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Galapagos
– Baltra Airport
We will set out from Quito or Guayaquil
to Baltra airport in Galapagos. Then we
will head for the quay to get on the M/V
Galapagos Legend.
North Seymour
On our first day, we will disembark at
North Seymour Island, where we will have
the opportunity to see seagulls and sea
lions. This island is famous for the breeding
of blue-footed boobies that takes place
here, and for having the biggest rookery
of magnificent frigate birds. Then we
will watch sea animals and endemic iguana
species.
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Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill)
We will visit Dragon Hill. After a dry
landing, we will visit the salt-water
lagoon, situated near the beach which
is often visited by pink flamingoes. We
will cross a lignum vitae forest to walk
along a path to the top of Dragon Hill,
where we can appreciate the unique view
of the whole bay. In this area, the land
iguanas are bred; this species was introduced
by Charles Darwin Scientific Station.
Floreana (Punta Cormorant)
We will have a wet landing on a green
beach formed by olivine crystal. We will
go along a well-signaled path, right passing
the mangrove swamp of different species,
and will take us to a lagoon where is
one of the biggest flamingo rookeries
of Galapagos. Floreana Island is famous
for its endemic fauna; for example, lecocarpus,
lignum vitae and scalecia villosa.
At the end of the path, there is a white-sanded
beach where we can find turtles, which
come every year to lay their eggs; we
can see that by the footprints on the
sand, and their nests. At the green beach,
we can do snorkeling accompanied by sea
lions. Here is one of the most visited
places to do this activity: The Devil’s
Crown.
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Española (Punta Suárez)
We will have a dry landing at Punta Suarez.
We will listen to an introduction about
inactive lava holes. This area is famous
for the sea lion rookeries, and is one of
the most important places to watch many
species of animals: Nazca and blue-footed
boobies, tropical birds, marine iguanas,
lava lizards and colorful zayapas. We will
also find Galapagos pigeons, sparrow hawks
and split-tail seagulls. This is a nesting
area; the nest can even be seen on the path
itself. After leaving the breeding area,
we will visit one of the albatross nesting
rookeries; there are about 15,000 of them
around the island.
From May to December, the albatross mating
ritual is something we cannot miss. We will
see the prompter, where the water stream
goes up to 23 meters.
San Cristóbal
We will have a dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo
Moreno, where we will visit the Interpretation
Center, and learn about the nature and history
of the inhabitants of Galapagos. Later we
can stroll around the city.
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Santa Cruz (Punta Carrión)
In this visit, we will have the opportunity
to do snorkeling, or watch a wide variety
of fish, manta rays and white pointer
sharks, which are harmless. From Punta
Carrion, we will sail along the beautiful
Itabaca Channel with its turquoise waters.
We will get back to the ship to check
out and go to the airport and fly to
Quito or Guayaquil.
We will set out from Quito or Guayaquil
to Baltra airport in Galapagos. Then
we will head for the quay to get on
the M/V Galapagos Legend.
Bartolome
We will have a dry landing. On the island,
we will watch volcanic lava bombs and
volcanic ash cones. At the top, we can
enjoy a wonderful view of the neighboring
islands; we can also see the eroded
rock Pinaculo.
When descending, we will find lava
lizards and autochthonous plants such
as tiquilla and local cactus. We will
have the opportunity to swim under water
(snorkeling) and watch Galapagos penguins,
turtles and white pointer sharks.
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Isabella
(Urbina Bay)
We will have a wet landing. We will visit
the fossil beach and the corals. Depending
on the season, we will have the opportunity
to see giant turtles, land iguanas and flying
cormorants. After the walking, we can do
some snorkeling.
Fernandina (Punta Espinoza)
After disembarking at Punta Espinoza, we
will go to see the rookeries of the biggest
marine iguanas of the archipelago, besides
watching red crabs or zayapas (Grapsus grapsus),
which are colorful crabs. We will watch
not flying cormorants, Galapagos penguins
and sparrow hawks, and sea lions. Here we
can see volcanic formations such as Brachycereus
cactus and lava formations such as pa-hoe-hoe
and AA lava. And finally, we will see the
mangrove swamps.
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Santiago (Puerto Egas)
Puerto Egas is situated in the north of
Santiago Island; there we will have a wet
landing on a black beach formed by the erosion
of volcanic lava. At the end of 1950s and
beginning of 1960s, Hector Egas, who was
born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, lived in this
place to extract salt from a mine located
at 3km from the beach. Today we can see
the remains of Egas' old factory; they had
to leave the island because they went bankrupt.
The landscape is formed by compact ash
and streams of lava, causing tufa formations.
On this island, we will find migratory
coastal birds such as lava herons, blue
herons, night herons, pelicans and oystercatchers.
We will see marine iguanas laying over
rocks and feeding on algae, and crabs
or zayapas. Here there is a rookery of
fur seals that swim in natural pools called
caverns. At the beach, we can swim and
snorkel and come close to octopus, sea
horses, tropical fish, corals, sponges
and other species of sea fauna such as
moraines, white pointer sharks, sea lions,
turtles and manta rays.
Rábida (Jarvis)
We will have a wet landing on a red-sanded
beach; this color is due to the oxidation
of iron, element that is plentiful in
the island. Rabida Beach is visited by
sea lions and blue-footed boobies.
We will go through a path that will take
us to a salt-water lagoon with mangrove
swamps, and where we will see flamingoes
very occasionally. From July to September,
the brown pelican nest in the salt mountains.
During the trekking, we will have the
opportunity to see Darwin's finches; when
we get back to the beach, we can do some
snorkeling activities.
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Santa Cruz (Estación Charles Darwin)
Charles Darwin Station is formed by scientists
from around the world that do biological
research and projects on species preservation.
An example of this is the program on the
breeding in captivity of giant turtles and
their offspring. On the island, we can see
giant cactus and land birds. After visiting
the station, we will stroll around the town.
Santa Cruz (High Part)
We will visit the high part of Santa Cruz,
where we will see the two volcanic depressions
called Los Gemelos (the twins), and also
El Chato (the flat) Hill. Finally, we will
go along a tunnel formed by lava.
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Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach)
We will visit Bachas Beach at the north
of Santa Cruz Island. We will have a wet
landing on this white-sanded beach with
turquoise waters. This is the perfect
place to do snorkeling, surrounded by
sea lions, iguanas and turtles. We will
go back and go to Baltra airport to fly
back to Quito or Guayaquil.
NOTE: This cruise through the Galapagos
Islands can depart from North Seymour
Island on Monday and arrive at Bachas
Beach the following Monday or depart from
Bartolome Island on Thursday and arrive
at Punta Carrion in Santa Cruz. Departures
on Mondays and Thursdays.
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