South Central Itinerary - Letty Yacht - Galapagos Cruise

San Cristóbal, the fifth largest and easternmost island in the Galapagos, features the archipelago's oldest permanent settlement and was where Darwin first set foot in 1835. Manuel Cobos and Jose Monroy established the Orchillera Society, initially a penal colony; sugarcane was cultivated, and a prosperous fishing industry thrived from 1952 to 1960. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno serves as the provincial capital.

A.M. San Cristóbal Airport

At the outset of this itinerary, brimming with activities and scenic spots, we will visit the island's interpretation center. The Galapagos National Park Visitor Centre in San Cristóbal, established in 1998, offers a comprehensive history of the archipelago, including its ecosystems, flora, fauna, and cultural heritage. It features two interpretive panels detailing the natural and cultural history of the islands, along with amenities like a small auditorium, meeting rooms, and video equipment for community events.

P.M. Interpretation Center - Cerro Colorado 14:00 - 18:00h

Following this visit, we will journey to the "Galapaguera Islands."

This facility, inaugurated by the National Park in 2003, serves as both an artificial turtle breeding program and a tourist information center. Visitors can observe giant tortoises in a natural habitat and learn about their evolution and the threats they face from other species.

Activities: TK

Meals: B - L - D

A.M. San Cristóbal Island - Punta Pitt 08:00-12:00h

Following a pleasant start to the day with breakfast, we proceed to Punta Pitt, located on the eastern edge of San Cristóbal. This site hosts a bachelor colony of sea lions, and it's the sole location in the Galapagos where all three species nest. Swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels, along with two species of frigatebirds, also inhabit the area. The panoramic view from the cliff top offers stunning vistas of the sea lions and the rugged, wind-sculpted peaks of the island. Exploring the area on foot provides an opportunity to observe the resilient vegetation that thrives in this volcanic terrain.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

P.M. Punta Pitt - Cerro Brujo 15:00 - 18:00h

From Punta Pitt, our journey continues to Cerro Brujo, where swimming and snorkeling are popular activities along the coral-sand beach. Charles Darwin and Captain Fitzroy both explored the remnants of a tuff cone here. The scenery is breathtaking, with sightings of sea lions, marine iguanas, and migratory birds. The lagoon sometimes dries out completely, leaving behind salt deposits on the bottom.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

P.M. Kicker Rock

Following lunch, our next destination is Kicker Rock, a coral-sand beach located approximately ten minutes from the airport. Here, sea lions rest on both the sand and rocks. Visitors can also spot birds like yellow warblers, frigatebirds, and various finches coexisting with the sea lions along the shoreline.

Activities: Circumnavigation

Meals: B - L - D

Española is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos, estimated to be around four million years old. It is a typical shield volcano, formed from a single caldera at its center. Over millennia, it has gradually moved away from the hot spot where it originated. The island is home to several endemic species such as the Waved Albatross, Española Lava Lizard, and Española Mockingbird.

AM: Gardner Bay 08:00 - 12:00h

We kick off the day with a delightful start and after breakfast, we head to Gardner Bay. Known for its expansive white sand beach, Gardner Bay is adorned with three species of Darwin's finches and Española mockingbirds, making it one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos. The Española mockingbird, the only carnivorous species of mockingbird, feeds on insects, turtle hatchlings, sea lion placentas, and newborn boobies. Green turtles can be spotted gracefully swimming in the water or hauling themselves onto the shore. Visitors can enjoy swimming or snorkeling among the rocks in the shallow sea.

Activities: TK / KY / SN

P.M. Suarez Point

In the afternoon, we venture to Punta Suárez, a renowned site in the Galapagos. Here, visitors can encounter a variety of animals including sea lions, marine iguanas, Española lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, Española mockingbirds, three species of Darwin's finches, and Galapagos doves. The highlight of the site is the breeding colony of the Waved Albatross, where each pair lays a single egg annually and shares the responsibility of incubating it. In January, the entire colony departs Española to feed for three months before returning to the island.

The island of Floreana was home to the Galapagos Islands' first post office and was settled by Ecuadorians in 1832. It also gained notoriety for several mysterious disappearances in the 1930s, including that of an Austrian baroness. Access to and from Floreana is limited, with a biweekly boat service connecting it to Santa Cruz Island.

A.M. The Baroness' Lookout - Post Office Bay 08:00 - 12:00h

Located in the northern part of Floreana Island between Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant, the Baroness' Lookout is a striking basalt tuff formation with historical significance. It offers an ideal viewpoint for mangrove interpretation and opportunities to spot golden eagle rays, sea turtles, sea lions, mullets, and possibly Galapagos penguins. The site is named after Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner, who resided on Floreana Island and used this spot as a strategic vantage point to observe approaching ships.

Next, we visit Post Office Bay to explore the human history of the Galapagos. Whalers established a makeshift post office here in 1793 by leaving addressed letters in a wooden barrel. Today, visitors can participate by leaving postcards and browsing through the collection. In 1926, Norwegians attempted unsuccessfully to colonize the area. There's also a lava tube that visitors can enter via a ladder extending from the Post Office Barrel.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

P.M. Cormorant Point 14:00 - 18:00h

A popular tourist destination, Cormorant Point features two beaches: one with green sand rich in olivine crystals and another with white sand strewn with small broken corals. The main attraction is the Flamingo Lagoon, where visitors can observe Galapagos flamingos wading in brackish water. Green turtles and rays are also commonly spotted at Flour Beach. Floreana gained notoriety for its mysterious disappearances in the 1930s. Access to Floreana is exclusively by boat from Santa Cruz Island.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

Meals: B - L - D

A.M. North Seymour 08:00 - 10:00h

North Seymour Island was shaped by underwater lava flows and now hosts approximately 2,500 land iguanas, along with blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, common noddies, and frigate birds. These species were relocated there during the Hancock expeditions of the early 1930s to improve their survival conditions. While North Seymour lacks land iguanas, it boasts significant populations of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, common noddies, and frigatebirds. Later in the afternoon, visitors will be transported to Baltra Island and its airport.