Itinerary A. Two worlds to Explore.

Transcription

1 Itinerary A Two worlds to Explore

2 M/S Encantada Tech information & Service on board The Southeastern Island Loop The M/S Encantada is a superior tourist class yacht, loved for her charming candy-apple red style and her small, cozy atmosphere. The boat offers 6 cabins with twin bunk beds to accommodate a total of 12 passengers. All cabins have air conditioning and private bathrooms with hot water Length: 69 ft, 21 m Be: 17 ft, 5.2 m Speed: 7 knots 5 crew members + 1 bilingual naturalist guide Snorkel equipment Encantada Expedition Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu pm pm pm pm Transfer In Playas Bachas Plazas Islands Santa Fe Island Kicker Rock Lobos Island Interpretation Center Suarez Point Gardner Bay Gardner Islet Osborn Islet Post Office Bay Baronesa Look Out Itinerary A 6d / 5n Sunday to Friday Baltra Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Santa Fe San Cristobal San Cristobal Española Española Floreana pm Cormorant Point Chpion Islet Floreana Fri Charles Darwin Station Santa Cruz Transfer Out Baltra Snorkel Panga Ride Circumnavigation

3 N MARCHENA (Bindloes) GENOVESA (Dowes of tower) W E S SANTIAGO (San Salvador or Jes) BARTOLOME SEYMOUR DAPHNE BALTRA FERNANDINA (Narborough) PINZON (Duncan) SAN CRISTOBAL (Chath) Ayora Port SANTA ISABELA (Albemarle) Villil Port SANTA CRUZ (Indefatigable or Chavez) SANTA FE (Barrington) Baquerizo Moreno Port Airport... Headlight... Port... Snorkeling... Dive site... Circumnavigation... Panga Ride... Velasco Ibarra Port ESPAÑOLA (Hood) ITINERARY A FLOREANA (Santa Maria or Charles)

4 Baltra Santra Cruz Sunday AM: Baltra / Transfer in You land on the island of Baltra where the U.S. Air Force built a runway during WWII to strengthen U.S. presence in the Pacific. Upon arrival you are met by yacht staff and drive from the island of Baltra to the Itabaca canal where the Encantada is waiting. We board the yacht, settle in to our cabins and enjoy lunch. PM: Bachas Beach Then it s a short cruise to the north side of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to Bachas Beach. The perfect introduction to the Galapagos, we walk along the beach and you are introduced to the wonder of the flora and fauna of the islands. There are Sally Lightfoot crabs, perhaps sea turtles, various wading birds, pelicans flying, and much more. We return to the boat in our dinghy to enjoy sunset over the Galapagos. Then, in the night, we begin our voyage across the sea towards Plazas Island.

5 Plazas Island Santa Fe Monday AM: Plazas Island Plazas Island is a small island with steep cliffs. We transfer by dingy to the shore to walk along a well-marked trail, passing cactus and a number of iguanas, both land and sea. In fact this is one place where the two have hybridized. There is a large sea lion colony here and their barks can be heard during our walk. PM: Santa Fe After our visit we return to the boat and cruise to Santa Fe island, located roughly halfway between Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands. There is a small and picturesque bay here where we drop anchor and then head to shore to walk. It s a lovely island for exploring, replete with prickly pear cactus and an endemic land iguana. There are many other species to view including lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, Audubon Shearwaters, brown pelicans, Galapagos mockingbirds, yellow warblers and more. We overnight in this protected harbor and enjoy the sunset.

6 San Cristobal Tuesday AM: Kicker Rock Morning finds us at San Cristobal Island. Our first stop is Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock that juts from the sea in geologic splendor. It s one of the most notable places in the Galapagos and one where past trips have seen dozens of dolphins. It s a fantastic place to snorkel, swimming through a passage between the rocks. Colorful sea stars dot the walls, hundreds of brillian fish swim by and we often see rays, sharks and sea turtles. Lobos Island After this memorable snorkeling we cruise about 40 minutes to Isla Lobos or sea lion island. This is a special place to snorkel and swim with playful young sea lions who seem to get as much delight from us as we from them. As we snorkel, pelicans and boobies fly overhead. PM: Interpretation Center After lunch we continue on to the port town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The second largest town in the islands, it is the provincial capital of the Galapagos and the location of one of the two main airports. Over a hundred years ago this town started out as a penal colony. Today it has a lovely waterfront where sea lions lounge. Our highlight is the excellent National Park Interpretation Center which provides an excellent overview to the Park s natural and human history. After our visit here we walk back into town and you have time to explore a bit before returning to the boat.

7 Española Wednesday AM: Suarez Point Wildlife is truly a highlight of Espanola and the best-known star is the waved albatross. Because of their large wings they have difficulty taking off and landing, and the island's steep cliffs make for the perfect runways for these large birds. Espanola's remote location helped make it a unique jewel with a large number of endemic creatures. Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Espanola adapted to the island's environment and natural resources. The subspecies of Marine iguana from Espanola are the only ones that change color during breeding season from a reddish hue to a shade of green. The Hood Mockingbird is endemic to the island and these birds have no fear of people, sometimes landing on the shoulders or heads of visitors. As we visit the Suarez Point landing site, we see all this plus lava lizards, various finches, blue-footed and masked boobies and more. There is also a spectacular blowhole where ocean waves are forced into a narrow opening and blow into the sky. PM: Gardner Bay From Suarez Point we cruise to Gardner Bay for an afternoon of more exploration. There s a lovely beach here as well as good snorkeling. With any luck you snorkel with sea turtles, sea lions and naturally, dozens of colorful fish.

8 Floreana Thursday AM: Post office Bay An overnight cruise takes us to Floreana Island and a stop at the fous Post Office Bay where 18th century whalers left messages in a wooden barrel as an unofficial mail box. Baroness Lookout We pass through the small port town on our way to explore the highlands of the island that has an intriguing human past. From the interior are views of the coast and landscape around. PM: Cormorant Point We return to the sea and cruise to Punta Cormorant where we go ashore for a wonderful walk along a sandy beach and visit a lagoon where pink flingoes along with other shore birds wade and feed. The beaches are very special here as well. One is a green sand beach, created from olivine crystals that come from silicates made up of magnesium and iron. Another beach is known as flour beach with powdery white sand. Chpiong Islet We then continue to the small islet called Chpion which is considered one of the top snorkeling spots in all the islands. With masks and fins you explore an underwater wonder world and are likely to be snorkeling with sea turtles, many colorful reef fish, white-tipped reef sharks and possibly even Galapagos penguins. Back on board the Encantada we enjoy the sunset and dinner. Later in the night the engines start for a cruise north to Santa Cruz Island.

9 Charles Darwin Station Santa Cruz Friday AM: Charles Darwin Station We wake in the harbor of Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz, the largest town in the Galapagos Islands. A short walk takes us to the Charles Darwin Research Station and an opportunity to learn more about conservation work in the Galapagos. This is the home to Lonesome George, the last known tortoise carrying the gene pool of Floreana Island. This is also the most important tortoise breeding center on the island from which young tortoises are reintroduced into the wild. After a relaxed morning in town we transfer across the island by bus, across the Itabaca canal by ferry, and then another 10 minutes by bus to the airport on Baltra. A two-hour flight gets us to Guayaquil.

10 Av. Amazonas N y Wilson Telf.:(593-2) / / Fax: (593-2) info@scubagalapagos.com/ operaciones@scubagalapagos.com Quito Ecuador Charles Darwin y Floreana Esquina Pto Ayora. Isla Santa Cruz Telfax. (593-5) / dive@scubagalapagos.com Gal pagos Ecuador