Santa Cruz

Overview

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Itinerary

• This adventure begins with your morning flight to Baltra Island and an immediate transfer to the nearby dock to board Yacht La Pinta. After an introductory briefing onboard, we will all partake in an emergency boat drill, after which you will be assigned to your cabin and then be invited to lunch.

• In the afternoon, we will disembark and get to enjoy a walk along the coast and inner area of this beautiful and relatively flat island. Throughout the excursion, you will get to observe numerous bird colonies as well as sea lions and land iguanas. Thereu2019s also the possibility of exploring the coast aboard the dinghies. Afterwards, we will head back onboard for an evening briefing, a welcome cocktail and then dinner.

• Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)nnBecause there is no disembarking site at this location, this coastal exploration is done aboard dinghies. Naturalist guides will explain the dramatic geology of the area that are made up of lava flows and tuff stone layers. There is abundant wildlife present here and, depending on weather conditions, you will be able to snorkel along the cliffs, most likely in the company of green sea turtles!

• In the afternoon, we will visit the youngest and most pristine island of the archipelago u2013 Fernandina. This island is ranked among one of the top islands to visit in Galapagos, by guests and guides alike. Here, you will discover an amazing interplay between barren terrain and abundant wildlife. Highlights here include: hawks, penguins, flightless cormorants and astounding views of the surrounding volcanic landscapes

• After breakfast, we will disembark at Urbina Bay over on the western side of Isabela Island. This visitor site happens to be the result of the tectonic uplift of the ocean floor! As a result, we will get to see plenty of corals and shells alongside large and very colorful Galapagos land iguanas. Occasionally, we might even be lucky enough to spot giant tortoises. While sailing across the Bolu00edvar Channel, we will have a high chance of spotting several species of whales.

• Over on the northwest side of Isabela is secluded Tagus Cove u2013 an anchorage spot that once served as a pit stop for pirates and whalers for several centuries. Nowadays, Tagus Cove is a superb visitor site. Upon disembarking, we will partake in an uphill hike that takes them to the rear of Darwin Crater, which consists entirely of salt water. Afterwards, you can choose to snorkel or ride kayaks along the dramatic coastal landscape.

• In the morning, we will disembark at Rabida Islandu2019s red-colored beach. A stroll along the beach allows us to observe marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwinu2019s finches. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach, too. Non-snorkelers are invited to ride Yacht La Pintau2019s glass-bottom boat for an exploration of life underneath the waves.

• The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts the fascinating landscapes of Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). The walk here involves casually circling a brackish-water lagoon thatu2019s often frequented by lagoon birds. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay as well as the western islands of the archipelago. You might even be lucky enough to observe land iguanas here, too!

• The morning visit on this day takes us over to the Charles Darwin Research Station, with its giant tortoise pens and an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest. These are the Galapagosu2019 headquarters for scientific research and conservation. The Station also functions as the administration offices for the Galapagos National Park.

• After lunch, we will head up into the highlands of Santa Cruz Island aboard a private bus. This makes for great place to keep an eye out for the emblematic finches that inspired Darwin. Endemic scalesia trees also dominate the area as well. The highlands are also a great place for exploring the exuberant vegetation that is home to giant tortoises that roam about freely in the wild!

• Post Office BaynnAfter breakfast, we will disembark at Post Office Bay (Floreana Island) to visit the historic u201cPost Office Barrelu201d that has functioned as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries! Dinghy rides along the maze of channels over on Floreanau2019s north shore can also be enjoyed. Views from La Loberu00eda and the Baroness Viewpoint are quite rewarding, too. Thereu2019s great kayaking and swimming from the beach here as well.

• Champion Islet & Cormorant PointnnBefore disembarking at Cormorant Point, you can enjoy snorkeling or a ride on Yacht La Pintau2019s glass-bottom boat that travels along the coast of an extinct cone called u201cChampion Islet.u201d Later on, in the afternoon, you will get to visit Cormorant Point, which has an olivine-crystal beach and a brackish water lagoon where bird species like American flamingos can be spotted. A brief walk to the other side of the island rewards guests with a beautiful, white-sand beach that is often the spot for sea turtles to come and nest.

• The journey ends at Baltra Island, where you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight back to the mainland. Baltrau2019s flat substrate (due to its tectonically uplifted origin) is the reason for why this island was chosen back in the 1940u2019s as the location for building an airport.

Good to know

• Not recommended for pregnant travelers

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

• Itinerary subject to change due to weather, logistical, Galu00e1pagos Park regulations or operational reasons

• Baggage important notes: Guests can bring aboard the ship a reasonable amount of clothing and personal effects without charge. Baggage is handled in accordance with the airlinesu2019 regulations and tariffs. Baggage exceeding these limitations is subject to the charges as set forth by the individual operators. Airlines are strict with baggage limitations. The current limits are 23 kg (50.6 pounds) for checked items, 8 kg (17 pounds) for hand luggage and 1 personal item (handbag, camera bag, laptop, etc.)

• All baggage must be securely packed, and properly and clearly labeled. Liquid, fragile, perishable and other articles not suitably packed are transported at guestsu2019 own risk.

• Restricted Baggage in the Galapagos: Local authorities manage the quarantine system of the Galu00e1pagos National Park in order to reduce the possibility of foreign species invading the archipelago. All cargo and luggage that arrives to Galapagos National Park or that is transferred from one island to another must be inspected. To preserve the human health and the native species of the Galapagos Islands, the following products may not be transferred to Galapagos: fresh vegetables and fruits, animal products and or their derivatives, dairy products. Other live animals, pathological samples, dry coffee beans, genetically modified organisms, forest species or their disseminative parts, grass and its disseminative parts, fresh flowers, medicinal plants and their disseminative parts, banana tree leaves, micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria, etc.) soil and sand, and animal vaccines

• One of our destination experts will get in touch with our guests to make sure they have all logistical information available, specially due to entry requirements to the Galapagos Islands and schedules for domestic air tickets to Galapagos.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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