As your first activity of the cruise, you will visit Bachas Beach, two small beaches made of decomposed coral, which makes it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of this beaches, there is a small brackish water lagoon, where it is possible to observe famingos and other coastal birds like black.necked stilts and whimbrels. On the other beach there are two barges, abandoned during World War II, since this place was used as a strategic point to protect the Panama Channel. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.
Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/grace-8-days-following-in-darwins-footsteps
First landing of the day will be at Tower Island, called Genovesa in Spanish. You will visit Prince Phillip’s Steps, a stairway leading up to a narrow stretch of land that opens out onto a small plateau. Along the trail, you will see species like the Galapagos Petrel and short eared owls. During the afternoon you will visit Darwin Bay, home of great frigate birds, yellow-crowned herons, and lava herons. From here, you will take a trail that leads to a cliff from where you will overlook the ocean filled caldera of this place. You can also practice deep water snorkeling at this place. After these activities head back to the yacht for dinner.
Early in the morning, the first site to visit will be Egas Port, on Santiago Island, where you will have the chance to discover a black sand beach and walk through a trail to the rim of an extinct volcano crater. You can also take another path to a series of inland lagoons home to flamingos. This place is also a snorkeling site where you can spot sea turtles, sea lions, and golden rays. During the afternoon, you will visit Buccaneer ́s Cove, which used to be a pirate ́s hideout to provide themselves of water and fresh meat during their trips. After this visit, head to Espumilla beach, where you will take a trail through a Palo Santo Forest, and see the many species of birds that inhabit there like pink flamingos and white cheeked pintails. This is also a nice place to practice kayaking.
At the beginning of the day, the first point to visit will be Vicente Roca Point, which is formed by two coves with a bay well protected from the ocean swells, and where you will see masked and blue-footed boobies. It is also a nice snorkeling site. During the afternoon, you will visit Tagus Cove, which was used as an anchorage for pirates and whalers. The cove’s quiet waters make for an ideal zodiac ride beneath its sheltered cliffs, where blue-footed boobies, brown noddies, and pelicans make their nests. From the landing point, you can take a stairway to Darwin Lake a perfectly round saltwater crater, and from this point, you will have a spectacular view of the landscape.
After breakfast, the first visit will be to Fernandina Island, specifically Espinosa Point, a narrow spit of land in the northeast corner of the island, where a number of unique Galapagos species can be seen in close proximity by a zodiac ride, species like marine iguanas and sea lions. You can also snorkel at this spot. During the afternoon, after lunch, head to Urbina Bay, located west of Isabela ́s Volcano Alcedo, this is a great place to snorkel, and spot native species like land iguanas, Darwin ́s finches, and Galapagos Tortoises. End of the day and dinner onboard.
Early in the morning visit Elizabeth Bay, the excursion has no landing point. You will visit the Marielas islets, and see the most important penguin colony and a cove that is surrounded by red mangroves to observe seas turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. During the afternoon you will go to Moreno Point in the north coast of Isabela, between volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, through a trail of solidified lava until a coastal lagoon where you will see several species of birds. End of the day and dinner.
In the morning, you will visit Las Tintoreras, a great snorkeling site named after the reef sharks that swim through the channel at the Islet. Then, you will visit Sucre´s Cave, fantastic lava formations located at an endemic forest. After, you will head to Isabela´s Tortoise Breeding Center, where you can see Giant Tortoises and learn about their conservation. Then, you will discover the Wetlands, where a few lagoons, swamps and mangroves , home to several species of birds, like the flamingo, can be seen. In the afternoon, we start our navigation towards Santa Cruz Island.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
As your last activity, you will visit Twin craters, two colpased craters that make an amazing landscape. After, it´s time for your transfer to Baltra Airport and your flight back to the continent.
Breakfast
