M/Y Galapagos Sea Star Journey

Cerro Colorado Upon arrival at San Cristobal Airport, travellers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands, as well as to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless it has been prepaid). A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour.

In the afternoon, visit to Cerro Colorado Tortoises Protection and Growing Center, located at 40 minutes aprox by bus to the south east of the island. This center was built to improve the status of the population of the island tortoises. The center includes a large corral, a Visitors center, breeding center and an interpretative trail. Along this trail is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants as well birds as the San Cristobal Mockingbird, Yellow Warblers, and many species of finches and the Galápagos flycatcher.

Morning Excursion: Gardner Bay

Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here we can also observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters.

Afternoon Excursion: Punta Suarez

This rocky land spot sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow whole where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf.

Morning Excursion: Punta Cormorant

This site offers probably the best Flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks and other migratory birds. It is very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral.

Afternoon Excursion: Post office bay & Baroness Lookout

Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since this time by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. We will continue to the north of the island and will ascent to an elevated slope to enjoy a beautiful vista at the Baroness Lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the horizon. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as her House. From this lookout, the landscape covers the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and wide forest of Palo Santo.

Morning Excursion: Santa Fe

Santa Fe Located in the southeastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift instead than a volcanic origin, this is why is mostly flat. There are some theories which assure this could be the oldest island in the Archipielago. Santa Fe is the home of a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of the two species of lands Iguanas of the islands. After disembarkation in the beautiful and clear waters you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well giant Pickly pear cactus, gigantism is a characteristic of oceanic islands. There are great possibilities of snorkeling with playful sea lions and tropical fishes.

Afternoon Excursions: Plazas

Plazas is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas land iguanas are smaller than its relatives found at other islands. Throughout the island are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, they are unique, recognizable at first glance by their black/gray color, with a land iguana’s crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana. The big population of iguanas is due to the presence of tunas, their favorite food. Swallow Tailed Gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other sea bids as: Audubon shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds and brown pelicans.

Morning Excursion: North Seymour Island

North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing.
Watch your step, as the boobies don’t worry much about where they nest, and you might just step on one. The trees are dotted with male frigate birds trying to attract the attention of the ladies by inflating their bright red skin flaps. They sometimes fly in the air to call more attention to themselves. There’s a circular path that takes you through the island to a beautiful, rocky shore where the waves crash a silvery-blue.

Afternoon Excursion: Bachas Beach

These two small beaches are found to the West of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, making it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small brackish water lagoon, where occasionally is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategically point to protect the Panama Channel.

Morning Excursion: Mosquera Islet

Mosquera Islet is located between Baltra and North Seymour. This is a small islet formed by a geological uplift, with a reef of rocks and coral and a great white sand beach, where lie a big population of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. This site offers great snorkeling and swimming.

Along the rocks are commonly running Red Lava crabs or Sally light-foot crabs.

Then transfer to the airport at Baltra Island for flight back home

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, visitors must go through an inspection in order to verify that no foreign plants or animals are being introduced to the islands. An entrance fee of $100 (unless it has been prepaid) must be paid to the Galapagos National Park in order  to conserve the islands. A representative of our M/Y Galápagos Se Star Journey, will meet you right outside an, help collect your luggage, and escort your bus ride to Puerto Ayora Village.

Afternoon Excursion: Dragon hill, Santa Cruz Island

The visitor site at Dragon Hill has been opened for visits since 1993. This site is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island and consists of a trail that leads to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach, frequented by amingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. This site has been re populated with land iguanas from Seymour, Isabela and Santa Cruz islands. There is a short walk to the Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay.

Morning Excursion: Turtle Black Cove

This little cove is located at the northern side of SantaCruz island, this is a red mangrove lagoon very calm and quiet which made an ideal place as nursery for many sharks and rays. Its crystal waters permits to observe large groups of white-tip reef, black tipped reef and hammerheads sharks, schools of golden rays and spotted eagle rays. There are no landing sites so the visit is done by panga or kayak. Sea turtles are frequently seen and sometimes they are seen mating in the mangrove-lined waters. Pelicans and Herons are also seen in this area.

Afternoon Excursion: Chinese Hat

This is a small islet (1 sq km) located just o the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from north side. On the west lava formations it can be seen , formed under the sea and raised upward, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lions colonies, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.

Morning Excursion: El Barranco

The visitor site of El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay from Genovesa Island. The trail is on volcanic rock, consists of 1.5 km and can be done in about 2 hours. The youngest area of the island, from a geological point of view, lies on this area. It is located in the south, are composed of very fragile lava. The natural erosion in these
lava flows has become the ideal place for nesting Storm Petrels. You can see two species of petrels that nest in cavities and holes in the lava. One of its main predators is the short-eared owl. The red-footed booby nests only in the outer islands of the archipelago, Punta Pitt, Gardner (Floreana), Wolf, Darwin and Genovesa. Also present on this island is the masked
booby. During the “panga rides” along the cliffs, fur sea lions and several species of seabirds can be seen.

