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  • Galapagos Seaman Cruise – 8 Days
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Detailed Itinerary

AM: FLIGHT TO GALAPAGOS - This day you will fly to the Galapagos Island. Due to the Galapagos Government, a fee of AUD 47 must be paid for the migration control card.

Once in Santa Cruz, passengers must go through an inspection point at the airport to make sure that no foreign plants or animals are being introduced to the archipelago. Also, this inspection point is where passengers have to pay for the entrance to the Galapagos National Park under the following parameters: Passengers Foreigners AUD 234 and Children AUD 117 (under 12 years old).

Our guide will pick you up and carry your luggage to the bus that transports the tourists to the ferries to cross the Itabaca Channel. After this, you will be taken by another bus to the first visit to Ranch Manzanillo where visitors must wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing and a waterproof jacket, sun-block lotion, a camera and repellent for the first activity. The visit to Ranch Manzanillo includes a picnic lunch and a short walk before boarding the Motor Catamaran. It is important to follow these instructions in order to accomplish this itinerary properly. Please be aware that passenger ́s luggage will be sent directly to the yacht. Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities to observe the wild Galapagos Tortoises. Tracking tortoises is not the only exciting activity to be found in the highlands. There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes and craters ready to be explored.

AM: FERNANDINA ISLAND, MANGLE POINT - Off the eastern coast of Fernandina, Mangle Point can be found, a superior snorkelling site and a beautiful location for riding in a panga or zodiac through a grove of mangrove trees. A hike of about 1/2 miles is possible. While you are on your ride, you are likely to see sea lions, tortoises, pelicans, rays and birds too numerous to name them all.

PM: PUNTA MORENO - Punta Moreno is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcano Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcano. The trail runs along a lava flow Pahoehoe (solidified lava in the form of corrugated or an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons, where several species of birds which can be found around this lakes and mangroves.

AM: ISABELA ISLAND, URBINA BAY - Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast, between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954, which caused the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place to snorkel. Urbina Bay is a path that starts off with a wet landing. The course is approximately 3200m, and made up of sand, pumice, lava, coral and vegetation where one can observe iguana burrows. It is an ideal place to see red and blue lobster!

In Bahia Urbina you can see Darwin's finches. Its main attraction is the land iguanas, which are larger than in places like South Plaza Island and Galapagos tortoises also in the wild, sometimes even out of season they are on the bottom of the islands. A large amount of vegetation can be observed such as chamomile and Rosewood, but among all these plants, the beautiful flowers of cotton Darwin, endemic to the Galapagos Islands stand out.

PM: ISABELA ISLAND, TAGUS COVE Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. This was a favourite spot for pirates and whalers, and it was them who started the following tradition: the inscription of the names of boats. At the beginning of the trail, you will see a small cave where you will find inscriptions dating to the 1800s. Its name originated from a British warship that went across the islands in 1814 looking for Galapagos Tortoise for food. Due to former eruptions, the substrate has a large amount of volcanic rocks of different sizes, among the most common are little balls of nearly spherical shape known as the "lapilli" or petrified rain.

AM: FERNANDINA ISLAND, ESPINOZA POINT - Espinoza Point is a famous place known for its large colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.

PM: VICENTE ROCA POINT One of the most impressive and spectacular places of the enchanted Galapagos Islands; with high cliffs and tuff stone, ash and lava formations give this area a majestic touch, is Punta Vicente Roca. It is located in the north-western coast of the island; it comprises two distinct islets. This large bay has a spectacular marine life. Here, you can see seahorses, sea turtles and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola or sunfish. This bay is a great place to practice Panga Ride and Snorkelling. You can as well find: Penguins, Blue-footed boobies, Terns, Boobies, Sea lions. Also you can snorkel and observe sea turtles, stingrays and puffer fishes.

AM: SANTIAGO ISLAND, PLAYA ESPUMILLA - Espumilla beach is located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. During the last presence of the El Niño phenomenon, one of the two lagoons in this site underwent a process of sedimentation, thus causing the disappearance of a representative colony of flamingos. The main attractions are the palosanto forest and the nesting of baby turtles.

