Galapagos: Seaman Journey | 8 days

From Baltra to Baltra
  • Ecuador
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Small Ship Cruising
  • Wildlife and Nature
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Tour Description

Sail across the clear waters of this stunning and unique ecosystem on this 8-day Galapagos cruise aboard M/C Seaman Journey. This escorted tour takes you to the favourite visitor sites from white sand beaches and secluded coves, to mist-covered forests, to volcanic outcrops. During this cruise you will see all the curious and unique animals such as, large colonies of marine iguanas at Espinoza Point, snorkel among beautiful fish including the immense sunfish, discover nesting turtles at Playa Espumilla and of course, get up close to the famous giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz Highlands. 

Throughout your Galapagos journey, you will be surrounded by unforgettable landscape like the uplifted coastline and petrified rain of Isabela Island, incredible lava formations of Fernandina Island and the otherworldly red landscape of Rabida Island. Enjoy all the sites by dinghy excursion, on hikes, kayaking or swimming and snorkelling. Relax in comfort on the M/C Seaman as we navigate between islands and learn more about the fascinating natural world of the Galapagos National Park from your expert guide. 

 

Viva's Best Bits...

"A great itinerary to spot whales, manta rays and dolphins. Keep your eyes open when you sail the chancel between Isabela and Fernandina. Best time Jun - Nov." Pia, Team Viva

Walk on the ropy texture of the thousand year old pahoehoe lava flow, watch out for lava lizards, birds and lava cactus.

Vicente Roca Point is one of the best places to snorkel and well know for its spectacular marine life.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Santa Cruz Island

Itinerary C- please ask us about other itineraries on the Seaman Journey.

Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the Galapagos (return flights are not included & will be added at the time of booking). Upon arrival you will be met & transferred to the port to board your ship via a panga (motorised boat).

Please note: There is a Galapagos National Park fee of USD$100 per person & tourist card fee of USD$20.00 per person, payable locally (prices are subject to change).

Once all the formalities have been completed, Our guide will pick you up and carry your luggage to the bus that transfers you to the ferries to cross the Itabaca Channel. After the crossing, another bus will take you to the first visit to Ranch Manzanillo. Please note that your luggage will be sent directly to the Seaman Journey yacht. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing and a waterproof jacket, sun-block lotion, a camera and repellent for the first activity. The visit to Ranch Manzanillo includes a picnic lunch and a short walk before boarding the Motor Catamaran.

PM: SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS

Be delighted by the island’s variety of life and geology. Beginning at the coast and traveling across Santa Cruz, the road departs from Puerto Ayora climbing through the agricultural lands and into the mist covered forests. Santa Cruz possesses all of the various life zones present in the archipelago. Birds will surround you across the way. Whether it’s the bright red feathers of a vermillion flycatcher or one of Darwin’s Finches, almost every bird present in the islands can be found here. Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities to observe the wild Galapagos tortoises. Tracking tortoises is not the only exciting activity to be found in the highlands: as there are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes and craters ready to be explored. After this visit they moved to the M / C Seaman Journey.


Day 2
Fernandina Island Isabela Island

AM: MANGLE POINT

Off the east coast of Fernandina, Mangle Point is a superior snorkelling site and a beautiful location for going for a panga or zodiac ride through the mangroves. A hike of about 1/2 mile is optional. From the panga/zodiac you are likely to see sea lions, tortoises, pelicans, rays and birds too numerous to name them all.

PM: PUNTA MORENO

Punta Moreno is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. The trail runs along a lava flow Pahohoe (a mass of corrugated solidified lava) into a complex of coastal lagoons, where several species of birds which can be found.

Day 3
Isabela Island

AM: URBINA BAY

Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast, between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954, which caused the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place to snorkel. Urbina Bay is a path that starts off with a wet landing. The course is approximately 3200m, and made up of sand, pumice, lava, coral and vegetation where one can observe iguana burrows. It is an ideal place to see red and blue lobster.
In Bahia Urbina you can see Darwin’s finches. Its main attraction is the land iguanas, which are larger here than in places like South Plaza Island. Galapagos tortoises are also found here.
A large amount of vegetation can be observed such as chamomile and rosewood, but among all these plants, the beautiful flowers of cotton Darwin, endemic to the Galapagos Islands stand out.

