Galápagos ...

The Trip of a Lifetime

from GALAPAGOS TRAVEL

Your Tour of the Galapagos Islands

Currently we offer 2 different Galápagos itineraries. Both of our programs have a very strong Natural History focus, and spend either 11 or 15 full days aboard the yacht, allowing you to visit the significant outer islands, and allowing for a maximum of wildlife observation. First however we have to get you to the islands...

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1: The trip begins in Quito, Ecuador. On arrival (typically in the evening), you will be met and transferred directly to the HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA where we will spend the night. We think very highly of the HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA. It is said that, of the finer hotels in Quito, they have the most personal service. Our experiences strongly support this impression.

DAY 2: After breakfast, we board a morning flight to Baltra Island in the Galápagos on TAME AIRLINES. Upon arrival we will be will be transferred to the yacht, which will be waiting for the group in the nearby harbor. This afternoon you will begin your island explorations - please see the sample routing (below) for specific sites and schedules. [B, L, D]

DAYS 2-12 (or DAYS 2-16 for our longer routing): We sail the waters of the Galapagos archipelago, touring a minimum of 2 Visitor Sites per day. We will visit all the significant outer islands as well as the normally toured central islands. Please see the cruise routings below for the islands and visitors sites scheduled. [B, L, D, Everyday]

DAY 12 (or DAY 16 on our longer routing): After a morning tour to a Visitor Site, we will sail to Baltra Island for our mid-day TAME AIRLINES flight to Quito. On arrival (late afternoon), we will be transferred directly to the HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA where we will spend the night. We will have a group Farewell Dinner at one of the leading restaurants in Quito. [B, L, D]

DAY 13 (or DAY 17): Today is a free day in the High Andes city of Quito, with a spectacular old town district that is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Nearby sightseeing possibilities include Indian markets, the Equatorial Monument, tropical cloud forests, the Amazon Basin, and active volcanoes. Our local sister company operates a wide range of half-day, full-day and multi-day expeditions – see our brochure, HIGHLIGHTS OF ECUADOR, for options. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight Quito; HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA. [B]

DAY 14 (or DAY 18): Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. [B]

Tip Top IV 11-day Cruise Route
(11 days aboard the yacht, starting with Day 2 on the itinerary - the day you arrive in Galápagos)

Day 2: On arrival in Galapagos we will immediately transfer to the yacht waiting at the nearby harbor. This afternoon we will begin our program of shore excursions with a visit to the island of NORTH SEYMOUR. In addition to being a major nesting area for the blue-footed booby, North Seymour is home to the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galápagos. Both marine and land iguanas are found in good numbers here, and sea lions often surf the rocky shore break.

Day 3: TOWER - Located in the northeast portion of the Galápagos, Tower is an outpost for many sea birds (as is Española to the south - perhaps this is why they are our two favorite islands). Depending on conditions we often will have a chance to snorkel and kayak within the bay. • Darwin Bay is an anchorage within a caldera, with surrounding cliffs forming the inner portion of the rim. Along the small beach there is a forest of salt bush where adjacent colonies of great frigatebirds and red-footed boobies nest. There are two endemic gull species found in Galápagos; lava gulls and swallow-tailed gulls – both frequently nest here. Tidepools are a favorite haunt of herons. • A visit to Prince Philip’s Steps begins with a panga ride along the cliffs, watching for red-billed tropicbirds and the occasional fur seal, while squadrons of frigatebirds fly overhead in their endless piratical pursuits. On shore dwarf palo santo trees are home to a colony of red-footed boobies, while Nazca Boobies nest below on the ground. Along the lava fields storm petrels fly overhead in great numbers, while short-eared owls hunt for them among the lava cracks.

Day 4: SANTIAGO - James Bay/Puerto Egas is home to Fur Seal Grotto - not only a beautiful site, but this is your only chance to get close to the endemic fur seals. Some of the best tide-pooling is also here, drawing a wonderful variety of shorebirds and seabirds, with yellow-crowned night herons and American Oystercatchers being the most commonly seen. Inland you might have a chance to see painted locusts, grasshoppers, and possibly even the Galápagos snake. Galápagos flycatchers and Galápagos hawks are also common on the inland trail. The snorkeling here is in shallower water, getting you closer to the smaller sea life. SANTIAGO - Playa Espumilla is a golden sandy beach where sea turtles nest, and ghost crabs and wading birds abound. Beyond the mangroves that frame the beach lie saline lagoons; further in you can find some of the 10 finches that inhabit Santiago, along with the vermillion and broad-billed flycatchers. Following our hike we will explore Buccaneer Cove from the yacht. This is one of the places where Charles Darwin went ashore - a site historically used by sailers to cleans ships, hunt meat, and collect firewood and water. Impressive tuff cliffs frame the southern cove, while eroded cinder to the north has been carved by time into fanciful shapes.

Day 5: ISABELA – The cold waters approaching Punta Vicente Roca offer some of the best opportunities for whales and dolphins, and maybe the chance to snorkel with a mola mola. FERNANDINA - This is the youngest of the Galápagos Islands. Punta Espinosa is a wonderful visitor site, with the largest colony of marine iguanas in the islands, in addition to flightless cormorants, Galápagos Penguins, herons and Galápagos Hawks. This is often the best place to see marine iguanas in the water as they feed on the barely submerged rocks along the shore.

Day 6: ISABELA – Tagus Cove is a natural harbor featuring steep cliffs replete with graffiti from ship’s crews dating as far back as 1836 carved into the face. The cliffs are populated by marine iguanas, penguins, crabs, sea lions, and in the crevices outside the bay, brown noddy terns abound. • Urvina Bay was the site of a dramatic volcanic uplift in 1954, where 4 miles of coastline suddenly rose nearly 15 feet, with the coastline driven three quarters of a mile farther out to sea. The marine remnants and giant coral heads are a stark reminder. Inland land iguanas, and an occasional tortoise, are found here. Along the shore flightless cormorants and brown pelicans typically nest. We might have a chance to snorkel along the rocky bay. • Elizabeth Bay is a mangrove inlet explored by zodiac, with an amazing concentration of green sea turtles and rays. The neighboring Marielas Islets are home to the largest colony of Galápagos Penguins, with penguins often seen in the water at Elizabeth Bay.

Day 7: ISABELA - Puerto Villamil is a rustic fishing village on the southern coast of the island. • Los Tintoreras are a small group of offshore islands, named for the white-tipped reef sharks often found in the area. The course sandy beaches are a favorite nesting area for marine iguanas. • Behind the village a series of large lagoons are separated by dense vegetation creating habitat for numerous shore birds. The nearby beaches are some of the best in the archipelago for migratory bird viewing. • Sierra Negra Volcano is the oldest, and largest, of 6 volcanoes forming the island. A bus ride, followed by a hike, will bring you to the rim of the spectacular caldera, measuring 5 miles by 6 miles across. Below of the floor you will see active steam fumaroles and amazing geologic features. While mostly a site known for the geology, Galápagos Hawks & short-eared owls are often seen, along with finches and flycatchers. The Galápagos National Park Service also maintains a tortoise breeding facility on the flanks of the volcano.

Day 8: FLOREANA – Punta Cormorant is one of the most interesting landings (on an olivine beach), with an emphasis on plant life and shore birds. A brackish lagoon is home to flamingos, pintail ducks, and commons stilts. Snorkeling at the offshore islet of CHAMPION (where you might also get a glimpse of the endemic Charles Mockingbird on shore) is often a good opportunity to be in the water with playful young sea lions. • Post Office Bay, while possibly not the most scenic visitor site, is one the most historically famous - be sure to bring a postcard or two ashore with you to "mail". • Black Beach & the Highlands are not official park visitor sites, but are both very rewarding. Much of the early human history of the Galápagos, and especially the Wittmer family (owners of the Tip Top Fleet), played out in the highlands of Floreana. A visit to the highlands is also your only opportunity in the archipelago to search for the endemic medium tree finch. The seaside Wittmer hotel features an exhibit of early photographs of sailing expeditions and explorers to call on the island.

Day 9: SANTA CRUZ - A trip to the Highlands (by mini-bus) traverses all 7 vegetation zones of the Galápagos. In addition to two enormous pit craters, other volcanic formations include some of the largest known lava tunnels in the Galápagos. Not surprisingly, the lush highland vegetation is home to a variety of land birds, including vermillion flycatchers, Galápagos Flycatchers, woodpecker finches, dark-billed cuckoos, and Barn Owls. Tortoises are often seen in the wild here. • Puerto Ayora is the scientific heart of Galápagos, including the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), as well as the primary population center. While at the station we'll have the chance to learn about some of the current research projects being undertaken (including by Ecuadorian graduate students sponsored by GALAPAGOS TRAVEL).

Day 10: ESPANOLA - Punta Suarez is a paradise for birders, with waved albatross, Nazca Boobies, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos Hawks, Galápagos Doves, and also marine iguanas (the most colorful in the islands) all vying for center stage. • Gardner Bay is a tranquil white sandy beach known for sea lions (often numbering in the hundreds), lava lizards, finches, yellow warblers, & Hood Mockingbirds, to name just a few. • Gardner or Tortuga Rocks offer great snorkeling, as well as the occasional chance to kayak.

