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Galapagos aboard Darwin Yacht 5 Days "DISCOVERY ITINERARY"

Superior Tourist - Cruise
Includes:
  • Transport
  • Sight Seeing
  • Food

 Join us on our world-renowned ship, the Darwin Yacht, as we navigate the waters of one of the most beautiful places our world has to offer, "The Galapagos Islands".

The Motor Yacht Darwin was built in 1995 in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Eight big double cabins with air conditioning, private bathroom and hot/cold water.Comfortable dining room, living room, bar and sundeck. Bilingual guide (English-Spanish). Transfer in Galápagos airport. Meals breakfast, lunch and dinner). Tours to the islands.

DAY

ISLAND PLACES
THU     Mosquera 

AM: Baltra Airport

PM: Mosquera Islet   

FRI

South Plaza

Santa Fe

AM: South Plaza Island

PM: Santa Fe Island

SAT

Española

AM: Gardner Bay - Gardner Islet  

PM: Osborn Islet - Suares Point

SUN Floreana

AM: Post Office Bay   

PM: Cormorant Point - Devil´s Crown 

MON

Santa Cruz 

AM: Charles Darwin Station

       Baltra Airport


ITINERARY DAY BY DAY:

DAY 1 

You will arrive at Baltra in the morning. After going through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Darwin Yacht staff member and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.

MOSQUERA ISLET

After a light lunch we will sail for 45 minutes to Mosquera. Imagine a beach rising from the ocean floor in the middle of nowhere. Imagine sand grains as soft as sugar. Now imagine a sea lion colony and a fabulous sunset. You are here! Mosquera Islet is by far the best beginning of a Galápagos journey. This volcanic uplift that dates from 100 thousand years ago, a geological treasure for an admirable start. On the shore is easy to encounter Galápagos sea lions, sally light foot crabs and shore birds. Visitors are welcome to swim or snorkel from the beach. 

DAY 2 

SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND

In the afternoon, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is Sesuvium. During the rainy season, its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red. 

SANTA FE ISLAND

Your morning visit is to Santa Fe Island (Barrington) which is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails: one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest. 

DAY 3 
GARDNER BAY - GARDNER ISLET (ESPAÑOLA)

Located on the north coast of Española Gardner Bay has tranquil white sand beach. The fine grains of sand make perfect terrain for a soft walk and a relaxing late in the afternoon. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t be alone, sea lions and Hood mocking birds will keep company.

Depending on weather conditions, either at the end of the morning or early in the afternoon, we will snorkel or kayak around Gardner Islet. Its calm waters and attractive landscape give you a great experience above and below water.

OSBORN ISLET 

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 was named 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.

SUAREZ POINT 

The morning trip will start with Suarez Point and a trail where you will have the chance to see blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca boobies. It is the breeding site of nearly all of the world’s 12,000 pairs of Waved Albatrosses. You will also visit a beautiful site on the ocean front where there is a cliff that the large albatrosses use as a launching pad! The landscape is great for photography and you will also have the chance to see the famous blowhole.

DAY 4 

POST OFFICE BAY (FLOREANA)

There are two visiting sites on Floreana Island . In the morning you will visit the famous Post Office Bay. You will land on the beach and head to a spot where 18th century whalers placed a wooden barrel for use as an unofficial mail box. The custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So do not forget your postcards, and do not be surprised if the post card arrives to its destination before you even get home!

CORMORANT POINT 

Following a four-hour navigation from Puerto Ayora we will do a wet landing on a volcanic olivine beach. Punta Cormorant lays on the northern shore of Floreana and is the house of greater flamingos and sea turtles. On one side, the point is partially flooded with a brackish lagoon where flamingos nest and feed. Whimbrels, herons and stilts are other common shore and migratory birds of the wetlands. On the other side sea turtles use every corner of a white sand beach to deliver their eggs. You often see stingrays and reef sharks from the shore and if you are lucky turtles ending basking.

DEVIL´S CROWN

You will also get to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Devil’s Crown. This extinct volcano peaks out of the waters just off of Floreana’s coast and offers a magnificent snorkeling experience.                               

DAY 5 

CHARLES DARWIN STATION (SANTA CRUZ)

Although Santa Cruz was the last island to be colonized in 1926, it is now home to almost half of the Galapagos residents and is the central population of the Archipelago. There is the Charles Darwin Research Station, which annually receives a hundred scientists from around the world who work in programs of nature conservation and environmental education, playing an important role. Therefore, the visit to the Information Center and the outdoor area, where the turtle and iguana pens are located, is a mandatory point of visit in the Galapagos. 

After the breakfast transfer to Baltra airport to catch the flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. 

Important: Itineraries and activities subject to change without prior notice. Depending on weather conditions and water currents, some wildlife described above may not be visible.

Yacht Name  Darwin Yacht
Category Tourist Superior Class
Capacity 16 Passengers
Year Build  Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island (1995)
Lenght 60 ft
Beam 18 ft
Speed 9 knots
Crew 6 people plus 1 English speaking nature guide - level II
Cabins

Eight double cabins with air conditioning,  private bathroom and hot/cold water.

CABINS # 1 – 2: Double cabins with berth, private bathroom, hot/cold water and air conditioning.

The rooms are located on the UPPER DECK.

CABINS # 3 – 4: Double cabins with berth, private bathroom, hot/cold water and air conditioning. The rooms are located on the MAIN DECK.

CABINS # 5 – 8: Double cabins with berth, private bathroom, hot/cold water and air conditioning. The rooms are located on the LOWER DECK.

Facilities Comfortable dining room, living room, bar and sundeck, navigation, communication and safety equipment.

 

Details

Cost Includes:
  • All transfers in Galapagos: Airport-Yacht-Airport
  • Accommodation in double cabins.
  • Three meals a day, drinking water, tea or coffe
  • Excursions in the islands with English Speaking Nature Guide.
Cost Excludes:
  • Galapagos National Park Tax: USD 100.00 to be paid in cash in Galapagos
  • Galapagos Transit Card: USD 20.00 per person
  • Soft drinks and alcoholics beverages.
  • Snorkeling Equipment
  • Tips.