Group Size: 18
Accommodation: Double occupancy
For: Women only (Age 18+)
Trip designed by Kiersten & hosted by Caity.
You are required to have both travel and medical insurance for this trip.
DAY
1
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
After
the welcome briefing and safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch is served on
board. In the afternoon, travel by bus to Cerro Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill),
one of two sites where you can see nesting colonies of both species of
frigatebirds (Great and Magnificent), as well lava lizards, the medium ground
finch, and the San Cristobal mockingbird. Walk along the trail to Punta Carola
for scenic views, then return to the MV Evolve in the
evening for a briefing followed by our Captain’s welcome party and dinner.
DAY 2
SAN
CRISTOBAL ISLAND
Go
ashore this morning at Punta Pitt, a tuff formation that serves as a nesting
site for many seabirds including all three types of boobies – blue-footed,
red-footed and Nazca, both frigatebird species, swallow-tailed gulls, storm
petrels, shearwaters, and brown pelicans. Punta Pitt is considered one of the
best sites for birds in the archipelago and is also home to a colony of sea
lions. At Pitt Rock, we snorkel or swim with sea lions and colorful fish
such as King Angel and Surgeonfish.
Return
to the MV Evolve for lunch. Spend the afternoon at Cerro Brujo, a breathtaking
white coral beach, with expansive views and good birdwatching. Take a peaceful
walk along the beach, swim with sea lions or use the kayaks or stand-up paddle
boards. Enjoy a zodiac ride through a cave called
The Cathedral before returning to the MV Evolve for a briefing followed by
dinner.
DAY 3
ESPANOLA
ISLAND
Disembark
at Punta Suarez on Espanola (Hood) Island, home to the greatest number of
endemic species found in Galapagos. Sea lions bark noisy
greetings as we land on the beach, while curious mockingbirds peck at our
shoelaces. Colonies of blue-footed boobies engage in sky-pointing to show off
for potential mates. From April to December, the waved albatross, found only on
Espanola, performs its wild mating ritual.
Other
easily spotted wildlife are the Nazca Boobies busily caring for their young,
stunning swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gulls in the world. We also
find Darwin’s Finches, Galapagos Doves, red-billed
tropicbirds, and Galapagos Hawks, as well as a unique species of marine iguanas
with traces of red and green colorings. Follow the trail to the dramatic ocean
blow hold, watch for colorful sally lightfoot crabs crawling along the
shoreline.
Return
to the MV Evolve for lunch on board. Disembark at Gardner Bay, where large
colonies or sea lions dot the seemingly endless white-sand beach. Enjoy time to
take a leisurely stroll or relax on the beach, watching for birds such as the
Galapagos hawk, Darwin’s finch, or Hood Mockingbird. Swim with the playful sea
lions from the beach, explore the bay and islets by kayak or take a Zodiac ride
to explore the caves covered with invertebrates. Admire the colorful array of
underwater life at the excellent snorkelling site near Tortuga Rock. Return to
the MV Evolve for a briefing followed by dinner.
DAY 4
FLOREANA
ISLAND
Step
ashore at Punta Cormorant on Floreana (Charles) Island, where the olive-sand
beach is alive with the sounds of sea lions, lava herons, yellow-crowned night
herons, blue-footed boobies, and penguins. Follow a trail to a brackish lagoon,
home to Bahama ducks, common stilts, Galapagos
flycatchers, yellow warblers and the greater flamingos. Wind your way past a
rich variety of plants including the morning glory, cut-leaf daisies, mangroves
(black, red and white), paloverde and scalesia.
The
trail leads to a beach where sea turtles lay their eggs in the powdery sand
dunes and sting rays swim in the shallow water. After the walk, there is an
opportunity to snorkel at Devil’s Crown, a shallow sunken crater colonized by a
brilliant array of colorful fish and coral, white-tipped sharks, sea turtles,
spotted eagle rays and sea stars. Lunch is served back on board the MV Evolve
on the sundeck, weather permitting. Floreana is one of the
few populated islands in Galapagos with a rich and intriguing human history.
