5DAYS/4NIGHTS ITINERARY 2016  

           

 

DETAILED ITINERARY  

 

DAY 1 (SATURDAY)

MORNING  FLIGHT  FROM  QUITO  OR  GUAYAQUIL  TO  BALTRA  (GALAPAGOS)  BACHAS  BEACH  (SANTA  CRUZ  ISLAND)  

    Assistance  will   be  provided   for   you  when  you  arrive   to   the  airport  by  one  of  our   representatives  after  you  have  landed.       You  will   arrive   at  Baltra   Island   in   the  morning.     After   passing   through   immigration   and   baggage  claim  you  will   be  met  by  Cormorant   staff   and   transferred   to   the   yacht.     You  will   be   shown   to   your   cabin  where  you  will  have  some  time  to  settle  in  before  lunch  and  a  welcome  briefing.         The   afternoon   visit,   Bachas   Beach,   is   located   on   the   north   shore   of   Santa   Cruz,   and   is   a   great  swimming  beach.    One  of  the  few  remnants  of  the  U.S.  World  War  II,  a  floating  pier,  presents  its  self  here.    You  may  see  flamingos,  Sally-­‐Lightfoot  crabs,  hermit  crabs,  Black-­‐Necked  stilts,  and  whimbrels.    Sea  turtles  also  nest  off  the  beach.                      

DAY 2 (SUNDAY)

BARTHOLOMEW  ISLAND  &  SULLIVAN  BAY  (SANTIAGO  ISLAND)       Our  morning  visit  includes  Bartholomew  Island,  home  of  the  famous  Pinnacle  Rock.    Bartholomew  consists  of  an  extinct  volcano  with  a  variety  of  red,  orange,  black  and  even  green  volcanic  formations.    We  will  take  a  trail  of  stairs  to  the  summit  of  the  volcano  (about  30  or  40  minutes),  where  you  will  enjoy  one  of  the  best  views  of  the  islands!    You  will  also  visit  a  small,  beautiful  beach,  surrounded  by  the  only  vegetation  found  on   this   barren   island.     The  beach   is   perfect   for   snorkeling  where   you  may  even   see   the  Galapagos  penguins.          

5-­‐Day  cruise  Saturday  to  Wednesday  

Santa  Cruz,  Bartholomew,  Santiago,  South  Plazas,  Santa  Fe,  San  Cristobal  Islands

BACHAS BEACH Difficulty: Easy Type of Landing: Wet Landing Highlights: World War II remnants, Sally-Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, Black-necked Stilts, whimbrels, and sea turtles.

BARTHOLOMEW ISLAND Possible Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling & hike (1.2 mi / 2 km) Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult. Walk up to the top of volcano 114 meters, 375 wooden steps Type of Landing: Dry and Wet Landing Highlights: Pinnacle rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus, snorkeling, penguins, reef sharks, sting-rays, and a variety of colorful fish.

Located  southeast  of  Santiago  Island,  Sullivan  Bay  is  of  great  geological  interest.  The  area  is  covered  by  Pahoehoe  lava  flows  combined  with  A’A  lava.    It  was  very  active  200  years  ago.  This  flow  is  geologically  very  young.  The  magma  formed  is  flat,  but  the  movement  of  underground  lava,  the  rapid  cooling  and  other  eruptions   led   to   the   break   in   many   places.     200   meters   around   the   landing,   you   can   see   patterns   of  vegetation   that   were   burned   during   the   eruption.     A   visit   to   this   area   of   black   lava   is   preferable   in   the  afternoon  because  the  temperature  is  more  pleasant  and  the  light  is  better  for  photographs.    

SULLIVAN BAY

Possible Activities: Hike (1.3 mi / 1 ½ km) swimming and snorkeling Difficulty: Moderate: The lava is very hot due to the sun, be sure to have thick-soled shoes. Type of Landing: Dry landing at the rocky shore and a wet landing at the white sand beach. Highlights: Pahoehoe lava flows, which have hardened in accordion like formation. Small glass-like bubbles of lava can be found, called “hornitos”. Swimming with sea lions and other wildlife from the shore is a lovely way to finish off the tour.    

