Ecuador

Starting Price:	£2,409.00
Trip Length:	8 days

Frigate Bird

Twin Cabin

Estrella del Mar

Estrella del Mar 8 days / 7 nights Monday to Monday - Option B

Description Pricing Itinerary

Estrella del Mar I was designed for travelers who want to enjoy cruising in comfort while opting for a more budget-conscious boat. 16 passengers in 8 double cabins will enjoy their time on board this tourist-class boat, with a professional crew who work for make your travel to the Galapagos Islands an unforgettable experience.

You will experience the magic of these Enchanted Isles, 600 miles from the mainland of Ecuador, while aboard the basic comfort of Estrella del Mar I. A world as wonderful as the one above surface awaits you with colorful schools of fish, manta rays, sea turtles, hammer head sharks, and magnificent reefs. All 8 Double cabins have private bathroom accommodations and air conditioning. The bar, dining room & living room all have direct views to the sea.

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:
Monday

Go Back To Estrella del Mar I

Day 1

Monday
Today we will take flight from Ecuador's mainland to Baltra. Upon arrival we will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the Estrella del Mar to begin our Galapagos adventure.

Day 2

Tuesday
Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat)
This scenic little island gets its name from its appearance. Here we have a dry landing on a beach that is home to a small colony of sea lions. We will be on the lookout for a glimpse of then American oyster-catchers in action, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and sally light-foot crabs. This is an ideal location to enjoy snorkeling or swimming.

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 3

Wednesday
Espumilla Beach and Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island
Today we will visit the main attractions of Santiago Island including the holy stick forest, beautiful Espumilla beach, and the amazing landscape over Buccaneer Cove. Espumilla is an important beach for nesting marine turtles; here you can also see the white-checked pintail, finches, and mockingbirds.

Day 4

Thursday
Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island
Today we visit the archipelago’s youngest island, Fernandina. This island has the most active volcano in the Galapagos with eruptions occurring every few years. Punta Espinoza has a fascinating combination of barrenness and abundance of wildlife that we will observe during a brief one-mile walk. The island has no introduced animals and therefore has a very unique environment with a high density of marine iguanas, sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, and Galapagos hawks. The lava terrain on the island calls for good walking shoes.

Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
On the northwest of Isabela is the secluded Tagus Cove that was in past centuries a preferred anchor for pirates and whalers. Old graffiti is still found on its walls as evidence of its earlier visitors. Here the uphill trail leads to a high point with an impressive view of Darwin Crater Lake and the lava flows of Darwin Volcano. The vegetation in the area includes the Palo Santo trees which remain leafless until the short wet season occurring in March or April.

Day 5

Friday
Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island
We explore this beautiful bay by dingy while Galapagos hawks soar overhead and schools of pompanos and dorados can be seen swimming underneath the boat. The ride continues to a red mangrove cove passing through red root and green leaf breeding grounds for fish and sea turtles. Here we can also see brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, and sea lions.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island
Today we drop anchor in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here we will visit the islands’ Interpretation Center that opened in 1999 for a more complete understanding of their history.

Day 6

Saturday
Tintoreras, Isabela
This morning we will visit the Turtle Center located on Isabela Island to learn more about the fascinating Galapagos tortoises.

Sierra Negra, Isabela Island
Today we visit the active Sierra Negra Volcano.

Day 7

Sunday
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 8

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

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

8 days , from £2409

Occupancy Type	Premium Cabin
Double	£2409
Single	£4039

Prices shown above are per person, in Sterling (Ł).

Yampu only offers the Estrella del Mar 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, 4 nights accommodation on the Estrella del Mar including all meals, transfers, bilingual naturalist guide, and all planned tours.

Gratuities, fuel surcharges and local airport taxes that are payable in the country of destination are not included. The Galapagos National Park entrance fee of $100 and Transit Control Card of $10 are also not included in the rates and must be paid in cash upon arrival as a contribution to the preservation of the Galapagos. 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.

Yampu Tours is a trading name of Yampu Tours & Travel Ltd – Registered in England, Company No: 6054303 ATOL Number: 9522 VAT Number 919 1679 90 – 0800 011 2424 – Email Us