ITINERARY “H" (MON - FRI) - 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
MONDAY to FRIDAY
5 days / 4 nights
Day 1: MONDAY: Baltra airport – Tortuga Bay beach
Day 2: TUESDAY: Charles Darwin Station – El Chato
Day 3: WEDNESDAY: Isabela Island: (Wetlands – Wall of tears - Breeding center Arnaldo Tupiza – Sierra Negra)
Day 4: THURSDAY: Santa Cruz Island (Bahía Ballena – Edén - Dragón hill)
Day 5: FRIDAY: Black turtle cove – Baltra airport.
*includes FIRST night hotel in Puerto Ayora.
DAY 1: Monday: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
AM
Depart from Guayaquil to Galápagos (1½ hours of flight time). BALTRA ISLAND.- 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. At the Arrival at Baltra Airport, our naturalist English speaking guide will assists you. Transfer to the yacht. Welcome and briefing.
PM
TORTUGA BAY.- After lunch, visit to Tortuga Bay Beach a pristine location covered with beautiful white sand beach. It takes around an hour walk to get the beach. Beautiful birds including the famous Galapagos finches can be admired. The trail to the beach is paved and marked. There are two beaches at Tortuga Bay, the main beach is used for surfing due to its strong waves. There is a site where sea is calm. After this visit you can enjoy the attractions of the night-life offered by the Island.
Accommodation and dinner at Hotel Fernandina or similar.
DAY 2: Tuesday: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
AM
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND (CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION).- 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.
PM
HACIENDA PRIMICIAS.- After lunch, visit to Hacienda Primicias to see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around eating grass and leaves and wallowing. Some highland birds, like cattle egrets, mockingbirds, finches or flycatchers can be seen here. After the hike return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for next day.
DAY 3: Wednesday: ISABELA ISLAND
AM
HUMEDALES.- Disembark (dry landing), walk for about 30 mins. This area is characterized by sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. The area has a number of trails where you can see all four species of mangroves found in Galapagos and also migratory birds: whimbrel, short-billed dowitcher, wilson’s phalarope, common tern, blue-winged teal, osprey, black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs to name a few.
WALL OF TEARS. - By bus to Wall of tears a sad reminder of the history of Isabela. The wall was constructed between 1946 and 1959 while Isabela was a penal colony. As punishment the prisoners were forced to build the wall from huge blocks of lava. The wall is named for the many convicts that died while building the wall.
BREEDING CENTER ARNALDO TUPIZA. - This center has a captive breeding program for tortoises from the populations of southern Isabela. Lunch.
PM
*LAS TINTORERAS.- After lunch, Las Tintoreras is located south of Puerto Villamil. It has a small bay of completely calm turquoise waters, where you can appreciate sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc. The bay is connected to a crevice of crystal clear water, that's shallow and when the tide is low, the entrance closes. In this crevice, you can see how reef sharks swim along with other small fish and sea lions. Dinner and briefing for next day.
DAY 4: Thursday: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
AM
BAHIA BALLENA.- After breakfast disembarkation at Bahia Ballena (wet landing). Sandy beach and with a short walk you can observe Galapagos Sea Lions lounging and unique marine Iguanas basking in the sun, sometimes resting on the succulent Sesubium plant, which is commonly known as carpet weed, and lava rocks. Here, different species of mangroves such as Red Mangrove, Black Mangrove, and White Mangrove grow among the lava fields providing nutrients into the water that attract colorful tropical fish that can be observed as you snorkel .
EDEN.- Islet located further to the west of the main island of Santa Cruz. Panga ride to observe Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas. Snorkeling to observe octopus, sharks and large schools of the endemic salemas. Lunch on board.
PM
CERRO DRAGON.- After lunch, dry landing at a dock, the walk takes you to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon behind the beach, often frequented by flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. There is a short walk to the hill, which rewards with a great view of the bay and a nesting site of land iguanas. Many of the Iguanas that nest here have been repatriated by the Charles Darwin Research Station.
DAY 5: Friday: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
AM
BLACK TURTLE COVE.- After breakfast a dinghy (panga) visit to Black Turtle Bay (Caleta Tortuga Negra). This is very close to Baltra. It is very special due to its lovely beach with sea lions and its clear, calm water. Black (Pacific Green) Turtles and many different types of birds can be seen feeding here as you are paddled around the beautiful lagoons hidden in the mangroves. 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.