Day 11: SAN CRISTOBAL • This is the easternmost island in the archipelago, and the provincial capital. • Cerro Tijeretas, or Frigatebird Hill, is located along the coast just outside of town. The interpretation trail here winds through a forest alive with finches ultimately reaching a viewpoint looking down on the rugged coast in one direction, and to the idyllic roofs of the town the other direction. A stop at the interpretation center covers much of the early history of Galápagos • Cerro Brujo is a very striking, eroded tuff cone. One of the first places visited by Charles Darwin, the beautiful white coraline sand beach and lagoon are home to brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, plus a variety of shore birds. This is also the best site to search for the endemic Chatham Mockingbird. Stroll the beach and you will soon realize that you are being watched by hundreds of shy ghost crabs. This is also the opportunity for a rare beach snorkel, out to the sheltering rocks. • Kicker Rock is a similarly eroded tuff cone, this time rising almost 500 feet straight up from the ocean. The yacht will cruise around Kicker Rock as the sunlight plays off the contours of the cliffs and formation (complete with blue-footed boobies, Nazca Boobies, and frigatebirds).

Day 12: MOSQUERA - This is a tiny islet, really more of a long, narrow sand spit, with a huge population of sea lions. Additional occupants include Sally Lightfoot Crabs and lava lizards, plus a wonderful variety of birdlife flying over. It makes a perfect "last landing" to reflect on the wonders of Galápagos experienced during your 11 days in the islands. BALTRA - A late morning departure will have us back in Quito this afternoon.

Tip Top IV 15-day Cruise Route
(15 days aboard the yacht)

Our 15-day Galápagos Workshop cruises are the most extensive available in the islands, and offered roughly 6 times per year. The routing is a continuation of our 11-day cruise route, visiting a wonderful selection of the central islands in the archipelago, including 8 additional visitor sites (plus up to 6 additional snorkeling possibilities). We'll pick the routing up again with Day 12 from above...

Day 12: MOSQUERA - This is a tiny islet, really more of a long, narrow sand spit, with a huge population of sea lions. Additional occupants include Sally Lightfoot Crabs and lava lizards, plus a wonderful variety of birdlife flying over. Following our morning landing we will snorkel in the area - most likely off the coast of NORTH SEYMOUR. SANTA CRUZ - Black Turtle Cove is a tranquil mangrove-surrounded series of coves and inlets. Exploring by panga (zodiac) we often see mating green sea turtles, plus rays and white-tipped reef sharks. The mangroves are nesting area for herons and pelicans, while blue-footed boobies often feed in the area.

Day 13: SANTA CRUZ – Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) is a small hill on the northern shore, with a wonderful view. The area is the nesting site to a growing number of land iguanas, giving the area its name. Below the hill there is a hypersalinic lagoon that is frequented by flamingos and waders. RABIDA - This is one of the best snorkeling sites in the islands. The red sand beach makes a striking backdrop for the ever-present sea lions. Along the shoreline and an inland at the salt-water lagoon look for yellow warblers are in the salt bush, and brown pelicans nest in the mangroves. The higher elevations of the island host palo santo trees.

Day 14: SANTIAGO - Sullivan Bay offers a rare look at a recently-formed lava field, with fantastical Pahoehoe formations in every imaginable shape. If we’re lucky snorkeling along the shore we might be accompanied by penguins. BARTOLOME • One of the most popular visitor sites for the panoramic views (gained by climbing 360-plus wooden stairs). The view is educational as well as inspiring; the volcanic features include lava formations such as spatter cones, cinder cones, and tuff cones. There are also wonderful examples of pioneering plants and some beautiful stands of endemic lava cactus. The shoreline around Pinnacle Rock might be your best chance to snorkel with penguins.

Day 15: SANTA FE • This island is home to a unique species of land iguana; some of these iguanas can be 5 feet long! The stands of giant prickly pear cactus here are specially adapted to a larger size as a form of protection against the iguanas. Santa Fe is also likely your best chance at seeing the endemic rice rat. Snorkeling and kayaking round out the possibilities. SOUTH PLAZA is a geologically uplifted island vegetated with the distinctive red mats of sesuvium, along with prickly pear cactus - both being the food base for the land iguanas. Marine iguanas are also common here, with the very occasional hybrid being found. A walk along the breezy sea cliffs is wonderful, with swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, and red-billed tropicbirds in flight. A colony of bachelor sea lions makes one cove their retirement home.

Day 16: SANTA CRUZ - Las Bachas are two white sand beaches on the north shore, backed by a small brackish lagoon where flamingos and coastal birds are occasionally seen. A sunrise visit here might reveal the tracks of sea turtles returning to the sea as this is a favorite nesting area. BALTRA - Transfer to the airport for your late-morning return flight to Quito.