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Galapagos aboard Sea Star Journey 10 Days B+C

First Class - Cruise
Includes:
  • Transport
  • Sight Seeing
  • Food

The Galapagos Sea Star Journey has a capacity of up to 16 passengers, featuring seven spacious Galapagos Suites – Matrimonial (approx. 25,2 m) and one Sea Star Suite (approx. 35,2 m) equipped with panoramic windows to enjoy the wonderful landscapes of the islands. These come with a private bathroom, hot/cold water, air conditioning (with independent controls), a minibar and TV. Twin beds (or one faux queen bed) and connected suites are available for families.

Local and International dishes are served in the cozy atmosphere of the dining room. The yacht offers a large solarium with shaded and uncovered areas, two Jacuzzis and comfortable sun loungers. Social areas include a Saloon, mini-library and video library as well as a play zone for kids (during family departures). Snorkeling equipment and kayaks are available too without any extra charge.

Galapagos Sea Star Journey complies with local and international safety regulations.

DAY

PLACE

SUN

AM: Flight to Galapagos

PM: Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz Island

MON

AM: Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island

PM: Chinese Hat. Santiago Island

TUE

AM: Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island

PM: El Barranco, Genovesa Island

WED

AM: Bartolome Island

PM: Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island

THU

AM: Highlands, Santa Cruz Island

PM: Charles Darwin Station, Santa Cruz Islands

FRI

AM: Tintoreras,  Isabela Island

PM: Sierra Nega Volcano,  Isabela Island

SAT

AM:  Punta Moreno, Isabela Island

PM:  Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island

SUN

AM: Espinoza Point, Fernandina Island

PM: Tagus Cove, Isabea Island

MON

AM: Espumilla Beach, Santiago Island,

PM: Egas Port, Santiago Island,

TUE

AM:  Isla Lobos, San Cristobal Island

         Transfer to the airport




ITINERARY DAY BY DAY:

Day 1 

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, travelers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands, as well as to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless it has been prepaid). A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbor and then on board.

PM: DRAGON HILL, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
The Dragon Hill has been open for visits on 1993. This site is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island and consists of a trail that lead to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach. In fact, this place frequented by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. This site has been re populated with land iguanas from Seymour, Isabela and Santa Cruz islands. There is a short walk to the Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay.

Day 2 

AM: BLACK TURTLE COVE, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

This little cove is located at the northern side of Santa Cruz island, this is a red mangrove lagoon very calm and quiet which made an ideal place as nursery for many sharks and rays. In fact, its crystal waters permits to observe large groups of white-tip reef, black tipped reef and hammer heads sharks, schools of golden rays and spotted eagle rays. To land here, there are two options, panga or kayak due to there are no landing sites. Sea turtles are frequently seen and sometimes they are seen mating in the mangrove-lined waters. Pelicans and Herons are also seen in this area.

PM: CHINESE HAT, SANTIAGO ISLAND

This is a small islet (1 sq km) located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, it has the shap of one Chinese hat, if you see it from north side. On the west it can be seen lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upward, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. Here, there are many sea lions colonies, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.

Day 3 

AM: DARWIN BAY, GENOVESA ISLAND

This bay has origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favorite island for birdwatchers: red footed-booby, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels Yellow-crowned, and black-crowned and lava herons, with and yellow warblers.
Continuing on the trail, visitors climb gradually to the edge of the cliff seeing Red-Foots nesting in the Mangrove trees below. Bird watching includes sightings of Sharp-Beaked Finches, Large Cactus and Ground Finches, Galapagos Doves and Swallow-Tailed Gulls. Therefore, reaching the end the trail at the cliff’s edge offers an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.

PM: EL BARRANCO, GENOVESA ISLAND

El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay and it is also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, passengers will climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. There is a big population of Masked boobies and Red-Footed boobies in the tree; Storm petrels as well as Short-eared Owls have found in Genovesa lava flows the ideal place for nesting.

Day 4 

AM: BARTOLOME ISLAND

Finally, this is the day to visit Bartolomé Island. It is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as: Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island. 
It has two breathtaking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.

PM: SULLIVAN BAY, SANTIAGO ISLAND

Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active, with many young flows and cones, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. Everyone can see it from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. There were some eruptions over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.
coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.

Day 5 

AM: HIGHLANDS, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

The trail to the highlands leaves from Bellavista 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 (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. 
Then transfer back to Baltra for embarkation on flight back home.

PM: CHARLES DARWIN STATION, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders. You can also learn about how they work in the protection and conservation of the islands.  The main attractions are the National Park information center, the Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity. 

Day 6 

AM: TINTORERAS, ISABELA ISLAND

A delightful place reached by a nice zodiac ride. “Tintoreras” are small islands in front of Puerto Villamil coast. There is Heron lava on the lookout on mangrove branch, and Galapagos Penguin and sea lion often pop out on shore. White-tipped reef sharks are fairly common in the archipelago. Their name in Spanish is Tintorera.

