8 days cruise sailing yacht Samba – B

Morning – Arrival at Baltra airport: At the mainland airport, you have purchased your TCC or Ingala card and a luggage inspection has already been conducted to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced. Upon your arrival at Seymour Ecological airport, your TCC (Transit Control Card) will be stamped. This must be kept in a safe place during your trip, as it must be presented again on your return flight. In addition, the Galapagos National Park entrance fee is due upon entry (US$200), if not already paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, help you with your luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the port of Baltra.

Afternoon – Highlands (Santa Cruz): You will visit the highlands of the island (so have your shoes and rain jacket ready). Observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat as well as a variety of native and migratory birds including tree finches, ground finches, Galapagos flycatchers and cattle egrets, often standing on the backs of tortoises. Lunch in the highlands. Then drive to Puerto Ayora, the capital of Santa Cruz and board the ship.

Meals: Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Cormorant Point, Champion Islet: The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the northern cape of Floreana, which was formed by a series of smaller volcanic cones covered with tropical dry forest (palo santo). The green sand on the beach at the site contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals that were blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the south side of the peninsula consists of even whiter coral sand that feels very smooth on the feet. Parrotfish have provided pulverization by grinding up calcium-bearing skeletons of still-living corals. You may spot schools of stingrays that like to bury themselves in the sandy bottom. During the first months of the year, green sea turtles come ashore to bury their eggs. By dinghy, explore Champion Islet, one of the best snorkeling sites on the islands. There are plenty of reeffish to see and maybe even a green turtle. Along the shoreline you can spot many native seabirds including Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds and red-billed tropicbirds, fork-tailed gulls and lava herons. For many birdwatchers, there is also a wish to catch a glimpse of the Florean Mockingbird atop the opuntias. This mockingbird is a keystone species scientifically and historically because it gave Darwin the clue to the theory of Adaptive Radiation.

Morning – Post Office Bay, Baroness Lookout: First, visit Post Office Bay. The history of this place is closely linked to a wooden barrel built there by the crew of a whaling ship in the 18th century. At that time, the barrel was used by sailors as a post office. Even today, visitors use the barrel in the same way. The idea is to “send” letters and postcards to their destinations by placing them in the barrel. At the same time, other mail is taken out to be sent to one’s home address. This foreign mail is then delivered. Feel free to give it a try! It could well be that your mail will be at your destination faster this way than it would be with Ecuadorian mail. In the north of Floreana Island is the beautiful “Baroness Viewpoint”. The island was the destination of the first colonialists in Galapagos. Among them was the Baroness Eloisa von Wagner. The viewpoint is located very close to the ruins of the house inhabited by the Baroness. From this viewpoint you have a wonderful view of the coastal landscape of Enderby Island to the Post Office Bay, Cerro Pajas, the Flamingo Lagoon and the Palo Santo Forest.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Suarez Point: This rocky area is home to the most impressive and diverse seabirds of the archipelago. The endangered Galapagos Albatross returns to Española Island annually (March – December). This allows visitors to marvel at the whistling and bowing courtship dance (especially in October). Blue-footed and Nazca boobies, fork-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds are also native to this island. Along the southern coast, high cliffs offer spectacular views of soaring birds and seawater shooting up through air holes like fountains.

Afternoon – Gardner Bay: On the north-eastern coast of Española Island, Gardner Bay is a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and admire the large number of colorful reef fish. Snorkel side by side with green sea turtles or enjoy the proximity of playful Galapagos sea lions. The white sandy beach is also an important breeding ground for green sea turtles. You may also spot whales in the crystal-clear ocean.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Pitt Point, Kicker Rock: Two wind-sculpted tufa cones at Pitt Point represent the eastern end of San Cristobal.On the small beach of green sand you will be welcomed by barking Galapagos sea lions. A path behind the beach leads from the lodgepole and thorny bushes to an area of tropical, dry forest vegetation: year-round leafless palo santo trees, cordia lutea bushes, opuntias and midday flowering plants that turn red during the dry season. After a steep climb through a gorge to the top, you can walk around the only colony of all three species of boobies in the Galapagos – red-footed, blue-footed and Nazca boobies.Kicker Rock is a huge boulder with a dagger-like tower next to it. It is 150 m high and has the shape of a shoe from the side (hence the name Kicker Rock). Lengthwise it looks more like a sleeping lion (hence the name in Spanish Leon Dormido). A dinghy ride and optional snorkelling is planned before breakfast, where you can see squids, different types of sharks and green turtles.

