ITINERARY A (SUNDAY TO THURSDAY)

Sunday: Mosquera Islet

In the morning, arrive to Baltra airport and transfer to the Monserrat for Lunch.

Between North Seymour and Baltra is the small island of Mosquera. The island consists of a long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks, and tide pools. Created by geological uplift the island has a flat look to it rather than the conical shape of the volcanically formed islands. Mosquera is a regular first or last day visit for boats operating out of Baltra. Mosquera’s calm waters offer excellent snorkeling opportunities and a stroll down the beach offers views of the brown pelicans, boobies and colonies of sea lions that can be found here. A few times have been seen Orcas, feeding by sea lions.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Monday: Isabela Island (Tintoreras, Breeding center & Sierra Negra Volcano)

In the morning, we will visit the highlands. The Sierra Negra volcano is considered the oldest of the volcanoes in Isabela. According to some geologists, as wider and shallower the boiler, as more ancient it is. At the beginning of the trail, there is a dense fog with the presence of drizzle. Then, we will visit the breeding center to learn about the giant tortoise, their development and the Galapagos National Park efforts to increase tortoises population. Return to the yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon, will go to Tintoreras trail where you could see sea lions, rays, sea iguanas and the white tip reef shark. We will have the chance to do snorkeling in this area.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Tuesday: Chinese Hat & Rabida Island

In the morning we will visit Chinese Hat, this is a small island located near the south-east of Santiago. It's known as Chinese hat as when we see from a long distance, it looks like one. It is an island composed of a tilted cone that forms the top, and lava tubes that run down to the coast. In the west you can see lava formations like pillows: These are the indicator, the flows were formed under the sea and then have been raised to the outside, and give us the explanation why it’s possible to find coral heads on lava. This visit provides an excellent opportunity for the interpretation of geologic features such as tubes and lava flows. Return to the yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will visit Rabida consists in a red sand beach, a coastal lagoon behind the beach and a circuit. The approximate route of the trail is 1.1 Km. The red color of the rocks and the sand is caused by the volcanic material, which is very porous and by action of the environment (rain, salt water and sea breezes), acted as oxidizing agents. The main attraction of the place is the red sand beach, its landscape, the vegetation from arid zone and the presence of native and endemic species. Among the species that can be found here are the pelicans, flamingos and sea birds, also have a small colony of fur seals.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Wednesday: Santiago Island. (Egas Point & Espumilla Beach)

In the morning, we will visit Puerto Egas is a black sand beach located at the west side of James Bay in the northwest of Santiago Island. At the southern beach is located Pan de Azucar Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff, those have made the formation of black sand beach possible. At the north side there is crater with a saltwater lagoon. During the warmest season, it dries and turns into a salt mine. This site is called Puerto Egas, because the last operation done to the salt mine was made by Hector Egas Company. It didn’t last too long due the salt price in the continent was very cheaper.Return to the yacht for lunch

Espumilla site is located at the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. The main attractions here are the palo santo forest, the beach and the landscape. The beach is an important site for sea tortoises nesting. The trail continues into the dry zone and close to the end we can observe birds of different species.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Thursday: North Seymour Island

In the morning we will visit North Seymour Island. Here we will visit a circular trail leading through some of the largest and most active seabirds breeding colonies in the islands. Magnificent frigate birds and blue footed boobies are the main attractions. After the visit to Seymour, your luggage will be waiting for you to start the one hour trip back to the Baltra Is. airport for your flight back to the mainland.

ITINERARY B (THURSDAY TO SUNDAY)

Thursday: Santa Cruz Is. (Rancho Primicias)

Arrive to Baltra airport and transfer to the Monserrat for Lunch. After checking into your cabin we will have your lunch ready for you. In the afternoon, you will board your land transportation to go to the Highlands of Santa Cruz where you will visit Rancho Primicias to view the Galapagos Tortoises in their natural habitat.

Overnight and dinner.

