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The sixteen passenger Aida Maria offers a great combination of comfort, style and economy for tours in the Galapagos. Each of the eight double cabins has a private bathroom with hot showers , air conditioning , an ample external deck to enjoy sunny Galapagos days. The M/Y Aida Maria started operating in the galapagos islands in 1997 offering cruises around the islands as a charter yacht as well as for individual travellers.
It's design is based in efficiency and comfort with social areas and 8 cabins providing optimum comfort for your experience exploring the galapagos. She takes 16 guests in double cabins with private facilities, A/C and hot water and desalinator having unlimited water.
The Aida Maria is one of the very few yachts entirely hand made in the Galapagos islands completely from local farms timber wood ,this is one of the most traditional and classic boats in the Galapagos,the owners have been running tours in Galapagos since the 1960's but the family has its roots in Galapagos since the late 1930's.
For a classic experience of the Galapagos with one of the best boats with excellent service ,experienced captain, friendly crew and great food, the M/Y AIDA MARIA is your choice.
The M/Y AIDA MARIA has 8 very comfortable double cabins located on 3 decks, 4 on Main deck 2 on the upper deck and 2 on the sun deck,each cabin has upper and lower beds, private bathroom with hot showers , all cabins have the same price and are assigned on first come first serve basis, so if you want the upper deck cabins please be the first one to make your reservation and ask for availability ,however all cabins are the same size and have the same facilities.
| DAY | ISLAND | PLACE |
| THU |
Santa Cruz |
AM: Baltra Airport PM: Highland |
| FRI |
Floreana |
AM: Cormorant Point - Devil´s Crown PM: Post Office |
| SAT |
Española |
AM: Suarez Point PM: Garned Bay - Gardner Islet - Osborn Islet |
| SUN |
San Cristobal |
AM: AM: Lobos Island PM: Inperpretación Center - Tijeretas Hill |
| MON |
Santa Fe South Plaza |
AM: Santa Fe Island PM: South Plaza Island |
| TUE | Santa Cruz |
AM: Charles Darwin Station PM: Baltra Airport |
Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you’ll truly be landing in a place like no other. The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you’re about to see why. Your bilingual naturalist guide will greet you at the airport and meet you after customs. During lunch he/she will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will encounter at our first destination.
HIGHLAND
After shopping in Puerto Ayora and lunch on the boat (guests may dine in town if they desire), you’ll explore the upper region, “HIGHLAND” of the island, which is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils. You’ll learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, often strikingly different than that found at lower elevations.
Darwin’s Finches, Yellow Warblers, and Bright Red Vermillion Flycatchers will fly in and out of the moss-covered trees. From this high vantage point you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the surrounding archipelago.
In the late afternoon you’ll return to town. For those who wish to check out the nightlife, this is your chance; the boat will be docked in port most of the night.
CORMORANT PONIT (FLOREANA ISLAND)
When you wake up and look out your porthole on Day 6 you will see Floreana, one of the greenest islands in the archipelago. Ask your guide to tell you about its mysterious history laden with rumors of witches, murderous baronesses, blackmail, and dubious disappearances.
Your first stop is Punta Cormorant, where you’ll follow a footpath to a lagoon inhabited by flaming-pink flamingos. You will also pass by Carolina Beach, a Sea Turtle nesting area and a superb spot for watching sea birds and sea rays.
DEVIL´S CROWN
Back on the yacht, you’ll skirt the island’s coast until you arrive at Devil’s Crown, a sub-marine crater that offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos. This is a great spot for seeing the wide array of tropical fish, many endemic to the islands, including purple sea stars and spiky sea urchins. The crater’s most thrilling undersea creatures, however, are the white-tipped sharks. As with most of the creatures in the Galapagos they are unperturbed by your presence, so you can swim in their company freely and fearlessly.
POST OFFICE BAY
After returning to the boat for lunch you’ll sail on to Post Office Bay, where the islands’ original post office (really only a wooden barrel) was established in 1793. The current system still functions as it did three centuries ago: Visitors drop off unstamped letters and postcards AND pick-up whatever mail they can hand deliver themselves when they return home! (Try it, it actually works!).
SUAREZ POINT (ESPAÑOLA ISLAND)
Head to Punta Suárez on Española Island, the southernmost island in the Galápagos archipelago and home to several wildlife species. Hike to the top of the cliff for spectacular photo opportunities, and explore the island's untamed natural beauty.
GARDNER BAY
Visit Gardner Bay's magnificent white sandy beach, home to sea lions and sea birds. Be sure to explore the beautiful turquoise water and its incredible sea life. Spot young sea lions and large schools of surprisingly big tropical fish, including yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrot fish.
