Tourist Superior Galapagos Southern Islands Cruise - Monserrat Yacht

Tourist Superior Galapagos Southern Islands Cruise - Monserrat Yacht | Monserrat | Galapagos Tours Tourist Superior Galapagos Southern Islands Cruise - Monserrat Yacht | Monserrat | Galapagos Tours
Some of the highlights of this cruise itinerary include the visits to Española and Floreana islands, wildlife to be spotted includes: waved albatross, herons, nazca boobies, marine iguanas, the rare hood mockingbird. The marine life of the archipelago is also exciting as you will be able to swim and snorkel with sea lions, marine turtles, small reef sharks, rays and thousands of colorful fish. The beautiful Post office bay on Floreana also offers the barrel where you can leave a self adressed postcard to be delivered by a fellow explorer in the future. The Monserrat is well equiped and offers a stable navigation, it is good value for money and has all necessary facilities in the tourist class category.

Day by day

Day 1: San Cristóbal Island: Lobos Island
San Cristóbal

Catch an early flight to San Cristóbal Island. In the afternoon, visit Isla Lobo sand be greeted by sea lions frolicking in the waves.

Isla Lobos Visit

Explore this tiny island by foot and boat for some great wildlife encounters. Take a panga ride to view the sea and shore birds nesting and feeding. Spot a small colony of blue-footed boobies as well as two species of sea lions.

Day 2: San Cristobal Island: Witch Hill & Centro de crianza Jacinto Gordillo

Cerro Brujo Visit

Visit Cerro Brujo to explore its coastline, and look for wildlife on the beach, in the water, and in the air. Learn about the human and natural history of the area from the Galápagos CEO. Take a refreshing dip in the turquoise water, and head out on a short walk to a freshwater lagoon–a great place to see flamingos.

Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center

Visit the giant tortoise breeding centre and see all of the different species of tortoises up close. See newborns as well as full-grown adult tortoises that can live well over 100 years. Learn how these gentle giants can grow so big!

Day 3: Española Island: Gardner Bay & Suarez Point

Gardner Bay Visit

Visit Gardner Bay’s magnificent white sandy beach, home to sea lions and seabirds. Be sure to explore the beautiful turquoise water and its incredible sea life.Spot young sea lions and large schools of surprisingly big tropical fish, including yellow-tailed surgeon fish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrot fish.

Snorkelling (Gardner Bay)

Head to Tortuga Rock and Gardner Bay for a spectacular snorkelling experience. Spot playful young sea lions and large schools of tropical fish,including yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrot fish.Look for white-tipped reef sharks napping on the bottom.

Punta Suárez Visit

Visit Punta Suárez, one of most rich wildlife landing sites in the Galápagos. Be greeted by surfing young sea lions on arrival. Head to the trail to find many species of nesting sea birds, and, if lucky, see the waved albatross. Follow the path up to a cliff for great views over the ocean, and watch sea birds gliding in the wind.

Day 4: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Champion Islet & Post Office Bay

Punta Cormorant Visit

Visit Punta Cormorant, the only landing site on Floreana Island, and discover two amazingly different beaches: one with green sand, coloured by olivine crystals, and another with white sand particles known as ‘Flour Beach’. Spend the afternoon observing flamingos and other shore birds feeding in the lagoon.Spot penguins and marine iguanas at the water’s edge, and explore the lava tubes with the Galápagos CEO.

Snorkelling (Champion Islet)

Jump on in and get up close and personal with the playful sea lion colony that reside in the waters off this tiny island. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays and colourful fish swimming by. There can be currents in this area, this activity should be done by strong swimmers only.

Post Office Bay Visit

Visit Post Office Bay and learn about its unique history. In the late 18th century,English whaling vessels placed a barrel here to be used as a post office. Today,the box is used mainly by tourists, who may drop off and pick up unstamped letters to be carried to far destinations. Continue the tradition–leave a letter and take one to deliver (be sure it makes it to the correct location)!

Day 5: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Station

Santa Cruz Highlands Excursion

Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz and see the Galápagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. Explore the area and its incredible underground lava tunnels–some are more than 1km (.6 mi) long! Wander along the volcanic tubes and keep an eye out for the (mainly) nocturnal barn owls that sometimes roost here.

