ITINERARY "C" FRIDAY TO FRIDAY - 8D/7N

START END
C – Friday
Day 1

C – Friday

Baltra Island - Bachas Beach

AM

Departing Guayaquil to Galapagos (1½ Hour Flight).

BALTRA ISLAND: Home to Galapagos’ main airport, this will be the starting point of your experience aboard the best tour of the Galapagos Islands. A bilingual guide will meet you at the airport and assist you during the transfer onboard the Fragata yacht. Welcome Ceremony, briefing session.

PM – After lunch

BACHAS BEACH: Wet landing on the North coast of Santa Cruz. One of the main nesting grounds for sea turtles of the entire archipelago, its clear waters are a perfect invitation to go swimming before heading back onboard.

Dinner onboard and next-day briefing session.
Day 2

C – Saturday

Genovesa Island

AM

EL BARRANCO: Dry landing. Also known as the Prince Phillip Steps (after the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit in 1964), “The Cliff” is a flat lava rock formation that can be easily accessed by a wooden ladder and provides an amazing view of the surrounding habitat; you’ll find red-footed bobbies, swallow-tailed gulls, the Galapagos dove and many other species among the Palo Santo trees and lava cacti during the 2-kilometer walk. Lunch onboard.

PM

DARWIN BAY: This enormous bay dominates the Island and is home to colonies of frigates and a great variety of marine life.

Dinner and next-day briefing session.
Place 2
C – Sunday
Day 3

C – Sunday

Bartolome Island - Santiago Island

AM

BARTOLOME: Dry and Wet landings. This island features distinctive lava formations and ash-cones, as well as a 375-step wooden ladder that takes you 114 meter above sea level to the top of the volcano were a spectacular view of the bays below awaits you. The prominent “Pinnacle Rock” is located on this island and is one of the most visited sites in Galapagos.

PM

SULLIVAN BAY (SANTIAGO): An amazing diving spot with white sand beaches where you can share the water with penguins and sea lions.

Dinner and next-day briefing session.
Day 4

C – Monday

Plaza Sur Island - Santa Fe Island

AM

PLAZAS ISLAND: Dry landing. This tiny cliff-bounded island was formed out of lava and now is covered by the Opuntia cacti. Resting place of one of the biggest sea-lion colonies in the Galapagos, as well yellow and red-land iguanas, Plaza Sur also holds numerous species of birds. During the 2½ kilometer walk on the island you’ll notice the its most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. A low, round-leafed bush that changes colors from green to yellow as rain becomes more scare during the months of April and May; and becomes bright red in the late part of June, until the end of dry season in January. Lunch onboard.

PM

SANTA FE: Wet landing. Snorkel and swim with sea lions in the turquoise waters of Santa Fe after taking a trail through a forest of giant cacti where you’ll spot dozens of swallow-tailed gulls, petrels, and lava gulls.

Dinner onboard and next-day briefing session.
Place 2
C – Tuesday
Day 5

C – Tuesday

San Cristobal Island - Wolf Island

AM

KICKER ROCK: A gigantic lava rock that sticks out of the Pacific Ocean’s surface. The volcanic formation is split into two, forming a small channel between the two sections and creating a surreal diving spot or an exciting dinghy (panga) ride. The rock is frequented by an array of seafaring birds, but the real attraction of the “Sleeping Lion”, as it’s called in Spanish, is the marine life: spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, and hammerhead sharks are usual visitors to Kicker Rock.

WITCH’S HILL: An eroded hill of lava surrounded by coral reef that locals used to frequent to get salt, for food preservation. Witch’s Hill is no longer exploited for salt, but home of two salt-tolerant species of plants as well as blue and red footed bobbies, rays and sea turtles. Lunch on board.

PM

LOBOS ISLAND: This island offers no landing site and is mainly frequented by master divers, the cold currents attract the rarer sea life and create a truly unique snorkeling / diving experience.

Dinner onboard and next-day briefing session.
Day 6

C – Wednesday

Española Island

AM

PUNTA SUAREZ: Dry landing. A congregation place for the blue footed and masked bobbies, Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, and from April to June the albatrosses make this part of Española their nesting grounds. Take the 3 kilometer trail and visit the colonies of sea lions and marine iguanas at the blowhole known as “El Soplador” (the blower) that sprays water around 75 feet (25m) into the air.

PM

GARDNER BAY: Wet landing. Located on the east side of Española, this spot is the nesting ground for almost all the Galapagos albatross in the world; some 12 thousand albatross-couples visit the bay every year. After a 45 minute dinghy (panga) ride, you’ll arrive at a white-sand beach populated by the usual colony of sea lions. Excellent for snorkeling.

GARDNER ISLET: Gardner Islet offers a magical landscape both above and beneath the water surface. Many small fish can be seen while snorkeling around the site as well as sea urchins and stars.

Dinner onboard and next-day briefing session.
Place 2
C – Thursday
Day 7

C – Thursday

Floreana Island - Santa Cruz Island

AM

CORMORANT POINT: Wet Landing. This site holds a large lagoon where flamingos come to feed. The green sanded beach owes its color to the olivine crystals present in the soil and it is the perfect texture for the sea turtles to lay their eggs during their breeding season from December to May.

