La Pinta Yacht

Yacht La Pinta offers luxury, pleasure & comfort.
It offers a relaxed yet lavish expedition atmosphere
and all the amenities that make the Galapagos Expedition a trip of a lifetime

Day by Day Itinerary  (package from Miami)

Day 1, Thu:  Miami to Quito
Depart Miami at in evening to Quito. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey
your flight to Lima Galapagos arrives late this evening  where you will be met by Guide and transferred your hotel
Hotel: Dann Carlton Hotel or Similar  (Continental Breakfast)

Day 2, Fri:  Quito
Quito Free day  morning at leisure for independent pursuits. Optional Quito Tour Available. Afternoon to relax and eat in one of the many restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine and hospitality of the local people.
Hotel: Dann Carlton Hotel or Similar  (Continental Breakfast)

Day 3 - Baltra Island / North Seymour Island
Transfer to Airport for short flight to Baltra. Morning arrival to Baltra Island and transfer to the dock to board the La Pinta. Welcome introductory briefing and lunch. Afternoon disembarkation (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. A shorter walk is also available. Welcome Cocktail offered by the Captain. Naturalist's briefing on the next day's activities and dinner.

Day 4 - Hood (Espanola): Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez
After breakfast, disembark (wet landing) at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk & watch the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches or enjoy the beach.. There is great snorkeling in this area (snorkeling equipment is available for passengers at no extra cost), or ride the glass-bottom boat around Gardner or Tortuga islets. Afternoon dry landing for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses (May - December) and the famous blowhole. A shorter walk is also available. For those not planning to walk there will be panga (dinghy) ride along the coastline of Punta Suarez. Naturalist's briefing and dinner.


Day 5 - Floreana: Point Cormorant, Post Office Bay
After morning breakfast, disembark at Point Cormorant (wet landing) for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. There is great snorkeling from the beach or near by, at the Devil's Crown. Those who do not snorkel can enjoy a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Lunch on board. Wet landing at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galapagos penguin. Naturalist's briefing and dinner.


Day 6 - Santa Cruz
After breakfast, disembark (dry landing) to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora. Lunch at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel. Afternoon in the highlands, visiting the Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. From Dec to mid-Apr a visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may be included, if weather conditions are good. Naturalist's briefing and dinner.


Day 7 - Santa Cruz
Black Turtle Cove, on the north shore of Santa Cruz, is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Three species of mangrove crowd from the shore out into the lagoon, which reaches almost a mile inland. As we drift though the quite waters in our panga, we are likely to see spotted eagle rays and diamond shaped mustard rays, which swim in a diamond formation. White-tipped reef sharks slip beneath the boat and Pacific green sea turtles come to the surface for air and to mate. Waterfowl, including pelicans, herons and egret; all feed in the cove. This is a peaceful place that will leave you feeling that way.

Further west is Las Bachas, a sandy white-coral beach that is a major egg-laying site for sea turtles. Bachas are notches, and the beach's name refers to the indentations left in the sand by both laying turtles and their departing hatchlings. On the shore, there are marine iguanas and in the lagoon, flamingos are commonly seen. A newer visitor's site, Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon) is a brackish water lagoon that attracts flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. There is a short walk up a small hill, which rewards hikers with a nesting site for iguanas and a great view!
 

Day 8 - Fernandina: Punta Espinoza / Isabela: Urbina Bay
The morning brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Lunch on board. After lunch, scenic cruise along Bolivar Channel and possible observation of whales and/or dolphins. Disembarkation (wet landing) for a medium-length walk at Urbina Bay to look for giant tortoises and land iguanas. This place went through a volcanic uplifting event back in 1954 leaving gaunt marine skeletons, which make the walk remarkably interesting. Those who wish may take either only a short walk along the beach, or a longer walk towards the interior of the island. Swimming and snorkeling depending on local conditions.


Day 9 - James (Santiago): Puerto Egas / Bartolome
Wet landing for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of fur-sea lions. Good snorkeling and swimming from the beach after the walk. Lunch on board. Disembark at Bartolome Island (dry landing) for a hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase; the view from the top is worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock to observe penguins, to enjoy the beach (wet landing), snorkeling and swimming from the beach, or a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Farewell cocktail and departure briefing.


Day 10 - Baltra, return flight to Quito
The ship anchors in the morning at the entrance to Black Turtle Cove. This is a great place to see large schools of Golden Rays, Green Sea Turtles (they are on the rare and endangered species list), White-tipped Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Lava Herons, Yellow Warblers and a variety of other bird species. Sail into Baltra and transfer by bus to the airport for the flight back to the mainland, arriving around 5:30pm. Overnight flight home if on evening flight
Add 1 night at Dann Carlton Hotel if evening flight not available

Day 11, Sun; Home
Flight home if morning, Arrive home today