OVERVIEW:
The 4 Days Ocean Spray South East Galapagos Islands Cruise visits five Galapagos Islands, embarking in San Cristobal and visiting Lobos Island before heading south to Floreana and then north to Santa Cruz, disembarking in Baltra.
Visit key sites like Kicker Rock, two eroded volcanic cones that tower over the sea in the middle of open water, as well as Post Office Bay, where 18th century whalers once placed a wooden barrel for use as an unofficial mail box. On three unique islands spot diverse animal life such as blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, marine iguanas, sea lions, white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, rays and more. Snorkel and swim with tropical fish in clear waters, dinghy ride between crevices of eroding rock and enjoy the incredible ecosystems of the eastern Galapagos Islands.
ITINERARY IN BRIEF:
Day 1: San Cristobal - Lobos Island - Kicker Rock
Day 2: Pitt Point - Cerro Brujo
Day 3: Post Office Bay - Cormorant Point - Devil's Point
Day 4: Black Turtle Cove - Baltra Airport
NOTE: Long itineraries are the combination of short ones; please let us know if you would like to book a long cruise.
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San Cristobal arrival - Lobos Island - Kicker Rock
AM: Arrive Galapagos Islands
Assistance will be provided upon your arrival by An Ocean Spray representative after passing through immigration and baggage claim. When ready, you will be transferred to the yacht. You will then be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before the welcome briefing and lunch.PM: Lobos Island / Kicker Rock
San Cristobal Island: This is the fifth largest island in the Galapagos and lies farthest East. It is where Darwin first landed back in 1835 and where the first permanent settlements were founded. Today the main port Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of the Galapagos province and houses many government offices, the Ecuadorian Navy, and an airport with daily flights to the mainland of Ecuador. Conservation challenges the island faces include invasive plants like blackberry and guayaba and insects like the blackfly.Lobos Island: Lobos Island is an islet about an hour away from San Cristobal. Blue-footed boobies will nest here seasonally. In recent years frigate birds have begun to nest here. Sea lions are abundant, as well as marine iguanas. It is a very calm and tranquil site with beautiful views, including Kicker Rock off in the distance.
Activities: Short walk, Panga Ride, Snorkel
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights: Frigate birds, sea lions, blue-footed boobies and nesting sites, views of Kicker Rock, marine iguanas. Snorkel – sea lions, sea turtles, rays.
Kicker Rock: Kicker rock or León Dormido as it is called in Spanish is a huge structure formed of two eroded volcanic cones that tower over the sea at about 104 meters and sits in the middle of the open water. It is one of the most well-known landmarks in Galapagos with many popular sea birds that surround the area. This is also perhaps one of the best sites in the Galapagos see incredible underwater life.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, Dingy Ride
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: No Landing
Highlights: Deep water snorkeling: Sharks, tropical fish, turtles, manta rays (occ.), hammerhead sharks, and spectacular rock formations. Sea Birds: Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies & frigate birds. Second best place to snorkel in the Galapagos.
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Pitt Point - Witch Hill
AM: San Cristobal Island – Pitt Point / Pitt Point Islet
Pitt Point on San Cristobal is on the easternmost side of the Galapagos Islands. It’s also one of the only places that red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca’s can be found all on the same place. The visitor site is very interesting as the formations of old volcanic rock are profoundly unique and the hike to the top of the site provides incredible views of the surrounding area.Possible Activities: Hike, Kayaking, Panga Ride, Snorkel
Difficulty: Moderate / Difficult
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Volcanic landscape, sea lions, three species of Boobies.
PM: Witch Hill
This is home to a popular beach in the Galapagos with powdery white sand and turquiose waters that are a joy to swim in and snorkel spotting the tropical fish benauth the surface. The occasional sea lion may stop by to swim with you or you’ll find them snoozing on the shore. On a panga ride you can explore the many crevices in the eroding rocks, leaving you in awe of the sheer power of erosion.Possible Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkel & Kayaking
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Beautiful rock formations, sea lions, shore birds, and land birds such as finches and mockingbirds. Snorkel – sea lions, tropical fish, anemones, and sponge coral.
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Post Office Bay - Devil's Crown - Cormorant Point
AM: Floreana Island – Post Office Bay
Floreana Island: This Island is one of the most interesting when it comes to human history. The first Galapagos resident was an Irishman who lived on Floreana from 1807 to 1809. It is the site of the first post office within the islands created by whalers in the 1700’s. Later it became the first island to be colonized by Ecuadorians, but to this day is still very isolated. Surrounded by mystery, in the 1930’s various disappearances occurred and is thought to be because of tension between a baroness and her three servants who arrived after an already settled husband and wife, who gave birth to the first to be born in Galapagos and another couple of a doctor and female companion who lived of the land from their garden. The small population of today lives off the land with home grown farms and gets their water from rain filled ponds during the rainy season. There is one hotel with the only phone in the port of Velasco Ibarra where most residents live, the rest live up in the highlands. Transportation is limited and is only available every two weeksPost Office Bay: A completely human influential site, Post Office Bay is the first official post office created by passing whalers in the 1700’s. To this day visitors continue the tradition as many leave addressed messages on post cards in the barrel to be sent by future visitors while picking up post cards left behind by previous visitors to send when they return home. It is a fun exchangeable activity many visitors enjoy.
