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Motor Yacht San Jose welcomes you on-board to discover with your own eyes the unique wonders of the Galapagos Islands. We take you around the remote and most exceptional islands of the archipelago. San Jose is one of the larger 16 passenger yachts on the Galapagos Islands, guaranteeing an intimate, comfortable and very exclusive experience. Our certified professional crew and the knowledgeable, bilingual naturalist guide on-board will do their utmost to convert your once in a lifetime cruise into the trip of your life!
Built in 2003-4, the San Jose has been specially designed for cruising the Galapagos; with efficient daily operations and minimum impact on the fragile ecosystem.
The San Jose’s design leaves ample room for a large sun and shaded deck, both with lounge chairs. This outside deck space is excellent for relaxing, enjoying panoramic views and wildlife observation.
San Jose’s eight twin cabins are very spacious (2,50 x 5,80 m) and stretch from port to starboard, all exterior facing. They include private bathrooms with hot/cold water and a bright sea view window and seaside door.
The interior part of the main deck contains the cosy living/dining room with comfortable sofas, tables, a buffet bar and a tea and coffee station. It also has a flat-screen home cinema, DVD-player and a small library.
|
DAY |
ISLAND | PLACES |
| TUE |
Mosquera |
AM: Baltra Airport PM: Mosquera Islet |
| WED | Genovesa |
AM: Darwin Bay PM: Prince Phillip´s Steps |
| THU |
South Plaza Santa Fe |
AM: South Plaza Island PM: Santa Fe Island |
| FRI |
San Cristobal |
AM: Kicker Rock San Cristobal Airport |
MOSQUERA ISLET
AM: At Baltra Airport you have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage will be inspected. See Getting there for flight and arrival information. In front of the arrival hall you will meet your naturalist guide and fellow passengers, and the airport shuttle will transfer you to the ferry across the Itabaca Channel. On Santa Cruz you continue by bus through the lush highlands to the harbour of Puerto Ayora. Our inflatable dinghies (‘zodiacs’) take you the last stretch to the yacht.
PM: Mosquera Islet
Mosquera lies in the middle of the Itabaca Channel, between Baltra and North Seymour. Galapagos sea lions are real beach lovers. Mosquera offers beautiful white coral sand and doesn’t complicate their landing as neighbouring Seymour and Baltra do with their steep rocky coastlines. These agile fishers just have to enter the Itabaca Channel, which is a natural trap for marine life, thanks to a submarine ridge between Baltra and Santa Cruz. But fishing the channel is not without risk; sometimes a school of killer whales (orcas, recognisable by their characterising dorsal fins) enters to hunt sea lions.
GENOVESA ISLAND: DARWIN BAY - PRINCE PHILLIP´S STEPS
AM: Darwin Bay
Genovesa’s horseshoe-shaped wall is proof that we have anchored inside the partly collapsed and submerged caldera of a submarine volcano! The visitor’s site, Darwin Bay, is located at the very rear. This compact site shows the extreme varied coastal ecosystems of the Galapagos in miniature. The trail starts from the coral sand beach and subsequently passes a zone with saltbushes and mangroves, then crosses tidal creeks and barren lava formations, dry shrub lands, and finally turns on the ridge of some cliffs.
In this extremely varied and peaceful ambience, every single species has occupied its own ecological niche (preferred habitat) without disturbing others. Whimbrels and wandering tattlers forage actively along the surf, next to resting Galapagos sea lions. Herons wait motionless at the tidal pools. Impressive frigatebirds (both great and magnificent species) and red-footed boobies nest in the mangroves, where you can also notice some vocalists such as yellow warblers, Darwin’s finches and Galapagos mockingbirds. What’s unique is that two subpopulations of the same species of large cactus finch differ from singing.
Tropicbirds, Nazca boobies, storm petrels, endemic lava- and swallow-tailed gulls soar along the cliffs. If you have already seen marine iguanas elsewhere, the small Genovesa species might not look too impressive, but consider that these are virtually the only reptiles that succeeded to reach and survive on this remote, upstream island (and have become endemic to this island).
PM: Prince Phillip´s Steps
Before landing you will take a dinghy-ride along the eastern arm of the caldera. On approach, the 25m/80ft high walls become overwhelming, and will give you a better impression of the dimensions of this crater. Sometimes a Galapagos fur seal will be resting on one of the shaded ledges. Although there are also seabirds, the real spectacle will take place on top and on the outside of the rim, which provide better perching and nesting places.
You will therefore have to hike and overcome the steep stairs from the landing dock to a bush of palo santo shrubs on top. Tropical dry forest vegetation appears dead during most months of the year, but just drops its leaves to prevent drying out by evaporation. It’s a threatened ecosystem. Red-footed boobies with different plumages gratefully use these scarce nesting-places; unlike their blue-footed relatives ‘red feet’ don’t nest on the rocky ground.
At the seaside of the rim, the bushes open up and you can enjoy wide views, a strong sea breeze and the amazing flying skills of countless seabirds. Following the exposed rim you will first pass a colony of Nazca boobies and finally reach the extensive storm petrel nesting places, where you might be lucky enough to spot how the well-camouflaged short-eared owl hunts for them on foot!.
SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND AND SANTA FE ISLAND
AM: South Plaza
The south of both Plaza islets is the best place to encounter endemic Galapagos land iguanas. Watch your step and don’t stumble over one of them whilst distracted by the equally bizarre giant prickly pear cactus-trees! These iguanas are not only ugly as Darwin pronounced, but also very patient and photogenic models with strikingly saffron colours. Overpopulation and severe food competition have affected their smaller size. It is incredible to see how cactus spines don’t harm them while chewing pads, flowers and fruits. Also look out for some unique hybrids between a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.
Arriving at the upper rim, you get to know the other, wild and windy face of South Plaza that provides a complete different habitat. About 20m/75ft downwards impressively droning waves splash against the foot of massive cliffs. Being talented rock climbers, sun basking marine iguanas have escaped the cool shadows of the wall. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and brown noddies make spectacular flights and sometimes appear to walk on the waves. Take your binoculars and don’t miss the red-billed tropicbird with its graceful long tail and spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also a nesting place for the endemic swallow-tailed gull, the most beautiful gull in the world. Its neatly lined eyes are perfectly adapted for its exceptional nightly fishing habits.
PM: Santa Fe Island
Practically every animal on Santa Fe is unique; endemic to the Galapagos, or even to this island alone and extremely vulnerable! This extraordinary island is a remnant of probably the most ancient volcano of the Galapagos, and gave evolution enough time and isolation to create its wonders.
Your experience starts before anchoring, when the contours of its bizarre giant prickly pear cactus (opuntia) forests become distinguishable. These largest cacti of the islands have extremely thick trunks indeed, and can grow over 10m/33ft tall! You will land right in the middle of a Galapagos sea lion colony on the beach. From their outlooks at the beach ridge surprisingly fearless Galapagos hawks are ready to snatch away a lava lizard; not worrying that even these are unique…
Almost every visitor of Santa Fe becomes eager to get a glimpse of the rare Barrington land iguana. But this pale endemic version is not as easy to spot as its modelling counterparts on South Plaza. This one is more of a quest to find (rather untypical to the Galapagos); other times it surprises you by waiting for you next to the trail. Whether you spot it, or not, you will keep going from one surprise to the next.
While snorkelling in the azure coloured Barrington Bay between tropical reef fish, maybe a curious Galapagos sea lion will be willing to play with you!.
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: KICKER ROCK - INTERPRETATION CENTER
AM: Kicker Rock
Kicker Rock has become one of the photogenic landmarks of the Galapagos. Clearly visible from afar, nature has moulded a massive offshore block of rock with a pointy tower next to it. Reaching about 150m/500ft above sea level this compact rock without typical stratified layers of cemented ashes is thought to be the remnant of a former tuff cone, which has eroded completely away; a resistant lava mass that never left the crater pipe remains.
While sailing around and spotting blue-footed boobies and great frigatebirds you can observe this intriguing sculpture from changing angles. From the side it takes the form of a giant shoe, upside down with the tower as the high heel (hence its English name Kicker Rock). In longitudinal direction it rather resembles a sleeping lion (hence its Spanish name Leon Dormido). It is an experience to pass the narrow channel between the main body and the spine.
These steep walls rise out of the deep sea. Kicker Rock is one of the favourite locations amongst scuba divers and snorkellers in the south-eastern archipelago. Amid colourful tropical fish you might have thrilling encounters with octopuses, different species of shark (including scalloped hammerhead sharks!), Pacific green turtles, spotted eagle rays and even – when you are really lucky – with barracudas, manta rays and giant oceanic manta rays!
Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage at San Cristobal Airport, where we take the airport shuttle. Your guide will accompany you to the check-in counters in the departure hall.
We expect you to return home with stunning pictures and unforgettable memories for life!
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: | San Jose |
| Category | Tourist Superior Class |
| Type | Motor Yacht |
| Construction year | Guayaquil, 2004; last maintenance: 2016 |
| Capacity | 16 passengers + 8 staff / crew members |
| Naturalist guide | 1 National Park- certified multilingual naturalist guide |
| Crew | 8 experienced, trained and IMO-certified crew members (International Marine Organization): captain, cruise-manager, 2 pilots, 2 sailors, machinist, bartender, chef, kitchen, help/housekeeper |
| Outdoor communal areas | Sun deck / terrace, shaded outside deck, bar |
| Length | 34m / 113ft |
| Width | 7.60m / 25.3ft |
| Number of cabins | 8 Twins |
| Cabin location |
Main deck: 4 Twins Upper deck: 4 Twins |
| Machinery |
3 Hyundai Marine Motors - 420 HP |
| Communal Areas |
Sun deck/terrace, shaded outside deck, bar, living room, dining room |
| Amenities |
TV, DVD, small library, 2 small - sized Zodiacs |
| Electricity |
110 V / 220 V |
| Cruisig speed |
10 knots |
| Wastewater treatment | 2 water treatment systems |
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