Ocean Spray - Route B (Tuesday - Saturday)

5 Days (4 Nights)

Overview

Highlights

  • Mega-catamaran with luxury interiors
  • All cabins with sea-views and private balconies
  • Abundant social areas for relaxation
  • Quality control manager and bi-lingual naturalist guide onboard

The Ocean Spray Mega-Catamaran offers year-round exciting cruises to the Galapagos Islands. Built for comfort and performance, the 34m/113ft catamaran caters to just 16 guests in 9 tasteful cabins. Each cabin has ample storage and living space, en-suite bathroom, AC, twin or double beds and private balcony to enjoy the stunning Galapagos views. Social areas include the indoor lounge and dining area, spacious sun deck with loungers and hot tub and al-fresco deck with bar and dining area. Guests will receive a champagne reception, and all meals, soft drinks and juices are included throughout the cruise.

Island you will visit:

  • Santa Cruz
  • Bartholomew 
  • Genovesa
  • Santiago
  • North Seymour 
  • Mosquera Islet

Itinerary

DAY 1
BALTRA ISLAND / BARTOLOMé ISLAND

Tuesday: Arrival to Baltra and Transfer to Bartolomé Island

  • AM: Upon arrival, reception and assistance at the airport, transfer from Baltra Airport to the M/C Ocean Spray.
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  • PM: Bartholomew - Pinnacle Rock
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  • Pinnacle Rock is a volcanic cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano. The sea cooled the hot lava and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed together this huge rock of many, many layers of basalt. The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest during breeding season. Galapagos penguins gather here and swimming can offer beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions.
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  • Activities: Hike, snorkel and panga ride
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Landing: Wet Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Galapagos penguins, sally lightfoot crabs, sea lions, rays, sea turtles, sharks, various tropical fish, various shore birds.
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  • ( -, L, D)
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DAY 2
GENOVESA ISLAND

Wednesday: Genovesa Island

  • AM: Genovesa - Darwin Bay
  • Darwin Bay used to be a shield volcano, now you can see where one of the sides of its caldera collapsed after hundreds of years of erosion.  It is known for the wide variety of birds that can be seen.  Over 20,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to call this island home within the trees and bushes of Genovesa Island.
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  • Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
  • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
  • Landing: Wet Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, finches, various shorebirds, rays, tropical fish species, marine iguanas, sea lions. 
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  • PM: Genovesa - El Barranco
  • In English, this visitor site is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps.  It leads to a rocky path up a cliff that rewards guests with a remarkable view.  It is also home to a Palo Santo forest that is home to the nesting red-footed boobies and other shorebirds.
  • Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Landing: Dry Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, storm petrels, Galapagos doves, short-eared owls, sea turtles, rays, sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas.
  • (B, L, D)
DAY 3
SANTIAGO ISLAND

Thursday: Santiago Island

  • AM: Santiago - Espumilla Beach / Buccaneer Cove
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  • As the second Island Charles Darwin discovered, it was originally named after King James of England.  Buccaneer Cove is an excellent opportunity for snorkeling and was once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates.  The underwater formations provide an amazing home for the many different tropical species of fish that can be found here.
  •  
  • Activities: Snorkeling and swimming, short walk on beach
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Landing: Wet Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Marine iguanas, sea lions, various shorebirds, tropical fish species, rays, sea turtles, sally lightfoot crabs.
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  • PM: Santiago - Egas Port
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  • Egas port is also known as James Bay, home to quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards.  There are grottos and tide pools housing all kinds of different marine species.  This is also one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos.
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  • Activities: Snorkeling, hike
  • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
  • Landing: Wet Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Fur sea lions, Galapagos hawks, oyster-catchers, marine iguanas, finches, sharks, sea turtles, tropical fish.
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  • (B, L, D)
DAY 4
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND / SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Friday: North Seymour and Santa Cruz

  • M: North Seymour Island
  • The island was named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour. Formed by uplifted submarine lava, the island is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. Along the coast, it is possible to see land and marine iguanas and the biggest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds.
  • Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride, hike
  • Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
  • Landing: Dry Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Land and marine iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, sea lions.
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  • PM: Santa Cruz - Highlands
  • The Highlands of Santa Cruz is a very interesting site due to the rich wildlife, hills, ferns, volcanoes and lava tubes present. Exploring the lava tubes is a surreal and unique experience. Here you can see all the different agricultural zones that are present in the Galapagos in one place. The variety of birds makes this a bird watchers delight.
  • Activities: Hike
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Landing: Dry Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Wild Galapagos Tortoises, various shorebirds, lava lizards.
  • (B, L, D)
DAY 5
BALTRA ISLAND / MOSQUERA ISLAND

Saturday: Mosquera Islet and Transfer to Baltra Airport

  • AM: Mosquera Islet
  • This visitor site is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. In most of the perimeter there is a base of lava rocks, as evidence of the lava uprising, except in the southwest side where the landing occurs. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions.
  • Activities: Short walk
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Landing: Wet Landing
  • Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shore birds, frigate birds, sally lightfoot crabs.
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  • Depart from Baltra airport.
  • After this last visit, transfer to Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.
  • Assistance and farewell at the airport.
  • (B, -, - )

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Policy*:

  • At the time of booking a deposit of 20% of the total tour price
  • The remaining balance is due a minimum of 65 calendar days prior to departure date

To issue final confirmation Palace tours requires 60 days prior to departure (or at time of reservation for last minute bookings) the following information for all passengers:

  • Complete passenger names
  • Passport numbers (& passport copy in case of children)
  • Nationality
  • Date of birth
  • Marital Status
  • Dietary or medical restrictions

Failure to provide the above information on time may result in delays and possibly passengers missing the tour completely. Palace tours will not accept responsibility or provide refunds if the above information is not provided in its entirety and on time.

Cancellation Policy*

All cancellations must be done in writing. If a cancellation is received more than 125 days prior to tour departure date a Cancellation fee of 10% of the total price will be retained as cancellation fee.  

If a cancellation is received between 124 days and 65 days prior to tour departure date, 20% of the total price will be forfeited. 

In the case of a cancellation received less than 65 days prior to the boat departure the full amount will be retained.

 

*Specific Payment and Cancellation/Reschedule policies for Christmas and New Years´ Eve cruise dates

Tips & FAQ

Travel tips and FAQs for this tour will be provided upon booking.

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