Afternoon Excursion: Darwin Bay

This bay has its origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favorite island for birdwatchers that allow the following species to be seen: red
footed-booby, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, yellow-crowned, and black-crowned lava
herons, and yellow warblers. Continuing on the trail, visitors climb gradually to the edge of the cliffs seeing Red-Foots nesting in the Mangrove trees below. Bird watching includes sightings of sharp-beaked finches, large cactus and ground finches, Galapagos doves,
and swallow-tailed gulls. Reaching the end of the trail, at the cliffs edge an incredible view of the island and the many
birds living there can be observed.

Morning Excursion: Bartolome Island

Bartolome Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as: Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island. It has two breathtaking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins

Afternoon Excursion: The Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island

Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active, with many young ows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. These may even be seen from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.

Morning Excursion: Highlands

The trail to the highlands leaves from Bellavista and passes through the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone, and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area
affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round.

After the morning excursion you will be taken to the airport for your flight to the mainland. Baltra airport.

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, visitors must go through an inspection in order to verify that no foreign plants or animals are being introduced to the islands. An entrance fee of $100 (unless it has been prepaid) must be paid to the Galapagos
National Park in order to conserve the islands. A representative of our M/Y Galápagos Se Star Journey, will meet you right outside an, help collect your luggage, and escort your bus ride to Puerto Ayora Village

Afternoon Excursion: Charles Darwin Station

Although a great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn about the protection and conservation of the islands. The National Park information center, the Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity are the best places to learn actively about these topics

Morning Excursion: White Tipped Reef Shark Canal

A delightful place called Tintoreras is reached by a nice zodiac ride. These are small islands in front of Puerto Villamil coast. There is Heron lava on the lookout on mangrove branch, and Galapagos Penguins and sea lions often pop out on
shore. White-tipped reef sharks are fairly common in the archipelago. Their name in Spanish is Tintorera, thus the name of this site as they are always found here resting in the shallow waters.

Afternoon Excursion: Sierra Negra Volcano

Isabela Island is the largest and one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We land in Puerto Villamil, which has the second smallest population in Galapagos with approximately 3000 habitants. We head up to the highlands from Puerto Villamil to Sierra Negra slope, and later we will hike on uneven terrain until we arrive to the
Sierra Negra volcano rim. Sierra Negra is the second widest crater in the world. From this viewpoint, you have fantastic sights to the 6 x 5 -mile-wide crater, the rest of the volcanoes, and Perry Isthmus, a 12 Km wide lava field. From here we hike to Chico Volcano to watch the striking lava formations, examples of the geological occurrences that have created the Galapagos Islands.

Morning Excursion: Punta Moreno

Punta Moreno is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcano. The
trail runs along a lava ow Pahohoe (solidied lava in the form of corrugated or an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons, where several unique species of birds can be found.

Afternoon Excursion: Elizabeth Bay

This is a marine visitor site, the excursion is carried out in a zodiac, therefore there is no landing point. Your zodiac ride starts with a visit to the Marielas islets where the largest and most important penguin colony in the Galapagos is
found. The excursion continues into the cove that is surrounded by red mangroves. Their red roots and green leafs are definitely an attraction. It is here that you are able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. Visitors have been able to see Galapagos Hawks soaring overhead whilst schools of Pompano and Dorado fish swim below

Morning Excursion: Punta Espinoza 

Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza which is located on
the northeastern tip of the island. Just across Tagus Cove, a visitor site is found. Marine iguanas here conglomerate in
larger groups in comparison to any other island. They bask around in the sand, swim near the shore and may even
block the way at the landing dock, a beautiful show for everyone. Among the unique species found here, we find
the Flightless Cormorant. A bird that due to the lack of predators, had to adjust its way of survival and adapt its
skills to find food in the ocean. Its wings, tail and feet progressively have adapted for swimming. By looking at this species one can truly witness Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Remember to stay within 2m of the cormorants and penguins

Afternoon Excursion: Tagus Cove

Tagus Cove, consists on a tour along the cliffs. A zodiac will give the visitors a good chance to see the Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant among other seabirds. From the landing dock, we hike 30 minutes up to the top of the cliff from where you can see the Darwin Lake, an uplifted ultra-saline lake which is saltier than the ocean itself. You can also see several volcanoes from this location. Look carefully at the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs of the cove as they were written by pirates, whalers and buccaneers in past centuries.

Morning Excursion: Espumilla Beach

Espumilla beach is located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. During the last presence of El Niño phenomenon, one of the two lagoons in this site, underwent a process of sedimentation, thus causing the disappearance of a representative colony of flamingos. The main attractions are the Palo Santo forest and the marvelous. In addition, the beach is an important site for nesting marine turtles.

Afternoon Excursion: Puerto Egas

It’s black beach is located on the west side of the island and is the main attraction of the island. Their volcanic tuff
deposits have favored the formation of this special black sand beach. This site is called Puerto Egas, because there was an attempt from Hector Egas’ company, to start the exploitation of salt, which failed because the price of salt in the continent was very cheap, and did not justify its exploitation in Galapagos. The project was abandoned and they left their infrastructure.

Morning Excursion: Isla Lobos

This little island is reached in approximately 1 hour by panga, starting at Port Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Island. The trail will lead across a dry vegetation zone, substrate of volcanic rocks and sandy areas. There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds, which nest in this site. At the beach you will see a large colony of sea lions and you may see shorebirds.

After your visit to Isla Lobos, transfer to the airport in San Cristobal and Flight