Galapagos Cruise
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The 48-passenger La Pinta has 20 comfortable double staterooms and four triple cabins, accommodations that are among the largest of any Galapagos cruising vessel and feature floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition, La Pinta has four extra-large connecting suites, which are very useful when traveling as families. This thrilling Galapagos Islands tour takes you to stunning volcanic island environments that showcase one of Earth’s greatest displays of wildlife and landscapes. On board the 48-passenger La Pinta luxury motor vessel, you will see many of the singular geological features created by this volcanic hotspot where its islands are still being formed. This 5-day/4-night Galapagos Islands cruise through the central and northern islands will give you the best vantage point to see all of these memorable attractions both by sea and by foot, as the ship will let off you and your professional park-certified naturalist guide for daily land excursions to explore the islands.
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AM: Baltra Airport – Our adventure begins with a morning flight to Baltra Island and immediate transfer to the dock to board Yacht La Pinta. There’s a welcome introductory briefing, boat drill, cabin assignment and then lunch. We weigh anchor and start sailing for our first-afternoon outing.
PM: South Plaza Island – The turquoise waters of the channel here contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline, while a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus beyond, populated by yellow-grey land iguanas. Along the coastline, one finds sea lion colonies, while seabirds play with the thermals that form along the cliffs of this small but spectacular island.
AM: Santa Fe Island – We take the dinghy over to this idyllic sandy-white beach populated by colonies of sea lions. Galapagos hawks are often easily observed, perched atop salt bushes. The Santa Fe land iguana, unique to just this island, may be spotted during the walk. Following the walk, we can snorkel and swim along a natural wave barrier or ride the glass-bottom boat.
PM: Tortoise Breeding Center – After lunch, we disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the island's capital, and drive 40 minutes to the island’s southern shore. We will visit a breeding center for highly endangered giant tortoises. Located in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, this center is also home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristobal mockingbird and the San Cristobal lava lizard, both island endemics.
AM: Punta Pitt – We land at the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island this morning. The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline; we can observe frigates, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions. After the walk, if conditions are favorable, there is a chance to swim from the beach and snorkel.
PM: Cerro Brujo – In the afternoon following lunch on board, a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes us to Cerro Brujo's expansive, white coral beach, great for walking, with rewarding bird-watching featuring seabirds and shorebirds. Also, look out for Galapagos sea lions. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835.
AM: Suarez Point – Our morning outing at Suarez Point provides an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique seabird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April-January), boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous “blowhole” lava formation. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas. Many regard this site as the best in the Galapagos. Back on board for lunch.
PM: Gardner Bay – In the afternoon, we set down at this beautiful, white coral beach for a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area, or else there’s time to kayak or ride the glass-bottom boat.
AM: Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island) / Baltra Airport – Disembarking in the morning, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the captive rearing program for the giant tortoises. Here we witness the efforts and results of Galapagos fieldwork and study done in the name of science. We transfer via bus across Santa Cruz Island and a short ferry ride to Baltra. Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland. Baltra's flat substrate (due to its uplifted origin) is the reason why the island was chosen back in the 1940s as the construction site for an airport.
| Room | |
| 5 Days | |
| Luxury Cabin | US$ 4,490 PP |
| Luxury Plus Cabin | US$ 4,490 PP |
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