Galapagos Southern Islands 6 days cruise Itinerary on board Ocean Spray


The Southern islands of the archipelago are the most ancient, and at the same time the most lush and green. A garden of Eden where you can walk alongside species that have evolved and adapted to this unique area within the Galapagos island cluster. Some of the many highlights will be to spot the colorful green and orange marine iguanas on Española island, walk by the blowhole, observe the courtship of Nazca boobies and waved albatross, walk with the giant tortoises in the wild and swim with playful sea lions and the graceful sea turtles. You can brag about all this in the post cards you can send from the Floreana post office. This amazing cruise program is offered in luxurious comfort on board the Ocean Spray catamaran.
Day 1: Arrival & Santa Fe Island

Upon arrival to the airport in Baltra you will be greeted by our staff and taken directly to the boat. Once aboard you will be briefed by the guide on everything you will need to know about living aboard and then you will prepare to visit Santa Fe Island.

Santa Fe Island is home to the unique Santa Fe land iguana and is the only place to find Opuntia cactus. Giant tortoises were once native to this island but after the many years of pirates and buccaneers visiting the island and taking the tortoises aboard as food, they became extinct. The Island is also called Barrington Island, named after British Admiral Samuel Barrington. Large numbers of sea lions can be found on the landing beach and Galapagos hawks can also sometimes be seen.


 
Day 2: Española Island: Gardner Bay & Suarez Point

In Espanola Island lies the southernmost island in the Galapagos, as well as the oldest. It is estimated to be about four million years old  Because it is so far away from the other islands it has the most endemic species. It is a wonderful opportunity for some great photography of endemic bird species that are found only on Espanola and awesome landscapes created by millions of years of erosion.

Gardner Bay is one of the best beaches in the Galapagos. The white sandy beach is home to a large colony of friendly and playful sea lions. Three different types of finches can be seen. The Espanola Mockingbird is very friendly, but probably looking for food. At one point in time, tourists must have given it water or food, which taught them bad habits. The site is also where green sea turtles will come to nest their eggs between January and March.

Suarez Point is a phenomenal site where you will get to see many of Espanola Island’s endemic species. The trail will pass by the only Waved Albatross breeding site. If you are lucky you might see a young albatross take off for its first flight for up to five years at sea. Older birds stay at sea for months at a time, only coming back to breed. They have the same mate for life and will meet each other each year, only here to reproduce. Other species that can be seen are marine iguanas that stay brightly colored year round, Galapagos doves, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, and Darwin finches.


 
Day 3: San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center & La Galapaguera

San Cristobal Island is the fifth largest island in the Galapagos and lies farthest East. It is where Darwin first landed back in 1835 and where the first permanent settlements were founded. Today the main port Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of the Galapagos province and houses many government offices, the Ecuadorian Navy, and an airport with daily flights to the mainland of Ecuador. Conservation challenges the island faces include invasive plants like blackberry and guayaba and insects like the blackfly.

Lobos Island is an islet about an hour away from San Cristobal. Blue-footed boobies will nest here seasonally. In recent years frigate birds have begun to nest here. Sea lions are abundant, as well as marine iguanas. It is a very calm and tranquil site with beautiful views, including Kicker Rock off in the distance.

 La Galapaguera, this Interpretation Center has been open to the public since 1998 and offers extensive information about the history of Galapagos, all ecosystems, geology, and flora and fauna. Giant tortoises are also bred here by the center and roam about in a semi-natural habitat created by the centers’ employees. Within the center are meeting rooms, interpretational panels, auditoriums, exhibits, and much more.


 
Day 4: San Cristobal Island: Pitt Point & Witch Hill

Pitt Point on San Cristobal is on the easternmost side of the Galapagos Islands. It’s also one of the only places that red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca’s can be found all at the same place. The visitor site is interesting as the formations of old volcanic rock are profoundly unique and the hike to the top of the site provides incredible views of the surrounding area.