GARDNER ISLET
This small island in front of Gardner Bay is lined with vertical cliffs that drop to sandy ledges and large boulders. Diving here you will encounter the smallest of the Galapagos garden eels, snake eels, blackspot morays, Galapagos putterfish, scorpionfish, and red-lipped batfish. On the north end of the island are twisting tunnels and to the south are caves making for interesting exploration. The area has an abundance of fish including schools of snappers, creolefish, king angelfish, butterflyfish, jacks, large pufferfish and a variety of sea urchins and sea stars.
OSBORN ISLET
Is located to the southeast of Gardner Bay, near Española Island. Since landing is not allowed on this site, the visit consists of a tranquil panga ride that will allow us to enjoy the panoramic views and the many species that inhabit the place.
The islet wa named after after Henry Fairfield Osborn, a true lover of nature and animal species. William Beebe worked for him and named the islet after traveling to discover Galapagos.
There are many different schools of fish and other animal species, such as parrotfish, sea lions, butterfly fish, corals, green pencil urchins and many other colorful fish. This site is also great for snorkeling and swimming around the abundant marine life, as its waters are very calm.
LOBOS ISLAND (SAN CRISTOBAL)
On your 8th day of visiting the Galapagos you’ll arrive early in the morning to San Cristobal, the capital of the Galapagos. The first site will be Isla Lobos, a very small islet made of volcanic rocks that gets its name from the colony of Sea Lions (Lobo de Mar in Spanish) that live there. Here you can observe the behavior and interaction of Sea Lions living in a small community. Before taking the flight back to the mainland you will have some time to visit the town on your own for last minute shopping or people watching in the Galapagos.
INTERPRETATION CENTER & TIJERETAS HILL (SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND)
In the afternoon will be the visit to the Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo, the local branch of the Galapagos National Park Service, where your guide will explain the formation of the islands, how the flora and fauna arrived and were established in Galapagos, as well as visit the corrals where there are several species of giant tortoises under the care of the National Park Service. Then you will continue to the visit to Cerro Tijeretas located at 2 km from Puerto Ayora, is the only one site that you can see 2 different kind of Fragatas living on the same colony.
Return to the boat , dinner.
SANTA FE ISLAND
After breakfast on the yacht, you’ll continue to Santa Fe Island. Upon arrival to the island, you’ll be treated to a noisy welcome from the local Sea Lion colony. Following your naturalist guide on the island paths you’ll reach Santa Fe's main attraction, a towering forest of giant cacti. Scattered around the cacti trees you’ll see a number of the island's indigenous sun-seekers: marine and land iguanas, the rainbow-streaked lava lizards and, if you’re lucky, land tortoises - the namesakes of the islands. After the walk you’ll dive into the salty sea and snorkel in the company of Sea Lions, Lion Fish and Sea Turtles. Finally, you’ll return to the yacht for lunch.
SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND
After lunch we’ll navigate to Plazas Island, where a large colony of Sea Lions lounge daily in the equatorial sun. Plaza also boasts excellent examples of typical Galapagos native flora such as the towering cacti "trees" that form the principal diet for both the Land Iguanas and the Cactus Finch. Other birds that may flutter by include Lava Gulls, Yellow Warblers and Red-Billed Tropicbirds.
CHARLES DARWIN STATION (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)
After breakfast you’ll sail to Santa Cruz Island, where you’ll visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises.
Then you’ll visit the station’s Tortoise Rearing Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!). Galapagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need.
Aside from the Station headquarters, Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. In this portside town you can buy souvenirs (postcards, t-shirts, books, etc.) of the islands. Check out the unique Galapagos ceramic shop near the entrance of the Charles Darwin Station.
After this final visit, you will be transferred to the San Cristobal airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.
Important: Itineraries are unlikely to change significantly but are subject to change. Weather, wildlife breeding, safety concerns, instructions from the Galapagos National Park, specific abilities and interests of passengers as well as operational matters may cause your guide or captain to change the time or nature of visits. Your guide and captain will always endeavor to select the best itinerary within these limits.
| Yach Name: | Aida Maria |
| Category: | Tourist Superior Class |
| Construction: | 1996. Galapagos Island |
| Motor: | 2 John Deere (175 HP) |
| Generator: | 2 x yanmar 110 V |
| Electricity: | 110 V / 220 V |
| Aire Acondicionado: | All the cabins and indoor areas |
| Navegation: | 70 Feet |
| Speed: | 9 Knots |
| Capacity: | 16 Passengers |
| Acomodation: | 8 doubles cabins (upper and lower beds) with private facilities |
| Social Areas: | Dining room, living room, sundeck and entertaiment center |
| Crew: | 8 + 1 bilingual naturalist guide |
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