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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 PM: Interpretation Center |
| SAT |
Española |
AM: Gardner Bay PM: Suarez Point |
| SUN |
Floreana |
AM: Cormorant Point - Champion Islet PM: Post Office - Baroness Lookout |
| MON |
Santiago Bartolome |
AM: Sullivan Bay PM: Bartolome Island |
| TUE |
Santa Cruz |
AM: Black Turtle Cove PM: Baltra 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!
PM: Interpretation Center
The Interpretation Centre just outside the provincial capital Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is a perfect introduction as well as an interesting complement to the field-explanations and briefings of your naturalist guide. Information panels (English/Spanish), pictures, maquettes and true to life dioramas tell the background story of the islands in a different way, which helps you to get an overview and learn what makes the Galapagos so unique. The well-maintained botanical garden with native species from the arid zone (including the giant prickly pear and candelabra cacti) is worth your visit as well; and you will probably spot the Chatham mockingbird, endemic to this island, that put Darwin on track of his evolution theory.
The attractive exhibition is quite complete and explains a series of natural circumstances that create the Galapagos’ unique environment: such as the volcanic genesis of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, its ocean currents, its special climate, the arrival of different species, and their establishment, among others. It also recounts historic discovery and attempts of colonisation; and shows a diorama with ancient mail barrels from Post Office Bay. Extensively it concludes how times have changed with current conservation and the many ways in which this is being achieved, as well as the environmental challenges that proceed.
ESPAÑOLA ISLAND: GARDNER BAY AND SUAREZ POINT
AM: Gardner Bay
Make your first ‘dive’ into the alluring turquoise-coloured Gardner Bay, and admire colourful reef fish, snorkel side by side with a Pacific green turtle, or find yourself in the middle of playful Galapagos sea lions.
The striking white coral sandy beach is an important breeding site for Pacific green turtles, but without doubt its main attraction is the Galapagos sea lion colony. Females stay year round in this nursery, suckling their pups up to the age of 3 years, although they start to learn how to fish after 5 months. During the breeding- and mating season the colony becomes even more populous. The strongest bachelors and elder males return from their secluded bases and start again to conquer and defend their part of the 1300m/4250ft long beach. Pregnant females choose the best territory to give birth, and will mate with their landlord again within a month.
PM: Suarez Point
Huge ocean waves crash on the southern basaltic cliffs of Suarez Point, and form a spectacular blowhole, where a fountain of sea water sprays metres/feet high into the air (depending on the tide and how strong the sea breeze pushes the waves). Take a meditative break in silence at this emblematic viewpoint to convert this unforgettable moment into a lifetime experience.
Waved albatrosses soar for most of their lives far out at sea and just come to Española (March-December) to breed and nurture their huge chicks. This spectacular seabird is the only tropic albatross (critically endangered species). Besides some strayed individuals on Isla de La Plata (off the Ecuadorian coast) it only breeds on Española, where you can witness its synchronous courtship dances, which include bowing, whistling and even a stylised form of ‘sword fighting’ with their bills (especially in October)!
Suarez Point is also a massive breeding site for Nazca and blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds. Blue-footed boobies don’t bother to breed in the middle of the trail. Particularly during the food-abundant garúa-season (2nd half of the year) you can admire amusing courtship dances, mating, breeding, emerging from the eggs, nurturing or first flight-attempts.
Española marine iguanas become bright red with a turquoise-coloured crest and legs at the start of the breeding season (starting from Christmas). Hood lava lizards are the largest of the 7 endemic species in the islands, as well as endemic mockingbirds, which have turned to carnivorous behaviour!
FLOREANA ISLAND: CORMORANT POINIT - CHAMPION ISLET - POST OFFICE BAY - BARONESS LOOKOUT
AM: Cormorant Point
The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the extreme north cape of Floreana, which is pockmarked by a numbers of smaller volcanic cones and covered by tropical dry forest (predominantly palo santo). Please don’t expect to spot the flightless cormorant at Cormorant Point. This emblematic example of evolution lives exclusively in the remote west of the Galapagos on Fernandina and Isabela (Route A). Instead, its salty lagoon is one of the best places on the Galapagos to observe a breeding colony of American flamingos. However, when breeding is done and the lagoon dries up, these exotic birds tend to be on the move to look for shrimps and algae from other saline lakes.
At the landing beach you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion-colony. The green sand contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals that have been blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the south side of the peninsula feels very smooth on your feet; this is pulverized by parrotfishes. Schools of sting rays in the surf love using this powdery sand to hide themselves, and Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs in it at night (first months of the year). Next morning you can notice their tracks from the dunes, or eventually still catch an exhausted, delayed one, crawling back to sea.
AM: Champion Islet
Bottlenose dolphins frequently escort our passage to Champion Islet and you can see them from nearby jumping the wakes! This is just the prelude of an unforgettable snorkelling excursion. Galapagos sea lions turn into playful acrobats underwater – without a doubt the number one attraction. There are also lots of reef fish, and perhaps a Pacific green turtle.
An inflatable dinghy ride along the shoreline of this islet offers sightings of lots of sea birds that are endemic to the archipelago, including Galapagos penguins (at its extreme eastern distribution border; in danger of extinction), blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds and red-billed tropicbirds. swallow-tailed gulls and lava herons.
