Galapagos Vacations in Style Southern Islands liveaboard trip


Galapagos' wildlife vacations are a magical experience aboard one of the most luxurious Motor Yachts that cruise the Islands. A short but well-planned wildlife vacation will allow you to enjoy the natural riches and biodiversity of Southern Floreana, Espanola and other islands.
Day 1: Santa Cruz Island: El Chato Reserve

Your friendly guides will meet you at customs when you arrive from the Mainland to start your amazing Galapagos adventure.

Santa Cruz Island: El Chato Reserve

The Reserve "El Chato", divided into two areas, Caseta or Chato, is our first stop. The Caseta route is the most difficult and starts at Santa Rosa, Puerto Ayora. Visitors can see giant tortoises in semiwild during dry season. It is also home to Darwin's finches and yellow warblers.

Day 2: Santa Cruz Island: Dragon Hill & Bachas Beach

Dragon Hill

Santa Cruz Island is the location of one of the most recent tourist sites in the Galapagos Archipelago. A longer Galapagos walk trail will take you along a beach to the lagoon lookout, where you can spot bright Flamingos and Land Iguanas.

Bachas Beach

Las Bachas, a beautiful swimming beach on Santa Cruz's north shore, is located. You can see a floating pier here, one of the few vestiges of U.S. World War II in the Galapagos. There are whimbrels, Sally Lightfoot crabs and hermit crabs to be seen. You may also see sea turtles nesting on the beach.

Day 3: Floreana Island: Post Office Bay & Cormorant Point

Post Office Bay

The wooden barrel was placed on Floreana Island by whalers who were passing through the islands in the 18th century to serve as an unofficial mailbox. Visitors leave their addressed postcards inside the barrel, and then sort through the mail to deliver it at home.

Cormorant Point

The site also hosts a beautiful flamingo lagoon, where you can see common stilts and white-cheeked pintails. This island has two beaches that are unique: The "Green Beach", named after its greenish color due to a high amount of olivine crystals, and the "Four Sand Beach", which is mostly made of white coral.

Day 4: Española Island: Suarez Point & Gardner Bay

Suarez Point

This area is ideal for finding Blue-footed and Nazca boobies as well as Hood Mockingbirds, Tropic-birds, and Waved-Albatrosses. The magnificent albatrosses use this cliff as their launching pad. It is a beautiful spot on the oceanfront. The blowhole is the most famous attraction. It spouts water high up into the air. There are many great photo opportunities at this location.

Gardner Bay

Gardner Bay is located on the eastern side. It is home to nearly all the 12,000 pair of world-wide waved albatrosses. The beach is characterized by a large expanse of white sandy beaches and a variety of sea lions. It is a great place to relax. This site is great for snorkeling and diving.

Day 5: San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center

As part of the 1998 project "Interpretation and Environment Education Project", the Interpretation Center was inaugurated. It offers expositions about natural history, conservation, and human history. Conservation efforts are the movement to conserve wildlife and the natural environment by means of population control and tourist control. The Interpretation Center features an outdoor stadium, audio-visual equipment and meeting rooms.

After your morning excursion, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to the mainland.

Included

  • All programed visits as per itinerary with specialized naturalist bilingual guide
  • Accommodation in twin/double cabin with private facilities
  • All meals on board, drinking purified water, coffee and tea
  • Snorkeling equipment (fins, mask & snorkel) wet-suits & sea-kayaks
  • Transfers within the islands on cruise dates as per itinerary
  • Personalized 24/7 assistance during tour.

Not Included

  • Airfare to/from Galapagos from/to Mainland Ecuador (to be added)
  • Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee US$100 per person (in cash only upon arrival)
  • Galapagos Migration Card US$20 in cash per person (at Mainland’s Airport)
  • Alcoholic/soft drinks, personal expenses, extras, and tips
  • Travel, medical & cancelation insurance and any services on mainland
  • International Flights to Ecuador
  • Other services not specified in the program

Highlights

  • Underwater exploration at Gardner Bay in Española
  • Excellent excursions and activities accompanied by two professional Naturalist Guides
  • Send a postcard to your loved ones back home from Post Office Bay at Floreana
  • Visit to top-sites at Española in one day: the Blowhole and the Waved Albatrosses colony
  • Beautiful Flamingos and “the Green Beach” at Cormorant Point
  • Visit “El Chato” Reserve to walk around with endemic Galapagos tortoises.