Galapagos Cruise - Mandalay - Northern - Oct 2011-2012
Trip Details
- Duration: 6 days days
- Visited Areas: South America , Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are considered one of the most spectacular and pristine National Parks in the world. Visitors delight in the abundant, unusual, and surprisingly approachable wildlife--from Galapagos giant tortoises to playful sea lions to the fascinating blue-footed boobies.
This trip may be booked as cruise only (6 days, departs Sat) or package (9 days, departs Thu). See end of page for package itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1: Baltra Island / Santa Cruz Island
On arrival at Baltra airport, you will board the Mary Anne and she will navigate the short passage to Black Turtle Cove, a large mangrove lagoon on the north coast of Santa Cruz. Pelicans and herons roost on the mangrove branches, while green sea turtles cruise right next to you as the panga smoothly make its way through the lagoon.
Day 2: Genovesa Island
Make a wet landing onto a coralline beach at Darwin Bay, one of the highlights of any trip in the Galápagos Islands. The red mangroves and soft-haired prickly pear cacti are perching sites for red-footed boobies and great frigate birds. Later in the day, arrive at Prince Philip Steps and a cliff-climb up to a plateau where Nazca boobies and great frigate birds nest. Red-footed boobies perch on Palo Santo trees and hundreds of Galápagos Storm Petrels effortlessly fly around.
Day 3: Bartolome Island / Santiago Island
After a dry landing, climb up wooden steps to the top of this spatter cone to reach a most breathtaking panorama taking in Pinnacle Rock (the islands’ most famous icon), neighboring Santiago Island and most of the central islands as well. In the afternoon, land at Sullivan Bay to walk over a recent lava flow, including very fresh pahoehoe lava formations, lava bubbles containing crystallized minerals, and pioneer plants. Along the shoreline, Galápagos penguins and herons go after small fish.
Day 4: Rabida Island / Santa Cruz Island
Arrive via a wet landing to explore the red island’s fascinating maroon-tinted interior and saltwater lagoon. Lots of Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, yellow warblers and, given the right time of the year, see brown pelicans nesting on the salt bush that fringes the beach. Visit Santa Cruz in the afternoon arriving onto the northwest shore at Cerro Dragón. A saltwater lagoon behind the white sandy beach is home to greater flamingos, black-necked common stilts, and white-cheeked pintail ducks. Further inland there is a Galápagos land iguana nesting site.
Day 5: Santa Cruz Island / Royal Palm Hotel
Circumnavigate the tiny islet of Daphne where the longest ongoing field research in to evolution is being carried out. The cliffs teem with Nazca boobies and red-billed tropicbirds, and DarwinÂ’s finches have been showing the scientific community how evolution works. After the cruise you will take a transfer from Baltra Island to Santa Cruz Island, where you will visit the Highlands to see the famous Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Private transport will take you to the Royal Palm Hotel (5 stars), for a delicious lunch and a special treat. Late in the afternoon, you will be transported to an exclusive restaurant, Angermeyer Point, for a very special dinner to say good bye to this magical archipelago. Overnight at the Royal Palm Hotel for your last night in the Galapagos.
Day 6: Baltra Island
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, you will be transferred to BaltraÂ’s airport to take the flight back to mainland Ecuador.