Solaris – Western & Central Galapagos Islands

• Baltra Island - Santa Cruz Island

  AM – Arrival at Baltra Airport
  Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; this must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight. In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $ 100), if this has not yet been paid.Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbour of Puerto Ayora. Here you will climb aboard the yacht San Jose. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board.

  PM – Bachas (Santa Cruz)
  These two small beaches are located in the west of the Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz.Their sand consists of decomposed corals, which makes it white and soft.This makes it the favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there are small water lagoons, where flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilt birds and rainbows, can occasionally be spotted. On the second beach, which is the wider one, you can explore the remains of two abandoned warships. In the Second World War these were left by the US, as the island of Baltra was used as a strategic point for the protection of the Panama Canal (L. D.) (Private Transfer) (Shared Guide)

• Isabela Island

  AM – Whitetip reef shark channel (Isabela)
  Just outside the harbour of PuertoVillamil a group of islets protrude just above the ocean.The jagged black formations, dotted with mangrove and candelabra cactus, are the remnants of a lava stream that has ended up in the ocean. Marine life gets trapped, including spectacular whitetip reef sharks (called “tintoreras” in Spanish, as is the site’s official name).This species of shark is fairly common in the archipe- lago, and generally spotted on the seabed when snorkelling, while they rest from their nocturnal hunts. At this unique location you can observe them comfortably from the bank in the crystal-clear turquoise waters.
  Sometimes turtles and elegant white-spotted eagle rays or golden rays glide back and forth through this calm channel, as well as smaller fish and Galapagos sea lions. Also, this is where the largest species of marine iguanas reproduce.The rocky shoreline with its intertidal life also attracts sally lightfoot crabs, lava herons and Galapagos penguins, which reside on the other (western) side of Isabela.

  PM – Wetlands, Wall of tears, Tortoise breeding centre (Isabela)
  After lunch aboard you will visit the local tortoise breeding centre, where you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes.The vulnerable hatchlings are not gigan- tic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand! This project just outside Puerto Villamil was created to rescue the endangered populations of Isabela’s both southernmost volcanoes. In Puerto Villamil and the surrounding wetlands there is the historical ‘Wall of tears’ (national cultural herita- ge), where prisoners were punished and forced to build this long wall of lava clocks. Also, you might have the chance to see American flamingos. At the end of the afternoon you will have some free time to explore the village and/or its beach. (B. L. D.) (Shared Guide)

• Isabela Island - Fernandina Island

  AM – Moreno Point (Isabela)
  Punta Moreno is located between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, on the north coast of Isabela Island. The trail leads along the lava river Pahoehoe to a complex of several coastal lagoons.The main attraction are various bird species which can be found in lakes and mangrove forests.

  PM – Mangle Point (Fernandina) & Tagus Cove (Isabela)
  We will enter the Bolivar Channel to Tagus Cove (navigation time: 3h). Meanwhile you can enjoy the delicious lunch buffet before snorkelling and visiting Tagus Cove. Explosive eruptions have blown out a part of the outer rims of both tuff cones, and created their characteristic horseshoe shapes andTagus Cove.The inner crater rim contains Darwin Lake.Traditionally sailors started to write the names of their vessels on the eastern cliffs of Tagus cove. During the hike along the inner crater ridge of Darwin Lake you can continue to a great viewpoint on the outer caldera rim, with views to the outstretched lava slopes of Darwin Volcano. This arid inland zone is overgrown with characteristic tropi- cal dry forest vegetation including a special variety of palo santo, Galapagos cotton and yellow cordia (muyuyu). During the hike you can spot different Darwin’s finches, flycatchers and Galapagos hawks. (B. L. D.) (Shared Guide)

• Isabela Island - Fernandina Island

  AM - Espinoza Point (Fernandina)
  Espinoza Point is Fernandina’s only terrestrial visitors site, and one of the few locations where you will find some bizarre outgrowths of natural selection.The figurehead is the emblematic flightless cormorant that lives exclusively in the remote west of Galapagos, and could be considered as the ‘holy grail of evolution’.You will also love the almost unworldly views with the dominating cone of Volcán La Cumbre as a spectacular backdrop.The narrow headland that you walk along is the end of a lava tongue that has reached the coast and solidified upon contact with the cold seawater.

