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The new luxury Catamaran Athala II was specifically designed and built to cruise the Galapagos Islands in style. The elegant design provides more comfort, superior speed, excellent stability and meets all the latest safety standards.
The Athala II is unrivalled in offering the generous comfortable accommodation and amenities of a larger boat while still preserving the relaxed exclusivity of a smaller vessel. You are sure to find the layout, furnishings, food and crew to be at an excellent standard.
All cabins on board are deluxe, with well-appointed private bathroom, water, air conditioning, wall to wall carpeting. All have ocean views with large portrait windows (not portholes). All cabins are a minimum 175 square feet and the main deck rooms have the additional luxury of a private balcony.
The main deck also boasts the dining area and a separate comfortable lounge area complete with plasma TVs, lap tops (No internet service), DVD player, stereo and library.
The upper deck has a well-stocked bar, Jacuzzi and a beautiful open teak deck area for relaxation, alfresco dining and barbeques.
The huge sundeck is great for whale and dolphin watching or to simply relax and soak up the sun between island excursions. In the evenings there is no better place for star gazing.
You have a crew of 10 + 1 naturalist guide. The crew is friendly, full time, experienced and highly professional. Your guide is guaranteed to be bilingual (minimum fluent English and Spanish) and of the highest standard.
| DAY | PLACES |
| SAT | AM: Baltra Airport PM: Mosquera Islet |
| SUN |
AM: Santiago: Sullivan Bay |
| MON | AM: Isabela: Urbina Bay PM: Isabela: Tagus Cove |
| TUE |
AM: Fernandina:Espinosa Point |
| WEN | AM: Santiago: Egas Port PM: Santiago: Espumilla Beach- Bucaneer Cove |
| THU | AM: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station PM: Santa Cruz: Higlands |
| FRI | AM: Genovesa: El Barranco PM: Genovesa: Darwin Bay |
| SAT | AM: Seymur: NorthSeymur PM: Santa Cruz: Baltra Airport |
Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (Galapagos).
Assistance be provided for when you arrive at the airport by one of our representatives after you have landed. You arrive at Baltra Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim you will be greeted by the staff of Yacht Athala II Catamaran and transfer to the yacht. You be shown your cabin, where you have a time for lunch, before a welcome conference.
n the afternoon we enjoy a stroll in panga towards the "islet Mosquera". This small islet is actually home to a huge population of sea lions and is also home to many shorebirds as well as dolphins and killer whales.
Once back aboard you enjoy a welcome cocktail and a delicious dinner.
SULLIVAN BAY AND BARTOLOME
Spend the morning at " Sullivan Bay " which is known for its spectacular volcanic formations, relatively young pahoehoe lava flows and unique geological scenery. Due to Sullivan’s relatively recent volcanic activity, few plants have been able to take root here, much less be successful, so pay particular interest to the low-lying pioneer plant known locally as “mollugo” as well as the lava cactus.
After lunch head to " Bartolome ", a small island that has two visitor sites. At the first site, you can snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where penguins are usually seen. Then, it’s back on board for a quick change of clothes followed by a short dinghy ride to a dry landing for a climb to the highest point on the island. On the way up, you will encounter different volcanic formations, including spatter and tuff cones, lava flow and lava tubes. From the summit you will have a wonderful view of Sullivan Bay. For those not interested in the hike, there is the option of a panga ride. Usual fauna and flora includes sea lions, pioneer plants, reef sharks, rays and colorful reef fish.
ISABELA; URBINA BAY AND TAGUS COVE
After breakfast explore " Urbina Bay ", located in Western Isabela, at the foot of Alcedo volcano. This is the spot where the Galapagos National Park began its successful eradication of goats on Isabela Island. After a wet landing on a beautiful black-sand beach, you may be able to observe sea turtle nesting sites. This area is also known for penguin and flightless cormorant sightings and is one of the best places to see Darwin’s finches as well as large land iguanas. Also, be on the lookout for Galapagos tortoises which like to feed within the site’s dense vegetation.
Next navigate to " Tagus Cove ", which was historically used as an anchoring place for pirates, buccaneers and whalers. Here you will see the names of hundreds of ships painted on the high ridges (a practice now forbidden). On the hike, the trail goes through an area of vegetation and the volcanic landscape of Darwin volcano. At the top of the trail, you will enjoy an incredible view of the whole cove and Darwin Lake. The activity is followed by kayaking or a panga ride, where you will have the opportunity to see a large number of blue-footed boobies perched on the ledges of the cliffs, as well as marine iguanas, penguins, brown pelicans, brown noddy terns and swallow-tailed gulls. While exploring the channel between Fernandina and Isabela Islands, dolphins and whales are sometimes encountered so be on the lookout!
