Jan 15, 2022
Evening arrival at Quito's airport. You will be met and transferred to the hotel. Your room will be ready for immediate check-in.
Jan 16, 2022
Morning guided walking city tour of Quito.
You will start visiting the colonial center (Independence Square, Archbishop's Palace, Government Palace, and the Cathedral). Then, you will visit the Compania de Jesus Church, San Francisco Square, and La Ronda Street.
Lunch is served in a typical restaurant.
From Jan 17 to Jan 20, 2022
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight Quito - Coca.
We will continue via motorized boat up the Napo River, next we walk 20minutes to the lake where our canoes wait to take us across to our lodge.
Arrive at Sacha Lodge around lunchtime and meet with the local guides.
A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier, in order to take advantage of the cool morning hours when the rainforest’s animals are most active.
You begin the day paddling dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, orchids, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. There is a possibility of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma.
You will have an opportunity to visit the Providencia Community of Yasuní, learning about their jungle way of life and testing out their cooking techniques. One early morning we will go the clay lick where you can often see 100's of parrots.
Activities begin again between 3:00PM and 4:30PM and often continue into the evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins. An afternoon excursion might see you trekking through pristine Terra Firme forest, where 150-foot kapok trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses to give trees support, your guide pointing out the crest owl territory and calling to the howler monkeys. You could then climb 30 meters up to the Canopy Walk, a 940-foot (275-meter) bridge across the treetops from where you can spot dozens of animals and birds.
Days at Sacha Lodge do not end with the fading of the light, or even with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures seldom seen during daylight. Caimans (of the alligator family) and giant insects rule the jungle after sunset.
Jan 21, 2022
Today you will board the motorized canoes for your trip back to Coca.
Private transfer from the disembarkation point to Coca airport.
Direct flight Coca to Quito.
Upon arrival in Quito, you will board the shuttle and transferred the the Airport Hotel.
Jan 22, 2022
Wake up early this morning!
Transfer to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal (Galapagos)
Private arrival transfer to the recently refurbished M/C Ocean Spray
The guide and crew will greet you and show you to your accommodations upon your arrival.
PM: Visit Lobos Island and Kicker Rock
Lobos Island
Lobos Island is aptly named after the many sea lions that reside here resting and playing along the rocky shores. It is also home to many different birds like pelicans, frigate birds and their nests, yellow warblers and more. Within the small channel the waters are very clear, making it easy to find sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays and perhaps even white-tipped sharks.
Activities: Short hiking, swimming and snorkelling.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Landing: Dry landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, sally lightfoot crabs, frigate birds, Galapagos sharks, schools of tropical fish, stingrays.
Kicker rock
Kicker rock is one of the most extraordinary sites in the Galapagos Islands, made of two eroded volcanic cones that tower over the sea at about 104 meters in the middle of the open water. It is a nesting place of sea birds and a nice spot to take pictures while the vessels circumnavigate around the rock.
Activities: Circumnavigation
Type of Landing: No landing
Difficulty: ------
Jan 23, 2022
AM: visit Pitt Point
When arriving at Pitt Point, it will feel as if you’ve landed on another planet. You can see how volcanic activity formed this island over time. A hike up to the top unveils amazing views of the surrounding waters. Watch out for blue-footed boobie nests on the ground and keep an eye out for the red-footed boobies nesting in the trees once you reach the top of the island.
Activities: Hiking and kayaking.
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, sally lightfoot crabs, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies.
What to Bring: Sturdy hiking shoes and walking sticks to aid on the uneven terrain.
PM: visit Witch Hill
Witch hill has awesome crevices and eroding rocks along the shoreline where you will first pass in panga. Afterwards visit a powdery white sand beach with teal and turquoise waters.
Activities: Panga ride, swimming, snorkel
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: sea lions, various shore birds, finches, mockingbirds, tropical fish, and different crabs from the Sally lightfoots.
Jan 24, 2022
Post Office Bay (Florean Island)
Ask the Cruise Manager for one of our complimentary postcards to write a message and address it home. Leave it in the barrel used before by pirates and sailors. While you're there, see if there are any other postcards you can take home with you to send for fellow travelers who have already left their messages!
Activities: Post office barrel, relaxing on the beach, swimming or snorkeling
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: frigatebirds, sea lions, sea turtles, various shorebirds and seabirds, marine life.
What to Bring: Bring your swimsuit and don’t forget your postcards.
PM: Cormorant Point / Devil’s Crown (Florean Island)
Cormorant is an interesting visitor site. Two beaches can be visited here, just beyond the first beach is a saltwater lagoon with flamingos. One of the beaches looks green because of the olivine crystals, and the other is appropriately called Flour Beach because of the powdery white sand, made from fine, pulverized coral. Watch your feet if wading in the water, stingrays love to hang out here as well.
