Galápagos Islands Cruise - First class yacht
Fly from Guayaquil or Quito to San Cristóbal
Sundays, 7 nights
Evolution
Delight in the retro-style of the first class MV Evolution with its 1920s decor and funnels: but you get 21st century amenities and safety standards. The ship's interior recalls an English country house hotel. The classic décor and comfortable furnishings are warm and welcoming, making generous use of rich crimson, gold and russet fabrics, rugs and teak finishing. Facilities include al-fresco dining area, a small plunge pool, sun deck, observation deck and bar, library/video room, infirmary and boutique. Up to 32 passengers are accommodated in 12 spacious wood-panelled cabins and 4 suites and there is a crew of 18 plus two English speaking naturalist guides and an expedition leader.
The itinerary of an 8 day cruise is as follows:
SATURDAY: Arrive at the airport on San Cristóbal Island and embark. Sail to the uplifted Kicker Rock, which rises 150m sheer from the ocean surface. Forming the shape of a sleeping lion, it has been split in two parts separated by a narrow channel, and attracts seabirds, including boobies, which nest in the vertical cliffs. Also visit Cerro (hill) Brujo.
SUNDAY: Española Island: hosts one of the biggest wildlife populations in the archipelago, with many species, such as waved albatross, settling on the cliffs and pebbles. At Punta Suarez you will see a spectacular blow-hole with spray shooting 30m into the air. On the other side of the island at Gardner Bay there is a fine white-sand beach frequented by a colony of sealions, and turtles nest here.
MONDAY: Santa Cruz: the most highly populated island where Puerto Ayora (restaurants, hotels ands shops) is located. Here you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre with its famous giant tortoises. In the afternoon there is a guided visit to the interior highlands, where there are five different vegetation zones contrasting with the arid coastline.
TUESDAY: James Island: dotted with pinnacles and cliffs. The dark sands at Puerto Egas on James Bay are inhabited by sally lightfoot crabs. There is also a visit to Bartolomé Island with beautiful white-sand beaches where you can swim and spot penguins.
WEDNESDAY Tower Island: a distant, low and flat island, formed by a volcano that barely cleared the surface of the ocean, and inhabited by a large number of nesting birds including tropicbirds and storm petrels. Snorkelling with hammerhead sharks is possible here.
THURSDAY: Fernandina Island: Observe the sealions cavorting or sunbathing on the stark lava flow at Punta Espinosa, a nesting site for flightless cormorants and large colonies of marine iguanas. In the afternoon you will reach Isabela Island and the lofty cliffs of Tagus Cove where a trail leads up to a ridge with lovely views.
FRIDAY: North Seymour presents a landscape of boulders, Palo Santo trees – the incense of which is used in religious ceremonies - and low growing salt bushes. It is populated by large colonies of frigate-birds and blue-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas and occasionally fur seals. Return to Santa Cruz, and visit Turtle Cove, where mangroves thrive in the tidal lagoon and marine turtles may be spotted.
SATURDAY: Return to San Cristóbal and visit the Interpretation Centre. Disembark for your flight back to the mainland.
The itinerary is subject to change without notice due to operational or weather reasons.
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