GOLONDRINA Itinerary B - 5 days
ITINERARY B - 5 DAYS
FRIDAY
AM: Baltra Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: Mosquera Islet (HK/SN)
SATURDAY
AM: Isabela: Punta Vicente Roca (SN/PR)
PM: Fernandina: Espinosa Point (HK)
SUNDAY
AM: Isabela: Urbina Bay (HK/SN)
PM: Isabela: Tagus Cove (HK)
MONDAY
AM: Santiago: Egas Port (HK/SN)
PM: Chinese Hat (HK/SN)
TUESDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station (HK)
Baltra: Transfer to the Airport
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1: FRIDAY
AM: BALTRA
Arrival to Baltra Airport, where the naturalist English speaking guide assists you. Transfer by bus to the dock (5 mins.) to board the yacht. Welcome and briefing.
This island was a strategic point during the Second World War. It is the main airport for the Galapagos Islands where tourists and colonists arrive and depart. Baltra is also called South Seymour and its dock. The Itabaca Channel is only 5 minutes from the air terminal.
PM: MOSQUERA ISLET
After lunch, disembarkation at Mosquera Island (wet landing) located between North Seymour and Baltra. The island consists is a long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks, and tide pools. Created by Geological uplift the island has a flat look to it rather than the conical shape of the volcanically formed islands. It is a great place for snorkeling, strolling on the beach, and enjoying the animal life without the tourist crowds common at many of the more popular islands.. This islet is actually home to a huge population of sea lions and is also home to many shorebirds. Briefing and dinner on board.
DAY 2: SATURDAY
AM: ISABELA ISLAND - VICENTE ROCA POINT
After breakfast, panga ride visit to Vicente Roca Point. Comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life, observing seahorses, sea turtles, rays, puffer fish, the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola (or sunfish), we see also penguins, blue-footed boobies and nazca boobies. Lunch on board.
PM: FERNANDINA ISLAND - ESPINOZA POINT
In the afternoon disembarkation (dry landing). Walk (600m. round trip, 1½h, flat, sandy and rocky path) to see lava flows, a colony of marine iguanas (nesting time: January to June), penguins, pelicans and colonies of cormorants, lava cactus. Time for snorkeling. Briefing and dinner on board.
DAY 3: SUNDAY
AM : ISABELA ISLAND - MORENO POINT
It is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. Disembark (dry landing). Hike along a lava flow Pahohoe (lava solidified with corrugated shapes as an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons. (2kms. Round trip, 1½h, rocky, starts at 0m and ascend 10m). The vegetation found in the area is small and concentrated mainly in the mangrove area and around the lakes. (Note.- Wear comfortable and appropriate shoes for this hike). Time for snorkeling.
PM: ISABELA ISLAND - TAGUS COVE (Caleta Tagus)
This was a port where whaling ships arrived and left their ships’ names in a cave in 1800. In the high part is the Darwin Lake, a round salt water crater. Disembark (dry landing). Walk begins from the shore by a wooden stairway that rises to the dusty trail passing through Palo Santo Forest to reach the Darwin Lake. Continue on the trail around the lake through the dry vegetation zone. Panoramic views to the Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. (2kms round trip, 2h / starts at 0m, ascending to 50mts). Later, panga ride through the cliffs to observe the historical graffiti, penguins, flightless cormorants, boobies, pelicans and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Snorkeling time in the cove.
DAY 4: MONDAY
AM: SANTIAGO ISLAND - EGAS PORT
The visit to Puerto Egas begins with a wet landing on the dark sand beach of James Bay. Walk along a rocky trail to the salt crater (1.7km. round trip, 1½ h, start at 0m, ascend 30m), observing Darwin Finches, the endemic Galapagos hawks, marine iguanas, sally light root crabs and fur seals and sea lions. Time for swimming and snorkeling.
PM: CHINESSE HAT
After lunch, disembark (wet landing) for a short walk of 200m. (30mins. round trip, flat and rocky), observing lava tunnels, lava cactus, Galápagos Sesuvium. Time to swim and snorkel. Return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for next day.
DAY 5: TUESDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND - CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION - BALTRA
After breakfast, walk for about 20 mins. to the Charles Darwin Station, to observe the Galapagos turtles breading and have a look at famous Lonesome George. The Darwin Station is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands, an international non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research in the Galápagos Islands since 1959. After this visit transfer to Baltra Airport by bus for your return flight to Guayaquil/Quito This is the end of the trip.
Note.- The captain reserves the right to change the itinerary if circumstances are beyond of this control as weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations.