| Thur Mar 07 | Fly Bogota to Quito on AV8373 |
depart Bogota 14.40 and arrive Quito 16.20 | |
| Night in Silversea Hotel | JW Marriott Quito Hotel | ||
| Fri Mar 08 | Day in Quitos |
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| Night in Silversea Hotel | JW Marriott Quito Hotel | ||
| Sat Mar 09 | San Cristóbal | ||
| Kicker Rock | Kicker Rock is the vertical remnant of a former tuff cone less than 5 kilometers to the west of San Cristobal. Both its Spanish name “Leon Dormido” (Sleeping Lion) and English name Kicker Rock imply that it is one rock only -when in fact it is a larger one 300 meters long by 100 meters wide with a maximum height of approximately 150 meters and next to it an obelisk-like rock separated by a narrow channel some 20 meters deep. When approaching Kicker Rock, Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies and frigatebirds can be observed, while sea lions can be seen along the shore. Snorkelers have reported manta rays, hammerhead sharks and turtles. An interesting explanation for the English name suggests that James Colnett in 1794 likened it to famous landmarks in Portsmouth. | ||
| Sun Mar 10 | Isla Bartolome | Our ship anchors in sight of the volcanic moonscape of Isla Bartolomé, at Sullivan Bay. Zodiacs bring guests ashore to ascend a boardwalk of 388 steps. Passing through the arid volcanic landscape provides a chance to watch for lava lizards, Galapagos Hawks, and Blue-footed Boobies. However, the climber’s ultimate reward is one of the most beautiful panoramas in all of the Galapagos Islands – the view towards Pinnacle Rock with black, volcanic cones of Baltra, Daphne Major and Daphne Minor in the distance. On the way down watch how the sunlight catches the green of pioneering plant species in stark contrast against dark volcanic rock, and look forward to time swimming and snorkeling from the golden beach. | |
| Buccaneer Cove, Santiago | Buccaneer Cove is a colourful inlet on Santiago. Pirates came searching for water, tortoises, and some people say even places to hide their treasures. The geology combines some tuff red cones with impressive basalt lava dikes and sills. The erosion has carved caves and shaped some rocks into unique forms such as the Bishop's Rock. Palo Santo trees and some giant Prickly pear cactus cover the area, and at a distance, you can observe the impressive volcanos of Isabela Island. We will explore the area from our Zodiacs, searching for sea birds such as Nazca Boobies, Blue Footed Boobies, and Swallow-tailed Gulls. We can often find sea turtles and even reef sharks in this place. Also we can observe the two sea lions species: the Galapagos sea lion basking on the beaches and the fur seal looking for shade on the collapsed rocks along the coast. | ||
| Mon Mar 11 | Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) | Punta Vicente Roca is one of the marine sites on Isabela Island. On the southern side of Ecuador Volcano, the tip of land on the western end of Isabela is named after Vicente Ramon Roca, President of Ecuador from 1845-49, who as Prefect of Guayas had proposed the Ecuadorian annexation of the Galapagos Islands in 1831. The geological formations, the underwater caves and lava tubes offer fascinating views of the coastline. The South Equatorial Countercurrent hits this part of the archipelago from the west and the water offers abundant food sources for different marine life and seabirds. It is normal to see Pacific green turtles, but sharks, rays, whales and dolphins can also be expected. Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Brown Noddies and other seabirds nest in the cliffs and both the endemic Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants have established small colonies nearby. Marine iguanas also like this area because of the rich variety of seaweeds growing underwater along the western coast of Isabela. As a marine site, deepwater snorkeling is also possible at Punta Vicente Roca. | |
| Bolivar Canal Cruising | |||
| Punta Espinoza, Fernandina | With the gentle slopes of La Cumbre volcano in the distance, the low, lava-forged coast of Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island is a spectacular sight. Hundreds of marine iguanas rest on the black rock of recent lava flows absorbing heat from the stone and defending their territories against one another. Galapagos sea lions and their pups also take shelter here, resting on the beach and playing in the shallow tide pools. Walk past areas where marine iguanas lay their eggs and along shallow mangrove ponds ringed with bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs and Flightless Cormorants drying their stubby wings. | ||
| Tues Mar 12 | Tagus Cove (Isabela) | Tagus Cove is bordered by a steep rocky coastline and has offered shelter for ships. The cove is named after the British frigate HMS Tagus visiting the Galapagos in 1814. Already by the 1830s other ships had their visits recorded by painting or scratching their nameonto the rocks. On approach Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants –both birds mainly found on Isabela’s west coast and neighboring Fernandina- are often seen. From the landing a trail through an incense tree forest leads past Darwin Lake to a viewpoint on top of a spatter cone. During the hike several land birds including Medium Ground-Finches, Galapagos Hawks, Yellow Warblers as well as Large-billed Flycatchers are often present. Brown Noddies and Blue-footed Boobies prefer the rocks along the shore. | |
