M/Y GALAPAGOS CORAL CRUISE A (SUN ) : CENTER
( 4 Days and 3 Nights )
- Low season: Jan 06 – Mar 28 / Dec 01 – Dec 19
- High season: Mar 29 – Nov 30
- Holiday season: Jan 01 – Jan 05 / Dec 20 – Dec 31
NOTES
Children under 12 years old, 25% discount sharing the cabin with 2 adults
Single supplement 50% except for Christmas, New Year and Easter Holidays
80% supplement for Christmas, New Year and Easter Holidays
| 4D/ 3N – CENTER |
| (SUN ) |
| Feb-08 | Feb-22 |
| Mar-08 | Mar-22 |
| Apr-05 | Apr-19 |
| May-04 | May-18 |
| Jun-03 | Jun-17 |
| Jun-31 | Jul-12 |
| Jul-26 | Aug-09 |
| Aug-23 | Sep-06 |
| Sep-20 | Oct-04 |
| Oct-18 | Nov-01 |
| Nov-15 | Nov-29 |
| Dec-13 | Dec-27 |
DAY 1: SUNDAY – BALTRA AIRPORT
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (2 hours flight). Passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute
bus drive to the pier to board the M/Y Corals
PM – CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION (SANTA CRUZ)
Dry landing. We visit the Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes place and you will have the opportunity to meet Lonesome
George, the last surviving specimen of his species and symbol of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment. It is an excellent place for
visitors to be photographed with them. Admire a prickly-pear cactus forest and a variety Darwin’s finches and other land birds. The Darwin Station also
works providing environmental education to communities and schools within the islands, and to tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands. You will also have
some free time to visit the town and shop for souvenirs.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: flat
Duration: 1h30 visit
DAY 2: MONDAY – SANTA FE
Wet landing on a white sand beach surrounded by a sea lion colony; we continue walking through an endemic cactus forest as we search for the
endemic Santa Fe land iguana, the largest in the islands and distinctively paler. This island is home to a number of endemic species including
Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, rice rats, a variety of finches and one of the four species of Galapagos mockingbirds. Deep-water snorkeling.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 1h30 walk
PM – SOUTH PLAZA (PLAZA ISLAND)
Dry landing on the northern part of the Islet. The walk begins with an impressive cactus forest surrounded by land and marine iguanas; as we reach
its highest point, be on the lookout for tropicbirds and a bachelor sea lion colony.
In South Plaza there is a large colony of the smaller sized land iguanas. The population is approximately 300 individuals. They feed on all kinds of vegetation, but during the dry season survive on the fruits and flowers of Opuntia cacti. Due to their proximity with marine iguanas, where we will encounter the one and only Galapagos hybrid iguana.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2 hours walk
DAY 3: TUESDAY – RÁBIDA
Wet landing. Dark-red sand covers these unique beaches; Rábida is considered the epicenter of the Galapagos Islands due to the diversity of its
volcanic geology. Nesting Brown Pelicans are found from July through September and nine species of the famous Darwin’s finches can be seen. We
will also take a dinghy ride along cliffs to observe nesting seabirds, and snorkel off the coast, where marine life is particularly active.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: flat
Duration: 1h30 walk / 1 hour snorkeling / 1 hour dinghy ride
PM – BACHAS BEACH (SANTA CRUZ)
Wet landing on the north side of Santa Cruz; behind the beach lie two small flamingo ponds with iguanas, coastal birds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and gulls, as well as interesting native and endemic vegetation, red and black mangroves, salt bushes, and much more. This beach is one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles in the Galapagos. A female can lay eggs 3 or 4 times with an average of 70 eggs each, but then spend 3 or 5 years without breeding.
At this paradisiacal site we will also find the remains of barges that sank long ago, once property of the United States Navy when they operated an airbase on Baltra Island during World War II. That is why the beach is called “Bachas” because the word “barges” in English was hard to pronounce for the local people.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Duration: 1 hour walk / 1 hour snorkeling/swimming
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY – DAPHNE
We circumnavigate the islet of Daphne, an eroded tuff cone formation that was created by successive volcanic activity, for an opportunity to see Darwin’s finches, Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and Brown Noddies. Afterwards, we transfer directly to Baltra Airport for return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.
END OF SERVICES
RATES INCLUDE:
All-inclusive cruises sharing double accommodation in sea view cabins with air-conditioning & private facilities.
All meals, welcome & farewell cocktails, water, 24-hour coffee station.
Air Ticket Quito or Guayaquil to/from Galapagos
Two daily visits to different islands with multilingual naturalist guide (upon request).
Snorkeling and kayaking opportunities.
Activities on board, briefings, lectures.
NOT INCLUDED:
$100 Galapagos National Park entrance fee
Galapagos Transit Control Card ($20)
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Cancellation/medical insurance
Wet suits rental: US$ 25 net per person per each short cruise.
Fuel surcharge US$ 90 net per person for a 3 or 4-night cruise, US$ 180 for a 7
Wet suits rental: US$ 25 net per person for a 3 or 4-night cruise, US$ 50 for a 7
Internet available US$ 32 net per 10 min.
Tips & personal expenses.
