Galapagos North - Central Cruise A (Galapagos Legend)

Description

A short trip through the Galapagos islands for those of you with limited time this is a great cruise for you.

Genovesa is the perfect place for all bird lovers, great opportunities to see different species of birds including a big colony of the colorful red-footed booby. Spectacular views from cliff tops, palo santo trees, tidal pools where sea lions can be observed.

Trip Name

Galapagos North - Central Cruise A (Galapagos Legend)

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Expedition Cruise Ship Length: 301 ft, 92 m Passenger Capacity: 100 Built/Refurbished: 2002/2017 This magnificent vessel, with a capacity for 100 guests, has the charm of The Enchanted Islands; it is still small enough for a more intimate experience with friends and family. With her three different decks, the Galapagos Legend offers a great variety of comfortable and spacious social areas without losing its sense of intimacy. Its fantastic open decks allow you to admire the islands’ flora and fauna, enjoy a BBQ at night, or take some sun at the pool and bar areas. Take advantage of its spacious inside auditorium for important conferences. Our philosophy is based on an environment without any formalisms or strict etiquette. The M/V Galapagos Legend has 52 ocean view, air-conditioned cabins plus 3 interior ones, each cabin counts with lower beds and private facilities in which a matrimonial, double, triple or quadruple options are available. We have suited a new cabin configuration to assure enjoyment for families and friends traveling together. Each cabin includes: hair dryer, special bedding, and updated furniture. Internal, local and international satellite telephone service is offered, Internet is accessible when anchoring in main islands. Voltage is set for 110-220 volts/60 Hz. The Balcony suites have private balconies and panoramic windows to immerse yourself within the vast landscape that you are about to witness and enjoy it privately. The Junior suites have three meters of panoramic windows to enjoy the scenery.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 Baltra Airport & Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz Island)

Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island (2 ½-hour flight). Arriving in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our natural guides and taken to a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.Dry landing. In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island we have our best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species of the famed finches.

Day 2 - Day 2 El Barranco, Prince Philip’s Steps & Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)

Riding our pangas to the far side of the caldera, red-billed tropicbirds display vociferously overhead while Galapagos fur seals can be seen on the shoreline. Once at the top of the rocky stairway we are immediately met by Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches that line our way through a palo santo forest until we arrive at an expansive open lava field. Wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm above the lava where we keep our eyes peeled for short-eared owls.From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island we set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. Our short, flat, trail leads us past stands of mangroves and saltbush on which we have our best possible looks at nesting red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds. At the tidal lagoon we may also see the rarest gull in the world, our very own, endemic lava gull.

Day 3 - Day 3 Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island) & Santa Fe Island

Dry landing. Arriving to a small lava dock our first encounters are with marine iguanas that blend-in perfectly to the dark rock. As we walk past large prickly pear cacti we arrive to one end of a long, sickle-shaped, beach with Dragon Hill standing in the distance. Our walk takes us on a circular path, past a shallow lake where flamingoes frequently come to feed. Waders such as stilts, turnstones and sandpipers work the muddy edges frenetically looking for food as we continue inland to a dry, forested habitat where land iguanas nest and burrow.Wet landing. After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay we may have enjoyed time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing onto a sandy beach we are immediately distracted by the abundant sea lions there with us. We begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti. Here we search for another island-endemic the Santa Fe land iguana, paler than its cousins on other islands. Galapagos hawks and even endemic rice rats are also things to look out for.

Day 4 - Day 4 Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island) & Baltra Airport

Wet landing. Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers great swimming, a lovely walk along the shore and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingoes. The two beaches are also favorite nesting sites for green turtles which often leave tractor-like tracks in the sand.After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.

Day 5 - Please Note:

We reserve the right to change itineraries without prior notice if considered appropriate due to National Park rules, force majeure or any consideration at Captain’s discretion, without being liable for refunds of any kind.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Enjoy full board, two daily guided excursions with optional activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, dinghy rides and our new feature daily diving tours for license-holding divers
Encounter Giant tortoises, tree & ground Darwin finches, red footed boobies, short-eared owl
See four species of mangrove, declared as a “Turtle Sanctuary”
Discover one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles and flamingoes