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CACHALOTE EXPLORER
Hood Itinerary

Duration: 6 days / 5 nights

Start / End: Baltra / Baltra

Highlights: Land iguanas, marine iguanas, fur seals, lava lizard, Waved Albatross (Mar-Nov), red-footed boobie, frigate bird, ­blue-footed boobies, lava herons, sea lions, nasca boobies, sea lions, Galapagos hawk, mockingbirds, flamingos,  penguins

Included: All meals and accommodation in double cabins while on board, all excursions and activities while on board, bilingual naturalist guide, use of wetsuits & snorkeling gear

Not Included: Flights to and from Galapagos, Galapagos National Park entrance fee, Migratory card fee, any extra beverages on board (anything in a bottle), wetsuit rental ($30 for full week), tips, personal expenses


This itinerary focuses on the Southern, Central, and Northern Islands, including Hood and Tower Islands, two of the highlights of the Galapagos Islands.

Cachalote-Explorer-Hood-Itinerary.jpg

Itinerary:

 

Day 1 (Friday): Arrive at San Cristobal Airport / San Cristobal Island

 

San Cristóbal Island (Chatham): San Cristóbal is the easternmost island of Galapagos and also one of the oldest.

  • Galapaguera & El Junco: The lagoon is the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristóbal. Rainwater has collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon.

    Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment.

 

 

Day 2 (Saturday): Española (Hood) Island

 

Hood Island (Española): Hood is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved here

  • Gardner Bay: Located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies.

  • Islote Garnder and Islote Osborn: These islets are snorkeling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks, and turtles.

  • Punta Suarez: The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Ñasca boobies, and Española lava lizards.

 

Day 3 (Sunday): Floreana Island

 

Floreana Island: Floreana is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.

  • Punta Cormorant: Punta Cormorant has two contrasting beaches and a large inland lagoon where pink flamingoes can be seen.

  • Devil’s Crown: This is a snorkeling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged volcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown.

  • Post Office Bay: This is one of the few sites visited for its human history. Visit the wooden mail barrel where letters are dropped off and picked up and remains of the Norwegian fishing village.

 

Day 4 (Monday): Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable) / James (Santiago) Island

 

Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable): Dragon Hill is located in the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island. Some highlights include small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees, and Opuntia cactus.

 

James Island (Santiago): James Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals.

  • Sullivan Bay: This site is of great geological interest. Highlights: 100 hundred year old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations, and lava bubbles.

 

Day 5 (Tuesday): Tower (Genovesa) Island

 

Tower Island (Genovesa): Tower is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island.

  • El Barranco: There is a good possibility of seeing the unique “Short eared owl” at this site. During the dinghy rides along the cliffs fur seals and several species of seabirds can be spotted.

  • Darwin Bay: The steep cliffs of this area dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, Noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin’s finches.

 

Day 6 (Wednesday): Santa Cruz Island / Baltra for return flight to Quito

 

Santa Cruz Island

  • Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove): Turtle Cove is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat.

 

Baltra: Return flight to Quito

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