L A
D A T C O T O U R
S |
||||||||||
HOME | South America | Falkland Islands | Antarctica | Unique Destinations |
Unique Experiences |
Newsstand | ||||
|
ITINERARY - WESTERN Saturday to Saturday - 8-days/7-nights |
|
|
|
|
NOTE: Please keep in mind that our west itinerary starts right after you arrive to the islands. If possible, please wear clothes comfortable enough for a visit to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island: comfortable shoes, a hat for the sun, pants or shorts.
You will be reunited with your luggage at around 5:00 in the afternoon when you board the ship at Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island)
WESTERN ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Day MORNING AFTERNOON Sat Baltra Santa Cruz - Darwin Station Sun Floreana - Punta Cormorante Floreana -Devil's Crown & Post Office Bay Mon Floreana - Asilo de la Paz Navigation - Whale & Dolphin Tue Isabela - Punta Moreno Isabela - Elizabeth Bay Wed Isabela - Urbina Bay Fernandina - Punta Espinosa Thu Isabela - Tagus Cove Isabela - Punta Albermarle Fri Santiago - Espumilla Beach Santiago - Puerto Egas & Buccaneer Cove Sat North Seymour Disembark
2021
Saturday-Saturday 8-day/7-nights2022
Saturday-Saturday 8-day/7-nightsJan 9-16
Jan 23-30
Feb 6-13
Feb 20-27
Mar 6-13
Mar 20-27
Apr 3-10
Apr 17-24
May 1-8
May 15-22
May 29-Jun 5
Jun 12-19
Jun 26-Jul 3Jul 10-17
Jul 24-31
Aug 7-14
Aug 21-28
Sep 4-11
Sep 18-25
Oct 2-9
Oc7 16-23
Oct 30-Nov 6
Nov 13-20
Nov 27-Dec 4
Dec 11-18
Dec 25-Jan 1, 2022Jan 22-29
Feb 5-12
Feb 19-26
Mar 5-12
Apr 2-9
Apr 30-May7
May 14-21
May 28-Jun 4
Jun 11-18
Jun 25-Jul 2Jul 9-16
Jul 23-30
Aug 6-13
Aug 20-27
Sep 3-10
Sep 17-24
Oct 1-8
Oct 15-22
Oct 29-Nov 5
Nov 12-19
Nov 26-Dec 3
Dec 10-17
Dec 24-31
DAY 1 - SATURDAY
MORNING
After arriving at Baltra airport we will be greeted by an Angermeyer Cruises representative to then board a bus that will take us to Puerto Ayora for the first visit on the islands: the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center.
Here, we will see tortoises from different islands. The animals are found in large semi natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure an easy view for the tourists. The pens are divided according to four different stages: eggs, neonates, juveniles (held here until they are mature enough to be "repatriated"), and adults.
Afterwards we will head back to Puerto Ayora, where we will have some time to explore the town and shops by ourselves before boarding the M/Y Passion at around 5:00 p.m. Once on board, we will be welcomed by the crew and captain, have a short security drill and enjoy dinner and the briefing for the next day´s activities.
DAY 2 – SUNDAY
MORNING
We spend the day on Floreana, legendary homestead of infamous Baroness Eloise Von Wagner de Bousquet. Wet landing onto the olivine beaches of Punta Cormorant we will be seeking Greater Flamingos on our way to another special beach with the finest sand you’ll set foot on, a sea turtle nesting ground where sharks and rays also visit regularly. We end the outing with a short panga ride to Devil’s Crown, a key snorkeling site.
AFTERNOON
After lunch we will visit Post Office Bay (wet landing), where you can drop your postcards in the barrel as the whalers did centuries ago and select cards to hand deliver when you return home.
DAY 3 - MONDAY
MORNING
This morning we will visit Floreana Island´s Black Beach to learn about the intriguing humanhistory of the island and its first inhabitants. Floreana was the first island in the archipelago to be inhabited, since it has one of the very few fresh water sources. We will visit this fresh water source known as Asilo de La Paz, as well as the caves that served as hideouts for pirates and where the first Galapegueño was born, according to the stories of Floreana, which involve the infamous Baroness Eloise Wagner von Bousquet and her lovers who mysteriously began to disappear after settling on the island.
AFTERNOON
After our visit, we will have the best opportunity for a not so common yet well beloved activity in the archipelago, a full afternoon navigation to look for whales and dolphins. The waters of the Galapagos form the second largest marine reserve in the world very rich in wildlife. The biggest representatives of the underwater fauna are the different species of whales and dolphins found here. We will navigate form Floreana to Isabela Island while looking for these fascinating creatures, which are commonly seen in this area. This afternoon is completed by the impressive landscapes of Isabella and the Cerro Azul volcano.
DAY 4 – TUESDAY
MORNINGWe arrive at Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos. After breakfast, we step ashore at Punta Moreno (dry landing) onto a superb pahoehoe lava flow surrounded by giant shield volcanoes, some of which are still active! From here we will do a short hike to a lagoon where flamingos are usually present.
AFTERNOON
Panga ride in and around Elizabeth Bay, a salt‐water lagoon surrounded by the largest red mangroves of the Galapagos. Here, it is usual to see sea turtles come near our zodiac to greet us. Flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins are also more abundant in this part of the archipelago.
DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY
MORNING
We disembark at Urbina Bay (wet landing) onto a black sand beach, nesting site for green sea turtles. We take a brief hike inland in search of land iguanas and giant tortoises (seasonal) that migrate to and from the highlands. At the beach, we will admire the remains of a geological uplift exposing coral heads and marine fossils and if the sea conditions and time are on our side, we will also snorkel in these waters.
AFTERNOON
We cross Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island, one of the world’s most unspoilt sites, and disembark (dry landing) at Punta Espinosa. Strolling along the shoreline, we will be on the lookout for flightless cormorants, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos penguins and hawks, sooty‐ colored marine iguanas and bright red‐orange Sally Lightfoot crabs.
DAY 6 - THURSDAY
MORNING
Dry landing near Tagus Cove, historic pirate hideaway where names of countless ships are recorded for posterity on the cliff face. Hike through beautiful Galapagos landscapes to Darwin Lake, a salt‐water crater lagoon surrounded by tuff stone.
AFTERNOON
At Punta Vicente Roca we will do a panga ride around the beautiful coastline before jumping into the water to enjoy one of the best snorkeling sites of the Galapagos. The underwater cliffs found here are filled with enough colors and life to amaze everyone looking at them for the first time.
DAY 7 – FRIDAY
MORNING
After three days exploring the fabulous western islands, we head to central Santiago to disembark at Espumilla (wet landing), onto a golden‐colored sand green sea turtle nesting site. A forest trail will take us through some of the largest specimens of Palo Santo on the islands to observe yellow warblers, the unbelievably tame Galapagos flycatcher and the ever‐intriguing Darwin finches.
AFTERNOON
At Puerto Egas (wet landing) we disembark on a dark sand volcanic beach with an interesting history of human settlement. Sleepy Galapagos fur seals lounge under arches of lava carved by the ocean and occasionally dip into the crystalline pools, also known as “grottos”. Walk along the shore and observe the abundant marine life.
DAY 8 – SATURDAY
MORNINGWe disembark on North Seymour (dry landing), a small uplifted island, where we will walk right
up to bird nesting colonies of the two species of frigatebirds, blue‐footed boobies and swallow‐ tailed gulls, and experience, depending on season, spectacular mating ritual displays. After this visit the ship will sail to Baltra where passengers ending their trip will disembark and passengers beginning their cruise will join us on board.
In addition to the land visits we offer a good balance of other activities such as snorkeling, panga rides and kayaking.