Galapagos Cruise Ship - 10 Days

Itinerary

Day 1 Quito

Upon arrival at the Quito airport, you will be met and transfered to your hotel for overnight.This itinerary is based on a Sunday departure - Wednesday departures will be slightly reversed but all of the same islands are visited, just in a different order.

Day 2 Quito/Baltra

After your morning flight from Quito , arrive at Baltra airport, transfer to the ship, enjoy lunch on board and start your tour with a visit to Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat) Island, where you are likely to see many marine iguanas, sea lions and spectacular views. You may have a chance to snorkel here too!North SeymourDry landing. Guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies and has the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird. Travellers will also spot both the marine iguanas and will have snorkeling opportunities.Explore this captivating landscape in style with Klein Cruises, on the deluxe 100-person expedition ship, the M/V Galapagos Legend! This ship has many luxurious features and amenities. All spacious, carpeted state rooms offer: ocean view, all lower berths, private bathrooms with hot showers, air conditioning, hairdryers, closets and safety deposit boxes. The spacious public areas of the M/V Galapagos Legend are equally luxurious, and include a swimming pool, cocktail bars, a cafe, a computer games room, broad sun decks, observation platforms, an auditorium and a lounge. On board, the highly trained and attentive crew includes an internationally renowned chef, multilingual naturalist guides and a physician on duty 24 hours.

Day 3 Santa Cruz/Floreana

This morning you will disembark to see Dragon Hill, where you are likely to encounter iguanas and flamingos. Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill or Venice) Wet landing. Passengers walk to a saltwater lagoon behind the beach, where on occasion many pink flamingos can be observed. This trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which offers a lovely view of the bay. This is a nesting site for reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also a Scalesia tree forest. Passengers may opt to take a dinghy to Venice islet and observe the vegetation and marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays,mullets, sharks and sea turtles. Land iguanas have often been observed as well. Floreana (Cormorant Point) Wet landing on a greenish coloured sand beach. Visitors will hike from the black mangrove beds to a large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. The island is best known for its endemic plants like the Galapagos millwork, passion flower and button mangrove. Novice snorkellers can practice on the main beach with the playful sea lions; experienced snorkellers can roam around Devils Crown. Please keep in mind this is an open-water activity; there is nothing to step on.

Day 4 Espanola/San Cristobal

This morning, disembark at Punta Suarez and enjoy a gentle walk to view the spectacular wildlife, including many blue-footed boobies, and the endemic Galapagos albatross. Later, visit the Interpretation Centre to learn more about the history of the islands.Española (Suarez Point) Dry landing. Visitors will learn more about the lava terrain and cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching. Many species, such as the hooded mocking bird and red billed tropic bird can be spotted and observed closely. You will also see a large colony of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and sally light foot crabs. After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies. The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed gulls and then reach the world’s largest colony of waved albatross. A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December. You’ll visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air about 23 m (75 ft). San Cristóbal (Interpretation Center or La Galapaguera) Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Passengers will visit San Cristóbal breeding center and learn about the National Park’s breeding program with the giant tortoises. Passengers will observe some animals in their natural environment.

Day 5 Santa Cruz/Bartholome

This morning, during our visit to Punta Carrion you can snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white tip reef sharks. From Punta Carrion the short naviagtion is through the beautiful Itabaca Channel with its turquoise waters.you can snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white tip reef sharks. From Punta Carrion the short naviagtion is through the beautiful Itabaca Channel with its turquoise waters.Stop at Baltra airport to pick up and drop off passengers. This afternoon, visit Bartolome Island and enjoy the view of pinnacle rock, one of the most famous views of the Galapagos.BartolomeDry landing. Passengers will see volcanic formations like lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit you’ll be impressed by the view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the hike to the summit, travellers will often see colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, and various cacti.Visitors will be able to snorkel and see the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance.

Day 6 Isabela/Fernandina

Today you’ll disembark at Urbina Bay to see a wide variety of seabirds, including the flightless cormorant, endemic to the Galapagos. This afternoon, see the largest colony of marine iguanas in the Galapagos -- usually found sunbathing on the rocks. You’ll also view fascinating vegetation, sea lions and possibly even Galapagos penguins!Wet landing. Passengers will visit the fossil beach and coral area. Depending on the season you may be able to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. After the walk we will have time for snorkelling. Fernandina (Espinosa Point) Dry landing. Visitors will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs, as well as flightless cormorants nesting sites, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will spot brachycereus cactus, and “pa-hoe-hoe” lava and “AA” lava formations. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea.

Day 7 Santiago

This morning, enjoy a stop on Santiago Island, where you will meet some flamingoes and white-cheeked pintail ducks. This afternoon, visit Punta Egas for birdwatching opportunities, the chance to get up-close and personal with sea lions and fur seals, a crater where salt was once mined, and some intriguing geological formations.Santiago Wet landing on a dark sand beach. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. You can observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow crowned night herons and oyster catchers. Passengers will see marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds alongside red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seals swimming in deep pools of cool water. Here you can swim and snorkel and find octopuses, sea horses, star fish. Rábida (Jervis) Wet landing. The volcano-formed beach is dark red and frequented by sea lions. It’s considered the geographic centre of Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands. You’ll hike to a salt water lagoon, where flamingos can sometimes be found. July through September is a good time to observe brown pelicans nesting in the salty bushes. Boobies and 9 species of Darwin’s finches can also be observed. You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs, as well as snorkel.

Day 8 Santa Cruz

This morning visit the Charles Darwin Station, where you will have the opportunity to see the wide variety of turtles that make the Galapagos Islands famous. Perhaps even get the chance to see “Lonesome George”! This afternoon, visit the highlands, where you will see some fascinating geological features such as lava tubes and pit craters.Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station)Travellers will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can admire the giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Visitors can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Later on, you’ll have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.Santa Cruz (Highlands)Travellers can trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz and visit Cerro Chato, where you’ll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises. Additionally, travellers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.

Day 9 Santa Cruz/Quito

This morning visit Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach) Wet landing. This beach is located on north side of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the opportunity to swim on the white sand beach.

Day 10 Quito

Day at leisure until transfer to the airport.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Comfortable Hotel(2 nts), Superior Exterior Cabin (7 nts)
Brochure Notes	Itinerary based on Sunday departure. This itinerary may change due to weather or seasonal points of interest. A Galapagos National Park fee of $100USD in cash is required by each passenger upon arrival in Galapagos. Child rate applies only for 1 child sharing the room with 2 paying adults.
Departure	Sun, Wed
Group Size	No Minimum
Included Highlights	Visit to Charles Darwin Research Station, Incredible Wildlife Excursions, Daily opportunities for swimming and snorkeling
Meals Included	9 B, 6 L, 6 D
Recommendation	A shorter 7-day version of this trip is also available - see code TSEV7L.
StartFinish	ex Quito
Transport	Bus, Local Flight, Ship
Brochure Intro	The Galapagos Islands are perhaps one of the most diverse and interesting places on Earth. Declared a UNESCO heritage site because of their unparalleled scientific interest as a natural laboratory of evolution, they've been fascinating scientists and travellers alike for over a century.

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