Samba 15 Days

Early in the morning we visit North Seymour to see the various species of birdlife that inhabit the island, such as blue footed boobies and frigate birds. Afterwards we land at Puerto Ayora and are transferred to Baltra Airport to take your flight back to the continent.

Early arrival to the airport in Baltra. Then, you will be transferred to the Beagle Yacht in the Bay. After lunch service on the yacht, head to Mosquera Islet a white sand beach awaits for you, where sea lions, sally light foot crabs and shore birds rest during the day. You can swim or snorkel on the beach. After this activity you will eat dinner onboard.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/samba-15--days

A wet landing at Darwin Bay, follow a trail to find red footed boobies, and great frigate birds trying to attract a female. You will also stumble upon Darwin’s Finches and native flora like mangroves and cactus. After lunch, the yacht will head to Prince Philip´s Steps (Barranco), where a steep climb takes you to a Palo Santo Forest and species like Nazca boobies. You will also have a panoramic view of all the Island from here.

The day begins at Marchena Island, where you can snorkel, dinghy ride or kayak. Punta Mejia is the best place to snorkel, because there is a great fish diversity underwater, and you may see rays, reef sharks and sea turtles. In the afternoon, the yacht will navigate to Black Beach where you may spot bottled nose dolphins, other cetaceans and various species of fish. You can also snorkel here.

After breakfast, we visit Point Albemarle on Isabela Island, which used to be an important radar station for the US to prevent any Japanese attempt of destroying the Panama Canal. Now abandoned, this place is inhabited by marine iguanas and flightless cormorants. In the afternoon, we go to Punta Vicente Roca, to see a diversity of geological formations, such as tuff cones and lava dikes. You can see Galapagos penguins, blue footed boobies and may also snorkel. After this activity return to the yacht for dinner.

The day begins when you disembark at Espinoza Point, a site rich in wildlife, such as sea lions, penguins, crabs, herons and more, living in the native mangrove forest. In the afternoon, navigate to Urbina Bay, one of the recent examples of geological uplift in the Galapagos, where seasonally tortoises nest, and you can see Galapagos Penguins, flightless cormorants and brown pelicans. End of the day and dinner.

Early in the morning we visit Elizabeth Bay, the only place where old tropical mangrove forest grows, and penguins inhabit them. In the afternoon, visit Moreno Point on the north coast of Isabela, between volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. Walk a trail of solidified lava until a coastal lagoon where you may see several species of birds. End of the day and dinner.

Adventure, survival, mystery and murder are the main ingredients for our next stop. Post Office Bay has left a legacy of pirates, whalers, scientific expeditions and intense stories of slay and constant ambiguity. After a wet landing we walk a very short distance to be part of the most important Galapagos tradition that goes back to the late 1700s. Get your postcards ready and enjoy the lovely stories that bond the past with the present.

Around late morning we sail for 25 minutes do a snorkel and a panga ride at Champion Islet. The snorkeling around the island is extraordinary, lots of fish, rays, sharks and the playfulness of the Galapagos sea lions. This small piece of land is one of two places were the Floreana mocking bird survives after its extinction on the big Island. While trying to find the rare bird from our dinghies, we will enjoy a beautiful landscape full of fairy tale cactus and terracotta rock formations.

Early in the morning, you will land at Puerto Ayora and go for a visit to Twin Craters (Los Gemelos) in the Highlands of Santa Cruz, two collapsed craters that are home to various species of birds. Then, you will visit private estate “El Chato II” at Santa Cruz Highlands for one of the best possibilities to see the giant tortoises of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat.

Following a four-hour navigation from Puerto Ayora we will do a wet landing on a volcanic olivine beach. Punta Cormorant is located on the northern shore of Floreana and is the house of greater flamingos and sea turtles. On one side, the point is partially flooded with a brackish lagoon where flamingos occasionally feed. Whimbrels, herons and stilts are other common shore and migratory birds of the wetlands. On the other side sea turtles use every corner of a white sand beach to deliver their eggs. You often see stingrays and reef sharks from the shore and if you are lucky turtles ending basking.

Late that morning we will snorkel at one of the best spots in the world! Devil´s Crow is a magical start to the Galápagos underwater experience.

To make absolutely sure you get a full day from sunrise to sun set, we will kayak/panga ride and climb at the Baroness lookout. Navigating through a small set of islets with a sea lion colony, boobies and mangroves. Finally, following our ride we will start our short hike to the top of this eroded spatter cone to share the vivid obscurity of the human history of “Las Encantadas”. A fantastic landscape decorated with little islands is the perfect setting to engage with the fascinating story of the Wittmer´s, Doctor Ritter and Dora, and the famous Baroness and her three lovers. Charles, Floreana and Santa María are the official names of the Island that holds an overwhelming mystery of our human history.

Early in the morning head to Suarez Point, a basaltic cliff which forms a blowhole where water sprays high into the air, and where you can also watch sea lions, nesting sea birds (boobies and albatross) and Marine Iguanas. After lunch, we visit Gardner Bay, an important breeding site for pacific green turtles. But the main attraction is the Galapagos sea lion colony lazing on the white sand beach, along with marine iguanas, and Galapagos Hawks. You may also be able to snorkel at nearby Gardner and Osborn Islets. After this activity, return to the yacht for dinner.

First activity in the morning will be a visit to Pitt Point, offering an impressive view after climbing up a steep narrow path onto a plateau surrounded by reddish hills. After this visit, we head to Kicker Rock (León Dormido), to take a dinghy ride observing the narrow channel and the marine species that nest there. In the afternoon we head to Lobos Islet, where a colony of Galapagos sea lions live, in particular nurturing mothers with their babies. You may also spot male blue footed boobies and great frigate birds.

Early in the morning we land at Barrington Bay on Santa Fe Island, where a small forest of gigantic prickly pear cactus grows and keeps the bay sheltered. This place is home to an endemic species called Barrington Terrestrial Iguana. You may also practice snorkeling here. During the afternoon we head to South Plazas, to see various species of land iguana, and swallow-tailed gulls. If weather permits, we may swim or snorkel here too.

Early in the morning we visit Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a volcanic cone that forms an islet off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. You may also see Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas, and practice deep water snorkeling. After lunch, we visit Bartolome Island, famous for the panoramic view of Pinnacle rock where you can take amazing pictures. End of the day and dinner.

First activity of the day will be a wet landing at James Bay, also known as Puerto Egas. An easy walk takes you to observe iguanas and sea lions along the coast line. We may also swim or snorkel here. In the afternoon, we head to Rabida Island, where lavas rich in iron have turned the sand red. There is a Galapagos sea lion nursery, and nesting area for brown pelicans. You can also practice snorkeling at the beach. End of the day and dinner.

Early in the morning we visit North Seymour to see the various species of birdlife that inhabit the island, such as blue footed boobies and frigate birds. Afterwards we land at Puerto Ayora and are transferred to Baltra Airport to take your flight back to the continent.