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Galapagos Islands Travel - Galapagos Luxury Class

Galapagos Travel - Motor Yacht Grace- 8 Day Cruise

M/Y Grace's stellar past includes ownership by millionaire tycoons like Sir George Tilley and Aristotle Onassis, a brief stint in the British navy and the vacation home of guests recognized worldwide, including Winston Churchill.

The Motor Yacht Grace has journeyed the waters of this world under many names, but now it has a name that takes it years back into its history; to the very best of its times. Named after its late owner, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, the name is a representation of its elegance, beauty and prestige. Grace is the ideal yacht for the traveler who seeks a true safari experience in the Galapagos Islands, complimented with excellent service, superb accommodations and excellent dining. With one naturalist guide for every 9 guests on a full ship, all who travel onboard this yacht will be part of a mission to bring to life the natural living legacy of the islands.

Technical facts and specifications
Type:	Motor Yacht
Lenght:	44 m
Speed:	12 knots
Capacity:	18 passengers
Crew:	11 + 2 naturalist guides
Cabins:	9 double cabins with twin beds or double beds and private bathroom

Detailed Itinerary

Saturday: flight to Galápagos - San Cristóbal Island - Isla Lobos – Kicker Rock
In the morning you will fly to the Galapágos Island San Cristobal from which you will start your cruise. After paying the National Park Entrance Fee, a crew member will accompany you to your yacht which anchors at Baquerizo Moreno harbour. After arrival on board, check- in and explanations in general, lunch will be served. Afterwards you will start with your first excursion to Lobos Island, which is located in front of San Cristobal Island. It is a seasonal nesting location for the blue footed booby and frigate birds. You also should enjoy swimming and snorkelling with sea lions in this calm bay. Afterwards you will sail around the massive tuff-rock called Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock, which is a nesting site for a lot of sea birds. Because of its steepness you cannot find a landing stage but brave snorkelers can watch out for sharks and rays. -/L/D

Sunday: Española Island - Gardener Bay -  Suarez Point
Española is the southernmost and oldest island of the Galápagos archipelago. Because of its isolated position you can explore a lot of endemic wildlife. Gardener Bay is on the eastern shore with turquoise shot coloured water and a magnificent beach. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. The bay is also frequented by a transient colony of sea lions which like to swim with you. Birds, like the endemic Hood-Mockingbird and different species of Darwin finches, are omnipresent. In the afternoon you will have an excursion to Point Suarez which is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Española Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Point Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air. The walkabout on a stony path is about 2km (duration about 3 hours).B/L/D

Monday: Floreana Island - Cormorant Point – Post Office Bay – Devils Crown
Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Island of the archipelago.
At Cormorant Point 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. Afterwards you will visit the famous Post Office Bay which keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers historically used to post their mail in. Nowadays you can leave a letter and hope that it will make its destination via another tourist. In the afternoon you will reach Devils Crown (Corona del Diablo), a broken volcanic cone, which is one of the most beautiful places to go snorkeling on Galápagos Island. You can dive or swim between riff sharks, star fishes, marine turtles, sea lions and many tropical ornamental fishes. B/L/D

Tuesday: Island Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Station – Highlands
Today you anchor at the harbour of Puerto Ayora on Island Santa Cruz. Beside its rank as homestay for sea lions and pelicans, the marina is a popular starting point for round-the-world-yachtsman. The island itself has come to be both touristic and scientific center of the archipeleago. The Charles Darwin Research Station encompasses an information centre, a museum, a library and a tortoise breeding station. Here you will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of the Galápagos. Park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. In the  tortoise breeding and rearing centre you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this Station is probably Lonesome George. He is the only survivor of his specific turtle species. In the past all approaches to find a partner for him failed. But in July 2008 the scientists found a carved nest wit nine eggs from a female tortoise. Three of them could be saved and now accordingly to strict instructions they are incubated syntheticly. In the afternoon you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz. The lush landscape there is a welcome contrast to the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. On your way you will cross the different zones of vegetation, from the dry lower region full of cactuses to the woods of scalesia in the highlands. Points of interest are the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. During a visit of a hacienda in the highlands you can observe the Galapágos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. B/L/D

