Galapagos 5 days cruise on board the Ocean Spray North and Central islands

Galapagos 5 days cruise on board the Ocean Spray North and Central islands | Ocean Spray | Galapagos Tours Galapagos 5 days cruise on board the Ocean Spray North and Central islands | Ocean Spray | Galapagos Tours
The 5 day Galapagos cruise itinerary on board the Ocean Spray, allows nature travelers to observe red footed boobies, galapagos owls, hawks and tropic birds as they hike the paths on Genovesa island. Visitors will also walk on lava and admire the volcanic scenery in the central islands of Bartolome and Santiago. An oportunity to snorkel sea lions, turtles and rays is also part of the daily activities. The stability and elegance of the Ocean Spray catamaran allow guests to rest in between excursions and enjoy a smooth voyage from island to island. A balanced combination of natural history touring with discreet luxury of world class yachting.

Day by day

Day 1: Arrival at Baltra airport & Bartolome Island

As you exit your plane you will feel the warm air of the archipelago. Your guide and crew will be waiting with a sign that says Ocean Spray. Board the catamaran and enjoy a welcome drink, lunch is served upoon arrival to avoid any downtime as your boat sets sail to Bartolome isle for the first excursion.

Bartolome Island is a one of the smaller islets just off the shores of the larger Santiago Island. The pointy Pinnacle Rock rules the half moon bay, this iconic formation was baptized after James Sullivan one of the members of the HMS Beagle expedition and a friend of Charles Darwin. It is a camera magnet and appears in most Galapagos photos, indeed one of the most picturesque formations in the archiplelago.

To reach the trail that leads to the summit of the island you will be taken on a zodiac ride over an underwater sunken crater. You will then disembark on a rustic dock made of lava stone and concrete. From the begining of the trail the views of surrounding islands, the bay and the blue ocean start to unveil the geological wonders of the archipelago. To reach the hilltop of the island you need to climb the 372 wooden steps, along the way you will be able to view cindeer cones, lava tuffs and remnants of the volcanic activity that formed the island. Your path will be crossed by the ocassional lava lizard as it seems to be scouting out the new visitors. 

The hike to the top is moderate, but the rewards is well worth the effort, the views below are literally out of this world. Two half moon bays lead the eyesight towards the Sullivan Bay lava field on neighboring Santiago island and in the background you can spot the volcanoes on isabela island. After the breathtaking moonlike landscape has drained your camera memory, you will be back on the zodiac for a ride around the cliffs and rocks where you might spot a small colony of Galapagos penguins. Your visit will end with the opportunity to snorkel in the bay. Playful sea lions, manta rays, colorful reef fish, sea turtles and other marine creatures will keep you company as you swim over a coral reef and underwater lava rocks. 

Back on board your guide will offer an evening lecture (daily) and dinner will be served before the nightly sailing. 

(L, D)

Day 2: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay & El Barranco

Genovesa is one of the northern islands of the archipelago and has the shape of a giant letter C. Also the peak of a marine volcano, formed by constant yet subtle lava flows that emerged from a shield volcano. The first visit on Genovesa is Darwin bay, a white coral beach frequented by warblers, seagulls and night herons. The mangrove forest is a nesting site for red footed boobies. You will have the opportunity to snorkel in the calm waters of the bay and if you are a good swimmer you can venture out along the rocky shore to spot white tipped reef sharks, moray eels and enjoy the views of an underwater mountain.

Take a break, escape the midday sun and restore yourself on board your boat. Lunch time. Meals on board the Ocean Spray are a gastronomic delight with fresh seafood and organic ingredients from mainland Ecuador and the highland farms on the inhabitted islands. 

The afternoon visit takes you to "El Barranco", but first you must climb Prince Phillips steps. A short but steep walk (aprox. 20 steps) will put you in front of nesting masked and red footed booby birds. These colorful birds nest in the Palo Santo trees, there are about 100.000 pairs nesting on the island. The trail leads inland and to the other side of the island, along the crevaces you will be able to spot Galapagos hawks and owls. It is an easy walk to the other side of the island, you will reach the cliff that unveils thousands of sea birds circling above. You will understand why it is called "bird island". 


 
Day 3: Santiago Island: Egas Port & Espumilla Beach

Disembark at Egas port, the former sight of a Norwegian fishery. The trail leads inland offering beautiful scenery and the rock formation comically known as "Darwin's toilet", here you will be able to spot the Galapagos fur seals as they playfully swim in between tidal pools. Marine iguanas, herons, warblers, booby birds and other creatures are ther common sightings. The bright red sally light foot crabs contrast beautifully with the lava rocks and the ocean. 

