Galapagos Cruise - Mandalay - Southern - 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 Wed) or package (9 days, departs Mon). See end of page for package itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1: Baltra Island / Mosquera Islet
On arrival at Baltra airport, you will be transferred to the Mary Anne and set course for Mosquera Islet. After lunch on board, your first wet landing will be onto a beautiful, white coralline beach inhabited by the largest Galápagos sea lion colony in the archipelago. It’s a good area for lava gulls and coastal birds. Afterwards, visit Punta Carrion to enjoy some snorkeling.
Day 2: Plaza Sur Island / Santa Fé Island
Make a dry landing at one of the oldest docks on the islands on the tiny island of Plaza Sur, where you will see vibrantly–colored green prickly pears, reddish sesuvium and copper orange land iguanas. Later, make a wet landing on Santa Fé to see the largest specimens of prickly pear cactus in the Galápagos and the island’s own species of land iguana: the Santa Fé land iguana. Watch out for land birds such as Darwin’s finches and yellow warblers.
Day 3: San Cristóbal Island
Arrive via a wet landing on one of the most scenic white sandy beaches of the islands, Cerro Brujo. A salt-water lagoon, contrasting with the geographical features is home to the black-necked common stilt and white-cheeked pintail duck. Continue for another wet landing at Punta Pitt and go on a long hike to a view point to watch seabirds riding the thermals. See red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and great frigate birds.
Day 4: Española Island
On Española Island, make a wet landing at Gardner Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galápagos Islands. Here, enjoy seeing Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, and Española mockingbirds. Later, after a dry landing Punta Suárez, go on a spectacular walk along a trail dotted with plucky marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and Galápagos sea lions, up to the cliff top for an amazing view of an impressive blowhole. Also, this is a nesting site of the Galápagos albatross from April to December.
Day 5: Floreana Island
Arrive on a sandy beach at Punta Cormorant. Walk on a trail that passes a salt-water lagoon with greater flamingos and ends at “Flour Beach,” a sea turtle nesting ground. This will be followed by a short panga ride to Devil’s Crown for some snorkeling. Make a a short visit with a wet landing at Post Office Bay, where you can drop your postcards in the barrel as the whalers used to do centuries ago.
Day 6: Santa Cruz Island
Arrive at the port of Puerto Ayora for a bus ride to Baltra airport with a short stop in the highlands to see giant tortoises.