ESPINOZA POINT AND VICENTE ROCA POINT
Begin today at Fernandina Island, one of the most pristine ecosystems in the entire world and also one of the most dynamic. La Cumbre Volcano last erupted in April 2009 and dominates the landscape, with lava fields stretching towards the ocean from its base. " Punta Espinoza " is a narrow piece of land where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen, including the flightless cormorant, Galapagos snakes, marine iguanas, penguins and the Galapagos hawk. Snorkel here or just take in the sights and sounds of the wildlife.
This afternoon spend time at Isabela Island's " Punta Vicente Roca ". This is a wonderful deep-water snorkeling site, where you can usually see turtles as well as all kinds of fish. For those who do not snorkel, a panga ride will give you the opportunity to study some of the Galapagos’ spectacular geological rock formations. Nazca boobies, pelicans, swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and penguins are often seen in the area.
SANTIAGO: EGAS PORT AND ESPUMILLA BEACH
Begin this morning with a landing on a black beach with eroded rock formations in the background to enjoy hiking around " Egas Port " on the northwest side Santiago Island. The trail crosses the dry interior, where the remains of a salt mining enterprise can still be seen, and then continues along the coast. Tidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms, including sea urchins, octopus and starfish. You will also see marine iguanas, finches, oyster catchers and possibly the Galapagos Hawk. The trail leads to the Fur Sea Lion Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where these unique animals can be seen. After the walk, you will have time to swim or snorkel off the beach, where you will see sea lions, fish and maybe some turtles, rays and maybe some reef sharks.
Later tour the " Espumilla Beach " visitor site on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. This is a wet landing. The main attractions here are a Palo Santo forest, the beach and the landscape. The Palo Santo forest at Espumilla has some of the tallest specimens of the species in the entire archipelago. Also look out for the Galapagos Hawk as well as Darwin’s finches. The beach is an important site for nesting marine turtles.
SANTA CRUZ: CHARLES DARWIN STATION
On your visit to the " Charles Darwin Station " you will gain insight into the great efforts being made by scientists, guides, rangers and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands’ namesake. After the visit drive by bus to the green highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will visit a tortoise reserve to search for giant tortoises in their natural surroundings. Arrive back on board for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure.
GENOVESA: EL BARRANCO AND DARWIN BAY
Genovesa, or Tower Island, is the northernmost island that is allowed to be visited by naturalist (non-diving) cruises. This island is extremely remote and home to literally millions of birds belonging to many different species including the red-footed booby as well as frigates, swallow-tailed gulls and even endemic owls! There are two sites on Genovesa that are visited by the M/C Athala II. " El Barranco ", also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, is a steep path with stairs carved into the rock, which leads to a plateau full of bird life among a Palo Santo forest. You will see Nazca boobies, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and petrels. With some luck, you may spot a short-eared lava owl. Darwin Bay’s soft, coralline white sand is only the beginning of a spectacular excursion. A trail from the beach takes you into lush mangroves where red-footed boobies nest. Other locals include sea lions, swallow-tail gulls, frigates and more. Snorkeling is a must here as sharks, colorful reef fish, rays and sea turtles are common.
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND & DEPARTURE
The morning visit will take us to " North Seymour Island. Galapagos Sea Lions, Blue-footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigate birds are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by series of submarine lavas containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.
After this final visit, you will be transferred to Baltra's airport in time to catch your flight back to the mainland.
Please keep in mind that on departure days, your morning visit will be early and short since we need to be prepared before heading back toward the airport for your returning flight to Ecuador's mainland.
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.
| Year of construction | 2007 |
| Length | 98 feet / 30 meters |
| Beam | 37 feet / 11 meters |
| Draft | 4.6 feet / 1.40 meters |
| Cruising speed | 12 knots |
| Generators | 110 volts AC / 60 Hz |
| Tripulation | 10 + 1 Naturalist Guide |
| Accommodation |
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| Safety |
All equipment meets / exceeds the international SOLAS standard: 2x 20-man life craft, Navnex, 2 GPS, sonar, 2 naval radars, fire detection and prevention systems etc etc. |
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