GALÁPAGOS CRUISE – CENTRAL, SOUTH AND EAST ISLANDS

Galápagos Cruise – North And West Islands – 8 Days / 7 Nights

The best way to experience the mystical isolation of the Galápagos Islands is onboard the sturdy, stately and very comfortable motor-vessel.

Duration:  8 Days / 7 Nights

£3050 / $3950 per person

M/V Samba – A graceful 78–foot motor yacht of European vintage Tourist Superior Class

• The best way to experience the mystical isolation of the Galápagos Islands is onboard the sturdy, stately and very comfortable motor-vessel, the M/V SAMBA. A great ocean-going vessel with her specially designed high bow, she provides safe crossings and boasts a special stabilizing sail.
• Her main salon and dining facilities make her socially versatile while top-side settees and an ample forward deck provide a great space to relax in the sun or take part in group activities such as stargazing and whale watching.
• The SAMBA accommodates 14 guests, a perfect number to enjoy the magic of the Islands with privacy and flexibility. Its professional, experienced and friendly crew and naturalist guide are devoted to go the extra mile to make your journey a trip of a lifetime.
• Six air-conditioned double cabins and 1 exterior double bed cabin, all with private bathrooms and hot water.

Ask for details on combining the cruises for an extended 15 day / 14 night adventure and save on the price!

Tuesday – Santa Cruz 
Am: Baltra Airport 
Pm: Charles Darwin Research Station

Upon arrival to Baltra Airport all at midday visitors pay their entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park, pass through immigration control, claim their checked pieces and get their hand luggage checked by the Quarantine system. The Samba’s naturalist guide will assist you with as you come out of the terminal and accompany on a short bus ride to travel to Canal de Itabaca. After crossing the Chanel we will board a bus to visit El Chato and have lunch around 2 pm.

After visiting the tortoise ranch and the lava tunnel we travel on our bus to Puerto Ayora and guests have about 30 minutes to walk by the main street. We will be on board around 6:00pm and dinner will be around 7:00pm.

Lunch and transportation included.

Wednesday – Floreana
Am: Punta Cormorant & Champion
Pm: Post Office Bay & The Barroness Lookout

Following a four-hour navigation from Puerto Ayora we will do a wet landing on a volcanic olivine beach. Punta Cormorant is located on the northern shore of Floreana and is the house of greater flamingos and sea turtles. On one side, the point is partially flooded with a brackish lagoon where flamingos occasionally feed. Whimbrels, herons and stilts are other common shore and migratory birds of the wetlands. On the other side sea turtles use every corner of a white sand beach to deliver their eggs. You often see stingrays and reef sharks from the shore and if you are lucky turtles ending basking.

Around mid morning we sail for 25 minutes do a dinghy ride and snorkel at Champion Islet. This small piece of land is one of two places were the Floreana mocking bird survives after its extinction on the big Island. While trying to find the rare bird from our dinghies, we will enjoy a beautiful landscape full of fairy tale cactus and terracotta rock formations. Soon sea lions will invite us to enjoy the water. The snorkeling around the island is extraordinary, lots of fish, rays, sharks and the playfulness of the Galapagos sea lions.

Adventure, survival, mystery and murder are the main ingredients for our next stop. Post Office Bay has left a legacy of pirates, whalers, scientific expeditions and intense stories of slay and constant ambiguity. After a wet landing we walk a very short distance to be part of the most important Galapagos tradition. Later we will Kayak or ride our dinghies to the west. We will go through a small set of islets with a sea lion colony, boobies and mangroves. Finally, following our ride we will land at the Baroness lookout. On top of this eroded spatter cone we will embrace the vivid obscurity of the human history of “Las Encantadas”.

Thursday – Española
Am: Punta Suarez
Pm: Gardner Bay & Gardner Island

Española is the oldest Galapagos Island, the Queen. Her Majesty has travel 100 miles away from the volcanic hotspot; she sets an example of splendor and wisdom. When landing on its western tip, on Punta Suárez, it is difficult to digest the beauty and the overwhelming amount of life. It takes a few minutes to understand that you are not dreaming and that the marine iguanas are really covered with fiery colours, sea lions leisurely wander around you, blue-footed boobies and Sally light-foot crabs coat the rocks with their intense grace. The long walk leads you the finest illustration of ancient sea bird colony. The endless cliff shaped by strong wave action and the force of the wind is the home of the only tropical albatross of the Earth (Depending on the time of the year you may not see them). This mythical elegant glider shares the precipice with many others sea birds like the tropicbirds, the sallow tailed gull, the Nazca booby.

Depending on weather conditions, either at the end of the morning or early in the afternoon, we will snorkel or kayak around Gardner Island. Its calm waters and attractive landscape give you a great experience above and below water.

Located on the north coast of Española Gardner Bay has tranquil white sand beach. The fine grains of sand make perfect terrain for a soft walk and a relaxing late in the afternoon. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t be alone, sea lions and Hood mocking birds will keep company.

Friday – San Cristobal
Am: Isla Lobos & Kicker Rock 
Pm: Punta Pitt

San Cristobal is the first Island where Charles Darwin set foot in Galápagos. Beautiful tuff cones that are eroding away decorate this old basaltic formation.

You will wake up to the barking of Galapagos sea lions, animals after which the Island where we land was named. After a dry landing on Isla Lobos, we walk on over very rocky terrain. To your surprise red balloons will soon bound you, great and magnificent pirates nest on this small flat Island. Frigate birds with their magenta and green iridescent feathers decorate the saltbushes. The island is also the nesting ground of blue-footed boobies. Don’t miss the chance of swimming with sea lions; a few sea creatures are as playful as these marine mammals.

Before lunch we navigate by a dramatic tuff cone formation, Kicker Rock. The eroded structure has vertical walls of over 450 feet and has a great numbers of sea birds nesting and resting on it. We will circumnavigate the rock to admire its magnitude, soon after that we will jump in the water to swim with Galapagos sharks, sea turtles, and eagle rays and drop offs full of colorful fish and invertebrates.

On Punta Pitt we do a wet landing late in the afternoon to climb a tuff cone and enjoy the sunset. This point is closest to mainland South America. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, frigate birds and storm petrel nest in the area.  The ochre color beach is perfect for a relaxing plunge after the walk.

Saturday – Santa Fe & Plazas
Am: Barrington Bay
Pm: South Plaza

The bay looks as if artist ornamented it. Barrington Bay is one of the most picturesque inlets of all visitor sites of the Galapagos. The white sand on the seabed reflects the light to turn the calm waters turquoise. A small forest of gigantic prickly pear cactus grows on a peninsula that keeps the bay sheltered. All the before mentioned are suitable conditions for a large sea lion colony.

Santa Fe is an ancient extinct volcano and it has been isolated from other island long enough to have an endemic land dragon. Paler in color than its relatives, the Barrington terrestrial iguana has a primitive morphology. Galapagos Hawks, mocking birds, finches and endemic rice rats make company to yellowish monster. The snorkeling won’t disappoint you.

A two-hour navigation north will take us to South Plaza. The dry landing takes you to a brilliant combination of life and colors. Land iguanas wondering through bright red carpet weed, Swallow tailed gulls nesting around the overhang tops and red-billed tropicbirds and shearwaters flying with dancing displays. Mind the pirates of the sky; they will strike if you drop your guard. 13 acres of beauty Hectare   is one of the best spots in the archipelago to see land iguanas and swallow-tailed gulls, both indigenous to the Galapagos. There are iguana nests scattered all over the hill. The sheer cliffs of the southern shore are a perfect bird habitat, making it an unparalleled bird observatory for especially swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, and red-billed tropicbirds.

Sunday – Sombrero Chino & Bartolomé
Am: Sombrero Chino
Pm: Bartolomé

The genesis of the islands is easy to acknowledge at Sombrero Chino. The coiled shiny structures of the pahoe-hoe lava appear as if they were formed yesterday. Lava tubes run like petrified rivers and white sand from eroded coral surrounds the black rock, scenic falls short. Located on the Southeast shores of James this Island is a very symmetrical cinder cone. The contrast of colors and shapes of the basalt, rust and shine of its surface will take you travel back to Mars, if you’ve been there before. Did someone say penguins? We love snorkeling here.

Bartolomé Island offers an explosive volcanic landscape. Get ready to climb above 270 feet to admire the dramatic spatter cones and the view of Pinnacle Rock that everyone wants. Later, take a walk on magical golden beaches where sea turtle nest (December to March). Don’t forget to make time to swim near penguins, sharks and lava tubes.

Monday – Rábida & James
Am: James Bay 
Pm: Rabida

Subsequent to a three-hour sail northwest we will wake up at Puerto Egas also known as James Bay. The magical shorelines of the west of James Island are a combination of tuff cone, lava flows and organic sand. A rocky coast with a very gentle slope is used by a great number of shore birds and reptiles. Oystercatchers, whimbrels, sanderlings, turnstones, tattlers and other waders are mixed with marine iguanas and bright painted crabs to feed by the rich littoral zone. As grand finally, large lava tunnels, that are partially collapsed, are the houses of the Galapagos fur sea lions.

Galapagos offers a diversity of geological formations without boundaries. The island of Rábida has lavas rich in iron and after millions of years of exposure to air they have turned red. The rusted volcanic material has eroded to form a beautiful crimson sand beach, lovely for a walk. The protected shore provides excellent conditions for a Galapagos sea lions nursery and brown pelicans use the nearby saltbushes as a resting and nesting area. Hawks and mocking birds are common visitors of the lowlands. Furthermore, you will find that snorkeling of the beach can be very exciting as sharks, rays and many colorful fish are often visible.

Tuesday – North Seymour & Check Out
Am: North Seymour
Am: Check Out

The visit to North Seymour is the best way of saying goodbye to the Galapagos. Following a dry landing at sunrise we will walk amongst the largest blue-footed booby colony of the Islands. If breeding, you will enjoy their dancing and singing to find a mate. Not far from the dancers we have great and magnificent frigate birds nesting. The males inflate their pouches to attract the ladies that fly above them. Swallow tailed gulls and tropicbirds decorate the large basaltic walls of the island.

We will be back on board for breakfast at 8:00 and we have to be ready to check out at 9:00. It is always a good idea to do most of your packing the previous night so you can have a pleasant last early morning visit and a relaxed breakfast. Transfer back to the airport.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR

BEFORE THE DISCOVERIES

The naturalist guide gives briefings every evening after or before dinner. He will give you information about the activities of the following day. The briefing is designed to prepare you for your visit, you will learn the times of disembarking, guidelines of what to bring to the activities, terrain and weather conditions, as well as the animals and plants you will be able to see.

DO NOT FORGET

In preparation for our daily excursions, please make sure you carry the following items:

Comfortable and informal clothing such as shorts, light pants, cotton t-shirts, sweaters and windbreakers, according the season of the year.

• Cap or hat
• Sunglasses (polarized always better)
• Insect repellent
• Sun Screen
• Water bottle
• Appropriate walking gear (Good walking shoes/walking sandals/walking poles)
• Cameras, batteries and memory cards

When you return to the Samba please make sure to leave your excursion shoes at the stern. Use other sandals or comfortable shoes for walking in all outside areas of the Yacht. This will help prevent carrying alien microorganisms from island to island. Shoes are not allowed inside. For more information about gear check the Packing Guide suggestions.

SAFETY

To have a pleasant journey we have made your safety our number one priority. The boat has approved strong national and international regulations to prevent and respond on any emergency scenario. All crewmembers are trained to assist you in case of any emergency.  As a mandatory regulation you will be part of a safety drill exercise in order to know what to do in case an emergency occurs. Your naturalist guide will instruct you with safety procedures.

Please make yourself familiar with the location of the life vests and fire extinguisher in your cabin, as well as the quickest way to get to safety. Should you have any questions, please approach our naturalist or Captain.

SNORKELING SESSIONS AND OUR GEAR

The water in the Galápagos is quite cool considering the archipelago straddles the Equator. The cold Humboldt current flowing north from Antarctica and northwest from South America account both for this cold water and the productivity of the islands.

Snorkelling is highly suggested to get a vision of the underwater world. To relax and refresh you will often have the opportunity to swim and/or snorkel after or before the landings on most days.

The snorkelling equipment on board is included on the price of your trip. Our gear is of excellent quality. The masks, snorkel, wet suits and fins are in excellent conditions. We ask you kindly to take good care of all the gadgets provided on the Samba. We supply 3mm full-length suit is essential for all but the most warm-blooded of us, giving better protection from cold, sunburn, rocks, and the occasional jellyfish.

Any damage or loss of the equipment will be billed to you at the end of the cruise at the following rates:

Mask: USD 50.00
Fins: USD 55.00
Snorkel: USD 40.00
Wet suit: USD 150.00

We regard damage as the impossibility of reutilizing the equipment again. Normal wear and tear is not considered damage. We appreciate your understanding and rely on your best intentions.

SMOKING ON BOARD

It is not allowed to smoke on land or at any National Park areas. On board the Samba smoking is only allowed outside on the stern deck. The crew will be willing to provide you with an ashtray.

AIR CONDITIONING

An individual A/C works in each of our cabins. Please ask the guide or one of the crewmembers about its use.

WATER

Potable drinking water is provided on board. We produce it with a reverse osmosis plant making it very safe to drink. All fresh goods and meals are washed and cooked with the water that we produce.

We strongly discourage buying bottled water, since it is our mayor goal to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced while in Galapagos we ask you kindly to reuse the plastic bottle given to you on the first day. This bottle can be refilled with fresh water from the dispenser placed in the lounge. If you can bring your own refillable bottles is best!

Be smart with the use of water. It is of great help if you take short showers and reduce the overall energy necessary to produce water on board. A simple effort from you might mean a great contribution…

Be kind to use your bath towel more than once. Please make this decision: Hanging your towels back on the holders tells us: “I will use them once more”. If you leave them on the floor we understand that you need them to be changed.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

The Samba has electricity outlets of 110 and 220 volts on every cabin. Extra electricity outlets are found at the dining room.

TOILETS 

Keep in mind that yacht plumbing is different from what you have at home. We will explain the correct operation of your toilet. Because we treat our wastewater remember not to throw any toilet paper, sanitary napkins, plastic, etc, into the toilets and use the waste bin to dispose of bathroom waste only. Our crew will clean that trashcan every day. Do not forget to close the valve after flushing the toilet. Thank you!

CABIN SERVICE

Your room will be ready when you return from the morning excursion. If you need towels to go ashore, the crew will be pleased to provide them.

MEALS AND DINNING SERVICES

We serve the best food in the Archipelago! Most of our goods are fresh, locally grown and organic. Our chef offers fine cuisine ranging from international to local specialties that are served in our dining room. Please let our chef know if you have any restrictions concerning your diet, so we may serve you the best we can. The regular schedule for meal service is the following:

Breakfast – It could be as early as 05:00 and as late as 08: 30.
Lunch – This meal will normally be served between 11:30-13:30.
Dinner – We usually provide service somewhere between 18:30-20:00.
Snacks are served twice a day.

Times of the meals are flexible and may vary to meet nature at its best!!

LOUNGE SERVICES

We offer a variety of table games, videos, books and other Galápagos related information in the main lounge for your enjoyment. Be sure to return the books you borrowed to the shelf at the end of your cruise. Returning them will offer enjoyment to passengers arriving after you.

BAR SERVICE

The alcoholic drinks and sodas are the only items that are not considered in your trip voucher. Our staff will provide a bar card to keep track of what you drink during the voyage. In the fridge you will find a variety soft drinks, beer and wine. The barman will prepare cocktails and other liquors on upon request.

Prices on board are competitive enough that you do not need to bring liquor to the ship.

COMMUNICATION

The yacht is equipped with two UHF/VHF/Motorola radios, satellite and a cellular phone. The satellite phone on board can be contacted by dialling (008) 7077 318-0983. Guests can use the SAT phone on board at $5 per minute to call out. Internationally enabled cell phones should get reception some places in the Galápagos. Communication with the coast guard and office in Puerto Ayora is possible at any time.

PAYMENTS

Your purchases will be kept on record on your bar card and tallied at the end of your voyage. Your account must be settled prior to disembarkation in cash. We do not take credit cards only American dollars are accepted.

TIPPING & GRATUITIES

Tipping is a frequently asked question by our guests. We understand that this is a very sensitive issue, since tipping is a voluntary gift given by you in recognition to the service provided by our crew. If you are happy with the service provided and based on past experiences on board the average tip for the entire crew, except the guide, has been of USD 200 per person for a one week cruise (this amount will be divided amongst the crew equally).

For the naturalist guide the average tip has been of USD 100 per person for a one week cruise. Please remember that this is a mere suggestion as tipping is a very personal gesture. You may wish to use two envelopes, one for tips for the crew and the other for the naturalist guide. Gratuities can be handed personally or as a group.

CHECK OUT

Please make sure to do most of your packing the night before leaving the Samba. Since we do an early morning landing on the date of departure and the check out is after breakfast, you will have very little time to pack before leaving the Samba.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL

No immunizations are required and malaria pills are not needed on this itinerary. In the Galápagos, the water onboard is desalinated and very safe to drink. On mainland Ecuador, we recommend drinking bottled water.

In the Galápagos, use plenty of sunscreen, wear a hat, polarized sunglasses (to have a better filter to see through water) and bring good boots or walking shoes for walking on lava.

Bring an adequate supply of any medications you take regularly or might need; nothing will be available in the Galápagos. Seasickness is not a large problem in the Galápagos as we are near the islands most of the time and the seas tend to be calm. Nearly all of the open sea passages, when the boat could rock a bit more, will be at night. If you do experience motion sickness, you should bring medication or other preventative measures (electronic “Relief bands” seem to work well also). Please feel free to contact us for recommendations. Eating well, avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol, and getting a good night sleep are also key in preventing an over-active stomach. Please be sure you have listed any medical problems, special dietary requests, food allergies, or food preferences on your and update us if there are changes before the trip.

INSECTS

Insects are not usually a problem in the Galápagos, though there are wasps at a few landing sites.  Please let us know if you are allergic to stings. In general, use insect repellent if you use it at home on field outings in the summer. Mosquitoes are not generally a problem even on the mainland, but if travelling in the rainy season there will be mosquito activity in some locations in the Galápagos, especially early morning and late afternoon. Long, lightweight cotton or nylon pants are the most practical for protection from sun, scratchy bushes along the trails, and insects.

WALKING AND TRAIL CONDITIONS

Galápagos walks vary from short to a couple of miles long over broken and uneven terrain. If you are not accustomed to walking distances, especially over rocky and uneven terrain, you will still be able to join in most activities as we travel at a pace that allows us to see, appreciate and photograph the unique nature of the Galápagos. There are some basic walking sticks onboard that you can borrow or you may prefer to pack your own for stability on rocky terrain (stepping up and down over large rocks). If you anticipate struggling with the walks, we strongly urge that you get out and do some good forest walking and hiking beforehand to get yourself in good condition for the trip. The more fit you are when the trip begins, the more you will enjoy your time in the field!

IMPORTANT PACKING NOTE

Please carry any essential items, such as travel documents and prescription drugs, plus fragile items such as cameras and binoculars, aboard the plane in your carry-on luggage. You may also wish to include in your carry-on a change of clothing, toiletries, in case of the regrettable lost baggage syndrome. Airline restrictions can change frequently so we recommend that you check the website for the airline you will be flying shortly before your departure to get their most up-to-date luggage restrictions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE M/V SAMBA

Equipment 

Very efficient Twin DAV diesel engines 280 HP-CUMMINS that only use a remarkable 6 gallons of diesel every hour! Two generators each of 21 & 12.5 kW for 110 V & 220V A/C and 12V & 24V D/C, Furuno Navnet Radar, Plotter and Sonar, GPS, VHF & SSB radios, two tenders with outboard motors, 32’ High Definition LCD TV, DVD video equipment.

Specifications

Length: L.O.A.* 78 feet / 23 meters
Beam: 18 feet / 5.4 meters
Tonnage: 134 tons
Speed: 8.5 knots
Range: 2.500 miles
Sails: Genoa, main, mizzen
Water capacity: 1.500 gallons and water maker
Electric Power Supply: 110V & 220V (A/C)
*L.O.A.: length overall

Equipment:

Very efficient Twin diesel engines 280 HP-CUMMINS that only use a remarkable 6 gallons of diesel every hour! Two generators each of 21 & 12.5 kW for 110 V & 220V A/C and 12V & 24V D/C, Furuno Navnet Radar, Plotter and Sonar, GPS, VHF & SSB radios, two tenders with outboard motors, 32’ High Definition LCD TV, DVD video equipment.

Safety equipment:

One self-contained 20-passenger life raft, EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon), two bi-directional VHF emergency-radios, one VHF (Motorola) wide-range radio, VHF and HF radios and one cell-phone and a Satellite phone communication system, life jackets, fire extinguishers, safety smoke and fire detectors and overhead sprinkler systems, A.B.C fire-control system and CO² bank for the engine room.