MY Coral I or II Cruise - 3 nights - North Central 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

North/Central Islands.

 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 M/Y Coral I or M/Y Coral II.

 PM – Charles Darwin Research Station and Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Santa Cruz Island)

Dry landing. Once home to the famous Lonesome George, the last tortoise of the Pinta race, the breeding and relocation center is named in honor 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 Darwin’s finches such as the woodpecker, cactus and vegetarian finches.

Difficulty level: easy

 Type of terrain: flat

 Duration: 1 1/2-hour visit.

 Day 2

 AM - Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island)

Dry or wet landing. Arriving to a small lava dock our first encounters are with marine iguanas that blend-in perfectly to the dark rock. As we walk past large prickly pear cacti we arrive to one end of a long, sickle-shaped, beach with Dragon Hill standing in the distance. Our walk takes us on a circular path, past a shallow lake where flamingoes frequently come to feed. Waders such as stilts, turnstones and sandpipers work the muddy edges frenetically looking for food as we continue inland to a dry, forested habitat where land iguanas nest and burrow.

 Difficulty level: moderate

 Type of terrain: rocky

 Duration: 2-hour walk

 PM – Bartolome Island

Dry or wet landing. Considered the most iconic landscape of the entire archipelago the view from the top of Bartolome Island, overlooking the famous Pinnacle Rock and the austere Santiago Island beyond, is well worth the climb up the wooden boardwalk. This volcanic scene has often been likened to a lunar landscape. Our subsequent snorkel here might put us face to face with Galapagos penguins, white-tipped reef sharks and playful sea lions.

 Difficulty level: intermediate

 Type of terrain: trail made of 372 steps.

 Duration: 1 1/2-hour walk/1-hour snorkeling.

 Day 3

 AM– Rabida Island

Lying at the heart of the archipelago this dramatic island, with its distinctive red-sand beach, is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves and vermillion flycatchers. A walk takes us through a forest of palo santo and cacti to a beautiful overview of the bay. Snorkeling here can be excellent, often with large schools of black-striped salemas, sea lions and the ubiquitous turtles.

 Difficulty level: easy

 Type of terrain: sandy

 Duration: 1 1/2-hour walk/1-hour snorkeling/1-hour dinghy ride

 PM – Buccaneers Cove/Espumilla Beach (Santiago Island)

This is an amazing location, featuring the remains of an eroded shoreline that is home to seabirds, fur seals and the playful sea lions. Its different shapes have been made throughout a process caused by erosion of the waves and the wind. Espumilla Beach is a white-sandy beach in James Bay and is a popular place among visitors. There are mangroves and a small palo santo forest that lead to salty-water lagoons that are home to wading birds like flamingos. In the upper dunes are a nesting site for sea turtles. A good place to snorkel to see rays.

 Difficulty level: easy

 Type of terrain: white sand

 Duration: 1-hour walk/1-hour snorkeling/beach time.

 Day 4

 AM – Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz Island)

Here, we can find four species of mangrove in the extensive tidal lagoon system that stretches for almost a mile inland. During our panga ride through the labyrinth, we will spot many turtles, herons of several species, sharks and rays. The experience is otherworldly and seems to transport us back to the beginning of time.

 Difficulty level: easy

 Type of terrain: none

 Duration: 1-hour panga ride

 AM- Baltra Airport

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

 Your 3 nights cruise includes:

- Roundtrip 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.

- 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