Today you will also visit Bucanner cove and Espumilla beach, both are rich in birdlife and have top notch snorkeling where you can swim with sea lions, sea turtles and with some luck spot octopus, tropical fish, moray eels and white tipped reef sharks.

B, L, D  


 
Day 4: North Seymour Island & Santa Cruz Island: Highlands

North Seymour Island was named after British noble Lord Hugh Seymour. The island is also the product of a volcanic eruption and its subsequent lava flows, it is competely flat and the trail is very easy to walk, so no great effort is needed. North Seymour is home to a huge colony of land iguanas - approximately 2,500 according to the parks last census. There are important colonies of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies and frigatebirds. The arcipelagos largest nesting area of Magnificent Frigatebirds is alongside the trails.

Santa Cruz island is one of the most diverse islands, the dry coast area with the palo santo forests turns lush and green as you ascend to the highlands. This is one of the favorite habitats for giant tortoises who love the cloudforest weather, they soak in mud pools and graze in the pastures of local farms. We visit one of these farms that border the national park, tortoises roam freely and can cross between the farm and park, of course having a well kept mud bath is enticing for anyone carrying a shell on their back for over 50 years. The highlands are also home to endemic plantlife like the escalesia tree and a variety of ferns. There are lava tubes that can be explored, if you are up to crawling a bit you can visit the deeper tunnels. Birdwatching is world class, although mostly small species like finches, warblers, flycatchers, doves they are all mainly endemic meaning you can find them nowhere else on the planet. 


 
Day 5: Mosquera Islet & Departure

Mosquera Islet is more of a sandbar than an island. It is north of Santa cruz island located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. In most of the perimeter, there is a base of lava rocks where you will be able to spot sally light foot crabs. There is a noisy sea lion colony and you can spot several shore birds. 

The surrounding scenery is beautiful and suites well as a final visit to the enchanted isles. The last time we were on Mosquera we were able to analize a humpback whale skeleton with our guide, it had grounded on the island and was an interesting part of the islands natural history.

Your cruise has officially come to an end. We hope you enjoyed your Galapagos Cruise! We will now transfer you to your scheduled departure from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!


 

Itinerary Map

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Galapagos 5 days cruise on board the Ocean Spray North and Central islands | Galapagos Map

Includes

  • Scheduled visits and activities with a professional bilingual guide
  • All meals on board, snacks, purified water, tea and coffee
  • Accommodation in standard cabin / suite (with balcony where applicable) with private bathroom and air conditioning
  • Snorkeling equipment (mask, lenses, fins), sea-kayaks, wet-suits (some boats)
  • Assistance at the Airport and 24/7 during the trip

Does not Include

  • Air tickets to / from Galapagos from / to Quito, Guayaquil or combined route
  • Entrance to the Galapagos National Park US $ 100 p.p. (cash in the Islands)
  • Galapagos Control Card US $ 20 p.p. (at the airport before check-in)
  • Soft and alcoholic drinks on board; personal expenses, extras and tips guide and crew (cash)
  • Travel insurance with medical, cancellation and other unforeseen coverage
  • Other services in Continental Ecuador and not specified in the program

Highlights

  • Watch the herons at Espumilla beach hunt and chase down the baby marine iguanas
  • View thousands of sea birds fluttering above and around you as you reach the cliffside on Genovesa island
  • Hike 372 steps to the summit of a volcano as you admire a sunken crater and the beautiful formations on surrounding islands at Bartolome
  • Come face to face with sea lions, penguins, sea turtles and other creatures as you plunge into world class snorkeling sites
  • Enjoy the sundeck as you cruise in between islands watching the island scenery with the possibility to spot dolphins

Meals Included

  • Breakfast Served Daily
  • 4 Dinners
  • 5 Lunches
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Reviews

Unforgettable vacations
- Charissa Cope
An unforgettable experience, thanks to the good planning and execution by Ocean Spray’s crew. They responded quickly to our concerns and questions pre-departure, and after embarking, everything went as planned without a hitch. I will never forget the playful sea lion that followed me through the entire snorkeling trip pulling at my fin every now and then.
A great choice
- Daniel Shepherd
Samy Cruz, the naturalist guide did an amazing job and he was extremely knowledgeable. Isabela island is a gem, being able to spot a galapagos penguin was a dream come true. The entire crew was also very attentive to our needs: and this includes the barman, the cabin stewards, the board manager, and even the kitchen attendants. We spend a wonderful moment, thank you
More information about the Galapagos Islands you visit in this itinerary:
Galapagos 5 days cruise on board the Ocean Spray North and Central islands
5 Days (B)
From $5,190.00 per person
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