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The Archipell II is one of the most comfortable cruise boats navigating the Galapagos archipelago.
This is due to our dedication in designing the most comfortable fleet of catamarans available. We have worked with the same passion and dedication as with the Journey I to maintain a standard of service that is second to none (worldwide).
The Archipell II will offer lots of space and comfort for naturalist and diving cruises, the artful combination of stability, grace and speed make this catamaran a perfect partner for a Galapagos discovery adventure.
Archipell II has 8 comfortable double cabins with windows to the outside, double and twin low beds, private bathroom, cold/hot water, air conditioned, closet and night table.
Onboard there is also a social area with TV, VHS, DVD, library, comfortable dining room, varied and healthy food, bard interior and external on the sundeck, sundeck with comfortable chairs for relaxing.
|
DAY |
ISLAND | PLACES |
| MON |
San Cristobal |
AM: San Cristobal Airport PM: Lobos Islet |
| TUE |
South Plaza Santa Fe |
AM: South Plaza Island PM: Santa Fe Island |
| WED |
Santiago Santa Cruz |
AM: Chinese Hat PM: Dragon Hill |
| THU |
Santa Cruz |
AM: Charles Darwin Station PM: Highlands |
| FRI |
Isabela |
AM: Tintoreras PM: Arnoldo Tupiza Breeding Center |
| SAT |
Isabela |
AM: Moreno Point PM: Elizabeth Bay |
| SUN |
Isabela Fernandina |
AM: Tagus Cove PM: Espinoza Point |
| MON | Santa Cruz |
AM: Bachas Beach Baltra Airport |
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: LOBOS ISLAND
AM: Upon arrival at San Cristóbal Airport, travellers pass through an airport inspection point to make sure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands, and to pay the park entrance fee of $100. A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour.
PM: Lobos Island
The Lobos Islets beach harbours a colony of Galapagos sea lions. As in other colonies in the archipelago, you can approach nurturing females within a few metres. In the breeding season this colony is also visited by territorial males, defending and mating the harem on their part of the beach. This low islet is home to more than just Galapagos sea lions. Two other emblematic species breed here: male blue-footed boobies and great frigate birds who try to impress the females (and tourists) with clumsy dances, heaving their striking blue feet or blowing up their balloon-sized scarlet pouches. During the breeding season, the fluffy and hungry chicks cry for food, and when their wings get strong enough, they will learn to fly..
SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND AND SANTA FE ISLAND
AM: South Plaza Island
South Plaza is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas land iguanas are smaller than their relatives found on other islands. There are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana; they are unique, recognisable at first glance by their black/grey color, with a land iguana's crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana. The large population of iguanas is due to the presence of tuna, their favourite food. Swallow-tailed gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other seabirds such as Audubon shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds and brown pelicans.
PM: Santa Fe Island
Located in the southeastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift rather than being from a volcanic origin; which is why it is mostly flat. There are some theories claiming that this could be the oldest island in the archipelago. Santa Fe is home to a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of the two species of land iguanas on the islands. After disembarking into the beautiful and clear waters, you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail, many saltbushes can be seen, as well as giant Prickly pear cactus. There are great possibilities of snorkelling with playful sea lions and tropical fish.
SANTIAGO ISLAND: CHINESE HAT - DRAGON HILL
AM: Chinese Hat
Chinese Hat is a 52m/170ft high volcanic cone, forming another islet right off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. Approaching Chinese Hat from the north, you will understand the meaning of the name. This is an excellent place to learn more about volcanoes, lava bombs and lava tunnels.
You will arrive just in time to witness how this barren islet is colonised by pioneer species that have begun to sprout! Beautiful beaches of white coral sand and holes in the eroding lava fields are filled up with lava sand, which enables rooting. Galapagos sea lions and countless marine iguanas contribute to fertilisation, and altogether create many favourable options for newcomers, such as saltbush and the sesuvium carpet.
PM: Dragon Hill
The visitor site at Dragon Hill has been open to visitors since 1993. This site is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island and consists of a trail that leads to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach, frequently visited by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. This site has been re-populated with land iguanas from Seymour, Isabela and Santa Cruz island. There is a short walk to the hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay.
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: CHARLES DARWIN STATION AND HIGHLANDS
AM: Charles Darwin Station
Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are done. The main attractions are the National Park information centre, the Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Centre for young tortoises, and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.