Possible Activities: Short hike (less than 0.6 mi / 1km) & snorkeling
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Barrel Post Office and beautiful sandy beach.
PM: Cormorant Point / Devil’s Crown
Cormorant Point: Another fun and interesting visitor site. Two beaches can be visited and flamingoes can be seen wading through brackish lagoons looking for shrimp, which gives them their bright and vibrant colors. One of the beaches look green because of olivine crystals and the other is appropriately called Flour Beach a powdery white, made from fine pulverized coral.Devil’s Crown: Devil’s Crown is a visitor site that boasts the best snorkeling opportunities. Below the surface are amazing volcanic structures that have submerged over time. Hundreds of different colorful fish species can be found here among the coral reefs. Sharks, rays, sea turtles, hammer head sharks and sea lions are also common visitors. It is an underwater spectacle that cannot be missed.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling & dinghy ride & hike (1.2 mi / 2km)
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights & Animals: Flamingoes, green olivine crystal beach, and Devil's Crown: The best snorkeling site in Galapagos Islands with sharks, rays, rock formations, and lots of tropical fish.
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Black Turtle Cove - Baltra
AM: Santa Cruz - Black Turtle Cove
Black Turtle Cove is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island and is only accessible by boat and with a guide. This shallow inlet is surrounded by mangroves and provides natural protection for a variety of marine life, attracting the vulnerable juveniles of many species. Below the surface of the water, you can see both black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, golden cow-nose rays, spotted eagle rays, and an occasional hammerhead shark. Pelicans and Boobies hunt here, diving gracefully into the water.Possible Activities: Panga Ride
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: No Landing
Highlights: White-tipped sharks, rays, sea turtles, and shore and sea birds.
PM: Transfer to Baltra Airport
Your cruise has officially come to an end. We hope you enjoyed your Galapagos Cruise! We will now transfer you to your scheduled departure from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!
SPECIFICATION
- Year Of Construction: November 2011
- Type: Power Motor Catamaran
- Length: 113ft / 34mts
- Beam: 43ft / 13mts
- Draft: 4ft / 1mts
- Gross tonnage: 170 tons
- Capacity: 16 passengers
- Cabins: 9
- Social Areas: Dining room, sun deck, library
- Main engines: MTU-DDC Series 60
- Generators: John Deere 4.5 lt
- Max speed: 15 knots
- Electricity: 110 volts AC / 60 Hz
- Exterior: GFRP (fibre reinforced polymer)
- Machinery: John Deere 4045TFM50 / 400HP @ 1800 RPM
- Life Rafts: 2 x 20-man life crafts
- Crew: 11
- Naturalist Guide(s): 1
CABINS DETAILS:
Main Deck Cabin
32m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, hairdryer, safety deposit box, electrical outlets. vanity table and sitting area.
Upper Deck Cabin
23m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, hairdryer, safety deposit box, electrical outlets. vanity table and sitting area.
Upper Deck Single Cabin
18m², single bed, private balcony, en suite bathroom, air conditioning, hairdryer, safety deposit box, electrical outlets. vanity table and sitting area.
Layout: 2 Decks / 9 Cabins
Main deck: Cabin 1,4 = Double staterooms
Main deck: Cabin 2,3 = Twin or double staterooms
Upper deck: Cabin 5,6,7,8 = Double staterooms
Upper deck: Cabin 10 = Single stateroom
Beds layout: Single, twin & double staterooms
Rooming: Private cabins only
Sharing: Not available
DECKPLAN
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- All visitor site excursions
- All meals and accommodatio during cruise
- Regular soft drinks and juices
- Champagne reception
- Welcome courtesy
- Galapagos National Park bilingual Guide
- Use of snorkeling gear and wetsuits Kayaks
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- International and National (Ecuador-Galapagos-Ecuador) flights
- Galapagos National Park Entrance, US $ 100 (To be paid upon arrival, in cash)
- Transit Control Card, US $ 20 (To be paid upon departure from the mainland to Galapagos, in cash)
- Galapagos Airport Transport, if the flight has not been booked together
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses, extras & gratuities
- Travel insurance
NOTE: Long itineraries are the combination of short ones; please let us know if you would like to book a long cruise.