Natural atractions

Galapagos Islands is home to species of plants, birds, reptiles, and marine life, many of which exist nowhere else on earth.
You can find prehistoric land-iguanas, 600-pound giant tortoises, and 13 species of finches, each with a distinct beak.  Also, sea lions, fur seals, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, blue-footed boobies, and several species of birds like albatrosses and the world’s pinkest flamingos.

Recommended readings

Links (external):
www.rainforestalliance.com
www.darwinfoundation.org
www.lonelyplanet.com


Books:
  • Galápagos, A natural History Guide, M.H. Jackson,1990
  • Restoring the tortoise dynasty, Godfrey Merlin,1999
  • The Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin,1860

What you should bring with you:

  • LONG PANTS
    (lightweight, khakis)
  • SHORTS
    (Bermudas or other)
  • SHORT SLEEVED SHIRTS, T-SHIRTS
  • LONG SLEEVED SHIRTS (JUL-NOV)
  • WINDBREAKER or SWEATSHIRT (JUL - NOV)
  • BATHING SUITS (2)
  • WALKING SHOES OR LIGHT HIKING BOOTS
  • RUBBER-SOLED SHOES OR BOAT SHOES
  • SPORT SANDALS WITH A VELCRO STRAP
  • SMALL BACKPACK or KNAPSACK
  • PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE
  • WIDE BRIMMED HAT, BANDANA
  • CAMERA (with extra film, batteries and waterproof bag)
  • UNDERWATER CAMERA
  • SMALL PAIR OF BINOCULARS
  • SUNGLASSES/ STRAP, SUNSCREEN
  • SEA SICKNESS MEDICATION
  • PERSONAL MEDICATION
OUR ECOTOURISM ETHICS CUSTOMIZE YOUR JOURNEY

 
 

 
MONSERRAT

Recently refurbished in 2007, the MONSERRAT is named for its elegant accommodation, excellent cuisine and for the great space of its social areas. The Yacht is amongst the fastest power vessels in the Galapagos, making for a more comfortable experience to its passengers.

The graceful accommodation on board the MONSERRAT includes carpeting, wood paneled interiors and original paintings. It also boasts elegant granite surfaces and glass curtain doors in the bathrooms. Its social areas include a lounge with flat screen TV, bar, dinning room, small boutique and 3 solariums.

 

LENGHT: 28 M-91 Feet
BEAM: 6.6 M – 22 Feet
CAPACITY: 16 passengers
SPEED: 12 Knots
CREW: 8 plus 1 naturalist guide
GUEST CABINS:
4 double upper deck cabins, 2 double lower deck cabins
and 2 matrimonial lower deck cabins, all air conditioned.
EQUIPMENT: 2 Detroit Diesel Engines, 2 Perkins Generators, Furuno VHF/DSC, ICOM HF/DSC, Furuno GPS, Furuno Radar and Furuno Sonar.
VOLTAGE: 110 AC.

Cabin
Cabin
  Observation deck
Observation deck

Dinning room
Dinning room
  Bar
Bar
Reserve here...


 
THURSDAY
San Cristobal – Loberia
Also Known as Chatam, this island of 558 sq km is the fifth largest in the archipelago and has the second largest population.

The provincial capital of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is found on the south west point of the island.

PM: Arrival in San Cristobal Airport and greeting by our naturalist guide. Transfer to the Monserrat Yacht (approx 10 mins).

Check in and Lunch on board.

On the afternoon, we visit Lobería where you can see a big sea lion colony and marine iguanas.
MONDAY
Sullivan Bay and Bartolome
This morning we visit Sullivan Bay lava field where we can set foot on Santiago’s last volcanic eruption, nearly 100 years ago.

This thin-skinned lava's molten material cools down after an eruption causing the surface materials to buckle creating a rope like appearance.

Lunch.

After resting on board the Monserrat, we visit Bartolome Island with an area of 1.2 sq km.

There are two visitor sites and footpaths.
FRIDAY
Española Island

This Island, often called by its English name of Hood, is the most southerly in the archipelago. It is a medium sized island of 61sq km and there are two visitors sites.

Punta Suarez, lies at the western end of the island.

Gardner Bay is a beautiful white sand beach at the east end of Española.

An islet rock, a short distance away, provides with good snorkeling. You can often see white – tipped reef sharks around it.
TUESDAY
Tower Island (Genovesa)
This 14 sq km island is known more often by its English name of Tower.

It is the best place to see a red footed booby colony, as well as giving the opportunity to visit colonies of masked boobies, great frigate birds, red billed tropicbirds, swallow- tailed gulls, and many thousand of the petrels.

In the morning we will visit Prince Philip’s Steppes where we will follow a pathway along to visit the different bird colonies. And after lunch, we will visit the coral beach at the head of Darwin bay to do some more exploration as well as snorkeling and relaxation.
SATURDAY
Santa Fe – Plazas

Santa Fe is a 24sq km island lies about 20km southeast of Santa Cruz and is very popular for day trips.

Attractions include a sea lion colony, excellent snorkeling, marine iguanas and of course birds.

Plazas: These two small islands are just off the east coast of Santa Cruz.

After returning on board, we cruise for Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island where you will have the chance to disembark on the evening after dinner.
WEDNESDAY
Bachas Beach and North Seymour
Bachas Beach is a white coral beach, favorite by sea turtles for a nesting site.

On the afternoon we will visit North Seymour Island. Here we will visit a circular trail leading through some of the largest and most active seabirds breeding colonies in the islands. Magnificent frigate birds and blue footed boobies are the main attractions.
SUNDAY
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning we visit Charles Darwin Research Station

Transfer out to Baltra Airport for passengers returning to mainland Ecuador and transfer in for passengers arriving from mainland Ecuador.

Return to the Monserrat for Lunch

On the afternoon we will board a coach to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz.

If there is the chance, we will also visit the Gemelos, two collapsed craters that remind us of the volcanic origins of the archipelago.
THURSDAY
Sleeping Lion / Interpretation center
Early this morning we visit Sleeping Lion, a little rocky island which because of a fanciful resemblance to a sleeping lion, is named Leon Dormido.

After our arrival to San Cristobal, we visit its Interpretation Center where we can walk through the Galapagos Islands’ volcanic origins, its first human settlements and the great challenges we face ahead.

Transfer to the airport to fly back to the mainland for departing passengers.
Passengers continuing the tour, while come back to the Monserrat for Lunch.
Reserve here...

 
Prices, departures and includes services
Programs
Price
8 days / 7 nights (Lower deck)
US$2100
8 days / 7 nights (Upper deck)
US$2300
5 days / 4 nights (Lower deck)
US$1450
5 days / 4 nights (Upper deck)
US$1575
Single supplement if not sharing: 70%
Child discount: 25% (must be under 12 years).

Departures:   Sundays

Included: Not included:
•Accommodations.
•English-speaking certified naturalist guides.
•Guided tours and excursions.
•All Meals.

•Airfare Quito-Galapagos-Quito (US$410 per person). Subject to change
•Entrace fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$100 cash on arrival to the islands)

•Tips and gratuities.
•Optional or suggested services that are on your own.
•Personal expenses.
•Extra beverages and alcoholic drinks.
•Medical costs and hospitalization.
• Meals, souvenirs and other local and personal expenses not specified in the above itinerary are also not included.