San Cristobal Island: Airport – Puerto Baquerizo Moreno – Leon Dormido
AM: Upon arrival in the coastal town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristobal Island, our crew will be waiting at the airport to escort you by bus to the main dock and then by zodiac to your vessel anchored in the bay. After the welcome briefing and safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch will be served.
PM: Within a few hours, we reach Leon Dormido, (Spanish for sleeping lion), a remnant of a vertical tuff cone formation, rising 500 feet from the ocean. Erosion has split the rock providing a spectacular backdrop for photographs at sunset. As we circumnavigate the formation, you’ll easily spot blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and frigatebirds on the cliffs. Guests on the Evolve visit La Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado (Centro de Crianza Gianni Arismendy)-2. After a briefing on activities for the following day, join our Captain and crew for a cocktail reception. An elegant multi-course dinner, prepared by our accomplished chefs is served.
San Cristobal Island: Punta Pitt - Cerro Brujo
AM: We will reach the northeastern tip of San Cristobal to Punta Pitt, a tuff formation that serves as a nesting site for many seabirds, including all three types of boobies: Blue-footed, Nazca and Red-footed boobies, as well as both Frigate species, swallow-tailed gulls, Storm petrels, Shearwaters, Brown pelicans and a colony of sea lions. Punta Pitt is considered to be a first-class site for birding, on par with Genovesa Island. Here you can snorkel at Pitt Rock with sea lions and colorful fish such as King Angels and Surgeonfish. We will return to the yacht to cruise around Leon Dormido or “Kicker Rock,” a vertical tuff cone formation that rises abruptly almost 500 feet out of the ocean. On the cliffs, you will spot Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobie, and Magnificent Frigatebirds. We will return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.
PM: During lunch, we will cruise to to Cerro Brujo, a breathtaking white coral beach. Considered one of the most spectacular in Galapagos, this beach is perfect for a peaceful walk given its expansive views and good bird watching. You will have an opportunity to kayak from the beach or swim with sea lions. A Zodiac ride will then take us through a cave called “The Cathedral.”
Española Island: Suarez Point - Gardner Bay
AM: We will disembark at Suarez Point, on Española Island, where you will witness the highest rate of endemic species in the Galapagos. Sea lions will noisily greet us as we land on their beach, as curious Hood mockingbirds peck at your shoelaces. From April to December, the waved albatross, found only on Espanola, perform their wild mating ritual. Colonies of blue-footed boobies engage in “sky-pointing” to show off for potential mates, as Nazca boobies busily care for their young. Stunning swallow-tailed gulls are the only nocturnal gulls in the world and fish at night. Red-billed tropicbirds take shelter under the cliffs. You will also find Darwin’s Finches, Galapagos Doves, and Galapagos Hawks. Observe a unique species of marine iguana identified with traces of red and green colorings. Colorful sally light-foot crabs crawl along the shoreline near to the famous “blow hole.”
PM: After lunch we will make a wet landing on Gardner Bay, on Española Island, to walk along a seemingly endless stretch of this white sandy beach where you’ll find large colonies of sea lions. There is no trail to follow so this is a chance to explore or take a long walk. You may find Galapagos Hawks, Darwin’s Finches or Hood Mockingbirds. Swim with sea lions right from the beach, explore the bay and islets by kayak or just relax on the beach. There’s an excellent snorkeling site off Gardner Islet with a colorful diversity of sea life near Tortuga Rock. By zodiac boat, explore caves covered with invertebrates. We will return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.
Floreana Island: Cormorant Point – Devil’s Crown – Post Office Bay – Baroness’ Lookout Point
AM: Step ashore at Cormorant Point, on Floreana Island, one of the few populated islands in the Galapagos. Floreana presents a rich human history with mystery and intrigue. Set foot on a green-sand beach alive with the sounds of sea lions, lava herons, Yellow-crowned night heron, Blue-footed boobies, and penguins. Follow a trail to a brackish lagoon, home to Bahama ducks, common stilts, Galapagos Flycatcher, Yellow warblers and Greater Flamingos, the pinkest in the world! Wind your way past a rich variety of plants including Morning Glory, Cut Leaf Daisies, Black, red and white mangroves, Palo Verde and Scalesia. The trail leads to a beach with power soft sand where sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand dunes and sting rays swim in the shallow water. After the walk, you will have an opportunity to snorkel at “Devil’s Crown” (Corona del Diablo), a broken volcanic cone that is one of the most beautiful places for snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands. The underwater world here includes reef sharks, starfish, sea turtles, sea lions and a host of tropical fish species.
