5 Night Southern Archipelago Cruise - Eclipse

Duration: 5 nights

Starting January 28, 2012 our 5 night cruise takes guests through the southern part of the archipelago including the intriguing Floreana Island, the most incredible scenery at Moreno Point on pristine Isabela and the most eastern San Cristobal Island.

Day 01 - SATURDAY - ARRIVAL IN GALAPAGOS & FIRST VISIT TO NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND

Arrival at the airport in Baltra & transfer to the dock
Check-in to your cabin
Introductory briefing & safety drill
Lunch
15:00    Dry landing at North Seymour Island
18:00    Back on board
19:30    Briefing on Sunday’s program
20:00    Welcome cocktail
20:15    Dinner

North Seymour is a perfect introduction to the Galapagos Islands. Fauna abounds and you will soon find yourself surrounded by frigates and blue footed boobies. Keep an eye out for land iguanas and sea lions too! Difficulty level: Moderate

Overnight: M.V. ECLIPSE

Day 02 - SUNDAY - SOUTH PLAZA & SANTA FE ISLANDS

06:45 Wake up call
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Dry landing and excursion at South Plaza Island
11:30 Back on board and lunch
15:00 Wet landing and excursion at Santa Fe Island
16:30 Swimming and snorkelling from the beach or kayak or panga ride
18:00 Back on board
19:30 Briefing on Monday’s program
20:00 Dinner

South Plaza Island, although quite small, is actually home to a large Opuntia cacti forest, land iguanas and one of the largest sea lion colonies in the central region of the archipelago. An endemic plant, Sesuvium, inhabits this island and is a great climate indicator as its color is a greenish-yellowish during the rainy season and a bright red during the dry season. You will also be able to see Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and other kinds of sea birds as well as different types of finches. Difficulty level: Moderate.

Santa Fe was formed by uplifting, rather than by a volcano. Some of the island’s endemic species include the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, rice rats, different types of finches, and the Galapagos Mockingbird. The visit includes a hike on a trail past salt bushes where Galapagos hawks as well as the Santa Fe land iguanas tend to roam. Playful sea lions may accompany you during your snorkeling activities. Difficulty level: Easy.

Overnight: M.V. ECLIPSE

Day 03 - MONDAY - SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

06:45 Wake up call
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Wet landing and hike at Punta Pitt, followed by snorkelling, kayaking or panga ride
11:30 Back on board and lunch
15:00 Disembark at Cerro Brujo for beach activities and snorkelling
18:00 Back on board
19:30 Briefing on Tuesday’s program
20:00 Dinner

Punta Pitt is located on the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island. You will hike up to a plateau where the view and landscape are so spectacular it is definitely worth the effort. Watch out for the Red Footed Boobies nesting in the cliffs. The power hike is followed by kayaking, snorkeling and panga rides opportunities. Difficulty level: Difficult (longest hike of the cruise – 2 1/2 hours).

Enjoy a fantastic landscape as well as wonderful swimming, snorkeling and panga ride experiences. Cerro Brujo’s gorgeous beach is also home to many sea lions and it’s also the first coast where Charles Darwin first stepped foot on in the Archipelago! Difficulty level: Easy  

Overnight: M.V. ECLIPSE

Day 04 - TUESDAY - FLOREANA ISLAND

06:45    Wake up call
07:00    Breakfast
08:00    Dry landing and excursion on Floreana Island, visits to the Baroness’s outlook point and Post Office followed by snorkeling or kayak
11:30    Back on board and lunch
15:00    Snorkeling at Champion Islet followed by an excursion to Punta Cormorant
18:00    Back on board
19:30    Briefing on Wednesday’s program
20:00    Dinner

Floreana is one of the Galapagos most famous, or shall we say, “infamous” of islands due to many strange stories regarding past settlers. There are many diverse sites to visit including Post Office Bay and the “Baroness’s Viewing Point”. Marine life also abounds in Floreana’s coastal regions making it a fantastic site for snorkeling. Flamingos also populate the island and may be seen during your visit

The Baroness’s Viewing Point is the perfect place to take in the special scenery that defines Floreana, and a great spot to learn about the mysteries of Floreana’s early settlers. Difficulty level: Moderate (uphill)

In the 18th century whalers passing through the islands placed a wooden barrel on Floreana Island for use as an unofficial mail box. The tradition continues today as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home. This is one of the archipelago’s most famous spots. Don’t forget to look in your logbook for your postcards! For the more adventurous guests, there is an option for a visit inside a lava tunnel. This tunnel has been kept untouched and completely natural, so please, watch your step! Difficulty level: Easy to difficult (lava tunnel)

A great site for bird-watching, Cormorant Point has a large lagoon where everything from Flamingos to Stilts and Pintail Ducks tend to roam. Don’t forget your binoculars! Prior to the excursion, you will also have an opportunity to participate in a magnificent snorkel at Champion Islet. Difficulty level: Easy.

Overnight: M.V. ECLIPSE

Day 05 - WEDNESDAY - ISABELA ISLAND

06:45 Wake up call
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Panga ride to Elizabeth Bay mangroves
11:00 Back on board and lunch
15:00 Landing at Punta Moreno for excursion followed by panga ride
18:00 Back on board
19:30 Briefing on Thursday’s program
20:00 Dinner

Elizabeth Bay is one of the furthest points of the Galapagos that we will visit on our cruise. We will enter a sheltered cove – a wonderful mangrove ecosystem that is a refuge for sea turtles, rays, blue-footed boobies, penguins, herons and more. Difficulty level: Easy.

Moreno Point is located just southwest of Elizabeth Bay on the west coast of Isabela Island. Observe and learn about different types of lava and pioneer plants while being surrounded by some of the most incredible scenery that Galapagos has to offer. In the tide pools green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can be spotted. Afterwards you will enjoy a panga ride along the striking rocky shores observing penguins, sea lions, blue footed boobies and marine iguanas. Difficulty level: Moderate to difficult.

Overnight: M.V. ECLIPSE

Day 06 - THURSDAY - SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

06:45    Wake up call
07:00    Breakfast & disembark. Transfer from the yacht to Puerto Ayora and visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station accompanied by a guide. After a quick yet informative visit to the CDRS, escorted transfer to Baltra airport for departure back to the mainland

On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the huge efforts being made by scientists, guides, rangers and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands’ namesake.

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