch service. Visit to Charles Darwin Scientific Station and Breeding Center*. Dry landing.
*The main visit in Puerto Ayora is to Charles Darwin Station. An excellent way to begin learning about the islands, their origin and formation. You will learn about how the Galapagos turtles are raised and meet Jorge, the famous solitary turtle. The Scientific Station has its own beach that receives many visitors on weekends.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to South Plaza.
DAY 6: FRIDAY
AM: SOUTH PLAZA
Morning: Breakfast service. Dry landing. Visit to South Plaza. Nature walk*. Deep water snorkeling.
*Your visit to South Plaza begins with a dry landing. The rocky trail circumnavigates the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. South Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas in the Galapagos. The iguanas seem to be everywhere once you land. These larger than average yellow‐brown land iguanas feed on the fruit and pads of the prickly pear cactus. South Plaza is also home to Marine Iguanas living along the coast and a Hybrid Iguanas whose fathers are Marine Iguanas and mothers are Land Iguanas. As the walk continues along the sea cliffs Swallow‐tailed Gulls, Frigatebirds, Audubon Shearwaters, Red‐billed Tropicbirds, Brown Pelicans, Blue‐Footed and Masked Boobies are frequently seen. Beneath along the shore a colony of Bachelor Sea Lions can be seen.
PM: SANTA FE
Afternoon: Lunch service. Navigation to Santa Fe. Wet landing. Nature walk*. Deep water snorkeling.
*Santa Fe Island is home to one of the most beautiful coves in all the Galapagos. It is located in the southeastern part of Galapagos, 2 1/2 hours from Santa Cruz and 3 hours from San Cristobal. Santa Fe was formed from an uplift (rather than a volcano) giving the island a relatively flat surface rather than the typical conical shape of the other islands. Visits to Santa Fe begin with a panga boat ride across the lovely turquoise lagoon. Once ashore you are brought into contact with one of the many sea lion colonies in the Galapagos. Bulls compete for the right of beach master while cows lounge in the sun. It is quite a fascinating sight! The loop trail around the island leads past the salt bushes where Galapagos Hawks can be approached easily. Santa Fe is home to endemic Land Iguanas. These iguanas are the largest in the islands and they are beige to chocolate brown in color and resemble small dinosaurs. Reaching the summit there is a stunning view of the cove beneath.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to San Cristobal.
DAY 7: SATURDAY
AM: SANTIAGO; BARTOLOME
Morning: Breakfast service. Deep water snorkeling. Visit to Bartolome. Dry landing. Nature walk*.
*This desolate island with few plants is the most visited and most photographed island in the Galapagos. The island consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and glistening black volcanic formations. The best known of the island's features is the Tuff Cone known as Pinnacle Rock. This large black partially eroded lava formation was created when magma expelled from the volcano reached the sea. When the seawaters cooled the hot lava it caused an explosion. The exploded particles eventually fasten together forming a rock composed of thin layers. Bartolome's Pinnacle Rock has become one of the best recognized and most photographed sights in the islands.
A prominent sight it was used as a target for US airmen during WWII. Lying beside the Pinnacle Rock are twin half-moon shaped beaches.
The northern beach is a popular snorkeling site where visitors have the opportunity to swim with fish, Sea Lions and Galapagos Penguins. Much larger animals can be found near the southern beach including stingrays, spotted eagle rays, white‐tipped sharks, and black‐tipped sharks. Little vegetation grows in this barren place. Mangroves border the beach and the small shrub Tiguilia grows in the volcanic sands. The seeds and tiny white flowers of the Chamaesycae provide food for the island's finch. These plants are common to arid regions and are able to survive in these harsh volcanic conditions.
PM: SULLIVAN BAY
Panga boat ride to Sullivan Bay. Wet landing. Nature walk*. Snorkeling from the beach.
*The main attraction of this bay are the broad, Pahoehoe or rope lava flows. It is one of the most incredible places to compare the lava flows and their characteristics.
Dinner service and navigation to Santa Cruz Island.
DAY 8: SUNDAY
AM: DAPHNE / BALTRA TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
Morning: Circumnavigation*. Breakfast service. Check out and airport departure at 8 AM.
*Among the central islands of the Galapagos Archipelago, Daphne Island sits north of Santa Cruz Island and west of Baltra Island. In reality there are two islands: Daphne Major and Daphne Minor. They are one of the more accessible Galapagos Islands and are easily reached by most tour boats and cruises. Please note that disembarkation on these islands is not possible, therefore we will sail around them for one last look at the beautiful vistas of Galapagos.
