Alya

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AM: Today you will arrive to begin your experience at Baltra Airport. Here you will be received and transferred to the cruise port. A small ride will follow as we welcome you onboard the Alya Catamaran.

PM: Your very first lunch will be served on board. After lunch, our first visit is to Black Turtle Cove which is situated in the northern region of Santa Cruz. This bay is surrounded by mangroves and is accessible by dinghy only. The shallow cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here. We then return to the Alya for dinner.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion. Our visit to Darwin Bay includes short walks, photography, swimming, snorkeling. Genovesa is a small island in the north of the Galapagos. Our unloading in Darwin Bay will be wet. Near the beach is a mangrove swamp where we will find: a colony of frigates, marine iguanas, red-footed boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, seagulls, herons, and cactus finch. Following the land visit, our passengers can enjoy a swim in the bay. Snacks and refreshments are available. Afterward, we will enjoy lunch on board.

PM: Here, we will go for a walk on the Barranco path, also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps. On our journey, we will observe tropical birds, petrels, common frigate, red-foot boobies, mask boobies, doves, and finches. Dinner will be served back on board.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion at Sullivan Bay. Virtually uneroded lava flows cover an extensive area of this island. Lava pahoehoe (basaltic lava that has a smooth, billowy, undulating, or ropy surface), hornitos, and mollugo can be seen. Snacks and refreshing beverages await you onboard the ship. Lunch will be served on board.

PM: This afternoon we visit Bartolome Island. Activities on this island include walking, swimming, snorkeling, and photography. We will follow a path to the top (114m) where we can see pioneering plants. The island has been formed by cones, lava pipes where lava once flowed. Following the wet landing at the beach, we will follow a path through mangrove swamps and sand dune vegetation, to the south beach. At the north beach, guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. From the top of Bartolome, we will be able to see the islands of Santiago, Rabida, and Isabela. We will see penguins in the Rock Pinnacle. Dinner will be served on board.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion at Chinese Hat, a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It’s shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from afar. On the west side, you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward. This visit provides an excellent opportunity for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The trail is 700 m (round trip) and the minimum time it takes for this trek is 30 minutes. Afterward, we return to the Alya and enjoy lunch.

PM: Mosquera Islet is located between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the biggest sea lion colony; it is also possible to observe several species of birds. Enjoy the white sand beach. Return to the Alya for dinner.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion. After breakfast, we will visit Charles Darwin Station, located in the main port on Santa Cruz Island. We take a private bus to the entrance of the breeding center where we will see tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. This center is the main breeding site on the islands. Thanks to the dedicated work of several institutions, some species are being saved. Here lived Lonesome George, the famous last survivor of the giant tortoise species found on Pinta Island.

After your morning excursion, you will disembark from the Alya, and be transferred to Santa Cruz airport to catch your flight home.

AM: Today you will arrive to begin your experience at Baltra Airport. Here you will be received and transferred to the cruise port. A small ride will follow as we welcome you onboard the Alya Catamaran.

PM: Your very first lunch will be served on board. After lunch, we will visit the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where we will hike and encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat, truly a natural wonder. For this visit, we recommend using sport shoes, long pants, a raincoat, a hat, and sun block. Afterward, we return to the Alya for dinner and your first evening on board.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion at Moreno Point, located on the north coast of Isabela Island between Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul Volcanoes. The main attractions at Punta Moreno are coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. It has a panoramic view of the three most active volcanoes in the Galapagos: The Sierra Negra, Isabela Island, and Fernandina Island. 

PM: Elizabeth Bay is one of the island’s best breeding sites for penguins. Located on the west coast of Isabela, Elizabeth Point is a marine visitor site. Brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, and sea lions are often seen at Red Mangrove Cove. Dinner will be served on board afterward.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion at Urbina Bay. This place is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove. The trail length is around 3.2 km; during this, we can observe land iguanas, hawks, and tortoises. It is also possible to see red and blue lobsters.

PM: Fernandina is the third biggest island in the Galapagos and has only one visiting site - Espinoza Point. Famous for the large colonies of marine iguanas and the home of the flightless cormorant, the Galapagos penguin, snakes, and more. Fernandina is the only island that doesn’t have mammals, and the open areas are extremely fragile. We take great care when walking (from January - June), the nesting period of the marine iguana. Dinner will be served back on board.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion. Tagus Cove is located to the west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. While walking, we will find several inscriptions dating back to the 1800s. From here, we can see Darwin Lake, a saltwater lake containing no fish. It is very common to see a variety of bird species here.

