Galapagos

Southern & Central Galapagos Islands cruise - SOLARIS M/Y

5 days | 4 nights
Shared tour
From On request per person
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Cruise Description

Board the five star Solaris Yacht for a five day Southern Central Galapagos Islands cruise, and explore the region's most striking natural gems in modern comfort. With 11 spacious cabins and a maximum of 16 passengers on board, this luxury yacht delivers personalized experiences and exceptional service to meet all of your travel needs.

Begin your five-day journey on San Cristobal Island, where you'll meet and greet your guide and fellow passengers at San Cristobal Airport. Then reach your first site on this five-day itinerary - the Interpretation Centre, which recounts the natural and human history of the Galapagos archipelago.

Discover the four million-year-old Española Island, and spend your day strolling its pristine white sand beach, observing napping sea lions in the warm sunshine and snorkeling with these playful creatures.

Española Island's Punta Suarez is an unmissable site for bird lovers, as the island boasts a varied collection of seabirds. Among colonies of Nazca and blue-footed boobies, the endangered waved albatrosses also reside here, and visitors have the opportunity to watch them engage in synchronized courtship dances between May and November.

Sail onward to Floreana Island, where its shimmering olive green beach will awe you, and you'll embark on a guided walk to observe sea lions, frigatebirds, and pelicans in their natural habitat.

Then snorkel at Devil's Crown, a favorite in the Galapagos archipelago for its excellent visibility and diverse range of wildlife.

Mail home a postcard from historic Post Office Bay and climb Baroness Lookout for a striking panorama of the Galapagos. Here, you'll also learn about the self-proclaimed Empress of the Galapagos, Baroness Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, and visit the ruins of her home.

Observe the volcanic features of Sullivan Bay by trekking across its extensive lava fields, then journey to the tiny 1.2 sq. km Bartolome Island to snorkel at the base of Pinnacle Rock.

Your 5-day Southern Central Galapagos Islands cruise ends with a visit to the tranquil mangrove forests of Black Turtle Cove, where you'll have the opportunity to encounter black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles and a variety of rays.

Be transported to Seymour Airport on Baltra Island for your onward flight to Quito or Guayaquil. The Solaris Yacht packs some of the Galapagos Island's most popular south-central highlights into this 5-day Galapagos itinerary, with opportunities to snorkel, conquer viewpoints and embark on guided walks along pristine beaches.

Destinations

Galapagos

Trip at a glance

Visits

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: Interpretation Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

ESPAÑOLA ISLAND: Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez

FLOREANA ISLAND: Punta Cormorant, Champion Islet, Post Office Bay

SANTIAGO ISLAND: Sullivan Bay

BARTOLOME ISLAND

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: Black Turtle Cove

Trip details

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVAL - SAN CRISTOBAL

Morning

Arrival at San Cristobal Airport 

Meet and greet your naturalist guide upon arrival at San Cristobal Airport on San Cristobal Island, and be escorted onboard the Solaris Yacht. Before leaving the airport for a short bus ride to the harbor, you'll pass an inspection point where your Transit Control Card will be stamped. Be sure to store this with your travel documents as you'll need to show it again when you depart the Galapagos Islands. If you haven't already, you'll also pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of 100 USD here.

Afternoon

Interpretation Centre and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno 

Reach the easternmost island of the Galapagos this afternoon and recount the history of the archipelago with your guide. With displays and exhibits in both Spanish and English, the Interpretation Center in San Cristobal Island's main port of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is an excellent source of information for visitors who are passionate about the natural and human history of the Galapagos. Discover the volcanic origins of the islands, the evolution and colonization of its species and the history of human settlement in the Galapagos.

Evening

Enjoy your first dinner and evening on board the Solaris.

MEALS
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 2 ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

Morning

Gardner Bay 

Following a wet landing at Gardner Bay this morning, go for a short walk along Española Island's pristine stretch of white sand beach, perfect for relaxing and swimming. Though Gardner Bay is an important breeding site for Pacific green turtles, the star of this morning's stop is the colony of lazy sea lions napping in the sun. Hop in the shallow water along the shoreline's rocks for a chance to swim with these playful creatures, and enjoy an afternoon of snorkeling among tropical fish and sea turtles, and perhaps observe sharks in the ocean's crystal clear waters. 

Afternoon

Punta Suarez 

Reach Suarez Point by dry landing this morning and walk among the island's lava rocks to view its lava tubes. A must-see destination for any passionate bird watcher because of its impressive and varied colonies of sea birds, Suarez Point also affords the exclusive opportunity for visitors to observe its endangered waved albatrosses in their natural habitat. Time your visit to their mating dances, which takes place primarily between May and November, when waved albatrosses engage in synchronized courtship dances by whistling and bowing. You'll also be able to witness these large birds take flight by using the rugged cliff of Suarez Point as a launching pad. Weighing up to four kilograms, these waved albatrosses are one of the largest birds in the Galapagos, with some 12,000 pairs nesting on Española Island. Enthusiastic birdwatchers will also appreciate sightings of Nazca and blue-footed boobies. With your naturalist guide, point out colonies of marine iguanas and hood lava lizards on your afternoon excursion to Suarez Point.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and evening onboard the Solaris.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 3 FLOREANA ISLAND

