M/Y Galapagos Odyssey

Upon your arrival at Baltra Airport, you will be required to pass through an airport inspection point to ensure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands. Here you will also be required to pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of US$100 cash per person.  This is a compulsory requirement for all travellers visiting the Galapagos Islands and can only be paid in cash on arrival.  You will be met by a guide who will help you collect your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbour to board your vessel. You will first cruise to the island of San Cristobal where you will visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Protection and Breeding Centre.  The centre includes a breeding centre and interpretative trails.  Along the trails it is possible to see different species of endemic plants as well as birds such as the San Cristobal mockingbird, yellow warblers, finches and the Galapagos flycatcher. Your excursion continues on to Puerto Chino beach on the far side of the island. (D)

This morning you will cruise to Punta Suarez on Espanola Island. This rocky land spot sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording spectacular views of soaring birds. Located on the north-eastern coast of the island, Gardner Bay is an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, and offers the opportunity to observe sea lions. Sea turtles, sharks and a variety of tropical fish may also be observed in the crystal clear ocean waters. You’ll spend the afternoon here. (B)(L)(D)

Punta Cormorant, on Floreana Island, lays claim to probably the best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos Islands. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequently seen are common stilts and white-checked pintail ducks. Of special interest are the two distinctly coloured beaches: Green Beach which has a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand and Flour Beach which is made up of fine coral sand. Head on to Post Office Bay where a wooden barrel was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since that time by mariners and tourists as a post office. Apart from hosting the post office barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. Your trail continues to the north of the island ascending to an elevated slope to reveal a beautiful vista from the Baroness Lookout. The panorama from the lookout includes the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay. (B)(L)(D)

Located in the south-eastern part of the Galapagos archipelago, the island of Santa Fe is mostly flat. It is home to a number of endemic species: the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rates and one of the two species of land iguanas in the islands. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well as the giant Opuntia cactus. The beautiful, clear waters provide great possibilities of snorkelling with playful sea lions, tropical fish, and perhaps a manta ray. From here you’ll cruise to South Plaza Island. Despite the island's small size, some of the most interesting species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plaza’s land iguanas are smaller than their relatives found on other islands and some have cross bred with marine iguanas. The hybrid iguanas, the result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, are unique, with a land iguana's crest, but the face and tail of the marine iguana. The large population of iguanas is due to the presence of tunas, the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, which is their favourite food.  Swallow-tailed gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other sea birds. (B)(L)(D)

North Seymour is an uplifted island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders.  There are good nesting sites here for a large population of frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges.  Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach. Here you’ll need to watch your step, as the boobies don't worry too much about where they nest, sometimes right on the trail. The trees are dotted with male frigate birds trying to attract the attention of the ladies by inflating their bright red skin flaps. There's a circular path that leads across the island to a beautiful, rocky shore where the waves crash a silvery-blue. You will then journey to Santa Cruz Island and visit Bachas Beach which is to the west of Turtle Cove, where the soft white coral sand is a nesting site for sea turtles. The other beach is longer and has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategic point to protect the Panama Channel. (B)(L)(D)

Mosquera Islet is located between Baltra and North Seymour islands. This is a small islet formed by a geological uplift, with a reef of rocks and coral and a great white sand beach that hosts a large population of sea lions. The site offers great snorkelling and swimming.  Along the rocks it is common to see scuttling red lava crabs or Sally light-foot crabs.  Upon arrival on Baltra Island, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward arrangements. (B)