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Galapagos 4 Day Cruise Itinerary B (San Jose)

Galapagos 4 Day Cruise Itinerary B (San Jose)

From $1,895 USD

Description

Our shortest route gets the most out of just four days Galapagos. It combines the exclusive bird-island of Genovesa with the popular highlights of South Plaza and Santa Fe, giving an intense and excellent quick impression of Galapagos.

Hundreds of thousands of seabirds perch and nest on the cliffs around the flooded crater of Genovesa. Walk at very short distance through the largest insular colonies of Nazca and red-footed boobies, whilst courtshipping, mating, breeding, nurturing or learning to fly (depending on the season).
Other not to be missed highlights of this cruise will certainly be extraordinary Santa Fe and South Plaza, where characteristic Galapagos land iguanas crawl below bizarre giant prickly pear cacti.
On the last morning we will sail around the bizarre-shaped rock formation of Kicker Rock or Leon Dormido (= Sleeping Lion), just out off the coast of San Cristobal. Most elder islands of southeast Galapagos have azure bays and striking beaches of white coral sand, which are favorite place for large colonies of sea lions. This intense route ends in the harbour with lots of Galapagos sea lions, waving goodbye.

Please Note: Christmas net surcharges: Dec 18-21: USD 200 pp; Dec 21-25: USD 250 pp; Dec 18-25: USD 400 pp. New Year net surcharge: Dec 25-Jan 1: USD 400 pp.

Trip Name
Galapagos 4 Day Cruise Itinerary B (San Jose)
Days
4
Overview
Vessel Type: Motor Yacht Length: 34 m Passenger Capacity: 16 Built: 2004 Refurbished: 2016 The San José is 16-passenger yacht, designed for navigation in the Galapagos Archipelago. The yacht was carefully planned and built during 2004 in Guayaquil, Ecuador with the comfort of her guests in mind. Each of the eight double cabins has full air conditioning, a private bathroom, and is incredibly spacious. Additionally, the engine room is located below the living and dining room, to ensure minimal disturbance from engine noise during navigation. The social areas include a lovely dining room, lounge, bar, TV, DVD, and a small library. The San José also offers plenty of outside areas to relax and enjoy the natural sceneries of the Galapagos Islands. There are various carpeted deck areas with reclining chairs and an outdoor bar. On the top deck, there is a sun deck which is great for relaxation and panoramic views. San Jose is one of the larger 16 passenger yachts in Galapagos, and its design leaves ample room for sun and shaded decks with lounge chairs to privately enjoy, read a book, feel the sea breeze and dream away with the panoramic views. Even if we are fully booked, it won’t feel crowded. The outside decks are also excellent for wildlife observation, such as whales, dolphins and frigate birds. At the bar on the shaded outside deck you can order an exotic cocktail, or another drink of your choice.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 – Tuesday Arrival at Baltra Airport & Mosquera
AM: Arrival at Baltra AirportUpon arrival at Baltra Airport, you will first pass through an airport inspection point where your TCT (Transit Control Card) will be checked and stamped (please keep this carefully with your passport as you will need to show it again when you leave Galapagos). Here you will also pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of USD 100 (unless it has been prepaid). To ensure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands, your luggage will be inspected as well. At the arrival hall a naturalist guide will meet you and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbor at Baltra. By dinghy you will be taken to the yacht.PM: MosqueraMosquera Islet is located between Baltra and North Seymour. This is a small islet formed by a geological uplift, with a reef of rocks and coral and a great white sand beach, where a population of sea lions can be found. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. Along the rocks are commonly running Red Lava crabs or Sally light-foot crabs.
Day 2 - Day 2 – Wednesday Darwin Bay & Prince Phillip Steps (Genovesa)
AM: Darwin Bay (Genovesa)This bay has origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favorite island for birdwatchers: red footed-boobies, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels Yellow-crowned, black-crowned and lava herons, and yellow warblers can be seen in the area.Continuing on the trail, visitors climb gradually to the edge of the cliff seeing Red-Foots nesting in the Mangrove trees below. Bird watching includes sightings of Sharp-Beaked Finches, Large Cactus and Ground Finches, Galapagos Doves and Swallow-Tailed Gulls. Reaching the end the trail at the cliff’s edge offers an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.PM: Prince Phillip Steps (Genovesa)El Barranco is located at the southern part of Darwin Bay and it is also known as Prince Philip’s Steps. Passengers will climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. There is a big population of Masked boobies and Red-Footed boobies in the trees; Storm petrels and Short-eared Owls have found the ideal place for nesting in the lava flows.
Day 3 - Day 3 – Thursday Plazas & Santa Fe
AM: PlazasSouth Plazas is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas land iguanas are smaller than its relatives found on other islands. Throughout the island there are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, they are unique, recognizable at first glance by their black/gray color, with a land iguana’s crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana. The big population of iguanas is due to the presence of tunas, their favorite food. Swallow Tailed Gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other sea birds as: Audubon shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds and brown pelicans.PM: Santa FeLocated in the southeastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift, which explains why it is mostly flat. There are some theories which assure this could be the oldest island in the Archipelago. Santa Fe is the home of a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of the two species of lands Iguanas of the islands. After disembarkation in the beautiful and clear waters you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well as giant prickly pear cactus. There are great possibilities of snorkeling with playful sea lions and tropical fishes.
Day 4 - Day 4 – Friday Leon Dormido
AM: Leon DormidoThis huge ‘cathedral’ of rock is an old lava cone, now split in two. On the rocks many blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies and frigate birds are to be found. The snorkeling is great here, with good opportunities for seeing sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, tropical fish and the Galapagos shark.Transfer to San Cristobal airport for your flight back to Guayaquil or Quito.
Day 5 - Please Note:
Itinerary is subject to change in case of force majeure caused by exceptional and natural circumstances. Approximate departure and navigation times are just indicative and depend on the sea state and decisions of the captain. Although Galapagos seldom requires quests for wildlife, observation of specific species can never be guaranteed.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
17-07-201820-07-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
31-07-201803-08-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
14-08-201817-08-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
28-08-201831-08-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
11-09-201814-09-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
09-10-201812-10-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
06-11-201809-11-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
20-11-201823-11-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
04-12-201807-12-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
18-12-201821-12-2018USD$1,895Standard Cabin
15-01-201918-01-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
29-01-201901-02-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
12-02-201915-02-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
12-03-201915-03-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
26-03-201929-03-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
09-04-201912-04-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
23-04-201926-04-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
07-05-201910-05-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
21-05-201924-05-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
04-06-201907-06-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
18-06-201921-06-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
02-07-201905-07-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
30-07-201902-08-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
27-08-201930-08-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
24-09-201927-09-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
22-10-201925-10-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
05-11-201908-11-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
19-11-201922-11-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
03-12-201906-12-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin
17-12-201920-12-2019USD$1,895Standard Cabin

Inclusions

    • Guided hikes during island visits
    • Dinghy-rides (in an inflatable dinghy, ‘Zodiac’ or ‘panga’)
    • Snorkelling & swimming
    • Scuba diving (optional)
    • Visit to a Galapagos giant tortoise breeding project, visitor’s centre & interpretative botanic trail
    • Time for relaxing and realizing on which unique place you have ended up

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