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| A Bit of Travel
869 Grand Ave
Carlsbad Ca 92008
760-729-1181
800-747-TRAVEL |
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8 Day Galapagos Cruise from Santa Cruz aboard the Isabela II
The 40 cabin Isabela II is the most luxurious yacht cruising in the Galapagos. She offers an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere to experience the full adventure of the Islands. The yacht is fully air-conditioned; cabins are spacious and have private bathrooms. Its three public decks include bar-salon, dining room and sun deck. The library contains a large selection of reference books on Galapagos and Ecuador, as well as nature and conservation videos; this is the most complete source of information of any Galapagos vessel. From dining room to stateroom, one senses the superior quality at all levels of service. Isabela's trained chefs prepare a superb a-la-carte selection of meals while the helpful, warm staff attends to your every need. The Expedition Team consists of three Naturalists. All will delight guests with diverse natural history explanations, superb on-deck talks, and eye-catching lectures regarding natural history issues. Their multimedia presentations and recaps will complement the day's activities. Together with the Captain, they will plan the day's program. They are masters of Galapagos' knowledge. Soon enough, the Naturalists will become the highlight of your voyage. At night, when pitch-dark starry skies are seen, stargazing is an amazing nocturnal activity. The southern skies are beautifully arranged with exuberant constellations. Please note the following: Itineraries and program are subject to change without previous notice due mainly to readjustment of the National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes or safety reasons.Dry landing: passengers step from the dinghy onto rocks or a dock.Wet landing: as the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, passengers step into knee-deep water and wade ashore. |
| Call (800) 747-8728 for more information or to book today! Mention code 8044843 | | eWaterways | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Baltra Island | Arrive in Baltra Island and transfer to the dock to board the Isabela II. On board you will have a welcome introductory briefing followed by lunch. Cruise towards North Seymour Island where you will disembark (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. Next day's expedition plan, welcome cocktail and dinner. | | Day 2 | Fernandina Island | Disembark (dry landing) in Punta Espinoza for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Lunch on board. Punta Moreno on Isabela Island has a low-lying rocky shoreline surrounded by black and red mangrove lagoons, and abundant shore birds. It offers close views of the Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. It has a desolate and pristine landscape of immense black lava flows and extraordinary and unusual arid-zone vegetation. Darwin's finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, penguins, cormorants, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies can be seen. Next day's expedition plan and dinner. | | Day 3 | Floreana Island | In the morning there will be a possibility to snorkel from the pangas around Champion Islet or a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Afterwards, return on board and navigate to Post Office Bay. Make a wet landing at the historic barrel that served as a post office and learn about the island's early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Lunch on board. In the afternoon disembark at Punta Cormorant (wet landing) for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts and sandpipers. Return to the beach where will be the possibility to swim, snorkel or kayak. Next day's expedition plan and dinner. | | Day 4 | Rabida Island | Morning disembarkation at Rabida Island (wet landing) on a red-colored beach, due to the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. A gratifying stroll along the beach of this small island allows the observation of a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin's Finches. Very close to the beach, hidden behind a strip of green saltbush, is a salt pond where at times Greater Flamingos migrate to. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach, both for beginners as well as for experienced snorkelers, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. During navigation to the next island, keep your eyes open for dolphins. Lunch on board. After lunch visit Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island where the sand is made of powdered coral, making it white and soft, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles. The Sally Lightfoot crabs are abundant on the lava rocks along the water's edge. Flamingoes, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels can be observed. Next day's expedition plan and dinner. | | Day 5 | Highlands of Santa Cruz Island | After breakfast, disembark (dry landing) to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, an Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters geology formation, Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April a visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may be included, weather permitting. Lunch at one of the farms in the highlands. In the afternoon, visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on the La Pinta. Next day's expedition plan and dinner. | | Day 6 | James Island | Sullivan Bay is on the east coast of Santiago just across Bartolome Island. Land on a white coral sand beach and begin a walk over lava that flowed less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos. This site is most interesting for the geography of the lava flows, the intricate squiggles, cracks, and designs of the liquid lava as it solidified. After 110 years, life is starting to return to the flows, with occasional tufts of grass and cactus growing in the cracks. There will be an optional panga or glass-bottom boat ride and snorkeling is also possible. Lunch on board. Make a wet landing at Puerto Egas for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of Galapagos fur seals. Here you will have an opportunity for snorkeling and swimming from the beach. Next day's expedition plan and dinner. | | Day 7 | San Cristobal Island | Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, located in a natural setting, where you can obtain information that will help you understand the natural history of the Galapagos. Later this morning visit the breeding center for tortoises (La Galapaguera) at Cerro Colorado. Seeing the semi-saddle back shape of the tortoises can be a great way to understand adaptation to dry-tropical environments. Lunch on board. In the afternoon, A dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers will bring us to Cerro Brujo for a wet landing at a white coral line beach. The beach is a great open walking area, with rewarding birdwatching. There are seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and some shore birds. Also, look out for Galapagos sea lions. Farewell cocktail and departure briefing. | | Day 8 | Baltra Island | After breakfast, depart to the port and transfer to the airport. |
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