Galapagos Voyage on the
Eric, Flamingo & Letty
Galapagos Cruise
Program Code: EGIC19
8 days / 7 nights - Sunday thru Sunday
San Cristobal - Tower - Santa Cruz - North Seymour - Isabela - Fernandina - Santiago - Bartolome - Santa Cruz - Espanola - San Cristobal
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ITINERARY
Day 1 - Sunday
AM - QUITO or GUAYAQUIL & SAN CRISTOBAL (CHATHAM) ISLAND
Our services will begin upon your arrival at the airport of San Cristobal (Chatham) island on the Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil after a flight of approximately 2 and a half hours. The crew of the Eric, Flamingo I and Letty (all three yachts operate this program side by side on most departures) will greet you outside the customs area of the airport and provide the transfer to your anchored yacht. Meet the rest of the crew and check into your cabin.
PM - SAN CRISTOBAL (CHATHAM) ISLAND - Playa Ochoa / Kicker Rock On our first excursion of this cruise we will visit Playa Ochoa, where we have a chance to test our snorkeling equipment and at the same time swim with a small colony of sea lions. Behind the beach there is a tidal lagoon where we can observe birds, including the rare Chatham Mockingbird. As the sun sets, we cruise around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a vertical tuff cone formation that abruptly juts up almost 500 feet out of the ocean. Watch sea lions, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and magnificent frigate birds on the cliffs.
EVE - Welcome cocktail offered by the yacht's captain and crew followed by dinner. As they will do every night, the guides will brief you on the upcoming excursions and recap the events of today's activities. Overnight on board. (L, D.)
Day 2 - Monday
AM - TOWER (GENOVESA) ISLAND - Prince Philip's Steps Today we will spend the entire day on the island of Tower (Genovesa), one of the most spectacular islands in the Galapagos. After breakfast we disembark for a dry landing at Prince Philip’s Steps where we find Red Footed boobies nest in the Palo Santo trees and Nazca (formerly masked) boobies nest near the trail. In an open field we find storm petrels in large numbers and, if we are lucky, we can see the elusive short-eared owl.
PM - TOWER (GENOVESA) ISLAND - Darwin Bay After lunch, sea kayaks are available to paddle along the shoreline. Look for the beautiful red billed tropic bird usually see in crevice. A snorkeling opportunity is offered along the inner rim of the volcanic crater. Later we land on Darwin Beach, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tide pools. Enter a forest of Opuntia Cactus and mangroves where colonies of great frigate birds nest. The males inflate their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead. The trail leads through a rich inter tidal zone where we find a wide diversity of animal life. Take a swim from the beach with sea lions.
EVE - Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D.)
Day 3 - Tuesday
AM - SANTA CRUZ (INDEFATIGABLE / CHAVEZ) ISLAND - Bachas Beach This morning, we visit Las Bachas on Santa Cruz (Indefatigable / Chavez) island, which is the Spanish translation for “barges”. There is a long stretch of a soft white-sand beach and interior lagoons where we find the Greater Flamingo. There is also a wonderful chance to snorkel here from the beach. Remnants of the U.S. presence from World War II – a floating pier - is found here.
PM - NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND After lunch on board we disembark on North Seymour, also a small geological uplift. After a dry landing, we follow a trail that leads us to sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and blue-footed boobies. Here we will visit the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds found in Galapagos. As we stroll along the beach, watch for sea lions body surfing the northern swells.
EVE - Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D.)
Day 4 - Wednesday
AM - ISABELA (ALBEMARLE) ISLAND - Tagus Cove This morning we visit Tagus Cove on Isabela (Albemarle) island. When six volcanoes flowed together they formed Isabela, the largest Island in the Galapagos. On a nature walk we discover a salt-water lagoon from where we have a scenic overlook and a spectacular view of the lava fields, the volcanic formations and the ocean. Graffiti, dating back to the 1800's, is written on the rocky cliffs of the area. By panga or sea kayak we will explore Tagus Cove where we find Galapagos penguins and other seabirds.
PM - FERNANDINA (NARBOROUGH) ISLAND - Punta Espinoza After lunch we cross the Bolivar Canal and disembark at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina (Narborough) island. The island is located in the western part of the archipelago and is the youngest and most pristine Island found in the Galapagos. Hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest colony in Galapagos, bask in the sun along the rugged shoreline. Observe sea lion harems with resident bulls carefully guarding their territory. Flightless Cormorants build their nest on the point and Galapagos Hawk fly overhead. Evidence of recent lava flows formed by an active volcano stretch their way around the coast.
EVE - Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D.)
Day 5 - Thursday
AM - SANTIAGO (JAMES) ISLAND - Puerto Egas After breakfast we will stroll along the shore at Puerto Egas on Santiago (James) island. Look for octopus, starfish and other sea life caught in the tide pools. At low tide we can catch a glimpse of marine iguanas as they feed on exposed green algae. Watch for great blue herons, lava herons, oystercatchers and yellow-crowned night herons. Our walk ends at the grottos where we find deep pools of clear water where we encounter fur sea lions, once on the verge of extinction.