Witch Hill is home to a popular beach in the Galapagos with powdery white sand and turquiose waters that are a joy to swim in and snorkel spotting the tropical fish benauth the surface. The occasional sea lion may stop by to swim with you or you’ll find them snoozing on the shore. On a panga ride you can explore the many crevices in the eroding rocks, leaving you in awe of the sheer power of erosion.

 
Day 5: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown & Post Office Bay

Floreana Island is one of the most interesting when it comes to human history. The first Galapagos resident was an Irishman who lived on  Floreana from 1807 to 1809. It is the site of the first post office within the islands created by whalers in the 1700’s. Later it became the first island to be colonized by Ecuadorians, but to this day is still very isolated. Surrounded by mystery, in the 1930’s various disappearances occurred and is thought to be because of tension between a baroness and her three servants who arrived after an already settled husband and wife, who gave birth to the first to be born in Galapagos and another couple of a doctor and female companion who lived of the land from their garden. The small population of today lives off the land with homegrown farms and gets their water from rain-filled ponds during the rainy season. There is one hotel with the only phone in the port of Velasco Ibarra where most residents live, the rest live up in the highlands. Transportation is limited and is only available every two weeks.

Cormorant Point is another fun and interesting visitor site. Two beaches can be visited and flamingoes can be seen wading through brackish lagoons looking for shrimp, which gives them their bright and vibrant colors. One of the beaches look green because of olivine crystals and the other is appropriately called Flour Beach a powdery white, made from fine pulverized coral.

Devil’s Crown is a visitor site that boasts the best snorkeling opportunities. Below the surface are amazing volcanic structures that have submerged over time. Hundreds of different colorful fish species can be found here among the coral reefs. Sharks, rays, sea turtles, hammer head sharks and sea lions are also common visitors. It is an underwater spectacle that cannot be missed.

Post Office Bay is a completely human influential site, Post Office Bay is the first official post office created by passing whalers in the 1700’s. To this day visitors continue the tradition as many leave addressed messages on post cards in the barrel to be sent by future visitors while picking up post cards left behind by previous visitors to send when they return home. It is a fun exchangeable activity many visitors enjoy.

On the northern part of the island, Baroness Lookout Point has a beautiful landscape and historic view. It was named after the supposed Austrian Baroness that was the subject of many mysterious disappearances and well-known stories of loathing by those on Floreana.


 
Day 6: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove & Departure

Black Turtle Cove is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island and is only accessible by boat and with a guide. This shallow inlet is surrounded by mangroves and provides natural protection for a variety of marine life, attracting the vulnerable juveniles of many species. Below the surface of the water, you can see both black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, golden cow-nose rays, spotted eagle rays, and an occasional hammerhead shark. Pelicans and Boobies hunt here, diving gracefully into the water.


 

Included

  • Scheduled visits and activities with a professional bilingual guide
  • All meals on board, snacks, purified water, tea and coffee
  • Accommodation in standard cabin / suite (with balcony where applicable) with private bathroom and air conditioning
  • Snorkeling equipment (mask, lenses, fins), sea-kayaks, wet-suits (some boats)
  • Assistance at the Airport and 24/7 during the trip

Not Included

  • Air tickets to / from Galapagos from / to Quito, Guayaquil or combined route
  • Entrance to the Galapagos National Park US $ 100 p.p. (cash in the Islands)
  • Galapagos Control Card US $ 20 p.p. (at the airport before check-in)
  • Soft and alcoholic drinks on board; personal expenses, extras and tips guide and crew (cash)
  • Travel insurance with medical, cancellation and other unforeseen coverage
  • Other services in Continental Ecuador and not specified in the program

Highlights

  • Walk through and Opuntia Cacti endemic forest and spot land iguanas on Santa Fe island
  • Visit the Giant tortoises in the wild at the San Cristobal Galapaguera sanctuary
  • Swim with playful sea lions and guard your water from the hood mockingbird at Gardner bay on Española island
  • Send a post card at Post office bay and indulge in one of the most beautiful bays in the world at Floreana island