Introduction:
If spending a week on a boat is not your ideal vacation we have a great Galapagos multi activities tour option. This tour has the same itinerary options, but the accommodations for each night are in local hotels with private facilities. Early each morning we will travel to the next Island. The Maverick is a sleek express cruiser built in the USA and has two double cabins in case you want to sleep during the navigation, a comfortable saloon for eating or just relaxing, full galley, bathroom with hot water shower and ample cockpit for enjoying the navigation for an outdoor experience.
Itinerary:
DAY 1:
The trips starts with a flight to San Cristobal island. Upon arrival, our guide will pick you up and take you to the hotel. In Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, we will have lunch in a local restaurant. Then we will head to Kicker Rock - León dormido, an old tuff cone (a type of landform from volcanic eruptions) eroded by the ocean which now serves as nesting place for frigate birds, blue footed boobies and masked nazca boobies, tropical birds, and of course, the magnificent volcanic formation. Kayaking in Puerto Grande will complete our visit. After dinner, you will have free time to explore Puerto Baquerizo Moreno before spending the night in a hotel. We usually stay in Hotels in Hotel Chattam or you can upgrade to a similar hotel, Hotel Miconia (subject to availability).
DAY 2:
After breakfast we will drive to El Junco lagoon, the only natural source of fresh water in the islands, where frigate birds feed on the fish in the lagoon. Here, many land birds such as Darwin’s finches and mocking birds can be found, along with a spectacular view coming down from El Junco. At this point, we will drive through Cerro Verde, a small traditional village where we will have lunch on our way back from Puerto Chino to La Galapaguera, which is a part of the Galapagos National Park. This is where we will be able to find a great number of giant tortoises their natural habitat—a highlight of our journey. After exploring our surroundings, we will walk to Puerto Chino. This is a beautiful and pristine beach and will be the perfect spot for a laid back afternoon where you can, swim/snorkel or simply relax. Back in the bus, we will start our drive back to Puerto Baquerizo and if we have enough time we will visit the Interpretation Centre. We will have dinner and again spend the night in either Hotel Chattam or you can upgrade to Hotel Miconia Dinner (subject to availability).
DAY 3:
Breakfast will be served at the hotel and then we will head to Santa Cruz. On the way we will pass by a perfect site for a snack and a sightseeing journey along the cliffs of Santa Fe island, where we can spot blue footed bobbies, iguanas, frigates birds. After this, we will continue to Puerto Ayora for lunch. After lunch, we will move on to Punta Estrada and Bahia Divine, a calm shallow water place where rays, mullets and sharks can be seen while kayaking along the rocky coast line. If time permits, you can also snorkel. Back in Puerto Ayora, we will have dinner and stay in the hotel overnight. On this island, we will stay in Fernandina or a similar hotel, or you can upgrade to Red Mangrove (subject to availability).
DAY 4:
After breakfast at hotel, we will take a yacht ride to Floreana. Here, we will visit Puerto Velasco Ibarra, the smallest town in the Galapagos with a population of around 60 people. We will have a box lunch and a car ride to the highlands of Floreana where pirates and whalers used volcanic caves as hiding places. The day ends with dinner and staying overnight at the Wittmers hostel (subject to availability). There are no upgrades available.
DAY 5:
The day starts with an early wake up call, breakfast on board the boat, and a trip to Isabela island, the largest island and one of the youngest in the Galapagos. We will stop at Puerto Villamil on Isabela island, which has the second smallest population in Galapagos. With around 1500 inhabitants, it is still pristine and untouched. We will reach a delightful place on a zodiac (a type of boat) ride. This place is Tintoreras Grotto, where we usually find white tipped reef sharks swimming along the sandy bottoms of small shallow channels in between lava flows. This is also a perfect place for snorkeling. Isabela also has penguin populations and we normally find them along the coast. After this, we will return to the hotel. Lunch is at hotel and in the afternoon we will walk to the muro de las lagrimas, a wall of lava rocks made by inmates from an old penal colony established on the island. To finish our day, we can relax on the miles long white sand beach right in town that is also home to many shore birds and other marine life. The day ends with dinner and an overnight hotel stay at Isabela del Mar or a similar hotel, or you can upgrade Casa Marita (subject to availability).
DAY 6:
This day starts with breakfast at the hotel and then we will take a bus ride to Sierra Negra, a volcano which is still active and in October 2005 it showed us the most recent volcanic eruption in the archipelago. We will then have a horseback riding adventure along the crater of the volcano that will fulfill every expectation (normally we find giant tortoises on the way). We will also have a box lunch on the volcano rim and then we will start a trek along the trail of lava to volcano Chico, a smaller crater of Sierra Negra. We will walk on a large lava flow and we may be fortunate to see fumaroles (volcanic gases and vapours that come out of the earth) and the incredible landscape from the top. Late in the afternoon, we will go to our hotel for dinner and stay overnight in the Isabela del Mar or similar hotel or you can upgrade Casa Marita (subject to availability).
DAY 7:
The day starts with an early wake up call and breakfast on board the boat on our way to Santa Cruz Island (with a population of about 15,000, it has a large variety of sites to visit). A bus ride will take us to El Camote, which is located in the highlands of Santa Cruz. This area offers a spectacular view and it is where we will have lunch. From here, we will start biking downhill through El Caserio until we get to El Garrapatero beach, where there will be time to swim/snorkel or time to relax and enjoy the beach. Back in Puerto Ayora, we will have dinner and stay overnight in Fernandina or a similar hotel, or you can upgrade Red Mangrove (subject to availability).
DAY 8:
This day starts with an early wake up and breakfast at the hotel. Our first stop will be the world famous Charles Darwin Research Centre, where all the efforts to protect and preserve the native and endemic animals are developed. We will also learn about the giant tortoises rearing programs and we will see Lonesome George, the very last giant tortoise of his species. We will travel to the Baltra airport, where you can take a flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. On the way, we will have a quick stop at Los Gemelos, a pair of sink holes in the scalesia forest. Scalesia are endemic trees to the Galapagos.
Prices per person: $2313 per person; Charter $27750 (12 pax)
- Yacht Maverick is used for interislands transportation only.
- Single supplement 80%
- Child discount less than 12 years 20%
The price does not include:
- Airfare to/from Galapagos (subject to change)
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee (subject to change)
- Alcoholic or extra drinks on board
- Guide tips and personal expenses.
Maverick Yacht Tour
