8 days cruise sailing ship Mary Anne – Western Route

Morning – Arrival at Baltra airport, transfer to the ship: 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$100), 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. You cross the Itabaca channel with a ferry and take another bus to the highlands.

Afternoon – Highlands, CC Fausto Llerena: 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 the tortoises. Lunch in the highlands. At the Fausto Llerena breeding center, you will have the opportunity to take amazing photos of the turtles! The tour starts at the GNP information booth. The path continues to the Van Straelen Interpretation Center, the Breeding Center, and from there a trail leads you to see the Española Island turtles, ending at the turtle exhibition enclosure. The turtles in this enclosure are used to people; it is an excellent place to have your photo taken with them! Afterwards, you will drive to Puerto Ayora, the capital of Santa Cruz and board the ship.

Meals: Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Coromorant Point, Devil’s Crown: The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the northern cape of Floreana, which was formed by a series of smaller volcanic cones. Volcanic cones covered with tropical dry forest (palo santo). The green sand on the beach at the site contains a high proportion of glassy olivine crystals that have been blown out by the surrounding tufa cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the south side of the peninsula is made up of even whiter coral sand that feels very smooth on the feet. Parrotfish have provided the pulverization by grinding up calcium-rich skeletons of still-living coral. 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. Devil’s Crown is probably one of the best places to snorkel in Galapagos. Here you can see an incredible variety of marine life.

Afternoon – Post Office Bay: In the 18th century, a wooden barrel was placed at this bay by the crew of a whaling ship, used then by sailors and now by tourists as a post office. The idea was to ‘post’ letters and postcards, in which everyone who passed by left letters there and took others to be sent to places where the traveler wanted to go. Also, this area was the landing place of the first colonists.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Black Beach, Asylum of Peace: This morning you will visit Floreana’s Black Beach, and learn more about the history of the island and its first inhabitants. You will visit the fresh water spring known as the Asylum of Peace, the caves that served as hideouts for pirates, and the place where the first inhabitant of the Galapagos Islands was born, according to the stories of Floreana, which also involve the famous Baroness Eloise Wagner of Bousquet and her lovers who mysteriously disappeared after the settlement of the island.

Afternoon – Navigation: After this visit, there is the best opportunity for a not common but very popular activity on the archipelago – a navigation looking for whales and dolphins. This afternoon will be completed by the impressive landscapes of Isabela and the Cerro Azul volcano.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Moreno Point (Isabela): Punta Moreno 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 complex of several coastal lagoons. The main attraction is various species of birds that can be found at the lakes and in the mangrove forests.

Afternoon – Urbina Bay (Isabela): Urbina Bay is located on the west coast of Isabela, between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove. It is close to the base of the Alcedo volcano. The coastline underwent a major uplift in 1954, extending the shore for one kilometer. Here you will find corals, shells and many other calcareous organisms above water. Urbina Bay is home to the large and colorful land iguanas and giant tortoises of the Vulcan Alcedo population. There are also many Darwin’s finches to be seen.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Tagus Cove: You will navigate around Tagus Cove along the cliffs. From the inflatable boat you have a good chance of seeing the Galápagos penguins, the flightless comorants and other seabirds. From the pier it’s about a 30-minute walk to the cliff top, from where you can see Lake Darwin. The lake contains more salt than the sea itself. You can also see some volcanoes from here. Look out for the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs of the bay! They were written by pirates and whalers in the last centuries.

Afternoon – Espinoza Point: In the afternoon, visit Fernandina, the third largest island in the Galápagos archipelago with only one place open to visitors: Punta Espinoza is located on the northeastern peak of the island. In addition to the marine iguanas and sea lions that hang out here in the sand and water near the coast, the cormorant lives here. It cannot fly and through the process of evolution has perfected its ability to find food in the sea.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Puerto Egas: Puerto Egas is famous for its fur seal caves, where you will take a special guided walk along the coast. The artistically sculpted coastline of black basalt and multicoloured ash layers forms a photogenic backdrop of collapsed lava tunnel, 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 – Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove: Espumilla Beach is a visitor spot at the northern end of James Bay, on the west coast of Santiago. Hidden behind the beach are two picturesque lakes. The beach is an important breeding ground for turtles, which return year after year to bury their eggs in the cinnamon-colored sand dunes. Climbing a hill, you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the transition from sea to beach, to mangroves to Palo Santo Forest. At nearby Buccaneers Bay you will have the opportunity to snorkel.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Sullivan Bay (Santiago): Arriving at Sullivan Bay is like landing on the moon. The desolate, extended area seems mostly lifeless, but this island, which is popular with photographers, nevertheless offers much to discover. There is even life! Green turtles burrow on the small white beach, where you can also spot crabs, Canada herons and oysterfischers.

Afternoon – North Seymour: The shallow little island of North Seymour is an elevated part of the seabed. You may 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

Morning – Mosquera: Mosquera is located in the middle of the Itabaca Channel, between Baltra and North Seymour. Mosquera offers beautiful white coral sand and simplifies the landing unlike their neighbors Seymour and Baltra with their rocky coastline. The Galapagos sea lions are real beach lovers. These flink fishermen come through the Itabaca Channel, which is a natural trap for marine life due to the submerged elevation between Baltra and Santa Cruz. Here you will have time to snorkel or take a walk on the beach. Among the rocks, red cliff crabs are waiting to play hide and seek while you try to snap the perfect photo. If you’re lucky, you might even see crab egrets or even a red-footed booby. After this excursion, you will be transferred to the airport and say goodbye to the guide and crew!

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner