Galapagos Cruise
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The Galapagos Ocean Spray is a luxury-class catamaran offering the best performance and comfort in cruising the Galapagos Islands …ideal for small groups, families or couples. The 16-passenger motor catamaran has nine elegantly appointed double cabins – including balconies. Each cabin boasts individual climate controls, private bathrooms and ample space for storing luggage. The Ocean Spray boasts some of the largest cabins on any small yacht in the Galapagos, with her double cabins measuring at least 284 square feet. On this 6-day/5-night Galapagos luxury tour to the southern and central islands of the archipelago, you will sail on board the luxury Ocean Spray “mega” catamaran (called this because of its spacious staterooms and expansive sundeck). You will disembark on different islands to explore, hike, swim, snorkel, and view the extraordinary natural wonders and rich wildlife – including playful sea lions, blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises and much more during your Galapagos Islands tour.
“The trip to the Galapagos was really fantastic! Although it was quite short, the trip itinerary made time for us to do quite a lot of things. Everything went very smoothly, too.”
AM: In the morning, you will fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to Baltra Island, in the heart of Galapagos archipelago. Upon arriving at the airport, you will need to pay the national park entrance fee, which goes to protecting both the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve. A member of the crew will then welcome you and accompany you to your ship.
PM: Next we will visit Santa Fe Island, a small rocky island covered in small Palo Santo trees and 6-meter-high opuntia cactuses. The island is inhabited mainly by large yellow land iguanas, the Galapagos buzzard, Blue-footed boobies, and pelicans. While snorkeling in the wonderful blue-green bay where the ship anchors, you can observe the many inhabitants of the underwater world, including countless tropical fish, rays, sea turtles and playful sea lions.
AM: Española is the southernmost and oldest island of the Galapagos archipelago. Its English name is “Hood Island,” in honor of the British admiral Samuel Hood. Because of its isolated position, there is much endemic wildlife to be explored here. It is also the only island where you will find albatrosses. After breakfast, we will go on an excursion to Suarez Point, one of the most outstanding wildlife areas in the archipelago and boasts a long list of species 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 found. This is also the only site where you will be able to see red iguanas. From May to December, albatrosses nest on the island, so you even might be able to see some of the little ones. Several types of reptiles are unique to this island, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard. When heavy swells are running, Suárez Point is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, whose thundering spray shoots 30 yards up into the air. The trek here is on a stony path about a mile long. (Excursion duration: about 3 hours)
PM: On Española Island’s eastern shore, Gardner Bay is noted for its turquoise-colored waters and its magnificent beach, which we will visit in the afternoon. Around the bays small nearby islets, snorkelers will find an abundance of fish and sometimes turtles and benign sharks. The bay is also frequented by a transient colony of sea lions who love to swim with people. Birds, like the endemic Española mockingbird and different species of Darwin finches, are omnipresent.
We will also ride around Osborn Islet, located close to Española Island. It is made of volcanic rock and is a popular fishing site among local small-scale fishers. On this Galapagos islet, you will have a chance to go snorkeling and see schools of tropical fish, Manta rays, Green turtles, Surgeon fish, Sea urchins, and starfish.
AM: At the port of Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of Ecuador’s Galapagos Province, we will visit the modern Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island. There, you will learn about the natural and settlement history of the archipelago.
Afterwards, we'll head to one of the main attractions of San Cristobal Island: The La Galapaguera Tortoise Breeding Center, where you will see enormous Galapagos tortoises, as well as iguanas. As the natural population of tortoises from San Cristobal Island is seriously threatened by animals introduced onto the island by humans – mainly wild goats, cats, and rats – the center is attempting to increase the number of tortoises as well as eradicate threatening species. Close to the center is an easy trail that covers a distance of 900 meters; along this trail, you will see different species of native and endemic plants of the Galapagos, like cat’s claw, manzanillo, romerillo, and acacia. Be careful not to touch or eat the manzanillo fruits as these are toxic. San Cristobal Island is also one of the few islands where you can see the plant calandrinia galapagosa, which is in danger of extinction.
PM: That same afternoon, we will visit Lobos Island, located across from San Cristobal Island. This is a seasonal nesting location for Blue-footed boobies and Frigatebirds. You also can enjoy swimming and snorkeling with sea lions in the island’s calm bay.
Ending the day, we will follow the route that Charles Darwin once took and sail around the massive tuff-rock called “Kicker Rock,” which is a nesting site for hosts of seabirds. Here, you will be able to find Blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and frigate birds. This is a great site for scuba diving, and hammerhead sharks can be seen in the area.
AM: In the morning we will visit Punta Pitt, on the eastern side of San Cristóbal Island. Its 1.4 km-long path leads you through colonies of Frigatebirds, Fork-tailed seagulls, Masked boobies, and Red- and Blue-footed boobies.
PM: Later we will visit Cerro Brujo, a fascinating lava hill located on the northeastern coast of San Cristobal Island. On the rocks, you can observe Blue-footed boobies, seagulls and some pelicans. The protected bay is popular among young sea turtles and rays, and you'll find excellent swimming and snorkeling here.
AM: Today we will visit Floreana Island, considered to be one of the most exotic islands in the archipelago. There are countless legends that are part of the history of this island, as pirates and buccaneers were drawn to this island in search of for food and water. Later the island was colonized by Norwegians, Brits, and Germans, among others in search of a way to make money from what they hoped to discover here. The name Floreana is in honor of Juan Jose Flores, Ecuador’s first president. Later, we will visit Post Office Bay where the legendary post barrel that whalers historically used to put their mail in is still kept. You can leave a letter here in hopes that it will make to its destination via another tourist. So don’t forget to bring postcards along.
PM: This afternoon’s excursion is to the Cormorant Point visitor site. After a wet landing on the beach, we will go down a 100-meter-long path to a mangrove lagoon, which is home to Galapagos ducks, black herons, oystercatchers, and plovers. With a little bit of luck, you can also see flamingos. Another path leads to a small beach that is an important nesting site for sea turtles. In the shallow water here, one can often find stingrays and Whitetip reef sharks now and then.
Later, you will be able to take advantage of the great snorkeling opportunities at “Devil’s Crown” (Corona del Diablo), a broken volcanic cone that is one of the most beautiful places for snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands. The underwater world here includes reef sharks, starfish, sea turtles, sea lions and a host of tropical fish species.
AM: Today we will visit Santa Cruz Island, the second largest of the Galapagos Islands and located in the center of the archipelago. Located there is Black Turtle Cove, a nesting site for sea turtles. There are a number of mangrove forests here as well. With luck, the calm water will allow you to see different types of sharks, ones like the Whitetip reef shark, or schools of golden mustard rays.
PM: Afterwards, we will take a bus to Itabaca Channel, which we will cross to reach the Baltra Island airport for your flight back to the mainland. Enjoy the last view of the “enchanted islands,” a unique paradise with fascinating natural highlights.
| Room | Charter | Golden Staterooms |
| 6 Days | US$ 88,790 PP | US$ 5,949 PP |
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“We loved every moment of our trip and could not have done it without Ligia and Surtrek. I highly recommend them!”