  PM - Vicente Roca Point (Isabela)
  Whilst having lunch we will cross the Bolivar Channel for the last time to Vicente Roca Point, just at the mouth of Isabela’s seahorse-shape.While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, roaring echoes of the waves will accom- pany you. Just around the corner the collapsed amphithea- tre ofVolcan Ecuador offers another impressive view.The calmer waters of the coves are well-protected against the ocean swell and are a fairly cold, but great place for snorke- lling amongst various species of shark, penguins, puffer fish and even seahorses! (B. L. D.) (Shared Guide)

• Santiago Island

  AM: Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove (Santiago)
  Espumilla Beach is a visitor’s site at the northern end of James Bay, on the western coast of Santiago.This beach has been revived as an important breeding site for turtles, as it is no longer suffering from digging wild pigs.The turtles return year after year to bury their eggs into the cinnamon coloured sand dunes.The beach ridge hides a mangle with two picturesque lagoons.The colony of American flamingos and aquatic birds used to be its main attraction, but after the climate phenomenon of El Niño, strong sedimentation altered the brackish water environment, and it no longer contains their food. During the climb of a hill you will be rewarded with a beautiful overview of the transitions from sea into beach into mangrove into dry palo santo forest.

  PM: Puerto Egas (Santiago)
  At lunchtime we will navigate south to Puerto Egas with its famous fur seal grottos, where you will enjoy another, very different guided walk along the coastline. Its masterly sculp- tured coastline of black basalts and polished multi-coloured ash-layers forms a photogenic scene with collapsed lava tunnels, natural arches, caves and blowholes such as ‘Darwin’s toilet’. In a grotto directly below a spectacular rock arch at the end of the beach, a colony of sea lions occupies the shade. Hundreds of sally lightfoot crabs seem even brighter orange against the black rocks. (B. L. D.) (Shared Guide)

• Isabela Island

  AM: Rabida
  Moreno Point Isabela Island
  After lunch and a ‘wet landing’ on the remarkable red beach of Rabida, there are two short guided hikes. Oxidised iron particles give the rocks and sand their rusty colour.The beach wall holds a shallow green-fringed lagoon; this oasis is the most fertile place on the otherwise arid islet, which is overgrown with leaf-dropping palo santo trees.The salty pool attracts all kind of aquatic birds, like pintails and someti- mes American flamingos. Between the evergreen foliage of the surrounding mangrove bushes many species of song- birds hide and breed. One of the most outstanding attrac- tions is the major breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only ones in the world that plunge-dive. On return you will be picked up by the inflatable dinghies, to get ready for snor- kelling.

  PM: Chinese Hat
  Chinese Hat is a 52m/170ft high volcanic cone, forming another islet off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins has settled. Because its primordial fire has been extinguished recently, this is an excellent place to learn more about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels. On the beach you can also find curious pillow-type lavas with coral heads on top! These spheres have a submarine origin before being lifted above sea level. Beaches of white coral sand grow, and holes in the eroding lava fields are filled up with lava sand, which enables rooting. Galapagos sea lions and countless marine iguanas contribute to fertilsation.This all together creates more favourable options for newco- mers, like saltbush and the discolouring sesuvium carpet. Colonisation of Chinese Hat can occur in a much higher pace than elsewhere, hence Santiago is just a stone’s throw away.(B. L. D.) (Shared Guide)

• Santa Cruz Island

  AM: Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
  Our dinghies will bring you to the touristic pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station.This is where biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are carried out.The complex houses interpreta- tion and information centres about the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve.The most memorable part of your visit will probably be the successful breeding centre and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises. Afterwards you usually can spend some free time in the cozy town, before having lunch aboard.

  PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
  Because wild Galapagos giant tortoises don’t stop at official National Park boundaries, dozens of them also roam on the adjacent woodlands in the populated agricultural zone of Santa Cruz.Thanks to their concentration around their favourite muddy pools, these semi-open pastures and moist scalesia-woodlands are the best place for a quick visit. (B. L. D.) (Shared Guide)

• North Seymour Island - Depart Baltra Airport

  AM: North Seymour
  The tabletop islet of North Seymour is an uplifted part of the seabed. Between the dry shrubs you might perceive a Galapagos land iguana.You can spot lots of seabirds, such as brown pelicans, red-billed tropicbirds, endemic swallow-tai- led gulls and seasonally even Nazca boobies. But the main attraction are the archipelago’s most extensive breeding colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. At the start of the breeding season adult frigatebird-males blow up their vivid red pouches to impressive football-sized balloons.

  AM: Transfer out to Baltra Airport
  Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crewmembers, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to the Baltra Airport, where we will take the shuttle back to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil or Quito. (B.) (Shared Guide)

Double Ocean View Cabins

21-26m², queen bed, ocean view, window, private bathroom, desk, chair

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Accommodation on board
• All meals, water, tea & coffee
• All excursions as described in the programme (subject to change) with bilingual guide (Spanish / English)
• Airport assistance at Quito airport (when flight and cruise are booked together)
• All transfers to Galapagos (AirportYacht-Airport only included when booked together)
• Snorkelling equipment
• Bath and beach towels

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
• If necessary, single room supplement
• Optional wetsuit (to be paid in cash only)
• Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks (to be paid in cash only)
• 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.