PM: After lunch, we will visit Post Office Bay, not the most scenic but one of the most famous sites in the Galapagos. Here is where a post barrel was erected and put into use in the late 18th Century by English whaling vessels. You are invited to leave a postcard and to pick up any mail from your home area. There is a chance to swim from the beach with sea lions. In the late afternoon, we will take a Zodiac ride near Baroness Point where you will spot sea turtles and rays. We will return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner. Next, we will visit the Baroness’ Lookout Point, where the controversial “Baroness” Eloisa de Wagner – one of the first human inhabitants in the Galapagos Islands – would spend several hours daily observing whales and dolphins.
Santa Cruz Island: The Highlands - Charles Darwin Research Station
AM: We will travel by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The scenery gradually changes as we wind our way through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos. Here, we will visit the tortoise reserve at “Las Primicias,” one of the private farms in the highlands where you will encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat. We will stop at “the tunnels,” the largest lava tubes found in the Galapagos. We will also visit “The Twins,” a pair of large pit craters where you may see the red male vermilion flycatchers.
PM: Next, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where you will see the tortoise and land iguana enclosures, as well as the breeding center with new hatchlings and miniature tortoises not yet ready to be repatriated. The tortoise “Lonesome George” is no longer with us, but the tortoise named “Diego” (also dubbed “The Professor”) is there and has been more successful at mating. The town of Puerto Ayora is the social heart of the islands with the largest population of 24,000. After lunch and briefing on board, we will return to town to shop for souvenirs or stop at an internet cafe. You will have the option of remaining in town or returning to the boat for dinner. There will also be transportation from the yacht to town later in the evening.
Bartolome Island // Chinese Hat Island
AM: We will disembark onto Bartolome Island, where it seems like you’re walking on the moon, as this young island is inhospitable to most plants and animals. After a dry landing, we will climb for 30 minutes to the summit of a once active volcano. Along the way, we will pause to marvel at lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones. From the top of the wooden stairs, you can gaze out across the landscape for a panoramic view of the island and “Pinnacle Rock,” an eroded tuff cone. Crystal clear water is an invitation to take a Zodiac ride or snorkel from the beach with schools of tropical fish and Galapagos penguins.
PM: After lunch, we will travel to the southern tip of Santiago Island to visit Chinese Hat Island, which owes its name to its shape. After a wet-landing onto the beach with sea lion colonies, the trail gives way to a primeval landscape of volcanic rubble, which includes cracked lava formations and lava tubes. Here, you will find marine iguanas and pairs of oystercatchers. You can choose to snorkel at a site that is frequented by Galapagos penguins.
South Plaza Island // North Seymour Island
AM: Today we will visit South Plaza Island, a small geological uplift with tall cliffs offering spectacular views. After a dry landing, the trail leads us through Prickly Pear or Opuntia and Sesuvium forests. Here you can find Galapagos land Iguanas feeding on cactus leaves. Toward the end of the hill, you will encounter a colony of bachelor sea lions. The dominant bulls are in various stages of recovery from battles lost over prime beach territory. You will also find Swallow tailed gulls, Shearwaters and Red-billed tropicbirds who build their nests along the cliffs.
PM: After lunch, we will make a dry landing at North Seymour, a small geological uplift. We will follow a trail that leads us to Swallow-tailed gulls, Blue-footed boobies and the endemic land iguanas. Visit the largest colony of Magnificent Frigate birds found in Galapagos. As we stroll along the beach, we will find Marine Iguanas and sea lions body surfing the northern swells. We will return to the yacht for the Captain’s Farwell cocktail party and dinner as well as a special slide show presentation by your guides.
San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center - Airport
AM: By bus, we will travel to the Interpretation Center opened on San Cristobal Island in 1999. Here you will gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the islands. Afterwards, we will spend time at the port before heading to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.
Price per person
Single
USD$ 18000
Double
USD$ 9950
Triple
USD$ 9750
Included in the price
- A cruise and accommodations on board the Origin motor yacht, with private facilities
- All meals indicated in the itinerary
- Transfers in the Galapagos Islands
- Services of an English/Spanish-speaking naturalist guide on daily excursions and during briefings
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Free purified drinking water
- Use of wet suits, kayaks and SUPs
Not included in the price
- Flights to/from the Galapagos Islands
- Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park ($200 USD per adult)
- Galapagos Transit Control Card ($20 USD per person)
- Bottled soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Single cabin supplements
- Tips and gratuities for the crew and captain
- Personal items
- Travel/medical insurance (highly recommended)
- Premium wine and spirits
- Purchases on board
- Laundry service