Your Travel Experience with chilepro
Day 1
Transfer to the yacht
After arrival in San Cristóbal, transfer to the harbour to board the Coral
Interpretation Center and Frigatebird Rock, San Cristóbal Island
Afternoon: The National Park Interpretation Center, located on San Cristóbal, was built in collaboration with the Spanish Science Center. The tour offered by the Center for Interpretation's staff gives guests a good overview of the Galapagos Islands. The tour takes us through the history of the islands in the context of nature, humankind, and conservation. It also tells the story of the first settlers on the islands.
Enjoy a unique hike up to the Cerro Tijeretas - directly translated: Frigatebird Rock. As the name already suggests, this visitor point is home to innumerable frigatebirds, who also choose this place as a nesting site.
Marvel at the "Pirates of the skies" with their red throat sacs and black plumage. Did you know that they can not dive into the water and are often forced to steal prey from other seabirds to survive? Did you know that frigatebirds can fly for weeks at a time?
Cerro Tijeretas is the ideal place to enjoy a spectacular view of the rooftops of the provincial capital of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and the volcanic rocks contrasting against the white sand of the Island's dazzling bright beaches.
Day 2
Cerro Brujo on San Cristóbal Island
Morning: Cerro Brujo is a volcanic cone that looks over a beautiful white sandy beach which has plenty of sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas. From atop the hill you also have a great view over to Leon Dormido. After the hike, cool off with a dip in the perfect aquamarine waters.
Punta Pitt, San Cristóbal Island
Afternoon: Punta Pitt is located at the east end of San Cristóbal Island. The trail covers 1400m and takes roughly 2 hours, including an olivine beach approximately 90 meters long, and a trail that ascends to the top of a volcanic tuff hill passing through several natural viewpoints.
This is the only site in the Galapagos Islands, where you can watch the three species of boobies and 2 species of frigates nesting in the same area. There are also plenty of curious sea lions in the area.
Day 3
Punta Suarez, Española Island
Morning: Española is a geologically interesting island where you can explore the volcanic formations and spot a lot more of the Galapagos's unique fauna. Regular sightings include large sea lion colonies and flocks of seabirds, such as the Española mockingbird, the nazca booby and the spectacular red-beaked tropicbird. There are also marine iguanas, lizards and Sally lightfoot crabs.
A long hike will take you past the world's largest colony of Galapagos albatrosses! During mating season (May to December) you will have the opportunity to see the nesting area of the albatrosses and if you're lucky, you'll even get to witness their courting dance. The courting dance of the albatross is extra special as it is the start of a life-long bond for these birds who mate for life. Other interesting birds include Galapagos doves, Galapagos hawks, whip-tailed gulls.
Make a final stop to admire the dramatic topography of the famous Blow Hole, catapulting seawater an impressive 23 meters into the air.
Gardner Bay, Española Island
Afternoon: Join the colony of sea lions on the beautiful white coral beach. From the shoreline, you can observe the Galapagos hawks, American oystercatchers, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, gold-warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas and three different types of Darwin finch! When snorkeling or diving, you have the opportunity to see the diverse underwater world of Gardner Island. Californian angelfish, neon fish, parrotfish, manta rays and white-tip reef sharks all call these waters home.
Day 4
Punta Cormorant, Floreana
Morning: Champion is a small Islet located just offshore Floreana Island, offers great dinghy rides or snorkeling along a nice wall filled with a variety of marine wildlife like the endemic Black Striped Salema, the Blue Lobster, Long Nose Hawkfish, Sea Horses, Coral Hawkfish, Sea Lions, and the famous Red-lipped batfish. Devil’s Crown is considered one of the best sites for snorkeling; here you can watch Galapagos Penguins, Sea Lions, turtles, sharks, dolphins, and fish diversity. Wet landing on an olivine green sand beach. We hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as Scalesiavillosa, White and Black Mangrove, and Holy Stick. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand, which can stab or wound humans in self-defense if accidentally stepped on. From the beach one can spot Sea Turtles, Blue-footed Boobies plunging into the water, and small Reef Sharks floating and searching for food along the shoreline. This coral sand-beach marks the end of our trail, and we head back to the olivine beach we landed on to swim or snorkel amongst Sea Turtles, Reef fish, Sea Lions and, on a good day,
Post Office Bay on Floreana Island
Afternoon: Floreana offers wonderful testament to the fascinating human history of the Archipelago. Although paling in comparison to the geological history, the human history extends far beyond the island's first residents.
Here at Post Office Bay, you can learn about the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Lonely sailors, away from home for years at a time, would stop at Floreana to restock their supplies of food and water. The homesick sailors devised a clever solution - they left letters in a makeshift 'post box' on Floreana, and when passing ships stopped on the way back to their home port, they would pick up all the letters destined for that place and deliver them.
To this day, the system is alive and well - each year thousands of visitors continue to leave letters for loved ones, and search for letters to bring home and deliver. To keep the tradition alive, hunt for a letter destined for a town near you and hand deliver it.
Day 5
El Chato Reserve on Santa Cruz Island
Morning: In the mountains of Santa Cruz, bird lovers can spot tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, and yellow warblers. Cattle egrets are known to take up residence on the shells of the Galapagos giant tortoise.
As you venture into the higher altitude areas, you will notice the changes in the vegetation as the climate becomes wetter and warmer. The earth in the upper altitudes is rich in minerals. Coffee plantations and fruit orchards line the streets. Here you can observe the famous Galapagos giant tortoises in the wild. This area is a birdwatcher's paradise - almost every land bird found on the island either lives or migrates here.
Transfer to the Airport
You will return to the harbor of Baltra. From there, transfer to Baltra Airport in time for your return flight to the mainland, or continue with your planned route through the Galapagos.