Ecuador

Starting Price:	$5,030.00
Trip Length:	9 days

Galapagos Explorer II

Playful Sea Lion

Sundeck

Galapagos Explorer II: 9 days / 8 nights Friday to Saturday

Description Pricing Itinerary

The M/V Galapagos Explorer II is a 293.14 feet ocean-going cruise ship. It is designed to provide comfort and scientific information to 100 passengers visiting the Galapagos National Park. Its operation is emphasized with interesting itineraries that offer the best of this pristine paradise. Expert naturalist guides will offer an environmentally friendly and educational cruise focused in the Natural History of the Galapagos.

Navigating the Galapagos Islands at a speed of 17 knots, the Explorer II enables passengers to see more of Galapagos in less time. It has capacity for 105 passengers, but due to the National Park regulations, it only carries 100 passengers. The six naturalist guides aboard lead daily shore excursions and offer nightly briefings to prepare passengers for the island visits that they will be doing the following day. The ship provides all the facilities and services to make your Galapagos adventure enjoyable and comfortable.

These ship itineraries alternate every two weeks due to Galapagos National Park regulations, Galapagos cruises are not permitted to visit the same island within a two week period. This itinerary is available every two weeks; please check with your Yampu travel consultant for applicable travel dates.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Friday

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Day 1

Friday
Today we will take flight from Ecuador's mainland to Baltra. Upon arrival we will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the M/V Galapagos Explorer II to begin our Galapagos adventure.

Charles Darwin Research Center, Santa Cruz Island
We make a dry landing to visit the Charles Darwin Station and its interpretive center. Here we witness the efforts and results of the ongoing field work conducted in the name of science. While on the island we have the chance to stroll the main street of Puerto Ayora and browse the many local handicraft shops.

Day 2

Saturday
Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island
We make a wet landing on Play de las Bachas located on the northern coastline of Santa Cruz. Here we visit a flamingo lagoon, encounter marine iguanas, various sea birds, and sea turtles. After our exploration we have the opportunity to swim and snorkel from the white sandy beach.

Puerto Egas (James Bay), Santiago Island
We make a wet landing on the black sand beach of Puerto Egas which was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s. A walk down the shoreline takes us to grottos where we can see several colonies of fur seals. This location is ideal for watching shorebirds, while land birds are better observed inland. Before returning to our vessel we have the opportunity to swim and snorkel from the beach in search of octopuses, sea horses, star fish, and other marine life.

Day 3

Sunday
Prince Philip’s Steps, Genovesa Island
We take a dingy ride to make a dry landing on Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps. Here we follow a trail through a Palo Santo forest to an open area full of nesting birds that include masked boobies, frigates, and red-footed boobies. At the end of this trail are thousands of band-rumbed storm petrels nesting in the crevices at the cliff’s edge. We will also be able to see the short-eared owls as they hunt the storm petrels during the daylight hours.

Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Genovesa is a collapsed volcano that ships are able to sail into through its large breached caldera and anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. Genovesa is commonly referred to as ‘bird island’ because it is home to thousands of great frigate birds, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels, and Darwin’s finches. After a wet landing we follow a trail that leads from a coral beach past tidal lagoons to a cliff’s edge for amazing views. After the walk you can enjoy snorkeling and swimming along the cliffs.

Day 4

Monday
North Seymour Island
After a dry landing enjoy a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island. This island was not formed by volcanic activity but rather uplifted boulders that can be seen across the primarily flat terrain. The site is a well known nesting site for colonies of blue-footed boobies that perform a fascinating courtship dance in more open areas. North Seymour is also home to the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird, a member of the frigate family that is known for the male’s vibrant display of red pouches in hopes of attracting a mate. On the island we will also see both endemic species of iguanas, the marine and land iguanas.

Punta Carrion, Santa Cruz
Today we will visit Punta Carrion, located on the northern coast of Santa Cruz, is a sheltered lagoon with beautiful, turquoise water. During this visit you can snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white-tip reef sharks.