Free Time

Spend some time walking around the small town of Puerto Ayora. Visit a local fish market or buy some souvenirs and discover how people live in the Galapagos.

Charles Darwin Research Station Visit

Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. Brought back from the brink of extinction,see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close–a corral houses adult tortoises,and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened. This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos’ ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.

Day 6: Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay & Bartolome Island

Sullivan Bay Visit

Visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island to see one of its star natural attractions–striking and fascinating giant lava formations. Very few plants have managed to survive on this island due to its harsh environment and relatively new lava flow.Enjoy a walk along the lava formations before coming to a white-coral sand beach, where abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions gather on shore.

Snorkelling (Sullivan Bay)

Enjoy a cool dip after exploring Sullivan Bay on foot. Grab a snorkel and discover many species of fish and other marine life in the shallow waters. Keep an eye out for turtles, rays, and large schools of fish!

Bartolomé Island Landing

Hike to Bartolomé’s summit for a stronger perspective of the islands’ not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy a panoramic view–it’s one of the best among the islands! See other Galápagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark. Spot Galápagos penguins—the only species of penguin found north of the Equator—walking precariously along narrow volcanic ledges at the base.

Snorkelling (Bartolomé Island)

Take the opportunity to swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic volcanic rock formations on the islands. Home to Galápagos penguins, friendly sea lions, sea turtles, and a huge variety of fish, Bartolome and its surrounding waters are a fantastic place to explore the natural wonders of the Galápagos.

Day 7: Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach & Dragon Hill

Bachas Beach Landing

Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favourite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water’s edge–these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife,including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and sea lions.

Snorkelling

Go snorkelling or swimming right off the white sand beach of Las Bachas. Spot all sorts of marine wildlife in its shallow waters and tidal pools. Bachas is also one of the most important beaches for the green turtle as a nesting site.

Cerro Dragón Visit

Visit Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) for some prime bird watching. Take a short walk from the beach to a hyper salinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon frequented by pink flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. Pass through a Scalesia tree forest; endemic to the area, there are only 400 specimens of Scalesia trees left in the world.

Day 8: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove

Baltra

Take a morning panga ride and look for marine life in Black Turtle Cove.Disembark at Baltra and fly back to Quito.

Black Turtle Cove Excursion

Explore the mangroves by panga to find rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Keep any eye out for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem. White-tip reef sharks can also be seen gliding by.

Itinerary Map

Click on the map to navigate the itinerary
Tourist Superior Galapagos Southern Islands Cruise - Monserrat Yacht | Galapagos Map

Includes

  • All programed visits as per itinerary with specialized naturalist bilingual guide
  • Accommodation in twin/double cabin with private facilities (surcharge for suite)
  • All meals on board, drinking purified water, coffee and tea
  • Snorkeling equipment (fins, mask & snorkel) & sea-kayaks
  • Transfers within the islands on cruise dates as per itinerary
  • Personalized 24/7 assistance during tour

Does not Include

  • Airfare to/from Galapagos from/to Mainland Ecuador (to be added)
  • Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee US$100 per person (in cash only upon arrival)
  • Galapagos Migration Card US$20 in cash per person (at Mainland’s Airport)
  • Alcoholic/soft drinks, personal expenses, extras, and tips
  • All sizes wet-suits for rent on board (in cash)
  • Travel, medical & cancelation Insurance and any services on Mainland
  • Other services not specified in the program

Highlights

  • Look for three different species of Darwin’s Finches and the Albatrosses at Española.
  • Snorkel with playful and curious sea-lions.
  • Send a postcard to your friends and loved ones back home from Post Office Bay.
  • Witness the magnificence of the waved Albatrosses at Española.
  • Enjoy amazing views while sailing on board your Yacht from its ample sun-deck or the Jacuzzi.

Meals Included

  • Breakfast Served Daily
  • 7 Dinners
  • 8 Lunches
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Reviews

Afordable and perfect
- Jazmine
The cabins were comfortable. The lounge and the dining areas were ample enough to enjoy with the group. Kudos to the beauty of this boat, affordable and perfect.
More information about the Galapagos Islands you visit in this itinerary:
Tourist Superior Galapagos Southern Islands Cruise - Monserrat Yacht
8 Days
From $4,800.00 per person


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