Most desired on every serious birder’s wish list is to get a glimpse of the Charles mockingbird on top of prickly pear cacti (take binoculars!). To the unschooled eye this unique variant may look hardly any different to their relatives on other islands, but it is almost extinct (less than 250 birds, depending on dry or wet years); so you need some luck to spot it from the beach. This mockingbird is a scientific and historic key species because it put Darwin on track of his theory of ‘adaptive radiation’.
PM: Post Office Bay & Baroness Lookout
Bring your unstamped postcards and post them in the peculiar barrel on this historic site. Together with James Bay (Santiago) this used to be a popular base to complement stocks. The present barrel commemorates the improvised mail service between British 16th century whalers and poachers. Returning vessels also picked up letters for home delivery. Finally this post box became the termination of the flourishing British whaling industry in this region (Moby Dick), because it let the American frigate USS Essex easily locate and hijack British whalers during the Anglo-American War (1812-1815).
The arm of a submerged tuff cone protects the turquoise bay at Baroness Lookout. Besides Galapagos sea lions, Pacific green turtles and golden cownose rays you might spot Galapagos penguins! This is the only place in the south-eastern archipelago where some penguins reside; the best chances however will be tomorrow on Bartolomé or in the remote west on Fernandina and Isabela (Route A).
Climb the miniature basaltic cone of Baroness Lookout and dream away at the paradisiacal coast-scape. This viewpoint was the favourite spot of one of Floreana’s first colonists, the eccentric Baroness and self-proclaimed ‘Empress of Galapagos’ Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, who even built her house a few metres behind. She and one of her lovers were the first in a series of mysterious disappearings and deaths in the 1930s.
SANTIAGO ISLAND: SULLIVAN BAY AND BARTOLOME ISLAND
AM: Sullivan Bay
Setting foot at the lava stream covering Sullivan Bay is like landing on the moon. The desolate, stretched-out fields seem mostly lifeless, but there is enough to see on this highly popular site amongst photographers. Graphical bas-reliefs of rope-lava in the crust are unique to the Galapagos and Hawaii.
There is even some life! Pacific green turtles seasonally bury eggs in the tiny white sand beach, where you may also encounter crabs, a strayed blue heron or oystercatcher. On the lava flow only sparse pioneer vegetation such as lava cacti and carpetweed can hold. You might encounter a lava lizard, locusts (!) or a small snake species (Galapagos racer) hunting for them.
The barely eroded lava flow seems to have been solidified for short, and suggests that you are just able to set foot on it. The baking sun completes the sensation of heat. The winding and rippled pahoehoe rope-lava has preserved intriguing traces that tell flaming stories about vaporised leatherleaf trees and miniature cones of volcanic glass.
Distinctive tuff cones pockmark the new-formed lunatic landscape. Their rusty, oxidised colours and vegetation reveal that these are from an older generation. Originally these were volcano islets on their own that have become part of Santiago during the latest eruption (1897), when the hot flood of ooze filled up large parts of the bay, which is the black crust you walk on. For the time being only the opposite islet of Bartolomé escaped from incorporation. Ecologically these cones can still be considered as islands, though no longer surrounded by sea, but by wide infertile lava fields.
PM: Bartolome Island
The wild romantic volcano islet of Bartolomé is among the youngest of the islands, and on a geological scale just recently born out of fire. Although tiny (only 120ha/300ac) and at first sight lifeless, Bartolomé offers some of the wildest landscapes and best panoramas in the entire archipelago. To enjoy the postcard view of the idyllic ‘Pinnacle Bay’ you have to climb the stairs to the viewpoint on top of the island (114m/375ft). Suddenly enter a dramatic world of threatening (though extinguished) nearby spatter cones, craters, and lightweight lava droplets that have been spewed out by fiery fountains. The Summit Trail is also ideal for witnessing how scanty pioneer vegetation such as lava cactus is struggling to take root in the bare virgin lava fields.
From the summit you suddenly face a second, paradisiacal world; Galapagos’ landmark ‘Pinnacle Rock’ towers prominently over an isthmus with crescent sand beaches on each side, and dunes with evergreen mangrove bushes in-between.
Underwater, a third, completely distinctive world opens up to you, resembling a tropical aquarium. Its shallow, clear and warm waters are ideal for snorkelling between coral-grinding parrot fishes, shoals of surgeonfishes, harmless whitetip reef sharks and Pacific green turtles. If you are lucky you can even catch the sight of fishing Galapagos penguins.
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: BLACK TURTLE COVE
AM: Black Turtle Cove
The ancient mangle at Black Turtle Cove has grown out to forest proportions and forms the backdrop for a distinct adventure. You might even feel for a while as if you’re in the Amazon rainforest instead of close to sea; though on a closer look vegetation mainly exists of red mangroves with characteristic aerial roots that let them survive in salty and brackish water. By inflatable dinghy we will explore the calm emerald lagoon and enter the surrounding shallow creeks of these salt-water marshes. The outboard engine is sometimes turned off, so that you can enjoy the ambience at its fullest. You have to keep your eyes peeled when looking around and staring into the crystal clear waters to observe all the life that is flying and swimming around.
You can spot silently hunting lava herons on the banks and brown pelicans nesting on top of the mangroves. Various species of ray and shark come to this nutritious cradle to give birth; scaloped hammerhead sharks come back to the place where they’re born and their babies tend to be close to the surface. Pacific green turtles (black turtles was their former name) visit this cove in their reproduction season (November-January); if you’re lucky you can catch them mating on the surface! Afterwards their eggs are deposited on coral sand beaches along this north-western coastline of Santa Cruz.
Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, 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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