Galápagos Land & Sea — Central & East Islands

Description

Encounter the island chain that has enchanted explorers since Darwin first weighed anchor off its shores. Begin with a night spent at a deluxe hotel on San Cristobal, then take four days to explore the incredible wildlife of the Galápagos archipelago in the company of an expert naturalist guide. Giant tortoises, sea lions and island birds are in abundance here, and you’ll have the chance to spot them all in visits to Santiago Island, Punta Pitt, and Cerra Brujo islands, and many more fascinating locales. In the evenings, return to the Xavier III to reflect on the day’s adventure under a canopy of stars.

Trip Name

Galápagos Land & Sea — Central & East Islands

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Expedition Cruising Length: 25.5m Passenger Capacity: 16 Built: 1998 When it comes to our stellar fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Xavier III is made for both great value and great service. Imagine all the luxury of fresh and tasty local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the area from the top deck – all this with an unbelievable price to boot. Get on board! Cabins: 4 lower deck double-occupancy cabins with port hole, 4 upper deck double-occupancy cabins with window, air conditioning, private facilities, TV & DVD player in lounge area Boat layout: Very spacious indoor-outdoor seating areas and sun chairs. Interior dining room with coffee, tea and water service on the main deck. Large lounge and bar area with TV and DVD player for daily briefings. Crew: The Xavier III carries a team of seven crew members and one CEO Naturalist Guide well-versed in the local wildlife, vegetation and geology and certified by the Galápagos National Park Service. Amenities: Snorkelling equipment, wetsuits and beach towels included at no extra charge. Comprehensive breakfast and gourmet Ecuadorian and international cuisine prepared fresh daily. All meals on board included.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 Quito

Arrive at any time.Our representative will greet you at the hotel and brief you on the various aspects of the tour.

Day 2 - Day 2 Quito/Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Early morning flight to San Cristóbal. Meet the CEO and transfer to the hotel for the first night's stay in the Galápagos Islands. Following lunch, begin your exploration of San Cristóbal Island. Visit the Interpretation Centre and look for frigatebirds at the lookout point of Tijoretas.Flights from Quito to San Cristóbal depart between 8:10am and 10:10am depending on the day of the week. These will arrive into the Galápagos between 10:40am and 12:40pm with a refuelling stop in Guayaquil (you will not disembark the plane). You will generally arrive onto the boat in time for lunch on Day 2 before your afternoon activity.The National Park charges a visitor fee of USD100, payable on arrival, which funds park maintenance and supervision in the Galápagos, as well as ecological study, conservation, and infrastructure development in Ecuador's other National Parks. Entry fees and the funds they generate for the National Park System are among measures taken by the Ecuadorian government to protect its natural heritage.

Day 3 - Day 3 Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

In the morning, enjoy a snorkel excursion at Islas Lobos. Visit a nearby beach and be welcomed by frolicking sea lions. Enjoy the beach's tranquil environment – it's perfect for snorkelling and photography. The area is is also a nesting ground for blue-footed boobies. After transferring to the boat in the afternoon, visit the tortoise breeding centre and have the chance to see tortoises in their natural habitat.During the snorkelling excursion a mask and fins will be provided, opt to rent a wetsuit.

Day 4 - Day 4 Punta Pitt/Kicker Rock

Morning landing at Punta Pitt and Islet Pitt. After, visit Cerro Brujo on San Cristóbal Island to observe the sea lions, marine iguanas, and seabirds along the beach. Continue to the dramatic Kicker Rock in the afternoon.

Day 5 - Day 5 Isla Santiago

Morning excursion to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic beaches in the Galápagos Islands and home to thick mangroves and flamingo and sea turtle nesting sites. Continue to Buccaneer Cove to witness the towering cliff wall rock formations before going to Puerto Egas to see the salt crater as well as a dark-sand beach and tidal pools.

Day 6 - Day 6 Puerto Ayora/Quito

Disembark in Puerto Ayora and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant Galápagos tortoises. Fly back to Quito.Transfer to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy one last night in historic Quito.Flights from Baltra to Quito depart between 10:00am and 1:00pm depending on the day of the week. These will arrive into Quito between 2:30pm and 5:30pm with a refuelling stop in Guayaquil (you will not disembark the plane). You will arrive back at the hotel in the early evening in time for dinner.

Day 7 - Day 7 Quito

Depart any time.

Day 8 - Please Note:

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Spend 1 night on San Cristobal
Spend 3 nights cruising through the Galápagos National Park aboard the Xavier III
See the giant tortoises
Watch three species of boobies and two species of frigatebirds nesting together at Punta Pitt
Enjoy snorkelling with rays and sea turtles in the shadow of Kicker Rock
Witness the towering volcanic cliffs and the dark-sand beaches of Santiago island