Galapagos: Solaris I 5 days Southern

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

Journey on the Solaris for a fantastic 5 days through the Galapagos Islands. Visit some of the best sites that will give you a good taste of the archipelago.

Iconic sites include; Gardner Bay, where you can lounge on the white sands with the local sea lions, and historic Post Office Bay. On San Cristobal visit the Galapagos Giant Tortoise, and hike past colourful marine iguanas at Suarez Point. Sullivan Bay lets you explore volcanic landscapes, and have your camera ready for great view on Bartolomé. Outstanding snorkelling beckons in  places like Champion Islet and Bartolome,  where you will want to jump in the water with penguins, sea lions and turtles. Spend time to admire the abundant and varied bird life; albatrosses, booby colonies, flamingos, flightless cormorants and much more. With only 16 passengers and friendly guides, you will feel right at home on the Solaris. 

The Solaris offers other great itineraries. Please ask for more details.

Viva's Best Bits...

Embark on a 'moonwalk' on the barren lava flow of Sullivan Bay and climb to the summit of Bartolome

"Don't forget to bring a postcard, "send" it home from the historical barrel at Post Office Bay" Rachel, Team Viva

Snorkel with playful sea lions, colourful reef fish and Pacific green turtles

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive San Cristobal

Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the Galapagos Islands A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour.

PM: Interpretation Centre, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
The Galapagos National Park Visitor Center lies close to the port town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The center explains a series of natural circumstances such as the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, its ocean currents, its special climate, the arrival of different species, and their establishment, among others.

Day 2
Española

AM: Gardner Bay (Española)
Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming and snorkeling, and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here you may also observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters.

PM: Punta Suarez (Española)
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 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 3
Floreana

AM: Punta Cormorant, Champion Islet (Floreana)
This site offers probably the best Flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks and other migratory birds. It is very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral. After our visit of Cormorant Point we will continue with our yacht to the nearby islet known as Corona del Diablo (Devil’s Crown), where we can enjoy some great snorkeling.

PM: Post Office Bay (Floreana)
Historically, Post Office Bay is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. Since this time it has been used by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. We will continue to the north of the island and ascend to an elevated slope to enjoy a beautiful view from the Baroness Lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the horizon. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as her House. From this lookout, the landscape covers the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and wide forest of Palo Santo.

Day 4
Sullivan Bay & Bartolome

AM: Sullivan Bay (Santiago)
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 of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active, with many young flows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. These may even be seen from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano at the southeast end.

PM: Bartolome
Bartolome Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as: Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island.
It has two breathtaking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.

Day 5
Black Turtle Cove Baltra Airport

AM: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz)
This little cove is located at the northern side of Santa Cruz Island, this is a red mangrove lagoon very calm and quiet which makes it an ideal place as nursery for many sharks and rays. Its crystal waters permits to observe large groups of white-tip reef, black tipped reef and hammer heads sharks, schools of golden rays and spotted eagle rays. There are no landing sites so the visit is done by zodiac. Sea turtles are frequently seen and sometimes they are seen mating in the mangrove-lined waters. Pelicans and Herons are also seen in this area.

After this visit you will return to the yacht to take your luggage, and be transferred back to Baltra Airport where you will take your flight to Quito or Guayaquil

What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 4 nights on board Yacht Solaris
  • Included Copy 31 Solo travellers are able to book a twin cabin on a same sex sharing basis - No surcharge
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All Meals while on board, Filtered water, tea and coffee.
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 All guided excursions & activities as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Included Copy 20 A National Park certified naturalist guide.
  • Included Copy 20 Beach towels & snorkelling gear (snorkel, mask, flippers)
  • Included Copy 31 Optional wet-suits for hire
  • Included Copy 7 Return flights Quito or Guayaquil / Galapagos Islands
  • Included Copy 7 Galapagos National Park entrance fee - Currently USD$100
  • Included Copy 7 Transit Control Card - Currently USD$20 per person
Transportation

Solaris - Galapagos

16 Passengers

Activities

  • Included Guided Hikes, walks and land excursions
  • Included Swim with fishing penguins, sea lions and turtles
  • Included 'Moonwalk' on the barren lava flow of Sullivan Bay
  • Included Post your cards in the historical barrel at Post Office Bay
  • Included Great snorkelling at Champion Islet and Bartolome
  • Included Fab photos of sea lions and the white sands of Gardner Bay
  • Included Birdwatching: Blue and red footed boobies, albatross, frigate birds and penguins
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

5 days

Price from

$3,595 USD

Per person, twin share

Departs select Fridays