Galapagos Islands on the Nemo II

Day 1 (Sunday) Baltra / Santa Cruz: Bachas Beach

Arrival to the airport in Baltra, our cruise guide will meet you and transfer guests to the yacht. Once on board we will navigate to Bachas Beach. 
Bachas Beach is Spanglish for 'barges' that were wrecked offshore during the World War II.

A common first landing site with delightful swimming, a lagoon behind, and a long beach for strolling and wildlife-watching. The saltwater lagoon behind often has great blue herons and small waders such as sanderlings and semi-palmated plovers. Both beaches are nesting areas for green sea turtles, which leave tracks in the sand to the back of the beach, especially from November to February. A wet landing and open area on the beach mean one can explore at leisure.

In the night, dinner and navigation to Bartolome Island.
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Day 2 (Monday) Bartolome Island / Sombrero Chino

Bartolome is a desolate island with few plants, however, it is the most visited and most photographed island in the Galapagos. The island consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and glistening black volcanic formations.
The best known of the island's features is the Tuff Cone known as Pinnacle Rock.
This large black partially eroded lava formation was created when magma expelled from the volcano and reached the sea. When the seawaters cooled the hot lava it caused an explosion. The exploded particles eventually fasten together forming a rock composed of thin layers. Bartolome's Pinnacle Rock has become one of the best recognized and most photographed sights in the islands. It was also used as a target for US airmen during WWII.

Lying beside the Pinnacle Rock are twin half moon shaped beaches. The northern beach is a popular snorkeling site where visitors have the opportunity to swim with fish, Sea Lions and Galapagos Penguins. Much larger animals can be found near the southern beach including stingrays, spotted eagle rays, white-tipped sharks, and black-tipped sharks. Little vegetation grows in this barren place. Mangroves border the beach and the small shrub Tiguilia grows in the volcanic sands. The seeds and tiny white flowers of the Chamaesycae provide food for the island's finch. These plants are common to arid regions and are able to survive in these harsh volcanic conditions.

In the afternoon, visit to Sombrero Chino, a tiny island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. Its name (Chinese Hat) describes the island's shape. Those visitors who travel to the island will find its special landscape worth the visit. Though centrally located it is one of the least visited sites in the area. National Park Service restrictions have limited the number of visitors to Sombrero Chino. Multi-day cruises with 12 passengers or less are the only ones permitted at this site. The landing is on a beautiful crescent-shaped white sand beach, home to Sea Lions and Sally Lightfoot Crabs.

The trail on Sombrero Chino's explores its volcanic origin. The lava rock is very fragile and tends to break off when people walk over it. The sharp outcroppings caused from these breaks make it necessary to bring good shoes. Patches of Pahoehoe Lava, cracked lava and lava tubes can be found on the island. While the path does not lead up the striking red rust sides of the Sombrero to the caldera, it does venture high enough on the island to offer some spectacular views of the waves crashing below. Snorkeling in the waters near Sombrero Chino can create a stir; white-tipped sharks frequent the area, as do the playful Galapagos Penguins and Sea Lions. At night, after dinner, navigate to Isabela Island.
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Day 3 (Tuesday) Isabela: Breeding Center &/ Tintoreras Lagoon

In the morning visit the Breeding center (Isabela Is.), located in Puerto Villamil. Visitors can see almost all classes of giant Galapagos Turtles. In this center, the small turtles are protected while they grow up since they are in their eggs until they are adults.

Puerto Villamil is the main settlement areas on Isabela Island. A small peaceful town with a laid back atmosphere offers quite a different experience than the tourist shops on Puerto Ayora. Villamil is often considered the most beautiful site in the Galapagos with its long white sand, and palm-lined beaches. Behind Villamil are several brackish water lagoons where Pink Flamingoes, Common Stilts, Whimbrels, White-Cheeked Pintails, Gallinules are usually seen. The lagoons are nesting areas between November and April. The beaches and lagoons near Villamil are home to the best migratory bird viewing in the Galapagos Islands.

In the afternoon, visit Tintoreras Lagoon. This is a wonderful place, located just 5 minutes from Port of Villamil, this site allows the visitor to observe the White tipped shark. In this site there is a trail, allowing for the possibility to observe other plants and animals. At night, dinner and navigation to Floreana Island.
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Day 4 (Wednesday) Floreana: Post Office Bay / Punta Cormorant

In the morning visit Post Office Bay, In 1793 British whalers established the Post Office Barrel to send letters to and from England. This tradition has continued over the years, and even today visitors may drop off and pick up letters, without stamps, to be carried to far destinations.

In the afternoon, visit Cormorant Point. Punta Cormorant offers two contrasting beaches. Arriving on shore you will encounter a green sand beach (the green sand is caused by the olivine crystals derived from silicates or magnesium and iron) from here you will follow the trail leading to a lagoon where Pink Flamingoes and other shore birds can be seen in the distance making their home.