Morning

Punta Cormorant and Champion Islet 

Situated on the western shores of Floreana Island, Cormorant Point is widely recognized for its olive green sands, due to a surplus of olivine crystals. Following a wet landing, join your naturalist guide on a short trek to observe sea lions, frigatebirds and pelicans in their natural habitat. Punta Cormorant also boasts Flamingo Lagoon, where various species of shorebirds besides flamingos reside. Continue to nearby Devil's Crown on the Solaris, aptly named for its ring-shaped assembly of jagged rocks that resemble a crown when seen from afar. Hop into its enticing waters for a swim among the colonies of small fish and sea lions. With excellent visibility and a diverse population of marine wildlife, Devil's Crown is highly regarded by many as the best snorkeling spot in the Galapagos.

Afternoon

Post Office Bay 

Arrive at Post Office Bay this afternoon, one of three visitor’s sites on Floreana’s northern shores. Mail home a postcard from the traditional barrel on this historic site, which pays homage to an improvised mail system that was set-up for communication between British whalers and poachers in the 16th century. Learn about the history of the whaling industry here and how this post box revealed the positions of the whaling vessels to the American frigate USS Essex during the Anglo-American War between 1812 and 1815. Climb Baroness Lookout for a striking panorama of the Galapagos, and admire the blue waters of the ocean against lush red mangroves below. From your guide, learn about the self-proclaimed Empress of the Galapagos, Baroness Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, who was one of the early settlers of this island, and view the ruins of what used to be her home. 

Evening

Enjoy dinner and evening on board the Solaris.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 4 SANTIAGO & BARTOLOME ISLANDS

Morning

Sullivan Bay 

Sullivan Bay is a favorite stop on this five day Southern Central Galapagos Islands itinerary because of its unique geological characteristics. Situated on the southeastern end of Santiago Island, reach Sullivan Bay by wet landing this morning and embark on an easy 1.5 km hike across a wild terrain of volcanic features, observing black lava flow, collapsed craters, and volcanic hornitos. This stretch of Santiago Island was carpeted in flowing lava following an eruption in the early 1900s, formulating a relatively young landscape. Geologists and volcanologists will delight in experiencing hardened lava flow and pahoehoe - ropy lava, beneath your feet. Despite the island's barren landscape of tuff cones and eroded lava flow, you may be lucky enough to spot Pacific green turtles on the tiny white sand beach, along with stray herons and crabs.

Afternoon

Bartolome Island 

Situated across Sullivan Bay, this tiny 1.2 sq. km island has an altitude of 114 meters, from which you can observe a dramatic landscape of lava fields, volcanic cones and lunar like craters. Enjoy some leisurely time on this wild island by swimming or snorkeling at the base of Pinnacle Rock, or opt to go on a nature walk instead for an opportunity to spot the endangered Galapagos penguins.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and evening on board the Solaris.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 5 DEPARTURE DAY

Morning

Black Turtle Cove 

Discover Black Turtle Cove on your final morning aboard the Solaris. Situated on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island, land among a tranquil landscape of mangrove forests. Seemingly unscathed by human development, this bay is accessible by dinghy only, and the shallow cove acts as a refuge for a wealth of marine life, where you'll have the opportunity to encounter black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles and a variety of rays.

Following your visit to Black Turtle Cove, you'll be transferred to Seymour Airport on Baltra Island for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard

Map

Services

What's included

Accommodation

Nights
4 nights onboard Solaris M/Y

Meals

Full board plan
4 breakfasts + 4 lunches + 4 dinners

Transportation

Bus
All transfers from/to Baltra/San Cristobal Airport

Orientation

Guide
Shared English-speaking naturalist guide

What's not included

  • Entrance Fee to Galapagos National Park (100 Usd/Person)
  • TCT Ingala Migration Card (20 Usd/Person)
  • Domestic Flights
  • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Wetsuit Rental
  • Extra Meals
  • Drinks
  • Tips

Prices


Important notes

Each guest must strictly follow the Galapagos National Park Rules: 

  • Remain on marked trails at visitor sites and respect signs at all times for the protection of wildlife
  • Maintain a distance of at least six feet (two meters) from wildlife to avoid disturbing them, even if they approach you
  • Never feed wildlife, as this can cause health problems
  • Flash photography is not permitted when taking photos of wildlife
  • Professional photography and videos recorded for commercial purposes must be authorized by the Galapagos National Park Department
  • It is your responsibility not to introduce food, animals, or plants into the Archipelago. Cooperate fully with all environmental inspection and quarantine officials during your visit.
  • Do not take or buy any products or souvenirs made from banned substances, including black coral, shells, lava rock, animal parts, or any native wood or vegetation prior to leaving Galapagos. This is illegal and must be reported
  • Practice “leave-no-trace” principles in order to maintain the beauty of the environment
  • Pack out all trash and dispose of or recycle it in the populated areas or on your tour boat
  • Smoking and/or campfires are strictly prohibited within the Galapagos National Park
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