Friday: South Plazas-Santa Fé

In the morning, you will visit Plazas Is. These two small islands are just off the east coast of Santa Cruz. A dry landing on a jetty brings you to an opuntia cactus forest where there are many land iguanas. A one km trail circuit leads visitors through sea lion colonies and along a cliff top walk where swallow – tailed gulls and other species nest. Return to the yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will visit Santa Fe Is. which is a 24sq km island that lies about 20km southeast of Santa Cruz and is very popular for day trips. Its English name is Barrington. There is a good anchorage in an attractive bay on the north. A short 300 meter trail takes you to one of the tallest stands of opuntia cactus in the island to look out for land iguanas. Other attractions include a sea lion colony, excellent snorkeling, marine iguanas and of course birds. Lunch

Saturday: San Cristobal Is. (Punta Pitt – Isla Lobos)

In the morning, we will visit Punta Pitt a unique volcanic formation. The area is a nesting site for all three species of the Galapagos booby and home to an endemic species of lava lizard. After this visit we will return to yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon heading up the coast from Wreck Bay and Puerto Baquerizo, you will see Isla Lobos across a small channel off the coast of San Cristobal. The basalt island outcropping lives up to its name of "Sea Lion Island" with a noisy population of frolicking and barking beasts. It is also a nesting place for blue-footed boobies and an excellent spot for snorkeling. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Sunday: San Cristobal Is. (Interpretation Center/Tijeretas)

In the morning, we will visit its Interpretation Center where we can walk through the Galapagos Islands’ volcanic origins, its first human settlements and the great challenges we face ahead. After your visit and a little free time in town you return to the yacht for lunch. After the visit, the guide will take you to the bus where your luggage will be waiting for you to go to San Cristobal Is. airport for your flight back to the mainland.

ITINERARY C (SUNDAY TO THURSDAY)

Sunday: San Cristobal Is. (Galapaguera, Puerto Chino)

In the morning arrive to San Cristóbal airport and transfer to the Monserrat Yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will visit the “Galapaguera” this is a great place to see San Cristobal Giant Tortoises in the semi-wild habitat. This is one of the few places where we can find Calandrinia Galapagos, an endemic plant from San Cristobal. This breeding center has been built to improve the status of the population of tortoises on the island, in an habitat with similar conditions to their natural environment. Afterwards, we will visit a beautiful beach in San Cristóbal, Puerto Chino one of the best beaches on the island. This is a gorgeous beach with soft white sand where we will enjoy a time of relax.

Monday: San Cristobal Is. (Cerro Brujo, Sleeping Lion, Playa Ochoa)

In the morning, we´ll visit this day will start with the volcanic cone of Cerro Brujo, from where we could see a beautiful sandy beach which teems with sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, wanders and marine iguanas. Return to the yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon we sail to visit Sleeping Lion, a little rocky island which because of a fanciful resemblance to a sleeping lion is named Leon Dormido. The English name, however, is Kicker Rock. The island is a sheer walled tuff cone which has been eroded into two smaller rocks. Finally we could enjoy some time at the beach at Playa Ochoa. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Tuesday: Española Is. (Gardner Bay-Suarez Point)

Española Island, often called by its English name of Hood, is the southernmost in the archipelago. It is a medium sized island of 61sq km and there are two visitors’ sites.

In the morning, we visit Gardner Bay which is a beautiful white sand beach at the east end of Española. It is reached with a wet landing and there is good swimming, and a sea lion colony. An islet rock, a short distance away, provides a good snorkeling opportunity. You can often see white tipped reef sharks around it. . After your visit return to the yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon, we visit Suarez Point, which lies at the western end of the island. A wet landing is necessary. There is a trail of about two km in length which takes the visitor trough a beach full of marine iguanas, by masked and blue–footed booby colonies before reaching the main attraction, the waved Albatross colony which can only be seen on this island, Dinner and overnight onboard.

