Upon arrival to the airport in San Cristobal Island, you will be transferred to Galapagos Sea Star Journey Ship. After settling in the yacht and lunch, you will head to the first visiting site, Charles Darwin Research Station at Ayora Port, where you will learn about the conservation efforts that have been made to preserve species like the Galapagos Giant tortoises at the archipelago, and where you will also visit the breeding and rearing center for young tortoises and adult Galapagos Tortoises. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.
Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/sea-star-11-days-ca
First activity of the day will be heading to Isabela Island and taking a zodiac ride to a place called Tintoreras Islets, where you will be able to see, a mangrove ecosystem and the white-tipped reef sharks that inhabit this place, called Tintoreras, hence the name of this visiting point. Then, you will land at Isabela Island, and after a brief bus ride, you will arrive to Sierra Negra Volcano and take a hike to its crater, which is one of the most fantastic views of the entire archipelago. In the afternoon, you will go to the Isabela Wetlands and visit the Tortoise Breeding Center. After this activity end of the day and dinner onboard.
Early in the morning, you will visit Moreno Point on the north side of Isabela, this place is characteristic because of the lava flow that formed a trail of solidified lava, which is very interesting to see. There is also a system of complex lagoons where several unique species of birds can be found. In the afternoon, you will take a zodiac ride to Elizabeth Bay, and you begin with a visit to Marielas Islets, where the largest colony of sea penguins resides, and continue to a cove surrounded by mangroves, where you will spot eagle rays and sea lions.
After breakfast, the cruise will head to Fernandina Island ́s single visitor point, Espinoza Point, where you will see one of the largest group of marine iguanas in the entire archipelago, and where you can also find species like the flightless cormorant. In the afternoon, you will visit Tagus Cove. The tour will take place along the cliffs, where you will have the chance to see Galapagos penguins. You will also go to a hike to Darwin Lake, a saline lake, where you can also see the graffiti that buccaneers and pirates left here in past centuries.End of the day and dinner onboard
The day begins with a visit to Santiago Island, then you will disembark at Espumilla Beach. This island main attraction is a Palo Santo Forest and the white sand beach, a nesting site for marine turtles. You can also visit two coastal lagoons and have the chance to spot flamingos. In the afternoon, you will head to Egas Port, a black sand beach formed of volcanic tuff deposits. This place used to be a salt mine that was left abandoned in the 50s. End of the day and dinner onboard
Early in the morning, you will take a panga ride to Lobos Island. Once you land you will see a great colony of Sea Lions, hence the name of this place along with blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. After s lunch, you will head to the first visiting site, Colorado Hill, where Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center was established with conservation purposes for Galapagos tortoises. You can also spot several species like the lava lizard, Galapagos mockingbird, and finches. After this activity head back to the cruise for dinner.
In the morning, after breakfast, the first place to visit will be Suarez Point, a basaltic cliff which forms a blowhole where water sprays high into the air. A hike to the top makes a great opportunity to take spectacular pictures. After lunch, head to Gardner Bay, that provides an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling, where you will spot turtles and reef sharks, and also sea lions, which like to swim along the divers. End of the day and dinner onboard.
In the morning, after breakfast, you will head to Cormorant Point and visit the coral sand beach and olivine green sand beach, and where you will also see flamingos, pintail ducks and other birds at the coastal lagoon found here. You will have the opportunity to snorkel at Devil´s Crown. During the afternoon you will visit Baroness Lookout, from where you will have an amazing view of Floreana Island, and by the end of the day you will head to Post Office Bay, which keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to post their mail in, and where tourists can do too.
First activity of the day will be heading to Santa Fe island, home to a number of endemic species like Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake and mockingbirds. You will take a trail to visit a sea lion colony while seeing giant prickly pear cactuses. During the afternoon, head to South Plaza Island, where you will see a colony of land iguanas, marine iguanas, and hybrid of these species coexisting here. End of the day and dinner onboard.
Early in the morning, you will visit North Seymour Island, home of the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies that perform an amusing courtship dance when nesting conditions are right. In the afternoon, you will head to Bachas Beach, one of the main nesting sites for sea turtles, it is one of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos where you can admire native species like flamingos, light foot crabs, among others. End of the day and dinner onboard.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
At the beginning of the final day, visit Mosquera Islet, between Baltra & North Seymour Islands. It also hosts the largest populations of sea lions and orca whales that can be seen occasionally depending on the season you visit the islet. After this activity, you will be transferred from the boat to Baltra airport to take your flight back to the continent.
Breakfast