Devil’s Crown boasts one of the finest snorkeling opportunities. Below the surface are amazing volcanic structures that have submerged over time. Hundreds of colorful fish species can be seen along the reef, along with sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea lions, and rays. It’s a beautiful underwater spectacle that cannot be missed.
Activities: Snorkeling and hiking
Difficulty: Snorkeling - Moderate to difficult / Hike - easy
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: frigatebirds, sea lions, sea turtles, galapagos sharks, white-tipped sharks, tropical fish, various shorebirds and seabirds, varied marine life.
What to Bring: If you have an underwater camera, Devil’s Crown is one of the best places to bring it while snorkelling.
Jan 25, 2022
AM: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz Island)
Black Turtle Cove is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. This shallow inlet is surrounded by mangroves and provides a natural protection for a variety of marine life, attracting the vulnerable juveniles of many species. Below the surface of the water, you can see both black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, golden cow-nose rays, and spotted eagle rays. Pelicans and blue-footed boobies hunt here, diving gracefully into the water.
Activities: Panga ride
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: No Landing
Possible Wildlife: White-tipped sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea lions and various shorebirds.
PM: Bartholomew - Pinnacle Rock (Santa Cruz Island)
Pinnacle Rock is a volcanic cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano. The sea cooled the hot lava and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed together this huge rock of many, many layers of basalt. The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest during breeding season. Galapagos penguins gather here and swimming can offer beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions.
Activities: Hike, snorkel and panga ride
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Galapagos penguins, sally lightfoot crabs, sea lions, rays, sea turtles, sharks, various tropical fish, various shore birds.
Jan 26, 2022
AM: Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
Darwin Bay used to be a shield volcano, now you can see where one of the sides of its caldera collapsed after hundreds of years of erosion. It is known for the wide variety of birds that can be seen. Over 20,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to call this island home within the trees and bushes of Genovesa Island.
Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, finches, various shorebirds, rays, tropical fish species, marine iguanas, sea lions.
PM: El Barranco (Genovesa Island)
In English, this visitor site is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps. It leads to a rocky path up a cliff that rewards guests with a remarkable view. It is also home to a Palo Santo forest that is home to the nesting red-footed boobies and other shorebirds.
Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Dry Landing
Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, storm petrels, Galapagos doves, short-eared owls, sea turtles, rays, sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas.
Jan 27, 2022
AM: Espumilla Beach/ Buccaneer Cove (Santiago Island)
As the second Island Charles Darwin discovered, it was originally named after King James of England. Buccaneer Cove is an excellent opportunity for snorkeling and was once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates. The underwater formations provide an amazing home for the many different tropical species of fish that can be found here.
Activities: Snorkeling and swimming, short walk on beach
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Marine iguanas, sea lions, various shorebirds, tropical fish species, rays, sea turtles, sally lightfoot crabs.
PM: Egas Port (Santiago Island)
Egas port is also known as James Bay, home to quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. There are grottos and tide pools housing all kinds of different marine species. This is also one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos.
Activities: Snorkeling, hike
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Fur sea lions, Galapagos hawks, oyster-catchers, marine iguanas, finches, sharks, sea turtles, tropical fish.
Jan 28, 2022
AM: North Seymour Island
The island was named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour. Formed by uplifted submarine lava, the island is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. Along the coast it is possible to see land and marine iguanas and the biggest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds.
Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride, hike
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Landing: Dry Landing
Possible Wildlife: Land and marine iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, sea lions.
PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
The Highlands of Santa Cruz is a very interesting site due to the rich wildlife, hills, ferns, volcanoes and lava tubes present. Exploring the lava tubes is a surreal and unique experience. Here you can see all the different agricultural zones that are present in the Galapagos in one place. The rich variety of birds makes this a bird watchers delight.
Activities: Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Dry Landing
Possible Wildlife: Wild Galapagos Tortoises, various shorebirds, lava lizards.
Jan 29, 2022
AM: Mosquera Islet
This visitor site is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. In most of the perimeter there is a base of lava rocks, as evidence of the lava uprising, except in the southwest side where the landing occurs. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions.
Activities: Short walk
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shore birds, frigate birds, sally lightfoot crabs.
Afterwards, you will have time to gather your belongings and then the guide and cruise manager will thank you for your time with us. Then, you will be transferred to the airport and your cruise will come to an end.
Depart from Baltra airport to Quito.
Upon your arrival in Quito, you are transferred to the Airport hotel.
Jan 30, 2022
The majority of the international flights are departing Quito in the middle of the night or early morning.
You will take the shuttle bus back to the terminal according to your flight time.