PM: TAGUS COVE

Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. This was a favourite spot for pirates and whalers, and it was them who started the following tradition: the inscription of the names of boats. At the beginning of the trail, you will see a small cave where you can find inscriptions dating back to the 1800s.
Tagus Cove's name originated from a British warship that went across the islands in 1814, looking for Galapagos tortoises for food.
Due to former eruptions, the substrate has a large amount of volcanic rocks of different sizes; among the most common are little balls of nearly spherical shapes known as the “lapilli” or petrified rain.


Day 4
Fernandina Island Isabela Island

AM: ESPINOZA POINT

Espinoza Point is a famous place known for its large colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.

PM: VICENTE ROCA POINT

One of the most impressive and spectacular places of the enchanted Galapagos Islands; with high cliffs and tuffstone, ash and lava formations give this area a majestic touch, is Punta Vicente Roca. It is located in the north-western coast of the island; comprises two distinct islets. This large bay has a spectacular marine life.
Here, you can see seahorses, sea turtles and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola or sunfish. This bay is a great place to practice Panga Ride and Snorkelling.

We can as well find: Penguins, Blue-footed boobies, Terns, Boobies, Sea lions. Also you can snorkel and observe sea turtles, stingrays and puffer fishes.


Day 5
Santiago Island

AM: PLAYA ESPUMILLA

Espumilla beach is located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. During the last presence of the El Niño phenomenon, one of the two lagoons in this site underwent a process of sedimentation, thus causing the disappearance of a colony of flamingos. The main attractions are the palosanto forest and the nesting of baby turtles.

PM: PUERTO EGAS

Its black beach is located on the west side of the island and this is its main attraction.
Volcanic tuff deposits have favoured the formation of this special black sand beach.
This site was called Puerto Egas, during an attempt to start the exploitation of salt here. This failed because the price of salt on the continent was very cheap, and did not justify its exploitation in Galapagos. The project was abandoned and the infrastructure was never cleaned up.

Day 6
Rabida Island Sombrero Chino

AM: RÁBIDA

Rábida Island is unique due to the red colour of all the rocks and sand. The volcanic material on this island is very porous and external factors such as rain, salty water and sea breeze have acted as an oxidising agent.
A short walk along a trail leads you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach which permits you to observe land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers and mockingbirds. At the lagoon is a colony of flamingos.

PM: CHINESE HAT

This is a small islet (1 sq km) located just off the south-eastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from the north. On the west you can see lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upwards, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lions colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.


Day 7
Santiago Island Bartolome Island

AM: SULLIVAN BAY

Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes like Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is volcanically active, with many young flows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west and east coasts. These can even be seen from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last two centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.

PM: BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND

Bartolomé Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe some of the most beautiful scenery of the Galapagos Islands. Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous toba-formed pinnacle eroded by the sea can all be found here. There is very little vegetation on this island. It has two breath-taking beaches where marine turtles live at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is included today
Overnight on board Galapagos Seaman Journey

Day 8
Santa Cruz Island Depart Baltra

AM: BACHAS BEACH

These two small beaches are found west of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, and a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches is a small brackish water lagoon, where it is occasionally possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. 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.

After the morning excursion you will be taken to the airport for your flight to the mainland.


What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 On board Galapagos Seaman in a standard twin cabin
  • Included Copy 31 Cabin upgrades available
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All meals, water, tea and coffee
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 Daily excursions with professional English speaking guides
  • Included Copy 7 Galapagos Islands National Park Entrance Fee USD$100 (Payable locally)
  • Included Copy 7 Ingala Tourist Card USD$20 (Payable locally)
  • Included Copy 7 Return flights Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos Islands
  • Included Copy 20 Return transfers from Galapagos Airport to port (applies to selected flights only)
  • Included Copy 20 Snorkelling and kayak equipment
  • Included Copy 31 Wetsuit rental available
Transportation

Galapagos Seaman Journey

16 Passengers

Activities

  • Included Snorkelling and swimming
  • Included Excursions by dinghy and kayak
  • Included Bird watching - Blue footed booby, flightless cormorant, Galapagos hawk and many more
  • Included Walk along lava fields and hike to the top of Bartolome Island
  • Included Chances to see and snorkel with Galapagos penguins
  • Included Photography opportunities - Take shots of marine iguanas up close and personal at Espinoza Point
  • Included Walks in the Galapagos
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

8 days

Price from

$5,863 USD

Per person, twin share

Based on a twin ocean view

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