PM: Vicente Roca Point is comprised of two separate coves. This site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating sunfish. Dinner served back on board.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion at Espumilla Beach. The main attractions include Palo Santo Wood, the beach, and the stunning landscape. The beach is a very important site for tortoises because they use this place for nesting. We will return on board for lunch.

PM: At Egas Port, we find a beautiful black sand beach. To the south of the beach is the Pan de Azucar Volcano, whose volcanic deposits have contributed to the formation of the black sand beach. The crater of this volcano contains a saltwater lake that dries up during hot weather. 

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our final excursion. The beautiful Bachas beach is located in the north of Santa Cruz Island. The site was named during WWII when the American army left two barges on the beach. The early colonists couldn’t pronounce barges correctly, so they called the area “Bachas”.

After your morning excursion, you will disembark from the Alya, and be transferred to Santa Cruz airport to catch your flight home.

PM: Today you will arrive to begin your experience at Baltra Airport. Here you will be received and transferred to the cruise port. A small ride will follow as we welcome you onboard the Alya Catamaran.

Your first excursion will be at Seymour, which was formed by the lifting of volcanic marine lava. In 1932, Captain Alan Hancock and his crew took 72 malnourished land iguanas from Baltra Island to North Seymour Island so that the iguanas could live in better conditions. In 1934, colonists verified that the iguanas were in good condition. The vegetation of North Seymour is bushy and is host to nesting real frigates of the Galapagos. Afterward, we return to the Alya for your first dinner on board.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion. South Plazas are two small islands, created by an uplifting of the land. The land iguanas are smaller here; they nest during the warm season. The hike goes along an extraordinary cliff where sea birds nest. There are over 1000 sea lions located on the south side of the Plazas. Return to the Alya for lunch on board.

PM: Santa Fe will include hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. This central island is a unique place to visit. It has an incredible bay of turquoise water, protected by a natural barrier of rocks. You will see colonies of seals as hawks fly overhead. This island is home to one of the two species of land iguanas found in the Galapagos. Their main food source is the leaves and fruit of the large, thick cactus found here. The bay is an excellent place to swim and snorkel. Marine tortoises, rays, sea lions, and tropical fish are an amazing attraction! Snacks and refreshing beverages are waiting for you on board. Dinner will be served afterward.

AM: After breakfast, our first visit is to the Interpretation Center of San Cristobal. This architectural space was designed for the natural interpretation of the Galapagos. You will learn about the volcanic formation of the islands, the evolution of the species, the history of human settlement, and complex systems and management models. Return to the Alya for lunch.

PM: Our visit to Lobos Island includes panga riding, swimming, and snorkeling. Here, we can walk, swim and snorkel among the seals, frigates, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the small endemic Galapagos snake.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion. We visit Gardner Bay for a short walk, swimming, snorkeling, and observation of the sea lion colony. In Gardner Bay, we are going to find many of them relaxing on the beach enjoying the sun. In addition to observing these fascinating animals, while snorkeling, we will be able to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, a diversity of tropical fish, marine iguanas, etc. Return Alya for lunch.

PM: This afternoon we visit Suarez Point for walking and sight-seeing. There is no color more amazing and outstanding in this tropical desert island than that of the blue-foot boobies. The albatross, an aristocratic bird weighing up to four kilograms, can also be observed here. It is important to note that albatrosses will not be seen between January and March (non-breeding) season. Our walk will be on lava rock where we will be able to see lava tubes. Red mangroves are found here. Delicious snacks and fresh beverages are waiting for you on the ship. Dinner will be served afterward.

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our first excursion. Cormorant Point will be a wet landing, with snorkeling and short trekking. This point is located west of Floreana Island and it is famous for its dark green beach (due to the great number of olivine crystals). You can see many marine invertebrates, as well as sea lions, sea iguanas, frigates, and pelicans.

Activities at Devil’s Crown you can enjoy a panga ride around a small island, a satellite islet of Floreana Island. Here, we will find a group of rocks that resemble a Crown due to the constant erosion caused by the sea. It is one of the better places to snorkel in the interior and around the crown. Excellent visibility allows guests to admire a great variety of fish and sea animals. Return to the Alya for lunch.

PM: Cerro Alieri is located east of Port Velasco Ibarra. This place may be muddy and it may rain but it will be a wonderful afternoon hike! We return to the Alya for dinner. 

AM: We begin the day with breakfast before our final excursion. Today we have trekking - we will find giant tortoises in their natural habitat. For this visit, we recommend good walking shoes, long pants, a raincoat, a hat, and sunblock. 

After your morning excursion, you will disembark from the Alya, and be transferred to Santa Cruz airport to catch your flight home.