Day 5

Tuesday
Interpretation Center, San Cristobal
Today we will visit the Interpretation Center opened in 1998. The Center explore the history of the archipelago from its volcanic origins to present, representing the natural and cultural history of the Galapagos.

Cerro Brujo (Wizard Hill Beach), San Cristobal Island
A dingy ride along the coast of San Cristobal will take us northeast to Cerro Brujo. We make a wet landing onto the island’s white sandy beach which is a great open area popular for bird watching. Frequently seen is the Chatham mocking bird and the Chatham lava lizard, both endemic to the island. Here we have time to snorkel with sea turtles, rays, and sea lions.

Day 6

Wednesday
Gardner Bay, Espanola Island
Gardner bay is located on the eastern shore of Espanola Island. After a wet landing we will walk the seemingly endless stretch of white sandy beach that is home to large colonies of sea lions. There is no trail to follow on Gardner Bay so the afternoon is at your leisure to swim, snorkel, explore, or relax.

Punta Suarez, Espanola Island
Today we will visit this rocky point that is home to impressive and varied colonies of Galapagos seabirds. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow whole where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf.

Day 7

Thursday
Ballena Bay & Eden Islet, Santa Cruz
Today we will visit the beautiful green-sand cove at the base of Dragon Hill. This beach contains a large amount of olivine crystals, the same that originate from volcanic materials, giving the beach its emerald glow. There will be time to explore, swim, snorkel, or just relax under the sun.

Rabida Island
We make a wet landing on the dark, red sand beach of Rabida Island; the color of the sand comes from the unusually high iron content in the volcanic material. This island is often considered the geographic center of the Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of the islands. Located near the beach is a salt pond that often attracts greater flamingos looking to feed on the brine shrimp in the waters. Here we can enjoy a 2-mile walk along the island’s beach to see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. There is time for an optional swim or snorkel before returning to the boat.

Day 8

Friday
Charles Darwin Research Center, Santa Cruz Island
We make a dry landing to visit the Charles Darwin Station and its interpretive center. Here we witness the efforts and results of the ongoing field work conducted in the name of science. While on the island we have the chance to stroll the main street of Puerto Ayora and browse the many local handicraft shops.

Plazas Island
We make a dry landing on the pier of Plaza Sur where we can enjoy the juvenile antics of the sea lions. This island was originally formed by uplifted lava and the terrain includes an impressive cactus forest. On land we will see land iguanas and several species of tropical birds.

Day 9

Saturday
Today we will transfer to Baltra airport for our flight back to Ecuador's mainland to connect with another Yampu add-on of your choice.

9 days , from $5030

Occupancy Type	Classic Suite	Renaissance Panoramic	Deluxe Balcony Suite	Renaissance Balcony
Double	$5030	$5920	$6280	$7140
Single	$8406	$10008	$10656	$12204

Prices shown above are per person, in US Dollars ($).

Yampu only offers the Galapagos Explorer II as an add-on to our highlight programs. If booking alone, booking fee may apply. Prices include air transportation from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos return, 8 nights accommodation on the Galapagos Explorer II including all meals, transfers, bilingual naturalist guide, and all planned tours. Also included are the $100 Galapagos Park fee and $10 Transit Control Card fee.

Gratuities, fuel surcharges and local airport taxes that are payable in the country of destination are not included. Taxes and security fees that can be paid at time of ticketing are already included in the quote.

All cruise itineraries are subject to change.

By traveling to the Galapagos with Yampu Tours, you will be making the choice to travel responsibly. As members of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association), Yampu donates $7 for every traveler that travels to the Galapagos with us. We are dedicated to helping preserve the islands while supporting sustainable Eco-tourism. As an IGTOA member, we are informed, involved, and concerned.

There will also be an optional Galapagos Conservation contribution of $50 per passenger added to your final proposal.
The contribution will go towards:

Creating benefits and educational opportunities for local people.
Strengthening responsible tourism management.
Building strong financial support for conservation among the travel industry and travelers.

Promoting high professional standards for the tourist industry.

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