Galapagos Cruise on the S/S MARY ANNE 7 Day

WEDNESDAY

On arrival at Baltra airport you will meet the guide and be transferred to the yacht. Mary Anne will set course for South Plaza Island, giving you the chance to b ecome acquainted with the vessel and have lunch. The island is well known for its large Galapagos Sea Lion colonies, Land Iguanas, Opuntia cacti, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Audubon Shearwaters and Red-billed Tropic-birds. The land visit may last 1½ hours.

THURSDAY

AM: Gardner Bay (Hood Island/Espanola Island), snorkeling along Gardner Islet, possible use of kayaks and a walk on the beach to observe sea lions and Hood Island Mockingbirds.

PM: Punta Suarez (Hood Island/Espanola Island), we will see large colonies of B lue-footed Boobies, Masked (or Nazca) Boobies, Marine Iguanas, albatrosses and Swallow-tailed Gulls. The walk will take 3-4 hours with a dry landing.

FRIDAY

AM: Highlands (Santa Cruz), we will have the opportunity to see Galapagos Giant Tortoises in the wild. This is also one of the best sites for watching land birds: Darwin's Finches and Vermilion Flycatchers. The land visit may last 2-3 hours (including a bus ride).

PM: Charles Darwin Research Station (Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz), where we will learn about the tortoise and land-iguana breeding programs, followed by some time in town for optional shopping & sight-seeing.

SATURDAY

A M: North Seymour Island, on arrival there will be a dry landing followed by a 2 hours walk. You can observe sea lions, Blue footed-Boobies and Magnificent Frigate birds with the possibility of snorkeling.

PM: Sombrero Chino, a small islet that resembles a Chinese Hat -hence its Spanish name. There is a wet beach landing with emphasis on the volcanic features and Galapagos Sea Lions. The walk takes approximately 1 hour, with the possibility of swimming off the beach, snorkeling or a panga ride to look for Galapagos Penguins.

SUNDAY

AM: Playa Tortuga Negra (Isabela Island), a nice long dark sandy beach flanked with mangroves which host the critically endangered Mangrove Finch, the second t ool-using bird of the Galapagos Islands. The beach is an important nesting site for the East Pacific Green Sea Turtle. Afterwards, some snorkeling and a panga-ride at Tagus Cove. Great chance to spot penguins and perhaps cormorants!

PM: Punta Espinosa (Fernandina Island), there will be a dry landing, walking over lava fields observing large colonies of Marine Iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, penguins and sea lions, which will take us around 2 hours.

MONDAY

AM: Puerto Egas (Santiago Island), a coastal walk exploring the great variety of tidal marine life, Galapagos Fur Seals, sea lions, Marine Iguanas. There is good swimming off the beach and a broad array of marine life to view when snorkeling.

PM: Rábida Island, the red island, where after a wet landing, we will explore its beautiful reddish inland. Amazing scenery, lots of Darwin’s finches, the visitor site has a permanent salt water lagoon. Given the right time of the year, Brown Pelicans nest on the Salt Bush that flanks the beach.

TUESDAY

AM: Sullivan Bay (Santiago), a unique opportunity to walk over a recent lava flow. Here we see very young “pahoehoe” lava formations, lava bubbles containing crystallized minerals, and pioneer plants. This walk starts with a dry landing and includes the possibility of snorkeling. The walk takes around 2 hours.

PM: Bartolomé, this is an up-hill walk and once at the summit we will experience panoramic views of Bartolomé and its famous Pinnacle Rock. We will also be swimming and snorkeling off the beach where we may see more penguins. It will take approximately 3 hours which includes a dry landing for the walk and a wet beach landing.

WEDNESDAY

AM: Early short visit to Mosquera Islet, which is a small, flat, sandy islet almost devoid of vegetation and one of the best places to observe sea lion behavior. It is also a good area for Lava Gulls and coastal birds. We return to Baltra in time for the flight to mainland Ecuador. This visit takes place before breakfast.