Galápagos Islands Cruise - First class yacht
Fly from Guayaquil or Quito to Baltra
Wednesdays, 7 nights
Mary Anne
.This must surely be one of the most romantic and atmospheric ships to be sailing the waters around the Galápagos Islands. A square-rigged barquentine, slim and fast, she evokes a time when sailing the high seas was in the ascendancy. There are 12 cabins (maximum 24 passengers). Above the cabin deck, the main deck is where the wood-panelled dining room, galley, library and TV with video equipment are located. The sun deck has covered seating area and al fresco dining areas.
The itinerary of an 8 day cruise is as follows
WEDNESDAY: Arrive at the airport on Baltra island and embark. Cruise to North Seymour close by, a small, arid island enlivened nevertheless by large colonies of sealions, marine iguanas and swallow-tailed gulls. A trail leads through mangroves past one of the Galápagos' principal nesting sites for blue-footed boobies and frigate birds.
THURSDAY: Visit Puerto Ayora on nearby Santa Cruz Island, where there are many tourist facilities including restaurants and shops. There is a guided visit to the interior highlands including the El Chato tortoise reserve, where there are five different vegetation zones contrasting with the arid coastline. Later you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station with its famous giant tortoises.
FRIDAY: Española Island: host to one of the biggest wildlife populations in the archipelago, with many species, such as waved albatross, settling on the cliffs and pebbles. At Gardner Bay there is a fine white-sand beach frequented by a colony of sealions, and turtles nest here. On the other side of the island at Punta Suarez you will see a spectacular blow-hole with spray shooting 30m in the air.
SATURDAY: Floreana Island: pirates and convicts have left their mark here, and you can still see the Post Office barrel whalers used to send and receive mail. At Punta Cormorant there is a lagoon favoured by pink flamingoes and a significant turtle nesting site. The Devil's Crown off the coast of Floreana is one of the best places in Galapagos to snorkel.
SUNDAY: Isabela Island: the largest in the archipelago and made up of a chain of five active volcanoes, each with its own species of giant tortoise. Drop anchor close to Punta Moreno on the southwest coast, observe the seabirds on the pretty coastline followed by a dry landing and hike through lava landscapes. A visit to the rocky shores of Elizabeth Bay on the west coast, populated by penguins, is made by dinghy.
MONDAY: Isabela Island: At Urbina Bay you should spot land and marine iguanas, giant tortoises, boobies, cormorants and pelicans. Continue to Fernandina Island, the youngest and most volcanically active island where at Punta Espinosa you will follow a sandy trail through the nesting areas of vast colonies of marine iguanas; the reptiles congregate here in their thousands, an impressive sight.
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: Return to Santa Cruz, and visit Black Turtle Cove where mangroves thrive in the tidal lagoon and marine turtles may be spotted (dinghy ride). Make landfall at Baltra for the return flight to the mainland.
The itinerary is subject to change without notice due to operational or weather conditions.
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