Wednesday: Genovesa Island - Darwin Bay – Prince Phillip´s Steps
Your destination for today is Genovesa Island. Genovesa is considered as one of the wildest and untouched within the National Park of Galápagos. It is also known as “Bird Island” or “Tower Island”. On your way to this island you will cross the equator. After breakfast make a wet landing onto Tower Island at Darwin Bay for an easy stroll observing seemingly thousands of birds, mainly frigate and red footed and masked boobies.  On the beach you can see the interesting spectacle how the frigates try to catch the prey of the boobies. After a panga ride along the cliffs of Genovesa Island you will make a dry landing at Prince Philip’s Steps, a carved out of stone stair. This will lead you to a wide plateau, where you can observe large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and bahama ducks. During this easy stroll you will cross a little Scalesia wood, in which you can observe the short-eared owl. The same path will lead you back to your boat. B/L/D

Thursday: Fernandina Island - Espinosa Point / Isabela Island - Punta Vicente Roca
In the morning you will visit Fernandina Island which is not only the westernmost but also the youngest and most pristine Island found in Galapagos. The last eruption of the volcano La Cumbre in 2005 created huge interesting fields of lava. Punta Espinoza, one of Fernandina’s visit points, is situated within a fascinating lava scenery with Lava-Cactuses and on the surface of the lava growing mangroves. Beside this unique scenery you will come in contact with numerous animals here. The highlights are sea lions, penguins, the flightless cormorant (especially in spring and summer) and one of the biggest iguana colonies of Galápagos. Do not miss a snorkeling trip during which you have the possibility to explore the beautiful underwater world. This afternoon will lead you to the largest island of the archipelago, Island Isabela. With a surface of 4588 sq.km the isle engages more than the half of the land area of whole Galápagos.  Located at the ‘mouth’ of the head of the sea horse, which forms the northern part of the Isabela, is Punta Vicente Roca, an interesting rock formation. Here the remnants of an ancient volcano form two turquoise coves with a bay well protected from the ocean swells. With good luck you can observe penguins in the deep blue sea. Masked and blue-footed boobies and pelicans sit perched along the point and the sheer cliffs, while flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline. B/L/D

Friday: Bartolomé Island - Pinnacle Rock / North Seymour Island
Arriving at Bartolomé 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. After a dry landing, you will have a short walk along the coast of the northernmost island of Seymour. Guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls, sea lions and cliff crabs. This site is also known for being a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird, a species different to the great frigate bird. You can also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the marine iguanas and land iguanas. You will enjoy this relaxing hike around the nesting sites. B/L/D

Saturday: Island San Cristobal - Interpretation Center – Flight back to mainland
At the port of Baquerizo Moreno, which is the capital of the province Galápagos, you will visit the Interpretation Center. The center will give you a good impression of the history of the Galápagos Islands. Around midday you will fly back to the mainland of Ecuador. Enjoy the last view back to the enchanting islands; a unique paradise with its fascinating nature. B

B= Breakfast / L=Lunch / D=Dinner

Included in the price :
All transfers in Galapagos, 8 days cruise on board of the GRACE in double accommodation with all facilities, English speaking naturalist guide, purified water free to drink.

Not included in the price:
flights mainland to/from Galápagos (e.g. Quito – Galapagos – Quito USD 429.- per person), entrance fee to Galapagos National Park USD 100.- per person, migration card USD 10.- per person, beverages, tips, personal items, insurance.

NB Itinerary is subject to change without previous notice, due to weather conditions, operational matters, National Park Authorities advise, or captain´s decision for passengers security.

Motor Yacht Grace Itinerary
Motor Yacht Grace Deck Plan

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