Looking into the mud of the lagoon there appears to be 'cracks' in the mud. These cracks are not caused from dryness but are actually the footpaths of flamingos. This is also a good spot for seeing Large-Billed Flycatchers, Small-Ground Finches, Medium-Ground Finches or Cactus Finches. The walk continues to another beach on the other side made of fine white sand particles known as "Flour Beach". In the waters Ghost Crabs and Rays can be seen swimming. Time permitting you may even go for a swim. In the night, dinner and navigation to Española Island.
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Day 5 (Thursday) Espanola: Gardner Bay / Punta Suarez

Arrive to Española Island. In the morning, visit Gardner Bay. This bay is a 45-minute boat ride from Punta Suarez. It has a white sand beach and there is a small colony of sea lions. The possibilities for swimming or scuba diving are excellent here. Visitors find migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly colored Marine Iguanas, Española Lava Lizards, Hood Mockingbirds, Swallow Tailed Gulls, Blue Footed and Masked Boobies, Galapagos Hawks, a selection of Finch, and the Waved Albatross.

In the afternoon, visit to Punta Suarez, found on the western tip of Española, Punta Suarez offers great wildlife such as Sea Lions, sea birds and the largest Marine Iguanas of Galapagos. This is one of the best sites in the Galapagos. The amount of wildlife is overwhelming. Along the beach there are many Sea Lions and large, colorful Lava Lizards and Marine Iguanas. As you follow the trail to the cliff's edge Masked Boobies can be found nesting among the rock formations. As you follow the trail to the cliff's edge Masked Boobies can be found nesting among the rock formations. After a short walk down to a beach and back up the other side Blue-Footed Boobies are seen nesting just off the trail. At night, dinner and navigation to Santa Fe Island
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Day 6 (Friday) Sante Fe / Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)

In the morning visit Santa Fe Island, home to one of the most beautiful coves in all the Galapagos. Santa Fe is located in the southeastern part of Galapagos, 2 1/2 hours from Santa Cruz and 3 hours from San Cristobal. Santa Fe was formed from an uplift (rather than a volcano) giving the island a relatively flat surface rather than the typical conical shape of the other islands. Visits to Santa Fe begin with a panga ride across the lovely turquoise lagoon. Once ashore you are brought into contact with the many sea lion colonies in the Galapagos. Bulls vie for the right of beach master while cows laze in the sun. The loop trail around the islands leads past the salt bushes where Galapagos Hawks can easily be approached. Santa Fe is home to endemic Land Iguanas. These iguanas are the largest in the islands and they are beige to chocolate brown in color and resemble small dinosaurs. Reaching the summit, there is a stunning view of the cove beneath.

In the afternoon navigate to the south of Santa Cruz Island to visit Puerto Ayora. The main visit in Puerto Ayora is to the Charles Darwin Scientific Station. An excellent way to begin learning about the islands and their origin and formation. You can also see how the Galapagos turtles are raised and meet Jorge, the famous solitary turtle. The Scientific Station has its own beach that receives many visitors on weekends. Dinner at night and navigation to South Plazas Island.
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Day 7 (Saturday) South Plazas / North Seymour

In the morning, visit South Plazas. Visiting South Plaza begins with a dry landing. The rocky trail circumnavigates the island, displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. South Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas in the Galapagos. The Iguanas seem to be everywhere once you land. These larger than average Yellow-Brown Land Iguanas feed on the fruit and pads of the Prickly Pear Cactus.

South Plaza is also home to Marine Iguanas living along the coast and a Hybrid Iguana whose fathers are Marine Iguanas and Mothers are Land Iguanas. As the walk continues along the sea cliffs Swallow-Tailed Gulls, Frigatebirds, Audubon Shearwaters, Red-Billed Tropicbirds, Brown Pelicans, Blue-Footed and Masked Boobies are frequently seen. Beneath along the shore a colony of Bachelor Sea Lions can be seen.

In the afternoon, visit North Seymour Island, (North of Baltra). The visitor trail on North Seymour is approximately 2 km in length. Cross the inland of the island and explore the rocky coast. Along the way the trail passes colonies of Blue-Footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigatebirds. The Magnificent Frigatebird, a large black bird with a long wingspan, and a hooked beak, is extremely fast and has excellent vision. Frigatebirds are known for the large red pouch on their necks. Boobies and Frigates share an interesting relationship. Sharing the same nesting area on North Seymour 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. At night, dinner and navigation to Caleta Tortuga.
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Day 8 (Sunday) Caleta Tortuga Negra / Baltra airport

In the morning, panga ride in Caleta Tortuga, also known as Black Turtle Cove. It is on the north side of Santa Cruz. You have to go by panga (motorized canoe) to reach it and see its mangrove swamp where there are nesting marine turtles during certain seasons of the year, and also sharks and rays.
 Finally disembark to Baltra and transfer to the airport. End of the cruise.
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