PM: Highlands
The road to the highlands leaves from Bellavista, a small village located a 15-minute drive from Puerto Ayora and passes through the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone, and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather, this area gives you beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. Here you will visit the Twin Craters, which are two pit craters, as well as a local ranch where we can observe the Giant tortoise of Santa Cruz Island in its natural habitat.
ISABELA ISLAND: TINTORERAS AND ARNOLDO TUPIZA BREEDING CENTER
AM: Tintoreras
“Tintoreras” are small islands in front of the Puerto Villamil coast. There are herons on the lookout on mangrove branches, as well as Galapagos penguins and sea lions that often pop out on the shore. White-tipped reef sharks (in Spanish: Tintoreras) are common in the archipelago and are very commonly found resting in the shallow waters.
PM: Arnoldo Tupiza Breeding Center
In the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes. Vulnerable hatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand! This project just outside Puerto Villamil was created to rescue the endangered populations of Isabela’s both southernmost volcanoes. From the almost incredible estimations of 250,000 giant tortoises in the 16th century, by the 1970s there were only about 3,000 individuals remaining. One thing becomes clear on your visit: it’s hard work to save these creatures from extinction by reproduction in captivity and repopulation. The good news is that these programmes are successful and have already saved several species from extinction so far.
By 2015 their number increased to about 32,000 in all the archipelago. Don’t forget to visit the native botanical garden of this breeding centre. It also attracts colourful songbirds such as yellow warblers, Darwin’s finches, Galapagos and vermillion flycatchers. Finally there is no greater counterpart to the cumbersome tortoises than the graceful American flamingos which frequently filter the saline waters of the adjacent lagoon for shrimp and algae. They are joined by a handful of species of aquatic and shore birds, from which some even migrate from Canada and Alaska.
ISABELA ISLAND: MORENO POINT AND ELIZABETH BAY
AM: Moreno Point
Moreno Point is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcanos Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. The trail runs along a solidified lava flow called “Pahohoe”, into a complex of coastal lagoons. Its main attraction are several species of birds, which are found around the lakes and mangroves.
PM: Elizabeth Bay
This is a marine visitor site, so the excursion has no landing point. Your zodiac ride starts with a visit to the Marielas islets, home to the largest and most important penguin colony on the Galapagos Islands. The excursion continues into the cove, surrounded by red mangrove, where you can admire their red roots and green leaves. Here, you are able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. Frequent visitors have been able to see Galapagos hawks soaring overhead with schools of pompano and dorado fish swimming down below.
ISABELA ISLAND: TAGUS COVE AND FERNANDINA ISLAND: ESPINOZA POINT
AM: Tagus Cove
A tour along the cliffs will give visitors a good chance to see the Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant and other seabirds. From the landing dock, it is about a 30-minute hike along the trail up to the top of the cliff from where you can view Darwin Lake, an uplifted lake saltier than the sea. You can also see several volcanoes from this location. Look carefully at the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs of the cove, done by pirates, whalers and buccaneers in past centuries!
PM: Espinoza Poiint
Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza, located at the northeastern tip of the island. Here, marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than on any other island. They bask around in the sand, swim near the shore and sometimes block the way at the landing dock. Among the unique species found here, we can find the flightless cormorant.
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: BACHAS BEACH
AM: Bachas Beach
These two small beaches are found to the west of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, and a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small blackish water lagoon, where it is occasionally possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during World War II, when USA used Baltra Island as a strategic point to protect the Panama Channel.
Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crewmembers, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to the Baltra Airport, where we will take the shuttle back to the airport.
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.
| Name | Archipel II Catamaran |
| Year of Construction | 2005 |
| Category | First Class |
| Type | Motor Catamaran |
| Length | 27m / 88ft |
| Beam | 11m / 36ft |
| Capacity | 16 passengers max. |
| On-Board | Dining room, bar and conference area with television, DVD player, chart games, library of books and DVDs |
| Accommodation | Main Deck: 2 cabins with double beds, 6 cabins with twin beds |
| Max speed |
10 knots |
| Crew | 9 members |
| Greater safety on-board |
We obtained the International Safety Management Certificate of the International Marine Organisation (IMO), carry proper security equipment, and put board regulations and safety instructions. |
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