B2B Access > 5 day cruise 2011-2012
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Tuesday to Saturday – Genovesa and Central Islands
Day 1 (Tuesday)
FROM QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL TO BALTRA (GALAPAGOS) & BATHOLOMEW ISLAND
Assistance will be provided for you when you arrive to the airport by one of our representatives after you have landed.
You will arrive at Baltra Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim you will be met by Ocean Spray staff and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.
Our afternoon visit includes Bartholomew Island, home of the famous Pinnacle Rock. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. We will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! You will also visit a small, beautiful beach, surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see the Galapagos penguins.
| BARTHOLOMEW | |
| Possible Activities: | Dinghy, snorkeling, and hike (1.2 mi / 2 km) |
| Difficulty: | Moderate / Difficult. Walk up to the top of volcano (114 meters, 375 wooden steps). |
| Type of Landing: | Dry and Wet Landing |
| Highlights & Animals: | Pinnacle Rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, Lava Cactus. |
Day 2 (Wednesday)
GENOVESA ISLAND: DARWIN BAY & EL BARRANCO
Our morning visit will take us to the beach at Darwin Bay. This white-sand coral beach heads a (1/2 mi / 3/4 km) trail that winds through mangroves that are filled with land birds. You may see Nazca Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, and Swallow-tailed Gulls. Further down the path, you may see sea lions playing in tidal pools. You will arrive cliff-side and can let the spectacular views soak in, while the Boobies and iguanas keep you company.
| DARWIN BAY | |
| Possible Activities: | Hike (1/2 mi / 3/4 km), snorkeling, kayaking & dinghy ride |
| Difficulty: | Easy/Moderate |
| Type of Landing: | Wet Landing. |
| Highlights & Animals: | Nazca Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Mangroves, Coral Pebbles Beach. Snorkelling: Rays, colourful reef fish and hammerhead sharks. |
The afternoon takes us to El Barranco or The Cliff, also known as Prince Phillip's Steps, whose steep, rocky path will lead you up 25 meters (82 ft) of cliff-face. After marveling at the view you will have the opportunity to take a (0.9 mi / 2 km) trek through Palo Santo vegetation. Here you will be dazzled by all the birds: Red-footed Boobies, Short-eared Lava Owls, Galapagos storm petrels and Galapagos Doves.
| EL BARRANCO | |
| Possible Activities: | Hike (0.9 mi / 2 km) |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Type of Landing: | Dry/ Difficult Landing At Times |
| Highlights: | Red-footed Boobies, Short-eared Lava Owls, storm-petrels, and Galapagos doves. |
Day 3 (Thursday)
SANTIAGO ISLAND: ESPUMILLA BEACH/BUCCANEER COVE & EGAS PORT
We will visit Espumilla Beach where marine iguanas lounge and the Sally-Lightfoot crabs attract the hunting herons and perform the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkeling is highly recommended as you could find yourself face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark, or a variety of other species of tropical fish.
Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. They would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. It is an excellent opportunity to take in the steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach. See if you can spot 'Monk' or 'Elephant' Rock before your guide points them out!
| ESPUMILLA BEACH/BUCCANEER COVE | |
| Possible Activities: | Snorkeling and swimming, short walk along the beach (less than 0.6 mi / 1 km) |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Type of Landing: | Wet Landing |
| Highlights & Animals: | Snorkeling, sea birds, historical site, and rock formations. |
The afternoon visit is to a site called Egas Port, also known as James Bay, on Santiago Island. Here, you will enjoy a hike over a dry trail known for being a hang-out for curious Galapagos Hawks and Quick-footed Galapagos Lava Lizards. The trail will then lead you to the coastline where you will visit the gorgeous tide pools and grottos which are full of fauna. You will be able to observe the shy Galapagos fur sea lions. You will also get to snorkel at Egas Port beach.
| EGAS PORT | |
| Possible Activities: | Snorkeling, hike (1.2 mi / 2km) |
| Difficulty: | Easy/Moderate |
| Type of Landing: | Wet Landing |
| Highlights & Animals: | Fur sea lions, Galapagos sea lions, tidal pools and "Grottos", Galapagos Hawk, Oyster Catchers, marine iguanas, and finches. Snorkeling: Reef sharks, turtles, rays, and beautiful underwater formations. |
Day 4 (Friday)
SOUTH PLAZAS & SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: HIGHLANDS
In the morning, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.
| SOUTH PLAZA | |
| Possible Activities: | Hike (1.5 mi / 2 ½ km) |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Type of Landing: | Dry landing |
| Highlights & Animals: | Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon's shearwaters, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, and an amazing landscape with cliffs. |
In the afternoon we will visit the Highlands of Santa Cruz where you will walk along a path, observing the hills, ferns, volcanoes, and rich wildlife. This area is home to giant tortoises and also the Tortoise Breeding Center which you'll be able to visit. At the breeding center you will be able to see the tortoises in captivity and possibly interact with them as well! Here they have tortoises from 4 inches to 4 feet long! When the young turtles are old enough they are released into the wild.
| HIGHLANDS | |
| Possible Activities: | Hike (1.5 mi / 2 ½ km) |
| Difficulty: | Moderate (Long) |
| Type of Landing: | Dry Landing |
| Highlights & Animals: | Lava tunnels, interaction with wild turtles, and Tortoise Breeding Center. |
Day 5 (Saturday)
MOSQUERA ISLET - DEPARTURE
Mosquera Islet is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. In most of the perimeter there is a base of lava rocks, as evidence of the lava uprising, except in the southwest side where the landing occurs.
This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions.
| MOSQUERA ISLET | |
| Possible Activities: | Walk |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Type of Landing: | Wet Landing (This may be complicated by low tide or when there is heavy swell, during the months of December to March mainly) |
| Highlights & Animals: | Sea Lions, shorebirds. |
After this final visit, you will be transferred to Baltra Island's airport in time to catch your flight back to the mainland.
| Important: Itineraries and activities are subject to change without prior notice. Depending on weather conditions and water currents, some wildlife described above may not be visible. |