Afternoon – Lobos Islet: Lobos is a small island about an hour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. There is a small colony of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds that nest in this area. On the beach you will encounter many sea lions. It is also possible to see wading birds.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Santa Fe Island, South Plaza Island: On Santa Fe Island, you will find a Galapagos sea lion colony waiting for you directly on the beach, where you will have time for either a refreshing swim or exceptional snorkeling surrounded by tropical reeffishes in the crystal clear waters of Barrington Bay. In addition, you will see vast opuntia cactus forests. The largest cacti on the island have extremely thick trunks and can grow over 10 meters tall. After a wet landing on Santa Fe beach, take a guided nature walk. This extraordinary island is a remnant of what is probably the oldest volcano in Galapagos. Your guide will decide whether an easy, short walk or a strenuous, longer hike inland will follow (moderately difficult, about 3 km). After breakfast, you will take an unforgettable guided walk on South Plaza, the best place to encounter the native Galapagos land iguanas. Also, note the unique mix between a male marine lizard and a female land iguana. Once on the top ledge, you’ll get an impressive view of booming waves crashing against the cliffs some 20 meters below. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and noddi terns delight you with their spectacular flights. Take your binoculars and watch the red-billed tropicbirds with their graceful tails and and their spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also the nesting sites of the native fork-tailed gulls. Before lunch, you will sail to Santa Fe, possibly accompanied by bottlenose dolphins.

Afternoon – Santa Cruz Island, Carrion Point: Punta Carrión is located at the eastern end of the Itabaca Channel, between Baltra Island and Santa Cruz Island. There you can see sea lions, creole fish, sea snails and blue rays. You will also have the opportunity to observe whitetip reef sharks and mobula rays in small schools. And if you are lucky, you may even see some hammerheads and Galapagos sharks, especially while diving.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Chinese Hat: Chinese Hat is a 52-meter-high volcanic cone that forms another small island out of the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins has settled. Because its primordial fire went out quite recently, this place is perfect for learning about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels. On the beach you can also discover pillow lava with coral on top. This area was originally underwater before it was raised above sea level. Beaches of white coral sand grow and the holes in the eroding lava fields are filled in with lava sand. Galapagos sea lions and marine lizards contribute to the fertility of the soil. All together they create more beneficial options for pioneer plants such as saltbush and the colorful sesuvium carpet.

Afternoon – Bartolomé: Bartolomé Island rises 114 meters above the sea across from Sullivan Bay. Climb the steps of the Bartolomé Summit Trail and be rewarded with panoramic views of volcanic peaks, moon-like craters and lava fields. The island has two stunning beaches, is home to sea turtles, and a very small colony of Galapagos penguins at the base of Pinnacle Rock.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Puerto Egas: Puerto Egas, west of Santiago Island, is famous for its fur seal caves, where you will take a special guided walk along the coast. The artificially sculpted coastline of black basalt and multicoloured ash layers form a photogenic backdrop of collapsed lava tunnels, natural arches, caves and holes like “Darwin’s toilet”. In a grotto just below a spectacular stone arch at the end of the beach, a colony of sea lions cavorts in the shade. Hundreds of red cliff crabs glow bright orange on the pitch-black stones.

Afternoon – Rabida: Oxidized iron particles give the stones and sand their rusty color. A green-fringed lagoon hides behind the beach. This oasis is the most fertile place on the otherwise dry island, which is overgrown with Palo Santo trees. The salty pool is attractive to all kinds of water birds, such as pintail ducks and sometimes American flamingos. Hidden among the evergreen foliage of the surrounding mangrove bushes, many species of songbirds’ breed. An outstanding attraction is the large breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only species that dive.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – North Seymour: The small island of North Seymour is an elevated part of the seabed. Among the scraggy bushes you can spot Galapagos iguanas. You will also see many seabirds such as the brown pelican, red-billed tropicbirds, fork-tailed gulls and, depending on the season, Nazca boobies. However, the main attraction is Galapagos’ largest breeding colony of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. At the beginning of the breeding season, the adult male frigatebirds inflate their vibrant red pouches into football-sized balls. After this tour, you and your luggage will be transferred to Baltra where you will take the airport shuttle.

Meals: Breakfast