Angelito Yacht - Itinerary A - 5 days - Galapagos Tours and Cruises

DAY 1: SUNDAY

FLY TO GALAPAGOS – NORTH SEYMOUR

Early in the morning you will catch your flight from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos. Arriving to the airport, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored. Now the cruise can begin! You begin your Galapagos adventure with a wildlife-filled visit to North Seymour, an Island very close to Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. On your walk with the naturalist guide, you will observe abundant and entertaining birdlife as well as a sizeable sea lion colony. On North Seymour, blue-footed boobies make their nests on the ground right below nesting Magnificent Frigate birds. You will likely see the male frigate birds inflate their incredible neck pouches, hoping to attract some lucky females flying overhead. The trail ends at a scenic beach where loads of sea lions love to sunbathe. Along this visit, you’re also likely to see Sally Light-foot crabs, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls. (Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 : MONDAY

CHINESE HAT – BARTOLOME

Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops and falls close to where it came from, which forms a cone inclined) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast. On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. With your guide, you will walk along the gorgeous white sand beach and learn about these lava formations. You will also have the chance to go snorkeling where it’s likely to swim with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks. From a dry landing on a jetty, you take the summit trail that first goes over sand and then leads to the top of Bartholomé on a wooden staircase. The view from the top of Santiago with Sullivan Bay and the surrounding islands is wonderful. All the secondary cones, lava flows and lava tubes mimic a moon landscape. After the hike, you will snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, the famous landmark of Bartolome. With the dinghy you go along the coast of Bartolomé to look for the Galapagos penguins. This is the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos and you are extremely like to swim with them here and see them nesting. The penguins live and nest in the lava tubes of the rocky coast, along which they also fish. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 :TUESDAY

GENOVESA: DARWIN BAY – PRINCE PHILLIPS STEPS

Genovesa Island is known for its outstanding birdlife, even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, you will likely be delighted by the large colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Also, since the Island is only visited by cruises, it’s usually fairly uncrowded. Darwin Bay was created by the collapse of a huge, underwater crater — this also explains the horseshoe shape of Genovesa Island. You first land on a white coral beach where you will immediately spot several birds on land and soaring overhead. Great frigate birds display their inflated, bright red neck pouches to attract passing females; Nazca and blue-footed boobies tend to their nests on the ground below; and mockingbirds sprint across the sand. Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood. On this walk, you’re also likely to see the sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galapagos doves and swallow-tailed gulls. At the end the trail you reach a cliff’s edge where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Island and ocean beyond. After this walk, you can enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the natural harbor. In the afternoon, you visit Prince Philip’s Steps, the only other visitor site on Genovesa. The visit begins with a view of the rocky shore where many birds nest and raise their young. On the trail here one may observe red-billed tropicbirds, nesting boobies and a colony of storm petrels. Genovesa Island offers a chance to also spot the Galapagos short-eared owl and the Galapagos fur seal as well as several species of finches, herons, and petrels (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 : WEDNESDAY

PUERTO EGAS – RABIDA

Today begins with a hike and snorkeling at Puerto Egas, aka James Bay. This spot is home to the fascinating Galapagos hawk as well as Galapagos oyster catchers and Galapagos lava lizards. We will walk to the coastline where we observe tidal pools and an abundance of Galapagos sea lions. Here the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions bathe in the sun. While snorkeling, you swim alongside reef sharks, turtles, and rays. Later in the day, you will visit La Rabida, another small but fascinating Island. The first thing you’ll notice on La Rabida are its unique red cliffs and beaches. While walking on this Island, you’re likely to spot sea lions, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, flamingos and blue-footed boobies. You will also have time to go for a snorkel in the waters just off La Rabida, where you will hopefully swim with sea lions and tropical fish. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)