M/Y Coral Tour - B

Enjoy 5 days aboard with M/Y Coral with an hotel stay & city tour in Quito plus return airfare Quito to Galapagos included! Your cruise visits Santa Cruz, Isabela and Fernandina.The Coral I & II are amongst the finest yachts in Galapagos, great comfort yet their unique design and small size allow for an intimate experience. All shore excursions and on-board briefings & lectures are conducted by fully-licensed English speaking naturalists. The elegance and comfort of the guest cabins is unrivaled. All cabins have an independent air conditioning system, soft music, and some of the can be interconnected.

Day 1: Arrival Quito

Monday - Arriving in Quito you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Once you have checked in the remainder of the day is free to acclimatize of start exploring this historic city on your own.

Day 2: Quito

Tuesday - Breakfast at your hotel. Quito colonial city tour exploring the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical old town in the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compaña and iconic San Francisco, repositories of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. (B)

Day 3: Quito | Galapagos Islands - Santa Cruz Island

Wednesday - Transfer to the airport and departure from Quito to Baltra (2 1/2 hours flight). Passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/Y Corals. PM: Ballena Bay / Eden Islet (Santa Cruz) Wet landing. Ballena (Whale) Bay is a beautiful green sand cove at the base of Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz Island. The beach contains a large amount of olivine crystals of volcanic origin. The crystals were formed when the magma was still underground. The content is magnesium, iron and silica. A small population of tortoises from Pinzón Island lived at the site, but were probably taken by whalers or previous inhabitants. Opportunity to see marine iguanas* and sea birds* followed by snorkeling. (B.L.D)

Day 4: Galapagos Islands - Isabela Island

Thursday - AM: Tagus Cove (Isabela) Dry landing on Galapagos’ largest island where we will learn about the eruption of the five volcanoes that form it. The trail leads to Darwin’s salt-water crater Lake and excellent views of lava fields and volcanic formations. We will return by the same path for a dinghy ride along a shoreline full of marine wildlife, where you may see a variety of seabirds, such as Blue-footed Booby, Brown Noddy, terns, Flightless Cormorant and depending on the season, a large number of Galapagos Penguins which are only 35 cm. tall; the only penguin species in the world to extend its range into the northern hemisphere along the equator. They are monogamous and lay their eggs in small cracks of lava, on the lower parts of the island near the shoreline not reached by the ocean waves. The population of penguins on the islands is about 2,000 individuals, most of which live on this western portion of Isabela; others are scattered further south on the island. We will have an opportunity to snorkel in deep water. Graffiti believed to have been left by19th-century pirates is a curious reminder of an intriguing past. PM: Espinosa Point (Fernandina) Dry landing. Espinosa Point is the only spot that we visit on Fernandina, and from it we can see the island of Isabela across the Bolivar Channel, an area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. The largest, most primitive-looking race of marine iguanas are found mingling with sea lions and Sally Lightfoot Crabs; a wonderful opportunity to encounter Flightless Cormorants at their nesting sites, Galapagos Penguins and the “King” of predators on the Islands, the Galapagos Hawk. (B.L.D)

Day 5: Galapagos Islands - Isabela Island

Friday - AM: Elizabeth Bay (Isabela) We take a dinghy ride along the coast surrounded by mangrove forest and you may see Flightless Cormorants, Galapagos Penguins, and a nesting area for sea turtles. PM: Urbina Bay (Isabela) Wet landing on a volcanic “black” beach. Depending on the season, you may find giant tortoises, land iguanas and the unusual Flightless Cormorant. After a short walk inland, snorkeling time is allotted, giving you yet another chance to swim with sea turtles, sea lions and countless tropical fish. Urbina Bay features a wide variety of plant life that changes depending on the season. We can observe the beautiful colors of plants that attract different insects, birds and reptiles. We will explore the uplifted coral reef that resulted from 1954 volcanic activity, with a spectacular view of Alcedo Volcano.(B.L.D)

Day 6: Galapagos Islands - Isabela & Fernandina Islands

Saturday - AM: Tagus Cove (Isabela Island) Learn about the eruption of five volcanoes that formed this island. Admire a variety of seabirds, such as Blue-footed Booby, Brown Noddy, terns, Flightless Cormorant and depending on the season, a large number of Galapagos Penguins. PM: Espinosa Point (Fernandina Island) See the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs, as well as, Flightless Cormorants nesting sites, Galapagos Penguins and the 'King' of predators on the Islands, the Galapagos Hawk. (B.L.D)

Day 7: Galapagos Islands - Santa Cruz I Quito

Sunday - AM: Galapagos airport This is your last day in the Galapagos, after breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. If your departure flight time permits, there may be time for a small scenic excursion enroute to the airport. Upon arrival, our driver and guide will be waiting for you in order to take you to your hotel, rest of day and evening at leisure. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 8: Departure

Monday - Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and at the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B) Important: Itineraries and activities subject to change without prior notice. Depending on weather conditions and water currents, some wildlife described above may not be visible.