NEMO II Itinerary SOUTH - 5 days
ITINERARY SOUTH - 5 DAYS
SUNDAY
AM: Baltra Airport: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: Santa Cruz: North Seymour (HK/SN)
MONDAY
AM: San Cristobal: Lobos Island (HK/PR/SN) - Kicker Rock (PR)
PM: San Cristobal: Witch Hill (HK/PR/SN)
TUESDAY
AM: Floreana: Champion Islet / Cormorant Point (HK/SN)
PM: Floreana: Post Office Bay / The baroness Viewpoint (HK/SN)
WEDNESDAY
AM: Espanola: Osborn Islet (SN) / Gardner Bay (HK/SN)
PM: Espanola: Suarez Point (HK)
THURSDAY
AM: Santa cruz: Highlands (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
Arrival to the airport in Baltra, reception by the cruise guide and transfer to the yacht.
PM: NORTH SEYMOUR
Start at mid-day
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 ISLANDS - KICKER ROCK
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: SAN CRISTOBAL: WITCH HILL
Lunch service and navigation to Witch Hill. 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, Witch Hil is a very striking, eroded tuff cone.
There is no landing at Kicker Rock. Also known as Kicker Rock 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 Floreana Island.
DAY 3: TUESDAY
AM: FLOREANA: CHAMPION ISLET - CORMORANT POINT
Breakfast service. Visit to Floreana Island: Champion Islet, Cormorant Point, 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: FLOREANA: POST OFFICE BAY
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.
The Baroness Viewpoint the tough Galapagos life and a few misfortunes had them abandon their dreams. This site is especially attractive because aside from its impressive scenic beauty, it has a history. It is known by letters that Baroness Eloisa von Wagner (referring to “The Galapagos Affair” by John Treherne) loved this place, where she spent several hours where she could acquire knowledge of vessels approaching the island. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as the House of the Baroness.
Time and weather permitting you may have the opportunity to snorkel again from the beach.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Espanola Island.
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY
AM: ESPANOLA: OSBORN ISLET - GARDNER BAY
Breakfast service. Deep water snorkeling. Panga boat exploration rides to Gardner Bay. Dry landing. Gardner Islet, Osborn Islet. Nature walk. Swimming.
Osborn Islet is located to the southeast of Gardner Bay, near Española Island. Since landing is not allowed on this site, the visit consists of a tranquil panga ride that will allow us to enjoy the panoramic views and the many species that inhabit the place.
The islet was named after Henry Fairfield Osborn, a true lover of nature and animal species. William Beebe worked for him and named the islet after traveling to discover Galapagos.
There are many different schools of fish and other animal species, such as parrotfish, sea lions, butterfly fish, corals, green pencil urchins and many other colorful fish. This site is also great for snorkeling and swimming around the abundant marine life, as its waters are very calm.
Gardner Island is located a few hundred meters north of Española Island and faces Gardner Bay. Just like Española, Gardner Island is uninhabited and accessible only by cruise. Is a natural islet close to Española, the southernmost island of Galápagos. It is one of the best spots in the archipelago to snorkel with sea lions. Playful and inquisitive, they often join the snorkelers in the water.
PM: ESPANOLA: SUAREZ POINT
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 Santa Cruz Island.
DAY 5: THURSDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS - BALTRA TRASFER TO THE AIRPORT
Check out and airport departure.Breakfast service. Visit to Santa Cruz Highlands. Dry landing.
The highlands of Santa Cruz have incredible zones of vegetation. 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.
