Galapagos Yachts Tourist sail yachts Cachalote
| The Motor Sailor Cachalote Designed and built in California in 1971 and fully refurbished in 2002 for cruises on the Galapagos Islands, with comfort in mind. It comfortably accommodates 16 passengers in 8 double cabins. US$ 2438|2709 |  |
Type Motor Yacht
Length 70 feet
Beam 18 feet
Draft 6 feet
Speed 9 Knots
Navigation Equipment 16 mile Furuno radar, 24 mile Si-tex radar, depth finders, speed and distance log, compasses, barometer
Safety Equipment 2 Motor dinghies with capacity 10 people each / life jackets / flares and signals / EPIRB and fire system. Completely safety equipment according with the International Coast Guard regulations
Accommodations 16 Passengers in 8 double cabins with upper and lower berth all cabins with private Bathroom
Facilities Hot Water Showers / dining-room / Snorkelling equipment / Solarium / VHS / TV / Ventilators / small library
Crew 5 Plus Naturalist guide II Spanish / English
Intinerary:
01 Wednesday : Arrive at Baltra, Galapagos - North Seymour Island
The flight from Quito (via Guayaquil) to the Galapagos is approximately 2 ? hours on a Boeing 727. Upon arrival at Baltra travellers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid). Guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbour. There our crew will welcome you onboard. After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.
North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found together with marine iguanas.
02 Thursday: Santa Cruz/Estacion Charles Darwin - Highlands
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, with the largest population of the 4 inhabited islands (approx 10.000). Santa Cruz is also the only island where six different zones of vegetation can be seen: Coastal, Arid, Transition, Scalesia, Miconia, and Pampa Zones. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based here. We will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of their kind. Scientists, park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing centre, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this island will probably be Lonesome George. He is the only surviver of the specific turtle species.
The lush greenery of the Santa Cruz highlands is a welcome contrast with the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. Points of interest are the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. The trip to the highlands ends with a visit to the Twin Craters. The vegetation around these is very special and is renown for its about 300 fern species and the many sunflowers.
03 Friday: Espa?ola Island-Punta Suarez-Gardner Bay
One of the oldest of the islands, Espa?ola is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. Punta Suarez is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Espa?ola Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the brilliantly colored marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air.
Gardner Bay is on the eastern shore and has a magnificent beach. This beach is frequented by a transient colony of sea lions, and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. On a trail leading to the western tip of the island you'll pass the only nesting sites in the Galapagos of the waved albatross, huge birds with a 6-foot wingspan. These huge birds nest here from April to December and represent the majority of the world's population of this species.
04 Saturday: Floreana - Pto. Cormorant / Devil's crown / Post Office Bay
Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Islands of the archipelago. At Punta Cormorant you land on a green olivine sand beach. Following a 100 m long path you will soon reach a lagoon with flamingoes, white-checked pintail ducks and other shorebirds. The trail goes on to a white beach made of grinned coral, so it looks like flour. This is the green sea turtle's nesting place. North of Punta Cormorant and eroded volcano, Devil's Crown, is a snorkel's delight. To the west, Post Office Bay keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to send their mail.
05 Sunday: Isabela Island Punta Moreno - Urbina Bay
This day we will start with the visit of the Punta Morena. This young volcanic landscape is marked by several freshwater-pools where Bahama Ducks, flamingoes and other birds gather.
Urbina Bay is an easy wet landing on a gentle sloping beach. This area is very interesting in that it is a perfect example of the geological activity of the islands. In 1954 over 3 miles (5 kilometres) of the marine reef at the edge of the shore were uplifted by 13 feet (4 meters).
06 Monday: Fernandina Island-Punta Espinosa / Isabela Island-Tagus Cove
Fernandina is the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos with eruptions taking place every few years. The flat lava of Punta Espinosa offers a stark and barren landscape, but here flightless cormorants build their nests on the point, sea lions sprawl on the beach or play in the tide pools and marine iguanas dot the sand.
On the towering cliffs of Tagus Cove, 19th and early 20th century ships' graffiti can be seen. After hiking beyond Darwin Lake, a saltwater lagoon above sea level, you will be rewarded with extraordinary views of Darwin and Wolf volcanoes.
07 Tuesday: Santiago Island-James Bay / Bartolome Island
This island has several sites to visit at the western end of James Bay. Puerto Egas with its black sand beaches was the site of small salt mining industry in the 1960s and a hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to sight land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. A walk down the rugged shoreline, especially at low tide, will turn up many marine species as iguanas basking on the rocks and sea lions lazing in the tide pools. At the end of the trail there is a series of grottoes or sea caves where fur seals and night herons are found resting on shady ledges. Just north of James Bay is Buccaneer Cove, a particularly scenic area of steep cliffs and dark beaches.
Bartolome is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches, luxuriant green mangroves and a colony of penguins. Activities will include swimming and snorkelling and a climb to the summit of the island for one of the most breathtaking views in all the Galapagos. From the summit you will have the best view of the often-photographed Pinnacle Rock.
08 Wednesday: Punta Tortuga - Baltra - flight back
Before leaving the Galapagos Islands you will visit the mangroves of Punta Tortuga. Transfer to Baltra and from there return flight to Quito or Guayquil.
