Galapagos Monserrat
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights
Thursday to Thursday
Day 5
Charles Darwin Station / Highlands (Santa Cruz Island)
Travelers will have the chance to investigate the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can also admire giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Travelers can also admire the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. The visit to the station takes around 40 minutes. After this visit, passengers will have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.
One of the options is to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz. Passengers will visit Cerro Chato. In this visit, you’ll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises that gave the name to these islands. Additionally, travelers can literally get into the Galapagos by walking in the dormant lava tubes.
Day 6
Punta Cormorant / Post Office Bay (Floreana Island)
Wet landing on a greenish colored sand beach. Passengers will hike a well-marked trail beginning in the Black Mangrove beds heading towards the back of the lagoon. The large, brackish lagoon holds one of the biggest populations of flamingos in the Galapagos. This island is best known for its endemic plant life, such as: the millwork, passion flower, and unique button mangrove. Novice snorkelers can practice back on the main beach where the sea lions are playful, while experienced snorkelers can roam the waters around Devils Crown.
Post Office Bay located on the north side of Floreana Island. A short walk from the famous barrel, across typical vegetation of the island, we come to a tunnel formed by lava flows. It’s quite a tricky way down to a path where we can observe land birds such as Galapagos mockingbird, some species of Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers and lava lizards.
Day 7
Bartolome Island / North Seymour Island
Bartolome is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches, luxuriant green mangroves and a colony of penguins. Activities will include swimming and snorkeling 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.
In Seymour Island guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is also known for being a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies and the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird, . Travelers will also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the marine iguanas and land iguanas.
Day 8
Leon Dormido / Interpretation Center (San Cristobal Island)
Leon Dormido, also know as Kicker Rock is a magnificent rock in the middle of the sea. Rising 500 feet strait from the ocean, this giant uplifted rock has the shape of a sleeping lion. It has a split with towering vertical walls on either side, forming a narrow channel through which small vessels can navigate.
In Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the Interpretation Center newly opened by the Galapagos National Park in 1998, which is truly an extraordinary contribution to the information and education of Galapagos Islands communities and the travelers, the 80% is focus in the anthropology of the Galapagos, the 20% is scientific. Following this trip, transfer to the San Cristobal airport and flight back to the mainland to Guayaquil or Quito, Ecuador.