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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 |
| SUN |
Santa Cristobal |
AM: San Cristobal Airport 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: Highlands |
| WED |
Isabela |
AM: Sierra Negra Volcano PM: Wall of Tears |
| THU |
Isabela |
AM: Moreno Point PM: Elizabeth Bay |
| FRI |
Isabela Fernandina |
AM: Tagus Cove PM: Espinoza Point |
| SAT |
Santiago Rabida |
AM: Egas Puerto PM: Rabida Island |
| SUN | North Seymour |
AM: North Seymour AM: Baltra Airport |
Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in San Cristobal, 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.
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.
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.
VOLCÁN SIERRA NEGRA (ISLA ISABELA)
Your first visit in the morning will take place to Sierra Negra volcano, Isabela Island, will be a walk around 30 minutes to the lap of famous volcano at Isabela Island.
Volcan Sierra Negra is a large shield volcano at the South eastern end of Isabela Island in the Galapagos that rises to an altitude of 1124m. Also is considered one of the oldest Volcano at the Islands.
WALL OF TEARS
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go to visit the humedales, which is a mangrove area with small brackish water lagoons that create the perfect environment for a small type of shrimp that serves as the food for the island’s flamingos.
Following this visit you will be transported to El Muro de las Lagrimas or “The Wall of Tears.” When the Ecuadorian government first took possession of the islands their main purpose was to harbor Ecuadorian prisoners; since there wasn’t much for them to do they were forced to carry rocks to a far location and build a wall. which nowadays is know as The Wall of Tears.
Back on board and night navigation to your next site.
MORENO POINT (ISABELA ISLAND)
After night navigation you’ll arrive to Punta Moreno on the west coast of Isabela, a dry landing on a lava field. The vegetation found in this area is sparse and concentrated mainly in the mangrove area and around the lakes. It should be noted that the three kinds of cacti are found here.
The main attractions at Punta Moreno are the coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. Here you’ll have a panoramic view of three of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos, which are Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul of Isabela Island and La Cumbre of Fernandina Island.
ELIZABETH BAY
After lunch on board you’ll continue on your way to Elizabeth bay, located on Isabela Island`s west shore, which is an excellent spot for observing marine life. You’ll motor past a few islands where you can usually see Galapagos Penguins; this is one of the best areas to take their photos. A colony of these magnificent birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay.
We’ll let our boat drift through a small passage lined with mangroves and eventually emerge into an enclosed cove. We’ll turn the motor off and look in the sheltered waters for Marine Turtles, Rays, Flightless Cormorants, Sea Lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos Hawks.
TAGUS COVE (ISABELA ISLAND)
The visitor’s site of Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. The entire distance of the trail is about 1800 meters. This was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers, and the tradition of inscribing the names of boats is a tradition still observed today. At the beginning of the walk, going up and passing the staircase, is a small cave where you’ll find inscriptions dating to the 1800s.
The trail, mostly gravel, leads into the interior, along Darwin Lake. During the walk, you can see various land birds and we’ll identify the characteristic vegetation of the arid zone. Finally, you’ll see the lava fields of Darwin Volcano.
Back on board for lunch and a short navigation to Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island.
ESPINOZA POINT (FERNANDINA ISLAND)
Punta Espinoza is a narrow ledge of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. There is a vivid description from Captain Benjamin Morrell who witnessed and recorded and eruption of Fernandina in the 1820’s that probably gave rise to the Point. In 1975, there was an uprising, about 90 cm, which is why the pier built for landing can only be used during high tide.
Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of Marine Iguanas as well as being the habitat of unique species like the Flightless Cormorant, the Galapagos Penguin, the Galapagos Hawk, and the Galapagos Snake, among others. It’s an ideal place to observe the lava cactus (Brachycerus Nesioticus), which grow on young lava and survive with little water.
After visiting Fernandina you will start the navigation to the central part of the Galapagos and on the way you’ll see Punta Vicente Roca, a mostly eroded volcano which now is a great site for seeing Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate Birds and other marine birds from the boat.
EGAS PORT (SANTIAGO ISLAND)
Egas Port is a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island. South of the beach is Sugarloaf Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff, the same that helped the formation of the black sand beach. El Cráter is just north of this site, it has a saltwater lagoon, which during the summer dry season becomes a salt mine. Between 1928 and 1930 was the first exploitation of salt; but the efforts did not last long. Then again in 1964 a new attempt was made that lasted for some time.
After lunch on board we’ll navigate to our next destination, Rabida.
RABIDA ISLAND
Rabida Island consists of a red sand beach, a coastal lagoon behind the beach, and a loop trail. The approximate distance of the trail is 1.1 kilometers.
The color of the rocks and sand on the beach is due to the very porous volcanic material, which with the help of environmental factors (rain, salt water and sea breeze), has acted as an oxidizing agent.
The main attraction of this spot is the red sand beach and scenery, aside from the vegetation of the arid zone and the presence of native and endemic species.
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
After an early breakfast you’ll disembark at North Seymour Island. Here you will see Frigate Birds, the clownish Blue-Footed Booby, and of course the ubiquitous Sea Lions. With luck you’ll witness the striking courtship display of the male Frigate Bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females. Seymour North, Plaza Sur, Plaza Norte, Baltra, northeastern Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and part of Española, were all formed by uprisings of underwater volcanic lavas. They were part of a volcanic lava table deposited in sheet form along cracks located on the ocean floor. The uprisings occurred sporadically and lasted more than a million years to reach its current level.
All marine fossils found in the archipelago are found in these islands and the best example is the North Channel side of Baltra. The fossils date from the Pleistocene, and specifically in the case of Baltra, one can say that these volcanic tables were close to the surface about a million years ago.
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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