MY Coral I or II Cruise – 3 nights – East Islands

Cruising the Galapagos Islands is a very special and unique experience. You can hike the trails as you spot blue footed boobies and giant tortoises. Admire mysterious creatures like the armies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorant birds that have lost their ability to fly and penguins at the equator line and other species that are endemic to this paradise. The rich marine life is fascinating for those who like to practice snorkeling. A world as wonderful as the one above surface, colorful fish in schools, manta rays, sea turtles, hammer head sharks, whale sharks, and magnificent reefs. The MY Coral I is a spacious motor yacht designed with teakwood and modern decorum to give a unique Galapagos tour an exclusive touch. Equipped with all the standards you would expect from a high class yacht, the Coral is a modern ship in a timeless realm. The dining room and lounge demonstrate a refined taste and the yacht has three sun decks, one half-shaded, 2 separate social areas with a well equipped bar, TV and VCR, stereo, library, a well stocked bar, large picture windows, and best of all expansive observation decks with sun shade areas, where during the day is the perfect spot for relaxation, at night the perfect place for meetings and barbecue. The size and agility of the operations, allow the Coral I to dock in close, even at the narrowest havens and shallow beaches, offering the most intimate experience with Galapagos wilderness.

As MY Coral I and MY Coral II sail together, there may be a chance of being confirmed on either one of these ships, considering both share the same departure dates and itineraries

Day 1

 AM - Baltra Airport

Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island (approx. 2 1 / 2 - hour flight). Arriving in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturist guides and taken on a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the MY Coral I or MY Coral II.

 PM - North Seymour Island

Dry landing. Off of Baltra Island and not far from Santa Cruz, North Seymour is located. This landmass was formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which deposited layers of lava on the ocean floor. An approximately two-hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles and sea lions. You will also encounter land iguanas, and on a lucky day, you might even come across the endemic Galapagos Snake.

Difficulty level: intermediate

Type of terrain: rocky

Duration: 2-hour walk, 30 minutes snorkeling

Day 2

 AM - Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)

Once home to the famous Lonesome George, the last tortoise of the Pinta race, the breeding and relocation center is named in honour of his long-time guardian. The center is set in the Galapagos National Park Service where various interpretative buildings are available to visit. The grounds, with large stands of native vegetation are one of the better places to spot some of the seldom seen Darwinís finches such as the woodpecker, cactus and vegetarian finches.

Difficulty level: intermediate

Type of terrain: flat

Duration: 1 1/2 hour visit

 PM - Mosquera Islet

Wet Landing, Mosquera Islet is located between North Seymour and Baltra Island. This flat, sandy island has a large colony of sea lions. It is also an excellent site to observe shorebirds such as herons and lava gulls. There is no trail on the islet, the visitor can enjoy the open area. Most of the islet is covered with sand and barren lava rock. Very little sesuvium portulacastrum plants grow on the sand.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: sandy

Duration: 1 1/2 hour walk and snorkeling

Day 3

 AM - South Plaza Island

Dry landing. There are two Plaza Islets (north and south) located east of Santa Cruz Island. On the northern part of the Islet, visitors begin the journey along an impressive cactus forest were colorful yellow and red land iguanas live, the population number is around 300 animals; during the dry season they survive on fruits and flowers of the opuntia cacti. A peculiar thing to see in South Plaza is the hybrid iguana (sea and land). When reaching the highest point, tropicbirds can be seen. During the dry season (June – January) the usually greenish and yellowish vegetation change of color creating a bright red landscape (sesuviumedmonstonei plant)

 Difficulty level: easy

 Type of terrain: sandy

 Duration: 1 1/2 hour walk 1 hour walk and snorkeling

 PM - Santa Fe Island

Wet landing. Santa Fe shows white sand beaches surrounded by sea lion colonies; through the island path, an endemic cactus forest is passed, home the Santa Fe land iguanas (the largest in the islands). This island is the habitat for a number of species, including the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snakes, rice rats (one of the few endemic Galapagos rodents), a variety of finches and one of the four mockingbird species of the archipielago.

 Difficulty level: intermediate

 Type of terrain: rocky

 Duration: 2 1/2 hour walk - deep water snorkeling

Day 4

 AM - Lobos Island

Dry landing: Isla Lobos is approximately 20 minutes by boat from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Once on the island, the trail is about 850 meters and there will be rocky trail and a nice & easy sand trail too. There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and great frigatebirds nests at this site. You Can also find a colony of sea lions. During the boat ride, you can see brown pelicans and several species of shorebirds

 Difficulty level: moderate

 Type of terrain: rocky and sandy

 Duration: 1 1/2 hour walk

San Cristobal Airport

After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport to their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.

Your 3 nights cruise includes:

- Round Trip transfer from hotel to airport on the day the cruise starts, and airport to hotel in Quito/Guayaquil on the day the cruise ends.

- Accommodation aboard the M/Y Coral I or II.

- English/Spanish speaking guides.

- All meals scheduled on board.

- Briefing and Lecture services.

- 2 Daily visits to the islands conducted by multilingual naturalist guides, sightseeing, snorkeling opportunities, and transfers in the islands.

- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee, Transit Control Card.

 Not included:

- Flights to from Galapagos Island, Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, tax, gratuities, travel insurance, use of snorkeling equipment.

- If any other ticket to from Galapagos is used, an operational non-refundable fee of USD 90.00 net per person must be charged. The company is not responsible if passengers miss the cruise or other services due to independent arrangements delays.

Please note:

- Your itinerary is subject to change in the event of weather conditions, seasonal changes, and safety concerns, rerouting of the ship or Galapagos National Park policies