SAN JOSE

ITINERARY “A” –

8 DAY / 7 NIGHT CRUISETUESDAY - TUESDAY

ISLANDS

- Baltra

- Isabela

- Fernandina

- Santiago

- Rabida

- Chinese Hat

- Santa Cruz

- North Seymour

SUMMARY

Venture to the remote westernislands of the Galapagos on this8-day San Jose itinerary.Witness giant tortoises in thelush highlands of Santa Cruz andlearn about the ongoingbreeding programs at theCharles Darwin ResearchStation. Then get up close tomarine iguanas in the pristineecosystems of Fernandina andspot blue-footed boobies andfrigatebirds in the sea birdcolonies of North SeymourIsland.

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Email:contact@andandotours.com

Website:www.visitgalapagos.travel

Arrival at Baltra Airport

At the arrival hall a naturalist guide will meet you and escort you on a shortbus ride to the harbor at Baltra. By inflatable dinghy you will be taken to theyacht.

Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)

These two small beaches are found to the West of Black Turtle Cove. Theirsand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, making ita favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is asmall brackish water lagoon, where occasionally it is possible to observeflamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels.The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandonedduring the World War II, when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategicallypoint to protect the Panama Channel.

DAY BY DAYDAY 1

BACHAS BEACH

A delightful place reached by a nice zodiac ride. ‘Tintoreras’ are small islandsin front of Puerto Villamil coast. There is a lava heron on the lookout onmangrove branch and Galapagos penguins and sea lions often pop out onshore. White-tipped reef sharks are fairly common in the archipelago. Theirname in Spanish is ‘tintorera’, thus the name of this site (Tintoreras) as theyare always found here resting in the shallow waters.

This afternoon the wetlands close to Puerto Villamil village will be visited.There are a few lagoons, swamps and mangroves, primarily known for theirmigrant bird populations. One of the most attractive species to be seen isthe flamingo.

DAY 2

TINTORERAS & WETLANDS (ISABELA)

You will also visit the Arnaldo Tupiza breeding center, wheregiant tortoises are reared in captivity on Isabela, to betterprotect the main sub specie of this island. The Wall of Tearsalso known as ‘Muro de las Lagrimas’ is another point ofinterest; the wall was constructed of clocks of lava rockbetween 1946 and 1959, when Isabela was a penal colony

Moreno Point (Isabela) & Mangle Point (Fernandina)

Moreno Point is located on the north coast of Isabela Islandbetween the volcano Sierra Negra and the Cerro Azul volcano.The trail runs along a pahoehoe-lava flow (solidified lava in theform of an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons. Itsmain attractions are several species of birds which can befound around the lakes and mangroves.

Tagus Cove (Isabela)

At Tagus Cove, a tour along the cliffs in a zodiac will give thevisitors a good chance to see the Galapagos penguin, theflightless cormorant and other sea birds. From the landing dockit is about a 30 minute hike along the trail up to the top of thecliff from where you can view Darwin Lake, an upliftedultrasaline lake saltier than the sea. You can also see severalvolcanoes from this location. Look carefully at the graffiti onthe surrounding cliffs of the cove. It has been written bypirates, whalers and buccaneers in past centuries.

DAY 3

MORENO POINT, MANGLE

POINT & TAGUS COVE

(ISABELA & FERNANDINA)

DAY 4

ESPINOZA POINT (FERNANDINA)

VICENTE ROCA POINT

(ISABELA)

Espinoza Point (Fernandina)

Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and thesite Espinoza Point is located at the northeastern tip of theisland. Just across Tagus Cove, is a visitor’s site where variousunique species of Galapagos can be seen. Marine iguanasconglomerate in larger groups than in any other island. Theybask around in the sand, swim near the shore and sometimesblock the way at the landing dock. Among the unique speciesfound here, is the flightless cormorant. A bird that, due to thelack of predators, evolved differently; its wings, tails and feetprogressively adapted for swimming. To see these birds, is towitness evolution happening right in front of you. You canobserve the flightless cormorants and penguins very closely.

Vicente Roca Point (Isabela)

At the north-western tip of Isabela Island lies the visitor siteVicente Roca Point. During a panga ride we will observeimpressive geological formations including a large cave andvolcanic tuff cones. The cliffs are home to a variety of nestingbirds, including blue-footed and Nazca boobies, gulls, storm

petrels, and brown noddy terns. The calmer waters within thecave are a popular area for sea turtles. Above all, Vicente RocaPoint is an excellent snorkeling area due to the nutrient-richwaters of the Humboldt Current. There is good possibility tospot sea lions, penguins, sea turtles and other marine life.

DAY 5

ESPUMILLA BEACH,

BUCCANEER COVE & EGAS

PORT (SANTIAGO ISLAND)

Espumilla Beach & Buccaneer Cove

Espumilla beach is located at the northern coast of SantiagoIsland in James Bay. During the last presence of the ‘El Niñophenomenon’, one of the two lagoons of this site underwent aprocess of sedimentation, thus causing the disappearance of arepresentative colony of flamingos.

The main attraction is the palo santo forest. The beach is animportant site for nesting marine turtles.At the nearbyBuccaneers Cove we have a great snorkeling opportunity.

Puerto Egas (Santiago)

Its black beach is located at the west side of the island and is itsmain attraction. Volcanic tuff deposits have favored theformation of this special black sand beach. This site is calledPuerto Egas, because there was an attempt of the company ofHector Egas to start the exploitation of salt. It failed, becausethe price of salt in the continent was very low and did notjustify its exploitation in Galapagos. Thus the project wasabandoned.

DAY 6

RABIDA 6 CHINESE HAT

Rabida

Rabida Island is unique because of the red color of the rocksand sand. The volcanic material in this island is very porous andexternal factors as rain, salt water and sea breeze have actedas an oxidizing agent.

A short walk along a trail lead us to a coastal lagoon behind thebeach, which permits the observation of land birds, such asfinches, doves, yellow warblers and mocking birds. At thelagoon there is a colony of flamingos. The beach is often fullwith sea lions, and there are good snorkeling opportunities.

Chinese Hat

This is a small islet (1 sq km) located just off the southeasterntip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like aChinese hat when seen from north side. On the west side lava

formations may be observed, formed under the sea and raisedupward, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is anexcellent visit for interpretation of geological features such aslava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lionscolonies, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.

DAY 7

SANTA CRUZ

Highlands (Santa Cruz)

The road to the highlands leaves from Bellavista, a small villagelocated at a 15 minute drive from Puerto Ayora and passesthrough the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary,the Miconia Zone, and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone.With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautifulscenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered withgrass and lush greenery all year round. Here you will visit theTwin Craters, which are two pit craters. You will visit as well alocal ranch where we can observe the giant tortoise specie ofSanta Cruz Island in its natural habitat. After our highlands-visit,we will return to Puerto Ayora and the yacht.

Charles Darwin Research Station

One of the main attractions are the National Park informationcenter, the Van Straelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding andRearing Center for young tortoises, and adult Galapagostortoises in captivity.

DAY 8

NORTH SEYMOUR

. There are good nesting sites here for a large population ofmagnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform theircourtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gullsperch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that canpound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach andcan be found bodysurfing.

Transfer to Baltra airport Check-in and flight back to Guayaquil orQuito.