| Elizabeth Bay (Isabela) | Elizabeth Bay is one of the marine sites on Isabela’s west coast. South of Alcedo Volcano and north of Sierra Negra, It is found at Isabela’s narrowest east-west extension where the lava flows of these two volcanoes have connected each other. Elizabeth Bay’s shores show mangroves and specifically the easternmost part, a cove which can only be entered via a narrow channel, has red, white and black mangroves. Different animals prefer different parts of Elizabeth Bay. Las Marielas, three rocks at the entrance to the bay, are favored by Blue-footed Boobies, Flightless Cormorants and Galapagos Penguins as a resting place, while the mangrove area is preferred by Great Blue Herons for hunting or the Magnificent Frigatebirds for perching. The bay is used by turtles & rays. The mangroves in the small inlet allow smaller fish to hide from bigger predators. | ||
| Wed Mar 13 | Post Office Bay (Floreana) | Floreana’s Post Office Bay received its name as the site was used to leave mail for retrieval by others. First mentioned by Porter in 1813 as “Hathaway’s Postoffice”, HMS Beagle’s captain FitzRoy stated that it was not in use in 1835 as the island was already settled at that time. Floreana had been the first island to be settled by Ecuadorians in 1832. Today a barrel instead of the original box is used by visitors who leave their own postcards . Apart from the beach and mail barrel the bay offers good swimming and snorkeling. The area holds remains of a failed Norwegian fish canning plant dating back to the 1920s. Although Floreana is inhabited, the number of residents is reduced because of the difficult access to water. A track from Post Office Bay connects with the only road from Puerto Velazco Ibarra on the west coast to a spring in the highlands. | |
| Champion Islet (Floreana) | Champion Islet is an islet 700 meters off the northeast coast of Floreana. It is one of four marine sites surrounding Floreana and offers excellent snorkeling . Curious sea lions approach the snorkelers while turtles slowly swim by and sharks, sting rays, and a high diversity of colorful fishes can usually be seen. During a Zodiac cruise around Champion Islet not only seabirds such as Nazca Boobies, or Red-billed Tropicbirds will be seen, it is also possible to spot the rare Floreana Mockingbird. | ||
| Punta Cormorant (Floreana) | Floreana Island’s northernmost point is Punta Cormorant – named after the British HMS Cormorant and dating back to the late 19th century. From the landing beach a short track leads to a shallow lagoon that is famous for its flamingos. The brilliantly pink birds skim the salty waters for shrimp and tend to chicks on the nest. The trail then scales a low hillside through scattered Palo Santo trees to reveal an idyllic white-sand beach on the other side of the point. Standing at the edge of the lapping waves, you might spot mammoth female sea turtles hauling themselves out of the sea to lay eggs in the sugar sand dunes that lay high above the tide line. Before returning to the landing site your guides may also point out White-cheeked Pintails, Blue-footed Boobies, Yellow Warblers, and Medium and Small Ground Finches. | ||
| Thur Mar 14 | Santa Cruz Highlands | Santa Cruz Island reaches a maximum altitude of 864 meters, at high altitudes, weather changes creating microclimates. The species of flora and fauna found near the shoreline are extremely different from those on the highlands. Life in the highlands is much easier due to the presence of fresh water, from the constant drizzle that happens during the dry season to heavy rains that occur during the wet season. Local people take advantage of this climate to cultivate a large number of crops and giant tortoises love this ideal weather to mate, feed and rest before their next long migration to the shorelines. | |
| Fausto Llerena Breeding Center | Silver Origin will anchor in front of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, where the Charles Darwin Research Station is located. The station also houses the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center for giant tortoises and land iguanas where guides interpret the centre’s captive breeding and reintroduction programs. In addition to these star species, throughout the station there are huge prickly pear cactus trees being fed upon by the pretty Galapagos Cactus Finch. Then enjoy free time in town where local artists have created charming art galleries and corner cafés. | ||
| Fri Mar 15 | Cerro Dragon (Santa Cruz) | A dry landing onto volcanic rock covered by Sally light-footed crabs will welcome you as you disembark for this walk. Enjoy this visit that mixes a brackish water lagoon inhabited by shorebirds, some elusive pink flamingos and a volcanic rock cover dry enough to be the perfect ecosystem for the Galapagos land iguana. Look out for this iconic Galapagos inhabitant. Your guide will be on the lookout too, helping you to recognise them whether they are resting in their burrows or next to the cacti looking for food. | |
| Bahia Bowditch, Santa Cruz | Beach & swim | ||
| San Cristóbal, Galapagos | |||
| Fly Guayaquil | Leave 10.13 arrive Quito at 14.50 | ||
| Fly Quito to Madrid | leave 19.00 arrive Mad at 11.20 next day. IB 6454 | ||
| Sun Mar 17 | Fly Mad to ALC | leave 19.40 arrive ALC 20.50. IB 8864 |