DEVIL’S CROWN: No landing. This wave-eroded volcanic crater surrounded by coral reef creates an impressive underwater landscape where you’ll be able to find schools of colorful fish, sharks and sea turtles.

PM

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND (CHARLES DARWIN SCIENTIFIC STATION): Visit the 1959-established Charles Darwin Station to learn about the Giant Tortoises and their reproduction, as well as the origin and formation of the archipelago.

Dinner onboard and next-day briefing session.
Day 8

C – Friday

Seymour Island - Baltra Airport

AM

NORTHERN SEYMOUR:

Wet landing. Seymour Island is famous for being a gathering spot for blue footed bobbies, frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas and sea lions.

The island’s vegetation is dominated by the Palo Santo tree and the climate is typically arid.

After the visit, transfer over the Baltra Airport and flight back to mainland.

End of the Trip.
Place 2

ITINERARY "C" BOOKING More information or Book this Tour

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    All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required

    RATES STARTING AT $3883.00 Itinerary may chance due to force majeure

    Rate includes:

     

    • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are on tour.
    • Naturalist Bilingual Guide (English-Spanish).
    • All the site detailed on the program (may chance due to force majeure).
    • Snacks after visiting every site.
    • Unlimited drinking water, tea & coffee.
    • Airport-Dock, Airport-Itabaca Shuttle Service and vice versa (included only during operational dates).

    Not included on Rate:

     

    • Airfare to and from Galapagos.
    • If you don’t book your tour with TIERRA VERDE a USD $50 + TAX fee is applied per person**
      When passengers book their own plane tickets they assume full responsibility of any and all delays and extra expenses that could or may appear (bus, dinghy, hotel or other fares) in order to reach the cruise on the first day and reach their flights back when the tour is over. Additionally, our operators will not modify any itinerary dates to accommodate transfer logistics.
    • Entrada al Parque Nacional Galápagos USD 100 por persona **.
    • Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee USD $100, per person **.
    • Snorkeling Equipment 5 Days: USD $25, per person – 8 Days: USD $35, per person **
    • Wetsuit 5 Days: USD $25, per person – 8 Days: USD $35, per person **.
    • Tips, Souvenirs or other expenses.
    • 12% TAX for Ecuadorians or if the billing is handled by a travel agency (**Fees and Taxes may change without notification)

    Special Conditions

     

    • Our rates and published fees and taxes may be affected by Govern-mandated increases on VAT or the cost of supplies.
    • SUPERIOR Cabin: USD $100, per person.
    • Fragata Upper Deck convertible twin beds.
    • Bilingual Guide for non-English-speakers USD $250 + VAT TAX (liable to change and availability).
    • SINGLE Cabin, 80% Rate.
    • 10% discount for kids under 5 years of age, liable to availability.
    • 10% Special Itinerary Fee.

    POLICIES All you need to know

    What to bring with you?

     

    Considering that tours of the Galapagos Islands often include long walks, swimming, humid or dry terrain, and other physical activities we recommend that you bring along with you:

    • Comfortable walking shoe.
    • Sandals for wet landings.
    • Light short pants.
    • Long-sleeved shirts / t-shirts.
    • Light raincoat / windbreaker.
    • Night sweater.
    • Water resistant bag / backpack for walking.
    • Bathing suit.
    • Socks.
    • Hat.
    • Sunblock.
    • Sunglasses.
    • Binoculars.
    • Video and picture camera.
    • Sickness pills (consult your doctor).

    Booking Policies

     

    Booking should be handled through email and will be confirmed by a TIERRA VERDE TOUR GUIDE.

    • Bookings made 90 or MORE DAYS prior to departure must confirm their reservation with a 40% (per person) DEPOSIT WITHIN TEN DAYS of first contact.
    • Bookings made LESS THAN 60 DAYS prior to departure must confirm their reservation with a 40% (per person) DEPOSIT INMEDIATELY.
    • Booking made between 59 or less days before departure from which you must immediately pay the deposit of 40% of the total per person.
    • Balance to be paid up to 30 days before departure.
    • Booking made 30 or less days before departure must pay the total amount immediately.

    IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE TERMS AND TIME LIMITS WITHOUT A WRITTEN TIME EXTENTION PETITION BY THE CLIENT, TIERRA VERDE CAN MAKE USE OF CANCELLED BOOKINGS WITHOUT NEED OF CONCENT OR GROUNDS FOR COMPLAINT FROM THE CLIENT.

    Cancelation Policies

     

    • Cancelations made 120 or MORE DAYS before departure are REIMBURSED 100%.
    • Cancelations made BETWEEN 119-90 DAYS before departure are CHARGED a USD $250 LATE-CANCELATION-FEE (per person).
    • Cancelations made BETWEEN 89-30 DAYS before departure are CHARGED a 40% LATE-CANCELATION-FEE (per person).
    • Cancelations made LESS THAN 30 DAYS before departure are NOT REIMBURSED.