PM - BARTOLOME (BARTHOLOMEW) ISLAND On Bartolome (Bartholomew) island it seems like we are walking on the moon. This young Island is inhospitable to most plants and animals. After a dry landing we climb 30 minutes up a steep slope to the summit of a once active volcano. Pause along the way to marvel at lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones. From the top, gaze out across a panoramic view including the famous "Pinnacle Rock", an eroded tuff cone. Down below, crystal clear water invites you to snorkel with schools of tropical fish. Penguins often swim in this area. On the other side of the Island encounter sea turtles and white-tipped sharks.
EVE - Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D.)
Day 6 - Friday
AM - SANTA CRUZ (INDEFATIGABLE / CHAVEZ) ISLAND - Highlands This morning, we climb aboard a bus and take an excursion to the highlands of Santa Cruz (Indefatigable / Chavez) Island. Watch the scenery change as we wind our way through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos. From June to January you can find giant tortoises on a private farm in the highlands. The rest of the year, we visit Los Gemelos “The Twins”, a pair of large pit craters where we find the bright red male vermilion flycatcher. Afterwards, we head to "The Tunnels", the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos.
PM - SANTA CRUZ (INDEFATIGABLE / CHAVEZ) ISLAND - Charles Darwin Research Center / Puerto Ayora After lunch on board, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz (Indefatigable / Chavez) island. We visit all three tortoise corals and the breeding center with new hatchlings and miniature tortoises not yet ready to be repatriated. Scientists from all over the globe work at the station and conduct biological research from anatomy to zoology. We also visit the Van Straelen Hall with an exhibit and a short video presentation. Visitors can see the pen of Lonesome George, the last surviving member of the Pinta island subspecies. Stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora (population: 10,000), the largest town in the Galapagos. Here we have time to buy souvenirs, mail postcards and absorb local charm in the social heart of the Islands.
EVE - Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D.)
Day 7 - Saturday
AM - ESPANOLA (HOOD) ISLAND - Gardner Bay After breakfast we disembark to step onto Gardner Bay on Espanola (Hood) island. Walk along seemingly endless stretches of sandy beach where you’ll find colonies of sea lions. Swim and snorkel with the sea lions and enjoy the colorful diversity of sea life near Gardner Islet.
PM - ESPANOLA (HOOD) ISLAND - Punta Suarez In the afternoon we disembark at Punta Suarez, also on Espanola (Hood) island. Here we witness the highest rate of “endemicism” in the Galapagos. Sea lions noisily green us as we land on their beach. Curious mockingbirds peck at our shoelaces. From April to November waved albatross perform their wild mating rituals only on Espanola. Colonies of blue-footed boobies engage in “sky-pointing” while masked boobies busily care for their young. Stunning swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds take shelter under the cliffs. Other species endemic to Espanola include Darwin’s Finches, Galapagos Doves and Galapagos Hawks. Observe a unique specie of marine iguana identified with traces of red and green colorings. Colorful sally light foot crabs crawl along the shoreline near to the famous "blow hole".
EVE - Farewell cocktail offered by the captain and crew of your yacht followed by dinner and overnight on board. (B, L, D.)
Day 8 - Sunday
AM - SAN CRISTOBAL (CHATHAM) ISLAND - Puerto Baquerizo Moreno / Galapaguera This morning, we drop anchor in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal (Chatham) island. We travel by bus into the interior of the island to visit a new site called Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado (Red Hill). At Galapaguera, we find Calandrinia, an endemic plant of this island. The National Park has established a breeding program for the tortoises and set up an information center for visitors. Passengers not only get to see the terrestrial tortoises living in their natural habitat but also learn about their origin, evolution and threats by introduced animals, Afterwards, we head straight to the airport for our flight back to mainland Ecuador. (B.)
END OF SERVICES
RATES
Rates valid until December 31, 2008.
Rates are per person in US dollars.
Rates can NOT be guaranteed. Subject to change at any time.
Accommodations are based on double occupancy.
| ERIC, FLAMINGO, LETTY | Rate per person | ||
| Single ** | Double | Triple *** | |
| Dolphin deck (cabins 1, 2, 3 & 4) | N/A | $ 3250 | N/A |
| Booby deck (cabins 5 & 6) | N/A | $ 2995 | N/A |
| Iguana deck (cabins 7, 8, 9 & 10) | $ 4095 | $ 2675 | $ 2550 |
** Single and share cabins: Single cabins are assigned by the owner/operator to the best cabin available at the time of sailing. Same share gender requests are available on the Iguana deck only. Shares that remain unmatched 30 days prior to departure are subject to a 15% supplement.
*** Triple cabins: Available on Iguana deck only in cabins I9 & I10.
Children: Children age 11 years and younger at the time of sailing are entitled to a 30% discount off the cruise rate. Children 11 years and younger are entitled to 50% discount off the airfare and park tax with photocopy of the child’s passport showing date of birth. Children ages 12-14 years are entitled to a 20% discount off the cruise rate only. Children under 7 years of age are not accepted unless the parents or legal guardians sign a "hold harmless" release. Children age 5 and 6 are permitted only on a designated family departure. Special family departures are designated during school breaks (contact us). Children under the age of 5 are only permitted on exclusive charter basis.
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