     

DAY 3 (MONDAY)  SOUTH  PLAZAS  ISLAND  &  SANTA  FE  ISLAND  

    In  the  morning,  you  will  head  to  South  Plaza  Island.  This  small   island  with  steep  cliffs  was  formed  by  rising  lava  and  is  now  covered  by  Opuntia  cacti.  It  is  also  home  to  one  of  the  largest  sea  lion  colonies  as  well  as  colorful  yellow  and  red  land  iguanas.  The  most  characteristic  plant  is  the  Sesuvium.  During  the  rainy  season  its  color  is  a  greenish  to  yellowish  tone  and  in  the  dry  season  (end  of  June  through  January)  a  bright  red.                       Our  afternoon  visit  is  to  Santa  Fe  Island,  formed  by  a  volcanic  uplift.  Santa  Fe  (Barrington)  is  home  to  the  small  picturesque  bay  and  anchorage  on  the  island  northeast  coast.  The  bay  has  two  visitor  trails,  one  leading   to  a   scenic  viewpoint  atop  a  cliff  and   the  other   spanning   from  a  small  beach   to  a   tall  prickly  pear  cactus  forest.    The  island  is  home  to  a  colony  of  sea  lions  which  would  be  more  than  happy  to  join  you  for  a  swim.    Santa  Fe  also  has  its  own  sub-­‐species  of  land  iguana.                

 

SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND Possible Activities: Hike (1.5 mi / 2 ½ km) Difficulty: Moderate Type of Landing: Dry Landing Highlights: Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon´s shearwaters, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies and amazing landscape with cliffs.

SANTA FE ISLAND Possible Activities: Hiking and swimming Difficulty: Moderate Type of Landing: Dry Landing Highlights: Land Iguanas, giant tunas, sea lions.

 

DAY 4 (TUESDAY)  WITCH  HILL  &  PITT  POINT  (SAN  CRISTOBAL  ISLAND)  

  We   will   visit   Witch   Hill   (Cerro   Brujo)   in   the   morning   where   you   will   explore   one   of   the   nicest  beaches   in  the  Galápagos.  You'll  be  tantalized  by  the  texture  and  sight  of  the  powdered,  soft,  white  sand.  With  a  colony  of  sea   lions  and  Blue-­‐footed  Boobies,   this   scenic  place   is  bustling  with   life.   Just  beyond  the  beach  is  a  lagoon,  thriving  with  Egrets  and  Great  Blue  Herons.  The  turquoise  water  and  abundant  marine  life  will  invite  you  to  snorkel  their  midst.

 

   

 

  In  the  afternoon  we  will  visit  Pitt  Point.  Pitt  Point  holds   its  own  as  the  northeastern  most  site  on  Isabela.  After  an  easy  hike,  you  will  be  rewarded  with  a  unique  treat.  Herein  lays  the  only  nesting  site  which  hosts   all   three   species   of   Galápagos   Boobies.     Photographers   will   be   thrilled   with   this   intimate   natural  experience.  The  attractive  volcanic  tuff  formations  will  have  geologists  and  laymen  alike  imagining  the  forces  of  nature  that  possessed  the  earth  to  create  this  land.  

           

     

DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY)

LOBOS  ISLAND  (SAN  CRISTOBAL)  &  DEPARTURE  

  In  the  morning  we  will  visit  Lobos  Island,  a  rocky  bay  just  a  30  minute  walk  from  Puerto  Baquerizo.    Note   the  beautifully   colored  plants   in   the  area  down  by   the  beach  and   the  enormous  colony  and  nursery  that  Galapagos  sea  lions  call  home.    Sea  lions  are  normally  here  and  dozens  can  be  seen  at  any  time  as  well  as  shore  birds  and  marine  iguanas.  

 

   

             

WITCH HILL Possible Activities: Hike, dinghy ride, snorkeling & kayaking Difficulty: Easy walk along the beach Type of Landing: Wet Landing Highlights: Beautiful rock formations, sea lions, shorebirds, and land birds: finches and mockingbirds. Snorkeling: spot tropical fish, anemones, and sponge coral.

PITT POINT Possible Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling, kayaking & hike (1.5 mi / 2 ½ km) Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult Type of Landing: Wet Landing Highlights: Wonderful landscape, sea lion colony, three possible species of Boobies.

LOBOS ISLAND Possible Activities: 30 minute walk Difficulty: Easy /Moderate Type of Landing: Dry Landing Highlights: Sea lion colony, shore birds, unique colored plants, marine iguanas.

  After   this   final   visit,   you  will   be   transferred   to   San  Cristobal’s   airport   in   time   to   catch   your   flight  back  to  the  mainland      Please  keep  in  mind  that  on  departure  days,  your  morning  visit  will  be  early  and  short  since  we  need  to  be  prepared  before  heading  back  toward  the  airport  for  your  returning  flight  to  Ecuador’s  mainland.        

Important:   Itineraries   and   activities   subject   to   change  without   prior   notice.  Depending   on  weather  conditions  and  water  currents,  some  wildlife  described  above  may  not  be  visible.