Galapagos Cruise West & Central Islands | Seaman Journey

Today marks the beginning of your journey to the Galapagos Islands. Please note that due to regulations set by the Galapagos Government, a fee of 20 USD must be paid for the migration control card.

Upon arrival in Santa Cruz, passengers are required to pass through an airport inspection point to ensure compliance with regulations prohibiting the introduction of foreign plants or animals to the archipelago. Additionally, at this inspection point, passengers must pay the entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park. As of August 2024, foreign passengers pay $200, while children under 12 years old pay $100.

Our guide will be there to greet you and assist with carrying your luggage to the bus that transports tourists to the ferries crossing the Itabaca Channel. Subsequently, you'll board another bus for the first visit to Ranch Manzanillo. For this activity, it's essential to wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, a waterproof jacket, sunblock lotion, and carry a camera and repellent. The visit to Ranch Manzanillo includes a picnic lunch and a short walk before boarding the Motor Catamaran. It's crucial to adhere to these instructions for the smooth execution of the itinerary. Please note that passengers' luggage will be directly transferred to the Seaman Journey yacht.

Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for observing wild Galapagos Tortoises. Tracking tortoises is just one of the exciting activities awaiting you in the highlands, where you can also explore lava tubes, sinkholes, and craters. After this visit, you'll proceed to embark on the M/C Seaman Journey.

Today's excursion takes you to Moreno Point on Isabela Island. Punta Moreno sits on the north coast of Isabela Island, nestled between the Sierra Negra volcano and Cerro Azul volcano.

The trail winds along a Pahoehoe lava flow, characterized by its corrugated or accordion-like appearance, leading to a network of coastal lagoons. These lagoons and surrounding mangroves provide habitat for various bird species.

Later in the day, you'll venture to Fernandina Island's Mangle Point. Situated off the eastern coast of Fernandina, Mangle Point offers exceptional snorkeling opportunities and the chance to glide through a grove of mangrove trees in a panga or zodiac. A hike of approximately 1/2 mile is also possible. While exploring, keep your eyes peeled for sightings of sea lions, tortoises, pelicans, rays, and numerous bird species that inhabit the area.

This morning, you'll embark on an exploration of Isabela Island, starting with Urbina Bay. Nestled at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the island's west coast, Urbina Bay lies between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. In 1954, a significant uplift occurred, raising the land over 16 feet and extending the coast half a mile out, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities. Urbina Bay features a trail beginning with a wet landing. The approximately 3200m path consists of sand, pumice, lava, coral, and vegetation, providing glimpses of iguana burrows. It's an ideal spot to spot red and blue lobsters!

Darwin's finches can be observed in Urbina Bay, but its main attraction is the land iguanas, which are larger than those found in other locations like South Plaza Island and Galapagos. Wild tortoises are also occasionally spotted, even out of season, roaming the island's terrain. Abundant vegetation, including chamomile and Rosewood, can be observed, with the beautiful flowers of Darwin's cotton, endemic to the Galapagos Islands, standing out.

In the afternoon, your exploration continues on Isabela Island with Tagus Cove. Situated west of Darwin Volcano, Tagus Cove holds a rich history as a favored spot for pirates and whalers. It was they who initiated the tradition of inscribing boat names. At the trail's beginning, a small cave displays inscriptions dating back to the 1800s.

The name Tagus Cove originated from a British warship that passed through the islands in 1814 in search of Galapagos Tortoises for sustenance. Due to past eruptions, the area's substrate is composed of various-sized volcanic rocks, including spherical-shaped lapilli or petrified rain, which are common in the landscape.

Today's journey takes you to Fernandina Island, specifically Espinoza Point. Renowned for its extensive colonies of marine iguanas, Espinoza Point is also home to unique species such as the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.

Later in the day, you'll venture to Vicente Roca Point, one of the most breathtaking spots in the enchanting Galapagos Islands. Characterized by high cliffs and formations of tuffstone, ash, and lava, Punta Vicente Roca exudes a majestic aura. Situated on the northwestern coast of the island, it consists of two distinct islets. This expansive bay teems with spectacular marine life.

Here, you'll have the opportunity to spot seahorses, sea turtles, and the intriguing Mola-mola or sunfish. Punta Vicente Roca is an ideal location for Panga Rides and Snorkeling, offering encounters with penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, boobies, and sea lions. Additionally, snorkeling enthusiasts can observe sea turtles, stingrays, and pufferfishes in the pristine waters of the bay.

This morning, your destination is Espumilla Beach on Santiago Island. Situated along the northern coast in James Bay, Espumilla Beach witnessed changes during the last El Niño phenomenon, causing sedimentation in one of its lagoons and leading to the disappearance of a significant flamingo colony. However, the main attractions remain intact: the palo santo forest and the nesting grounds of baby turtles.

In the afternoon, you'll head to Puerto Egas, also on Santiago Island. This site features a striking black beach on the island's west side, formed by volcanic tuff deposits. Puerto Egas earned its name from a failed attempt to exploit salt, as the low market price made it economically unviable to extract salt in the Galapagos. Consequently, the project was abandoned, leaving behind remnants of infrastructure.

Today, you'll head to Rabida Island, renowned for its distinctive red-colored rocks and sand. The volcanic material on this island is highly porous, and environmental elements such as rain, salty water, and sea breeze have contributed to its oxidization, giving it its unique hue.

A brief walk along a trail leads you to a coastal lagoon nestled behind the beach, providing opportunities to observe land birds like finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. The lagoon is also home to a colony of flamingos.

Later in the day, you'll visit the Chinese Hat, or Sombrero Chino. This small islet sits just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It's a recent volcanic cone, resembling a Chinese hat when viewed from the north. On its western side, lava formations, originally formed under the sea and subsequently elevated, are adorned with coral heads.

This excursion offers an excellent opportunity to interpret geological features such as lava tubes and flows. The landscape is teeming with colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins, adding to the richness of the experience.

On this final day, your destination is Black Turtle Cove, situated on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island, just west of Baltra. Embarking on a dinghy ride to Black Turtle Cove offers a serene glimpse into one of the Galapagos' tranquil hideaways.

As you enter the cove, the boat's engines are silenced, allowing for a peaceful exploration of the mangrove-enshrouded inlet. Within these calm waters, sea turtles gracefully feed and mate, while three species of sharks—black-tip, white-tip, and Galapagos—can be spotted.

After the visit, you'll be transferred to the Baltra airport in time for your return flight to the mainland.