Wednesday: Floreana Is. Cormorant Point/Champion/Post Office/ Mirador de la Baronesa

The visitors’ area in Floreana is located at the north shore of the island. The trail has an approximate distance of 720 meters. During the trail we could see a lagoon, a viewpoint and a medium size of fine sand beach. At the lagoon we can find a flamingos colony and on the beach a nesting area for marine tortoises. In Cormorant Point are two plant species which are endemic from this Island: Scalesia and Lecocarpus pinaffitidus. The beach where we land has a large amount of olivine crystals, giving it the greenish color. There is another beach full of coral sand. These sites are host of rays which prefer places with sand and waves. Return for the yacht for lunch.

After lunch we’ll visit Post Office Bay and then Mirador de la Baronesa, a vista point on the northside of Floreana, in La Olla Bay. It is a basaltic rock formation between Cormorant Point and Post Office Bay. You will take a panga ride to reach this point. On the panga you can observe several marine species such as golden eagle rays, sea turtles, sea lions, mullets and eventually Galapagos penguins. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Thursday: Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Station)

In the morning will visit Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the efforts made to preserve the flora and fauna in the Archipelago. After the visit the guide will take you to the bus where your luggage will be waiting for you to start the trip back to the Baltra Island airport for your flight back to the mainland.

ITINERARY D (THURSDAY TO SUNDAY)

ITINERARY D

Thursday: Santa Cruz Is. (Charles Darwin Station)

In the Morning your flight will arrive into the airport on the island of Baltra. You will be met by your tour guide and start off on a five minute trip from the airport down to the canal where you will take a five minute boat ride across to the island of Santa Cruz. From here you will board your transportation to travel across the island (Aprox. 40 minutes) to the main port town of Puerto Ayora where you will board the Monserrat yacht. After checking into your cabin we will have your lunch ready for you. In the afternoon we will visit Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the efforts made to preserve the flora and fauna in the Archipelago.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Friday: Sullivan Bay & Bartolome Island

In the morning, we visit Sullivan Bay lava field where we can set foot on Santiago’s last volcanic eruption, nearly 100 years ago. Here we can find shapes and textures of trees, which once existed here and Hornitos caused when pockets of gas or water trapped under the lava exploded. The Sullivan Bay Lava is known a Panoehoe (Hawaiian for Rope). This thin-skinned lava's molten material cools down after an eruption causing the surface materials to buckle creating a rope like appearance. Panoehoe Lava is rare to the rest of the world except for the volcanoes of Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands. Lunch at the yacht.

In the afternoon, we visit Bartolome Island with an area of 1.2 sq km. From here we can see the most frequently photographed and hence most famous vista of the islands. There are two visitor sites and footpaths. One begins from a jetty (dry landing) from where we walk 600 meters to the 114 mt. summit of the island from where we can take a picture with the famous Pinnacle Rock. The other visitor site is a small sandy beach in a cove (wet landing). Here there is good snorkeling and swimming and the opportunity to swim with the endemic Galápagos penguins which frequent this cove. Dinner and overnight on board.

Saturday: Bachas Beach & Cerro Dragón

In the morning, visit Bachas Beach on the North end of Santa Cruz Island. Bachas is a nice beach with soft sand and clear water. Here you will have the opportunity to walk a trail leading to two lagoons where you may encounter Flamingos and other birds. This is also a nice place to snorkel which you will have the opportunity to do. Return to the yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon visit to Cerro Dragón, It gets its name because in 1975, was one of the only places in the Santa Cruz Island where the land iguanas were living in healthy condition. In this site, there is a small lagoon with shrimps, it is food for the flamingos.

Sunday: Black Turtle Cove

In the morning we will visit, Black Turtle Cove is black salt water with different types of mangrove trees. It is one of the most important places for marine species reproduction; some of them are the marine tortoise, white tip sharks and some groups of golden rays. After the visit, your luggage will be waiting for you to start the one hour trip back to the Baltra Is. airport for your flight back to the mainland.