PM: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO, ISABELA ISLAND

Isabela Island is the largest and one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We land in Puerto Villamil, which has the second smallest population in Galapagos with approximately 3000 hab. We head up to the highlands from Puerto Villamil to Sierra Negra slope, and later we will do some hiking on uneven terrain until we arrive to the Sierra Negra volcano rim. Sierra Negra is the second widest crater in the world. From this viewpoint, you have fantastic sights to the 6 x 5 -mile-wide crater, the rest of the volcanoes, and Perry Isthmus, a 12 Km wide lava field. From here we can hike to Chico Volcano to watch the striking lava formations, examples of the geological occurrences that have created the Galapagos Islands. 

Day 7 

AM: MORENO POINT, ISABELA ISLAND

Moreno Point is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcano Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcano. The trail runs along a lava flow Pahohoe (solidified lava in the form of corrugated or an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons. You can see several species of birds around this lakes and mangroves.

PM: ELIZABETH BAY, ISABELA ISLAND

This is a marine visitor site, the excursion is carried out in a zodiac and so there is no landing point. Your zodiac ride starts with a visit to the Marielas islets where there is the largest and most important penguin colony in the Galapagos Islands. The excursion continues into the cove that is surrounded by red mangroves where you can admire their red roots and green leafs. It is here that you are able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. Frequently visitors have been able to see Galapagos Hawks soaring overhead whilst schools of Pompano and Dorado fish swim below.

Day 8 

AM: ESPINOZA POINT, FERNANDINA ISLAND

Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Espinoza Point located at the northeastern tip of the island. In fact, you can see some of the uniques specied of Galapagos just across Tagus Cove. Marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than in any other island. They bask around in the sand, swimm near the shore and some time block the way at the landing dock. Among the unique species found here, is the Flightless Comorant. A bird that do to the lack of predators had to adjust their way of survival and perfectionate their skills of finding food in the ocean. Their wings, tails and feet progressively adapted for swimming. To see these birds, is to witness evolution happening right in front of you. Stay within 2m of the cormorants and penguins.

PM: TAGUS COVE, ISABELA ISLAND

Tagus Cove, a tour along the cliffs in a zodiac will give the visitors a good chance to see the Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant and other sea birds. From the landing dock it is about a 30 minute hike along the trail up to the top of the clif from where you can view Darwin Lake, an uplifted ultrasaline 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, the pirates, whalers as well as bucaneers wrote it in past centuries.

Day 9 

AM: ESPUMILLA BEACH, SANTIAGO ISLAND

Espumilla beach is located in northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. During the last presence the El Niño phenomenon, one of the two lagoons in this site, underwent a process of sedimentation, thus causing the disappearance of a representative colony of flamingos. The main attractions are the palo santo forest and the marvelous. The beach is an important site for nesting marine turtles.

PM: EGAS PORT, SANTIAGO ISLAND

Its black beach is located at the west side of the island and is the main attraction of the island. Their volcanic tuff deposits have favored the formation of this special black sand beach.
This site is called Egas Port, because there was an attempt of company of Hector Egas, to start the exploitation of salt, which failed because the price of salt in the continent was very cheap, and did not justify its exploitation in Galapagos. The project was abandoned and they left their infrastructure.

Day 10 
AM: LOBOS ISLAND, SAN CRISTOBAL

This little island is reach at approx 1 hour by panga from Port Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Island. The trail will lead across a dry vegetation zone, substrate of volcanic rocks and sandy areas. There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds, which nest in this site. At the beach you will see a large colony of sea lions. It is common to see shorebirds.

After this activity, you will go to the San Cristobal airport 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.

 

Class:

Boutique Yacht (Superior first class)

Capacity:

16 Passengers / Cabins: 8

Length overall:

42 m / Beam: 9 m

Year of construction:

2011 in Guayaquil / Hull: Monohull of marine steel

Speed:

12 knots / Ship registry: Guayaquil – Ecuador

Deadweight:

450 tons / Gross Tonnage: 480 tons

Operated by:

Latin Trails / Fuel Capacity: 6.000 gallons

Port Registry :

Guayaquil / Machinery (Engines): 2 Caterpillar 340 HP

Generators:

Perkins 114 cabe A / Water maker: 2000 gallons per day

Water:

10000 gallons capacity

Communication System:

Satellite phone

Tender:

2 Zodiacs CARIBE C-16 / Radar: 1 Radar Furuno 38.4 Km, 1 Radar Furuno 57.6 Km

Life Rafts:

2 Zodiacs for 10 and 25 people    

Radio:

Several consoles HF-VHF-UHF, Nactex, Distrex and handheld units

Navigation Equipment:

1 Satellite compass, 2 magnetic Compasses, Tracking equipment.

Security equipment:

Smoke detectors, sprinklers throughout the vessel, automatic CO2 tank for kitchen and engine room

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.
  • Snorkelling Equipment
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
  • Tips