Galapagos Economy Yacht Cruises

Sail among the islands of the Galapagos in a charming candy-naturalist trip holidaysapple red schooner affectionately known as the Encantada (the Enchanted). This 70 foot yacht can accommodate 12 passengers in twin cabins with upper and lower berths. All cabins have private bathroom and shower facilities. Public areas offer generous deck space, dining room and bar.

Cruising at 7 knots with a 5-person crew, including a naturalist guide, Encantada is also an ideal boat for private charters and scuba diving groups.

The m/s Encantada, an exotic, romantic motor sailer is outfitted to carry 12 passengers in 6 double cabins on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to the Galapagos Islands. The Encantada was recently refurbished in 2004 offering a great combination of value and comfort.

Itinerary:
Sunday: Flight Mainland-Baltra, North Seymour
In the morning you will fly to the Baltra. At the airport you will pay the entrance fee to the national park in cash and then a member of the Crew will welcome you and take you to the ship. After lunch you will be visiting the bay Caleta Tortuga Negra which is on the island of Santa Cruz. This bay is surrounded by mangroves where you can spot pelicans and herons. While snorkelling you can have a swim with the turtles, white-tip sharks and rays. -/L/D

Monday: Rabida / Bartolome
In the morninge you’ll do a trip to the beach of the small volcanic island Rábida. A small path leads to a small lagoon very popular with flamingos. On the way there you pass many pelicans nesting. The beach is also considered as one of the most beautiful snorkel places in Galápagos and also frequently visited by many sea lions due to its fish wealth. In the afternoon you will be arriving at Bartolome. You will ascend a lookout point from where you can admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous needle shaped rock, the so called Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some fine snorkeling spots from which you can discover the marvelous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles. B/L/D

Tuesday: Genovesa
Genovesa Island is formed by the remaining edges of a large crater that is now mostly submerged. Genovesa is know as "the bird island" and it certainly honours its name. Darwin Bay Beach is filled with Frigate birds and their bustling activity. Along the trail are pairs of Swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gulls in the world and Red-footed boobies, with their contrasting red feet and blue bills.
Lava gulls, Pintail ducks, Yellow Crowned and Lava herons, Whimbrels, and other birds feed near the shores of a tidal lagoon just beyond the rocky edge that faces the bay. A dinghy ride along the walls of the crater reveals the variety of animals that find shelter in the ledges and crevices of the lava. Above, the elegant Red-billed tropicbirds fly in and out of their nests. B/L/D

Wednesday: Plazas / Sta Cruz - Charles Darwin Station
Located on the east of Santa Cruz, the main characteristics on the small island South Plaza are the Opuntia cacti and the carpets of red sesuvium, a succulent plant that turns green in the rainy season. The cactus is the main food of land iguanas, which are usually found resting at the cactu's shade. The island contains one of the largest sea lion colony of Galapagos, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds nesting, and boobies roosting on the south cliff of the island.

Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, with the largest population of the 4 inhabited islands (approx 10.000). Santa Cruz is also the only island where six different zones of vegetation can be seen: Coastal, Arid, Transition, Scalesia, Miconia, and Pampa Zones. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based here. You will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of their kind. Scientists, park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing centre, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this island will probably be Lonesome George. He is the only surviver of the specific turtle species. The lush greenery of the Santa Cruz highlands is a welcome contrast with the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. Points of interest are the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. B/L/D

Thursday: Floreana - Punta Cormorant – Post office bay
Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Islands of the archipelago.
At Punta Cormorant you land on a green olivine sand beach. Following a 100 m long path you will soon reach a lagoon with flamingoes, white-checked pintail ducks and other shorebirds. The trail goes on to a white beach made of grinned coral, so it looks like flour. This is the green sea turtle’s nesting place. To the west, Post Office Bay keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to send their mail. B/L/D

Friday: Española - Gardner Bay - Pta. Suarez
Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and being so isolated, a high percentage of its fauna is endemic.
Punta Suarez, on the western coast of the island, is one of the most popular and attractive places in Galapagos. Sea lions, the picturesque marine iguana, blue footed and masked boobies nesting next to the trail are found there. This is also the only place in the world where the waved albatross nests. Along the cliffs there is spectacular view of a fantastic blowhole. Gardner Bay has a beautiful white sand beach to be shared with sea lions and curious mocking birds. Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and being so isolated, a high percentage of its fauna is endemic.
Punta Suarez, on the western coast of the island, is one of the most popular and attractive places in Galapagos. Sea lions, the picturesque marine iguana, blue footed and masked boobies nesting next to the trail are found there. This is also the only place in the world where the waved albatross nests. Along the cliffs there is spectacular view of a fantastic blowhole. Gardner Bay has a beautiful white sand beach to be shared with sea lions and curious mocking birds. B/L/D

Saturday: Leon Dormido - Santa Fe
In the morning you will be passing the shattered rock “Leon Dormido” also known as Kicker Rock, who serves as nesting place for many sea birds at the island of San Cristobal.
Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the archipelago. A turquoise lagoon with two small white sand beaches are protected by a peninsula where sea lions rest. A trail runs along side the coast and then crosses through an Opuntia Forest. These prickly pear cacti are the largest ones in Galapagos. The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are larger and of a paler yellow than on the other islands. After the hike you can swim or snorkel in the bay in company of sea lions. B/L/D

Sunday: North Seymour - Baltra
After breakfast you will start to visit North Seymour, which is an island popular for giving shelter to Frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and endemic black Lizards and within the bank area by cliff crabs and sealions.
In the afternoon you will be taken to the airport in Baltra and fly back to the mainland. B/-/-

Price includes: Transfers in Galapagos, 8Day/7Night cruise, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the cruise, Naturalist guide, accommodation in Double Cabins with shared Toilets and showers.

Price does not Include: Single accommodation, Airfare (e.g. Quito-Galapagos-Quito USD 414,- p.p. ), National Park fees USD 100.- international airport taxes USD 25.-, Beverages, tips, personal items etc.

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