7 days cruise yacht Isabela II – Southern Route

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 will accompany you on the short bus ride to the port. Here you will board the yacht. After greeting the crew and captain, you will be assigned your cabins and then have your first lunch together.

Afternoon – Bachas (Santa Cruz): These two small beaches are located to the west of Turtle Bay on Santa Cruz. Their sand is made of mined coral, which makes it white and soft. This makes it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches is a smaller water lagoon where you can seasonally spot flamingos or other shorebirds, as well as American Stilt and Rainbows. On the second, wider beach, explore the remains of two abandoned warships. These were abandoned by the US during World War II, when Baltra was used as a strategic base to protect the Panama Canal.

Meals: Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Pitt Point: Two wind-sculpted tuff 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. From spiny bushes behind the beach, a trail leads 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 ravine to the top, you can walk around the only colony of all three species of boobies found on the Galapagos Islands – red-footed, blue-footed and Nazca boobies.

Afternoon – Cerro Colorado: In the afternoon you will visit the Turtle Conservation and Breeding Center in Cerro Colorado, about 40 minutes by bus from the southeast of the island. This center was built to help increase the population of turtles on the island. The center has a large enclosure, a visitor center, a hatchery and a walkway along which it is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants, as well as birds such as the San Cristóbal mockingbird, the golden warbler and many species of finches and the Galápagos flycatchers.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Gardner Bay: On the northeastern coast of Española Island, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and marvel at the large number of colorful reef fishes. Snorkel side by side with green sea turtles or enjoy the proximity of playful Galapagos sea lions. The white sand beach is additionally an important breeding ground for green sea turtles. You may also spot whales in the crystal clear ocean.

Afternoon – 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 courtship dance characterized by whistles and bows (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 allow spectacular views of soaring birds and seawater shooting up through air holes like fountains.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Cormorant Point: 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.

Afternoon – Post Office Bay and 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 – Moreno Point (Isabela): Moreno Point is located between the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes, on the north coast of Isabela Island. The trail leads along the lava river Pahoehoe to a group of several coastal lagoons. The main attraction are different species of birds that can be found at the lakes and in the mangrove forests.

Afternoon – Mangle Point (Fernandina): At the east coast of Fernandina is the Mangle Point, an excellent spot for snorkeling and a beautiful place to cruise in a panga or zodiac among mangroves. A hike of just under a kilometer is possible. During your trip you are likely to see sea lions, turtles, pelicans, rays and birds too numerous to mention.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Eden Islet: Eden is a paradisiacal tufa cone island just in front of the west coast of Santa Cruz.

Afternoon – North Seymour: The shallow little island of North Seymour is an elevated part of the seabed. You can spot Galapagos iguanas among the scraggy bushes. You will also see many seabirds such as the brown pelican, red-billed tropicbirds, fork-tailed gulls and, depending on the season, Nazca boobies. The main attraction, however, is Galapagos’ largest breeding colony of blue-footed boobies – be careful not to step on their nests! – and frigatebirds. At the beginning of the breeding season, the adult male frigatebirds inflate their bright red throat pouches to almost the size of a football.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Today you will depart to Baltra and will be transferred to the airport where you will say goodbye to the guide and the crew!

Meals: Breakfast