The Golondrina is a spacious and comfortable motor yacht that accommodates 16 passengers in comfortable double cabins, all furnished and equipped to provide guests a relaxing cruise in the Galapagos Islands. The Golondrina welcomes you aboard and invites you to discover the unique animals pristine habitat and lush flora and fauna of the Galapagos Archipelago.
All of the comfortable cabins are carpeted and have private bathrooms with a toilet, shower with hot water, sink and vanity. The yacht’s amenities include ample dining room, spacious living room, bar, with TV and DVD, music system, sundeck. The boat is fully air-conditioned with units in every cabin. The boat also has full snorkeling equipment and wetsuits available for rent upon request of each passenger.
The boat and crew offer a relaxing atmosphere and attention to detail. The passengers are the first priority, and while the experience of the islands is the most important, we want to facilitate and enhance your Galapagos experience by providing a wonderful ambiance.
Accommodation is in 8 double cabins(bunk-beds).
DAY |
ISLAND | PLACE |
TUE |
Santa Cruz |
AM: Baltra Airport PM: Primicias Farm |
WED |
Isabela |
AM: Tintoreras PM: Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center - Wetlands - Wall of Tears |
THU |
Rabida Santa Cruz |
AM: Rabida Island PM: Dragon Hill |
FRI |
Santa Cruz |
AM: Black Turtle Cove Baltra Airport |
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY:
On departing from Quito or Guayaquil, you will take a three hour flight to the Galapagos Islands landing on the Island of Baltra. When arriving, our naturalist English speaking guide will assist you.
PRIMICIAS FARM
After lunch, you'll have the chance to visit Hacienda Primicias, and seeing the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to find, they're always eating in the exuberant green grass. Furthermore, you'll also have the opportunity to see some cattle egrets, mockingbirds, and finches. After the hiking, we'll bring you back to the yacht, you'll have dinner and you'll get ready for a new adventure.
TINTORERAS (ISABELA ISLAND)
After breakfast, Las Tintoreras is located south of Puerto Villamil. It has a small bay of completely calm turquoise waters, where you can appreciate sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc. The bay is connected to a crevice of crystal clear water, that's shallow and when the tide is low, the entrance closes. In this crevice, you can see how reef Sharks swim along with other small fish and Sea Lions. Lunch on board.
ARNALDO TUPIZA BREEDING CENTER
This center has a captive breeding program for Tortoises from the populations of southern Isabela.
WETLANDS
Disembark (dry landing), walk for about 30 mins. This area is characterized by sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. The area has a number of trails where you can see all four species of mangroves found in Galapagos and also migratory birds: Whimbrel, Short-Billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Phalarope, Common Tern, Blue-Winged Teal, Osprey, Black-Bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs to name a few.
WALL OF TEARS
By bus to Wall of tears a sad reminder of the history of Isabela. The wall was constructed between 1946 and 1959 while Isabela was a penal colony. As punishment the prisoners were forced to build the wall from huge blocks of lava. The wall is named for the many convicts that died while building the wall. Dinner and briefing for next day.
RABIDA ISLAND
After breakfast disembark (wet landing) in one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago as well as a great snorkeling site. We will start on Rabida's famous maroon sandy beach and after an easy hike (1 km aprox) will arrive to a stunning lookout to enjoy the amazing landscapes. The island is a birdwatcher's delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as nine varieties of Finches, Large-billed Flycatchers, Galapagos Hawks and Brown Pelicans.
DRAGON HILL (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)
After lunch, dry landing at a dock, the walk takes you to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon behind the beach, often frequented by Flamingos, Common Stilts, Pintail Ducks and other species of birds. There is a short walk to the hill, which rewards with a great view of the bay and a nesting site of land Iguanas. Many of the Iguanas that nest here have been repatriated by the Charles Darwin Research Station. Dinner and briefing for next day.
BLACK TURTLE COVE (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)
After breakfast, you'll carried by dinghy (panga) to Black Turtle Bay (Caleta Tortuga Negra), located near to Baltra. This place is characterized by its lovely beach that houses incredible animals such as the sea lions in the Galapagos' crystalline waters. Nevertheless, it can also be seen some species of birds feeding around the beautiful lagoons hidden in the mangroves.
After this final visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra 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.
Name | Golondrina Yacht |
Category | Tourist Class |
Capacity | 16 passengers |
Length | 71 feet |
Width | 16 feet |
Crew | 6 + 1 Bilingual Naturalist guide |
Cabins |
4 Upper w/ Bunk Beds |
Deck Space |
Main Deck: Open Small front & Covered Small back |
Equipment: | 24 mile furuno radar, gps, satelliite navigator, echo sounder, furuno 1000 ft. speed and distance log, compasses, barometer, clock. Epirb (emergency position indicating radio beacom),life jackets, flares and signals, fire smoke detectors, complete fire system |