Cruise
4 Days 3 Nights
Enjoy the Galapagos Islands on our cruise
Itinerary East 2
Take a 4-day cruise around the Galapagos Islands through our east itinerary. Santa Cruz Island, Santa Fe Island, Gardner Bay… don’t miss this adventure, read on for the full itinerary.
4 Days 3 Nights
TRAVEL ITINERARY
DAY 1, WEDNESDAY
PM: UPPER SANTA CRUZ ISLAND & TURTLE BREEDING CENTRE
After arriving at Baltra airport, we will be met by our staff and transfer briefly to the Itabaca Channel, where we will board a ferry to Santa Cruz Island, where another transport will take us to Puerto Ayora, where the M/Y Passion is anchored. Once in Puerto Ayora, we will board the yacht and have time for a small snack before departing for our first visit to the islands, the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we will see tortoises from different islands. The animals are kept in large semi-natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure easy viewing for visitors. The pens are divided according to four different stages: eggs, hatchlings, juveniles (kept here until they are mature enough to be “repatriated”) and adults. Afterwards, we will return to Puerto Ayora, where we will have time to explore the town and the shops on our own (this is the only shopping opportunity on this itinerary) before boarding the M/Y Passion around 5:00 p.m. Once on board, the crew and captain will welcome us, we will conduct a brief safety drill, and enjoy dinner and a briefing for the next day’s activities.
DAY 2, THURSDAY
AM: SOUTH PLAZA
We will make a dry landing at one of the oldest piers in the archipelago at the colourful South Plaza, home to vibrant green prickly pear fig trees, deep red sesuvium and coppery-orange land iguanas. Stunning sea cliffs provide the perfect place for a variety of shorebirds to roost. This is also an excellent place to observe adult sea lions and pups swimming along the shore.
PM: SANTA FE ISLAND
After a wet landing at Santa Fe, we will find a white beach where sea lions often rest. We will be looking for the endemic species of land iguana, which is larger and has a deeper shade of yellow than the land iguanas of other islands. Here you will also find the largest prickly pear cacti in Galapagos.
DAY 3, FRIDAY
AM: BAHÍA GARDNER
After a wet landing, we will spend the morning at Gardner Bay on Española Island, an exceptional beach with sea lions, marine iguanas and the bold Spanish mockingbird.
Near Española, there are a beautiful variety of islets ideal for observing marine life. While snorkelling at one of these sites, you will come face to face with the endemic species of the marine reserve, including playful sea lions.
PM: PUNTA SUÁREZ
After this visit, we will head to Punta Suarez, one of the most popular landing sites in Galapagos. Highlights include: sea lions near the landing site (sometimes seen surfing the big waves), large marine iguanas, red-coloured males in the breeding season, oystercatchers, blue-footed boobies and Nazca boobies, Galapagos hawks and doves, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and three endemic species of Española: the Galapagos albatross (present only from April to December), the Española nightingale and the Española lava lizard. The trail ends at El Soplador, a tunnel that connects to the sea and its large hole shoots water some 25 metres (75 feet) into the air.
DAY 4, SATURDAY
AM: THE TWIN CRATERS- BALTRA ISLAND FOR RETURN
This is our last day in the islands. After breakfast, we will disembark in Puerto Ayora to take our transport to Baltra airport, making a brief stop to visit the Twin Craters. The Gemelos are two deep craters located on the side of the road leading from Puerto Ayora to the other side of the island to the airport. These huge holes were probably created in a volcanic explosion or due to the collapse of magma chambers beneath the surface of the island. This is also an excellent place to see the Galapagos hawk and the Santa Cruz owl. The surrounding forests are also full of birds such as the scarlet flycatcher and the yellow warbler. After this visit, we will continue our journey to Baltra airport for our flight back to mainland Ecuador.
LOCATION
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RECOMMENDATIONS
On domestic flights, each passenger is allowed one checked baggage allowance of 23kg + one carry-on baggage allowance of 8kg.
The checked baggage allowance is:
Weight: 23kg
Size: 158cm/62in
Carry-on baggage allowance is:
Weight: 8kg.
Dimensions: 55cm x 35cm x 25cm
It is advisable to bring comfortable, light clothing, a waterproof jacket, swimming costume and comfortable walking shoes for the Amazon or Galapagos visit points, and warmer clothing for the days in and around Quito. Visitors should not wear tank tops, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting religious or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a small backpack, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay in Ecuador.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
The itinerary is subject to change in case of force majeure caused by exceptional and natural circumstances.
Prices are subject to change without prior notice and can only be guaranteed once the booking has been made.
Reservations must include the passenger’s full name, nationality, passport number, age and date of birth.
Any deposit or payment made by the Client to the Company for services to be provided by the Company constitutes acceptance by any person receiving services from the Company of the Terms and Conditions described in the following document:
