Galapagos Islands

[dileep]

We just returned last week from a week in the Galapagos on the Letty operated by Ecoventura. The ship had 20 passengers and 11 crew including 2 naturalists.

 

The entire experience was fantastic. The yacht is pretty small and does get rough at times. But the small ship can go to places like Tower Island (Genovesa) where larger ships are not allowed.

 

The service was great and food excellent.

 

I will post more details on the itinerary later, but you can look at my pictures in the meantime at http://community.webshots.com/user/dileepann

[MightyQuinn]

We just returned last week from a week in the Galapagos on the Letty operated by Ecoventura. The ship had 20 passengers and 11 crew including 2 naturalists. The entire experience was fantastic. The yacht is pretty small and does get rough at times. But the small ship can go to places like Tower Island (Genovesa) where larger ships are not allowed.

The service was great and food excellent.

I heartily agree that Ecoventura does a fabulous job in Galapagos. We sailed on a sister yacht, MV Eric, in 2005 with a small crew & on-board naturalists. Part of the fun was daily zodiac landings to explore the Islands or going snorkeling and/or diving. As you say, these yachts also go to some of the remote Islands not accessible by larger ships. All in all an outstanding experience! :):)

[Peregrina651]

Saw the pictures. Now eagerly, eagerly awaiting your review! :D

[dileep]

Ecoventura Galapagos Cruise (my edited version of their itinerary)

Small ship cruises and tours to the Galapagos Islands

 

Day 1: Arrive Quito from Cusco via Lima (we were in Machu Picchu before the Galapagos)

Upon our arrival in Quito, were met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to the Manson del Angel Hotel, located in Quito’s central district. Dinner was on our own this evening.

 

Day 2: Quito/Otavalo Market

We enjoyed a visit to the famed Otavalo Marketplace, which is at its peak on Saturdays, Peguche Water Falls, Cotacachi for lunch and leather shopping . Dinner on our own again

 

Day 3: Quito to Galapagos Islands/Playa Ochoa/Leon Dormido

This morning, we met the Ecoventura representative at the airport and departed on the 3-hour Aerogal flight via Guayaquil to the island of San Cristóbal in the Galapagos. Upon arrival in San Cristóbal, we were met by our Expedition Leader(s) and driven to the port. We were taken by Zodiac (aka Panga or Dinghy) to our yacht, Letty, and embarked on our journey.

At Playa Ochoa, we disembarked to find a long, beautiful white sand beach with a short trail leading to a tidal lagoon that is frequented by pelicans, finches, and the Chatham mochingbird. Here, we had our first opportunity to snorkel with a small colony of sea lions and sea turtles. At sunset, we cruised around Kicker Rock (known as “Leon Dormido,” as it is shaped liked a sleeping lion) – a vertical tuff cone formation that abruptly juts up almost 500 feet out of the ocean. The rock is split in two, with towering vertical walls on either side, forming a narrow channel through which tiny vessels can navigate.

 

Each day ends with a half hour briefing on the next day’s activities at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7 pm.

 

Day 4: Tower (Genovesa): Prince Philip’s Steps & Bahia Darwin

On our way to Tower Island, the most northeastern part of the archipelago, we crossed the equator in some fairly rough seas (Meclizin works!). Each day starts with a wake up call around 7 am and breakfast at 7:30am. The first activity today was at 8:30 am with a dry landing from our panga.

 

The island of Tower is a collapsed volcano, and ships are able to sail directly into its large breached caldera to anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. Tower attracts vast numbers of pelagic seabirds that come here to nest and breed. This morning we explored a trail known as “Prince Philip’s Steps”, which leads up to an open area popular with frigate birds and red-footed and Nazca boobies. At the end of this trail are thousands of band-rumped storm petrels at the cliff’s edge, where they nest in crevices. Short-eared owls can also sometimes be seen, hunting the storm petrels during daylight hours, but we were unable to spot any. Back to the boat for lunch.

 

After lunch, the panga dropped us off at a beach on the other side of the caldera for a wet landing at Darwin Bay, which is an extinct, partially eroded volcano, with the surrounding cliffs forming the inner portion of the rim with graffiti dating back to the 1800s. Here we followed along a trail that leads from a coral beach, past tidal lagoons where lava gulls, brown pelicans and yellow-crowned night herons are seen, along with optuntia cactus and mangroves where frigate birds, red footed and Nazca boobies nest. Here you can swim from the beach with sea lions.We saw our first colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs. This is the ONLY island that we saw Red Footed Boobies on.

 

Day 5: Isabela: Tagus Cove/ Fernandina: Punta Espinosa

 

This morning we visited Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos, made up of six volcanoes joined by extensive lava flows. The northern half of the island forms a thin peninsula in the shape of a sea horse, while the southern part is inhabited. . We explored Tagus Cove by panga to observe penguins, pelicans and other seabirds. While some snorkeled, we hiked up to the top of the volcano for a panoramic view of the island and its vast lava fields.

 

After lunch the panga dropped us of on Fernandina Island. Fernandina is the youngest and most active volcano in Galápagos, with eruptions taking place every few years. It is also one of the most pristine of the islands; so far it has remained protected from humans’ introduction of foreign species. The flat lava of Punta Espinosa gives a feel for this stark, barren, almost alien landscape. Other parts of the island display extraordinary lava formations. Fernandina, along with Isabela, is one only two islands home to the rare Flightless Cormorant. Punta Espinoza, on the northeast coast, possesses the largest colony anywhere of marine iguanas, covering the sun-baked rocks by the hundreds. Along with these rarities, Fernandina has populations of Galapagos penguins and sea lions. The vegetation is almost entirely comprised of mangroves and cacti.

 

Day 6: Santiago: Puerto Egas/Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat)

 

This morning had a wet landing at a black sand beach. We saw fur sea lions, great blue herons, lava herons, oystercatchers, Galapagos hawk and yellow-crowned night herons.

 

This afternoon we cruised to the island known as Sombrero Chino – or Chinese Hat – located off the southern tip of Santiago. This small uprising boasts a primeval landscape of volcanic rubble and lava tubes. The island is home to sea lion colonies as well as marine iguanas and American oystercatchers. On the way we saw flamingoes in the distance on a lake that is in a large crater at Baimbridgen Inlet

 

Day 7: Bartolomé/North Seymour

 

We spent this morning on Bartolomé. Most likely the first of the islands to rise from the sea, Bartolomé is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches and luxuriant green mangroves. We hiked to the summit of a once-active volcano for beautiful panoramic views of the often-photographed Pinnacle Rock. Penguins swim at the white sand swimming beach. We saw frigate birds picking up sea snakes on the beach, a sea turtles looking for a new nest site, Galapagos penguins and white-tipped sharks. Blue footed boobies dive bomb in hordes into the ocean to catch fish.

 

In the afternoon we had a dry landing on North Seymour Island. It has typical arid vegetation including Prickly Pear Cacti, Palo Santos Trees and Salt Bushes. The visitor trail on North Seymour passes colonies of Blue-Footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigatebirds, known for the large red pouch on their necks. During mating season the males thrown back their heads, inflate the pouch (sometimes to the size of a soccer ball), and shake trying to capture the attention of female Frigates. Sharing the same nesting area, Blue- Footed Boobies nest on the ground making their nests from the twigs of the Palo Santos Trees, while the Magnificent Frigate bird nests just above them in the saltbushes. The boobies dive from mid air into the sea in order to catch fish. Successful, they return to the island with their prize to feed their young only to run into frigate birds trying to steal their catch.

 

Day 8: Santa Cruz: Darwin Station & The Highlands

 

This morning, we anchored at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz’s main population center of about 10,000 people. We went by bus into the highlands to Los Gemelos – two deep pit craters situated in the Scalesia forest that host a variety of interesting birdlife. Then we went for a walk through a giant lava tube near the Primicias Tortoise Reserve to see giant tortoises in their natural surroundings.

 

In the afternoon, we visited the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station. The research center aids the National Park Service in its efforts to save the Galapagos wildlife; the museum at the station has a facility for rearing tortoises, a project to increase the depleted population. During our tour, we had the opportunity to see the famed “Lonesome George.” We then had some free time as we walked back to the port stopping at souvenir shops along the way

 

Day 9: Hood (Española): Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez

 

One of the oldest of the islands, Hood is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. Gardner Bay, located on the eastern shore, hosts a magnificent beach frequented by a transient colony of sea lions who are no afraid to come close to humans. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers can find many fish and possibly turtles and sharks.

 

Located on the western tip of the island, one of the world’s densest and most diversified concentrations of wildlife is found at Punta Suarez. The area is famous for its marine “Christmas” iguanas with unique copper-red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, lava lizards, finches, long-billed mockingbirds, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and oystercatchers. On a trail leading to the western tip of the island, we saw the only nesting sites in the Galapagos of the waved albatross. These huge birds nest here from April to December and represent the majority of the world’s population. When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air.

 

Day 10: San Cristóbal: Interpretation Center/Return to Quito

 

San Cristóbal is the easternmost and one of the oldest islands of the archipelago, and is comprised of ancient volcanic peaks in the north and lush vegetation in the south. We dropped anchor in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the second largest settlement area in the islands and the capital of the providence of Galapagos, where we visited the Interpretation Center, which opened in 1999. Here, we can get a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the islands. Then we had some free time to shop for souvenirs at our leisure in town.

This afternoon, we bid farewell to the Galapagos Islands and boarded our flight back to Quito, transferred to our hotel, had a great Tapas dinner.

 

Day 11: Early flight back home

[Jade13]

We just returned last week from a week in the Galapagos on the Letty operated by Ecoventura. The ship had 20 passengers and 11 crew including 2 naturalists.

 

The entire experience was fantastic. The yacht is pretty small and does get rough at times. But the small ship can go to places like Tower Island (Genovesa) where larger ships are not allowed.

 

The service was great and food excellent.

 

I will post more details on the itinerary later, but you can look at my pictures in the meantime at http://community.webshots.com/user/dileepann

 

We went with Metropolitan Touring who owns the Santa Cruz and went to Tower Island. Do ships such as Celebrity's Expedition not go here? I just assumed they did. We went to a lot of remote places such as a Tortoise breeding center on Isabella with a village with a dirt road I had never heard about, and it was another highlight.

[dileep]

We went with Metropolitan Touring who owns the Santa Cruz and went to Tower Island. Do ships such as Celebrity's Expedition not go here? I just assumed they did. We went to a lot of remote places such as a Tortoise breeding center on Isabella with a village with a dirt road I had never heard about, and it was another highlight.

 

Celebrity web site shows their ports as follows:

 

Baltra (Galapagos), North Seymour (Galapagos), P. Baquerizo (San Cristobal), Punta Suarez (Espanola), Cormorant Point (Floreana), Baroness Outlook (Floreana), Las Bachas, (Santa Cruz), Bartolome (San Salvador), Elizabeth Bay (Isabela), Punta Espinoza (Fernandina), Puerto Egas (San Salvador), Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz), Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), Baltra (Galapagos)

[dileep]

This is the island that we flew in and out of. We stopped for a wet landing at Ochoa beach. Saw Galapagos sea lions. worst part ws bing bit by horse flies. The interpretation center is on this island.

 

[dileep]

This is one of the best and only small ships are allowed. The only place we saw Red Footed Boobies. In the morning it was a dry landing at a place with steep steps. We saw:

 

Golden Finch, Red Footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Frigate birds, Galapagos Sea Lions, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Could not spot a short eared owl :-(!

 

[dileep]

Started with a dinghy ride along the coast. Saw Galapagos penguins, blue footed boobies, pelicans, marine iguanas, and flightless cormorants on the rocks. Hike up past Darwin Lake to a high vantage point.

 

[dileep]

Afternoon was a dry landing, but with the high tide, we did have to walk across a shallow water path. Wearing Keen sandals was a savior! We saw:

 

Hawk's bill turtle, marine iguanas, Albert Malensis lizard, Sally Lightfoot, crabs, Galapagos sea lions, brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, American Oyster Catchers, Yellow warbler, and a marine turtle.

 

National Geographic Polaris (operated by Lindblad expeditions) was also anchored near us.

 

[dileep]

4 other ships anchored close to us (Angelito, Floreana, Flamingo, and one that had no name listed). We saw:

 

Darwin Finch, Galapagos Hawk, Smooth billed Anis, Lava Heron, Brown Iguans, American Oyster Catcher. Darwin's toilet! New born sea lios with the bloody placenta nearby!

 

[Jade13]

This is one of the best and only small ships are allowed. The only place we saw Red Footed Boobies. In the morning it was a dry landing at a place with steep steps. We saw:

 

Golden Finch, Red Footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Frigate birds, Galapagos Sea Lions, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Could not spot a short eared owl :-(!

 

 

What is your definition of a small ship in the Galapagos? The Santa Cruz goes here with 80 passengers.

[dileep]

Saw flamingos at Bainbidgen Islet close by. The on to Chinese Hat and its lava rock laden terrain.

 

[dileep]

Dry landing follwewd by 365 steps up to the top for a panoramic view. Spatter cones, lava tubes, and pioneer plants. Then a wet landing at a small beach. Most went snorkeling, but we walked to the other side for a great view of:

 

great blue heron, sea turtle, sa snake, penguins, white tipped shark, friagte birds, blue footed boobies dive bombing for fish, ghost crabs, Galapagos lava lizard, and a turtle nest.

 

[dileep]

Dry landing and a walk to see:

 

swallow tailed gulls, magnificent and great frigates, blue footed boobies nesting, marine iguanas, Galapagos land iguanas, lava gulls, ands Sally Lightfoot crabs.

 

[dileep]

All day at this island. Lots of activity with barges delivering supplies and water taxis. Drove up to Santa Rosa to see Giant Tortoises and walk into a giant lava tube.

 

 

Afternoon at the Darwin center where they hatch tortoises. Finally saw a post office to buy stamps for post cards and a supermarket for wine!

[dileep]

Deep sea snokeling at Gardner Bay in tye morning followed by a wet landing at a beach where sea lions come up right up to your feet!

 

Afternoon a dry landing at Suarez Point where we saw:

 

waved albatross, Nazca boobies, blue footed boobies, marine iguana, galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, sea lions.

 

[dileep]

What is your definition of a small ship in the Galapagos? The Santa Cruz goes here with 80 passengers.

 

we were told that only ships with less than 40 passengers are allowed. Ours had 20. Does the Santa Cruz still go there?

[MightyQuinn]

What is your definition of a small ship in the Galapagos? The Santa Cruz goes here with 80 passengers.

Hi Jade - We sailed on MV Eric (sister ship to MV Letty) to Galapagos in 2005. These are very small yachts accommodating only 20 pax. Their size enables them to access some remote & less visited Islands. BTW I see you used Metro Touring in Galapagos - we used them for a 3-week land tour in Ecuador & thought they were wonderful. ;);)

[dileep]

Hi Jade - We sailed on MV Eric (sister ship to MV Letty) to Galapagos in 2005. These are very small yachts accommodating only 20 pax. Their size enables them to access some remote & less visited Islands. BTW I see you used Metro Touring in Galapagos - we used them for a 3-week land tour in Ecuador & thought they were wonderful. ;);)

 

MightyQuinn: the Eric was out of action for a while being refurbished and should be back this month. The Letty needs to be updated too and will be out next for 4 weeks!

 

Several of our Letty fellow travellers were picked up at the airport in Quito by Metropolitan for their Ecuador side trip.

[dileep]

Monday to Friday:

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=137

 

Friday to Friday:

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=135

 

neither detailed itinerary lists Tower Island, even though the main page shows it for the Mon-Fri:

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=23

Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise tour, Monday to Friday itinerary is the most popular Galapagos tour - cruise, in this trip you will visit Baltra Island, Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill), (Santa Cruz Island), Bartolomé Island, Puerto Egas (Santiago (James) Island), Darwin Bay (Genovesa (Tower) Island), North Seymour Island, Santa Fé (Barrington) Island, Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island) and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal).

 

WEIRD!!!

 

Metropolitan does go there with their smaller ship, the 40-guest vessel Isabella II:

 

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=139

[Jade13]

Monday to Friday:

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=137

 

Friday to Friday:

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=135

 

neither detailed itinerary lists Tower Island, even though the main page shows it for the Mon-Fri:

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=23

Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise tour, Monday to Friday itinerary is the most popular Galapagos tour - cruise, in this trip you will visit Baltra Island, Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill), (Santa Cruz Island), Bartolomé Island, Puerto Egas (Santiago (James) Island), Darwin Bay (Genovesa (Tower) Island), North Seymour Island, Santa Fé (Barrington) Island, Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island) and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal).

 

WEIRD!!!

 

Metropolitan does go there with their smaller ship, the 40-guest vessel Isabella II:

 

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/page_content.asp?id_page=139

 

There is nothing weird at all! This is adventure travel and the itinerary changes. This is the current posted 7 day itinerary. We traveled several years ago and never got to Baltra because the Baltra airport was closed for renovations. We did not get to Fernandina because there was a volcanic eruption. we went to every other Island on this itinerary and more with 2-3 stops per day. However, everywhere we went was unique. We went to Tower "Bird Island" and saw mother who had twin babies which had never been documented before. We went to a Tortoise breeding center on Isabella that is rarely visited by tourists. We had to go on a dirt road (people actually live there) and the center was a highlight for us. We are not bird people so Tower was interesting but not at the top of our list. I love the Santa Cruz current itinerary and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the ship, company or go back. The current itinerary has Baltra, Fernandina and Rabida which would be new for us.

 

Santa Cruz has a glass bottom boat for those who did not want to snorkel. I actually remember we went right in the water with the Sea lion rights from the beach on Tower island.

 

 

 

DAY MAIN ITINERARY Monday Baltra Island

Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) (Santa Cruz Island)

Tuesday Bartolomé Island

Puerto Egas (Santiago (James) Island)

Wednesday Rabida Island (Jervis)

North Seymour Island

Thursday Highlands of Santa Cruz Island

Charles Darwin Research Station

Friday Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island)

Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island)

Saturday Punta Suarez (Española (Hood) Island)

Punta Cormorant (Floreana Island)

Sunday Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)

Punta Vicente Roca (Isla Isabela)

Monday Baltra Island

 

What's weird is that we wanted to go on the Isabella but it was chartered. We actually paid more for the Santa Cruz, vs less. We did, however, have their largest stateroom with a Verandah.

[dileep]

There is nothing weird at all! This is adventure travel and the itinerary changes.

 

Santa Cruz has a glass bottom boat for those who did not want to snorkel. I actually remember we went right in the water with the Sea lion rights from the beach on Tower island.

 

 

Sorry, but it is weird (or even dishonest) that 2 pages about the same itinerary are not consistent! If you only read the first page and booked it, you would feel "cheated".

 

We had a glass bottomed kayak, but it was not very good. I do not snorkel either.

[Jade13]

Sorry, but it is weird (or even dishonest) that 2 pages about the same itinerary are not consistent! If you only read the first page and booked it, you would feel "cheated".

 

We had a glass bottomed kayak, but it was not very good. I do not snorkel either.

 

 

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/documents/itineraries/English/Santa-Cruz-Itinerary-M-M.pdf

 

 

This is the current pdf itinerary for the full 7 nights. Nothing is guaranteed pending conditions. We did not even know if we were going to Tower because the afternoon it was that Island or the one nearby depending on the conditions. I wouldn't feel cheated anywhere is the Galapagos. Every Island we went to had species not found anywhere else in the world. On two of the Islands the guides knew we were interested in the lizards and went out of their way to find us one since they were so rare they were hidden. I don't even know anyone else personally who has a picture of the lizard we found on Floreana, and it was a location that was a last minute substitute.

 

I saw this review today. Check it out:

 

http://melodyfred.com/SA02.aspx

 

Btw, which Islands are the ones that Celebrity can not go to?

 

I would like to go back on the Isabella II. My only condition would to be to find a cruise that lets you go on Baltra up to Dragon Hill as we did not see many species of land Iguanas. That should not be that hard since most flights are through Baltra.

[MightyQuinn]

MightyQuinn: the Eric was out of action for a while being refurbished and should be back this month. The Letty needs to be updated too and will be out next for 4 weeks!

LOL...Our pre-cruise docs showed that we would be on MV Flamingo but when we arrived in Guayaquil we learned we were actually on MV Eric. No biggie since the vessels are identical. We shadowed MV Letty for most of our trip but never saw MV Flamingo at all. :D:D