After
lunch, visit one of the most famous sites in Galapagos, Post Office Bay, where
a post barrel was erected in the late 18th Century for use by English whaling
vessels. Visitors are invited to leave a postcard and to pick up any mail
destined for their home area. There is an opportunity to swim from the beach
with sea lions. Late afternoon, take a Zodiac ride near Baroness Point to look
for sea turtles and rays. Return to the MV Evolve for a briefing followed by
dinner.
DAY 5
SANTA
CRUZ ISLAND
Disembark
at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, the largest town of the Galapagos. Travel
by bus to the highlands, passing through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos.
Visit a tortoise reserve, a private farm that protects giant tortoises in their
natural habitat. Stop at the largest lava tubes in the archipelago, and visit
Los Gemelos, (The Twins), a
pair of large craters.
Return
to the MV Evolve for lunch on board. This afternoon we visit the Centro de
Crianza Fausto Llerena (formerly the Charles Darwin Research Station). Visit
the tortoise corals and the breeding center with hatchlings and miniature
tortoises that will be repatriated when grown. Scientists from all over the
globe conduct biological research at the station from anatomy to zoology.
Visit
the new exhibit honoring Lonesome George, a worldwide icon of conservation as
the last surviving tortoise from Pinta Island that tragically died of natural
causes. Stroll through town to shop for souvenirs or stop at an internet café.
Return to the MV Evolve for dinner or, if you wish, remain ashore for dinner on
your own. Zodiac shuttles from MV Evolve to the main dock will be offered
throughout the evening.
DAY 6
SOMBRERO
CHINO +BARTOLOME ISLAND
Go
ashore today at Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat), a small island off the southern
tip of Santiago that owes its name to its shape. After landing on a beach with
colonies of sea lions, follow the trail to a primeval landscape of volcanic
rubble including cracked lava formations and tubes. Marine iguanas and pairs of
oystercatchers are commonly seen. Snorkel at a site frequented by large numbers
of Galapagos penguins.
After
lunch, disembark at Bartolome, a young island
inhospitable to most plants and animals. Climb the long wooden staircase to the
summit of a dormant volcano, pausing along the way to marvel at lava bombs,
spatter cones and cinder cones. It seems as if we are walking on the moon! The
panoramic view from the top encompasses the entire island, including the
distinctive eroded tuff cone known as Pinnacle Rock.
The
crystal clear water below beckons for snorkeling with schools of tropical fish,
white-tipped reef sharks, and Galapagos Penguins. Take a Zodiac ride along the
rocky shoreline. Return to the MV Evolve for the evening briefing and dinner.
DAY 7
SOUTH
PLAZA ISLAND + NORTH SEYMOUR
Today’s
visit is at South Plaza, a small geological uplift with tall cliffs where
swallow-failed gulls, shearwaters, and red-billed tropicbirds build their
bests. The trail leads us through Opuntia (prickly
pear) and Sesuvium, and land iguanas are seen here feeding on cactus leaves.
The island is also home to a colony of bachelor sea lions, with dominant bulls
in various stages of recovery from battles over prime beach territory.
Return
to the MV Evolve and snorkel between North and South Seymour in deeper water.
After lunch, go ashore at North Seymour, a small geological uplift to observe
swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies and endemic land iguanas. Visit the
largest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds in the Galapagos, and watch for
marine iguanas and sea lions body surfing the northern swells. Return to the MV
Evolve for the Captain’s farewell cocktail party and dinner, followed by a
slide show presentation.
DAY 8
DISEMBARK
IN SAN CRISTOBAL
Travel
by bus to the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal to gain a more complete
understanding of the natural and human history of the Islands. Afterward, spend
time in port before heading to the airport for your flight back to the
mainland.
You naturalist guide
CECIBEL GUERRERO, NATURALIST GUIDE SINCE 1992 (PATRIMONIO
TURISTICO III)
“Ceci” obtained her license as a
Level III Naturalist Guide by the Galápagos National Park Service and the
Charles Darwin Research Station, and in 2015, she also became a certified Guide
Trainer in Environmental Interpretation. Ceci is an avid snorkeler and scuba
diver and has a real enthusiasm for sharing this magical place with guests.
*If you cancel when your spot is confirmed and outside of 60 days until departure, you can receive a trip credit for your down payment minus the $100 cancellation fee.