PM: PUERTO EGAS - its black beach is located on the west side of the island and is the main attraction of the island. Their volcanic tuff deposits have favoured the formation of this special black sand beach. This site is called Puerto Egas, because there was an attempt to start the exploitation of salt, which failed because the price of salt in the continent was very cheap, and did not justify its exploitation in Galapagos. The project and the infrastructure was left abandoned.

AM: RABIDA ISLAND - Rábida Island is unique due to the red colour that colours all rocks and sand. The volcanic material in this island is very porous and external factors as rain, salty water, and sea breeze have acted as an oxidizing agent. A short walk along a trail leads you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach which permits you to observe the land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. At the lagoon there is a colony of flamingos.

PM: CHINESE HAT - SOMBREO CHINO This is a small islet (1 sq. km) located just off the south-eastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from the north. On the west you can see lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upwards, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lions colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.

AM: SANTIAGO ISLAND, SULLIVAN BAY - Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active, with many young flows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. These may even be seen from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.

PM: BARTOLOME ISLAND Bartolome Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as: Volcanic cones, lunar - like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island. It has two breath-taking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.

AM: BACHAS ISLAND, SANTA CRUZ - These two small beaches are found to the West of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, making it a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small brackish water lagoon, where it is occasionally possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black- necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategically point to protect the Panama Channel. After the morning excursion you will be taken to the airport for your flight to the mainland.

Inclusions

Airport assistance (Quito or Guayaquil, if flights are booked through TravelManagers - Serrin Tabart)
Transfers in Galapagos.
Accommodation on board in double cabin.
All meals during the cruise.
Naturalist Bilingual Guide level III.
All visits and excursions according to the itinerary
Snorkel Gear (mask, tube and fins).
Kayaks.
Unlimited purified water, coffee and tea.

Exclusions

International / Domestic Airfare
Round trip flight to/from Galapagos
Galapagos National Park Entrance fee AUD 234,oo p/p
Galápagos Ingala card AUD 47,00 p/p
Negative PCR test for Covid-19 (taken 96 hours before the departure)
Wet suit rental
Local taxes
Meals, drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not specified in the program
Travel insurance
Gratuities
Voluntary tips for drivers
Travel and medical insurance.

Notes

BEFORE CRUISE - START - MEETING POINTS
RANCH MANZANILLO at 13:00 hrs

AFTER CRUISE - END - LUGAR DISEMBARK POINT
BALTRA DOCK - APTO BALTRA at 1633 hrs

Rates do not apply for Christmas and New Year departures, please ask your agent for high season rates.

10% discount for children under 12 years (Applies for 1 child for every 2 adults).

Rates are subject to change in case of additional taxes, fuel increases or many other unforeseen circumstance.

Charter - Maximum 16 pax.

Friday departure.

Trip Highlights

Galapagos - Santa Cruz - Fernandina, Mangle Point - Punta Moreno - Urbina Bay - Isabela Island - Espinoza Point - Punta Vicente Roca - Santiago Island - Puerto Egas - Rábida Island - Chinese Hat - Sombreo Chino - Santiago Island - Sullivan Bay - Santiago Island - Sullivan Bay

Fixed Departure
06 Dec, 2024

TWIN OCEAN VIEW (MAIN DECK)
AUD 10,109 P P twin share
AUD 17,184 P P single
AVAILABLE

MATRIMONIAL SUITE (UPPER DECK)
AUD 10,509 P P twin share
AUD 17,866 P P single
AVAILABLE

20 Dec, 2024

TWIN OCEAN VIEW (MAIN DECK)
AUD 10,109 P P twin share
AUD 17,184 P P single
AVAILABLE

MATRIMONIAL SUITE (UPPER DECK)
AUD 10,509 P P twin share
AUD 17,866 P P single
AVAILABLE

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