Multisport Tours - Galapagos Islands

SAIL CATAMARAN VALKIRIA ITINERARY 

Day 1

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island, where our guide will pick you up and take you to the yacht. After a quick stop in Puerto Ayora and lunch on board we will move on to Punta Estrada and Bahia Divine , a calm shallow water place where rays, mullets and sharks can be seen along the rocky coast line.  There are blue footed boobies and frigates are also found on the cliffs.  Snorkeling is also available. Back on board: dinner and navigation to San Cristobal Island. 

Day 2 After breakfast we will drive to the highlands and walk to El Junco lagoon (the only natural source of fresh water in the islands, frigate birds feed on the fish in the lagoon, lots of land birds such as Darwin's finches and mocking birds can be found.) Box lunch and visit to La Galapaguera, which is a part of the Galapagos National Park and we will be able to find a great number of giant tortoises in their natural habitat; in other words it is a privilege of our journey. After exploring the surroundings we will walk to Puerto Chino, a beautiful and pristine beach.  It is the perfect spot for a laid back afternoon where you can snorkel, swim or simply relax. Dinner.

Day 3 Breakfast and on the way sightseeing visit to Kicker Rock - Leon Dormido, an old tuff cone eroded by the ocean and now serves as nesting place for frigate birds, blue footed boobies and nazca boobies, tropic birds and of course a magnificent volcanic formation. Box lunch and a visit to Puerto Grande for snorkeling. After dinner we will sail to Floreana.

Day 4 After having breakfast on board we will go by car to the highlands of Floreana, where pirates and whalers used volcanic caves as hiding places. Box Lunch, back in town we will visit Puerto Velasco Ibarra, the smallest town in the Galapagos with a population of around 100 people. We'll have dinner on board and navigation to Isabela.

Day 5 Isabela Island the largest and one of the youngest in the Galapagos and it is one of the most beautiful islands. After breakfast we will ride the bus approximately one hour  to Sierra Negra volcano, which is still active and in October 2005 gave us the most recent volcanic eruption in Galapagos. From here we begin with a horseback-riding journey along the crater of the volcano, an experience that will fulfill every expectation. Normally we find giant tortoises on the way. After this we will continue with a hike on a dried lava trail to Volcan Chico.  We will walk on a large dried lava trail and if we are fortunate we might see fumaroles.  It is an incredible view of the landscape from the top. Today we will have a box lunch and in the afternoon we'll have it free to enjoy the beach.

Charles Darwin Station

Day 6 Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island has the second smallest population in Galapagos with around 1800 inhabitants and remains pristine and untouched. Breakfast and zodiac ride to tintoreras or white tip sharks grotto, small shallow channels in between lava flows with sandy bottom in which we usually find white tipped reef sharks. Isabela also has a penguin population and normally we find them swimming with us, after this visit we will go back on board. Lunch and in the afternoon we visit to the "Muro de las lagrimas" a wall of lava rocks made by inmates from an old penal colony established on the island. To finish our day we can relax on the white sand beach right in town with many shore birds and marine life.

Day 7 Puerto Ayora during the morning and after breakfast we will go to the highest part of the Island for a bike ride and will be able to observe tortoises in their natural habitat. After lunch we will visit the world famous Charles Darwin Research Centre where all the efforts to protect and preserve the native and endemic animals are developed; we will also find Giant tortoise rearing programs and of course Lonesome George.

Day 8 After breakfast on our way to the airport we stop at Los Gemelos a pair of craters (sink holes) in the middle of the Scalesia zone: scalesias are endemic trees only found in Galapagos and they create a great nesting area for Darwin's finches as well as many other land birds such as flycatchers, doves etc.  After this visit we drive straight to the airport to catch your flight back to main land: Quito or Guayaquil.

Itinerary subject to change depending on weather conditions, park authorities, navy authorities and hotels availability.

Yacht Valkiria used for interisland transportation only, activities at ports run by local travel agencies and operators.