adventure Liveonboard Samba Galapagos, Motor Sailor: M/S SAMBA

Note: Itinerary is subjected to change because of management
by the Galápagos National Park Service, local weather
conditions and other unpredictable natural events.
TUESDAY, SANTA CRUZ (INDEFATIGABLE)
PM: BALTRA AIRPORT
PM: HIGHLANDS
On arrival at Baltra Airport all visitors pay their entrance fee to the
Galapagos National Park, pass through immigration control, purchase
their bus tickets, claim their checked pieces and get their hand luggage
checked by the Galápagos Biosecurity Agency (ABG also known as our
Quarantine system). The Samba’s naturalist guide will assist you with as you
come out of the terminal and accompany to the bus.
We travel on LOBITOS (bus company) to the south end of the Island (7
minutes ride). We cross the Itabaca Channel on a small ferry (barge) to
land on the north coast of Santa Cruz. We embark on another bus to travel
through the Island and visit the highlands. We stop at El Chato 2 (private
tortoise reserve) and have lunch around 13:00.
It is strongly recommended to wear appropriate gear for this visit to the
Highlands. Because the area is under constant influence of moisture is
likely to be muddy and humid. Pants, proper shoe wear and a rain jacket
are a must.
After spending quality time with our gentle giants and walking through a
lava tunnel we travel on our bus to Puerto Ayora. In town guests have a
few minutes to walk by the main street before we head to the Samba. We
will be on board around 17:30 and dinner will be around 19:00.
WEDNESDAY, FLOREANA (CHARLES)
AM: PUNTA CORMORANT & DEVIL’S CROWN
PM: BARONESS LOOKOUT
Following a four-hour navigation from Puerto Ayora we will do a wet
landing on a volcanic olivine beach. Punta Cormorant is located on the
northern shore of Floreana and is the house of greater flamingos and sea
turtles. On one side, the point is partially flooded with a brackish lagoon
where flamingos occasionally feed. Whimbrels, herons and stilts are other
common shore and migratory birds of the wetlands. On the other side sea
turtles use every corner of a white sand beach to deliver their eggs. You
often see stingrays and reef sharks from the shore and if you are lucky
turtles ending basking.
Late that morning we will snorkel at one of the best spots in the world!
Devil´s Crow is a magical start to the Galápagos underwater experience.
To make absolutely sure you get a full day from sunrise to sun set, we will
kayak/panga ride and climb at the Baroness lookout. Navigating through
a small set of islets with a sea lion colony, boobies and mangroves. Finally,
following our ride we will start our short hike to the top of this eroded spatter
cone to share the vivid obscurity of the human history of “Las
Encantadas”. A fantastic landscape decorated with little islands is the
perfect setting to engage with the fascinating story of the Wittmer´s,
Doctor Ritter and Dora, and the famous Baroness and her three lovers.
Charles, Floreana and Santa María are the official names of the Island that
holds an overwhelming mystery of our human history.
THURSDAY, ESPAÑOLA (HOOD)
AM: PUNTA SUAREZ
PM: GARDNER BAY & GARDNER ISLAND
Hood is the oldest Galapagos Island, the Queen. Her Majesty has travel
100 miles away from the volcanic hotspot; she sets an example of splendor
and wisdom. When landing on its western tip, on Punta Suárez, it is difficult
to digest the beauty and the overwhelming amount of life. It takes a few
minutes to understand that you are not dreaming and that the marine
iguanas are really covered with fiery colors, sea lions leisurely wander
around you, blue-footed boobies and Sally light-foot crabs coat the rocks
with their intense grace. The long walk leads you the finest illustration of
ancient sea bird colony. The endless cliff shaped by strong wave action
and the force of the wind is the home of the only tropical albatross of the
Earth (may be absent at this tie of the year). This mythical elegant glider
shares the precipice with many others sea birds like the tropicbirds, the
sallow tailed gull, the Nazca booby.
Depending on weather conditions, either at the end of the morning or
early in the afternoon, we will snorkel or kayak around Gardner Island. Its
calm waters and attractive landscape give you a great experience
above and below water. Located on the north coast of Española Gardner
Bay has tranquil white sand beach. The fine grains of sand make perfect
terrain for a soft walk and a relaxing late in the afternoon. Don’t get me
wrong, you won’t be alone, sea lions and Hood mocking birds will keep
company.
FRIDAY, SAN CRISTOBAL (CHATHAM)
AM: PUNTA PITT
PM: ISLA LOBOS
Chatham is the first Island where Charles Darwin set foot in Galápagos.
Beautiful tuff cones that are eroding away decorate this old basaltic
formation. Upon arrival to the Airport, a short bus ride will take us to the
Samba. We will soon start our navigation northeast to meet our first visiting
site. Punta Pitt greets you to a mind-blowing landscape and its protected
cove offer a great chance to kayak. On our tenders we ride very close to
the large colony if seabirds nesting on a nearby islet. At glance is easy to
spot swallow tailed gulls, frigate birds, Nazca and red footed boobies,
storm petrels and shearwaters. The golden sand and cast away sea lions
give us a welcoming for our wet landing late in the afternoon. We climb
and explore a tuff cone before sunset. This point is the closest landmass to
South America.
About 3 and half hours of navigation South we find Isla Lobos were the
barking of Galapagos sea lions welcome you to a dry landing. We will walk
on over very rocky terrain. To your surprise red balloons will soon bound
you, great and magnificent pirates’ nests on this small flat Island. Frigate
birds with their magenta and green iridescent feathers decorate the
saltbushes. The island is also the nesting ground of blue-footed boobies.
Don’t miss the chance of swimming with sea lions; a few sea creatures are
as playful as these marine mammals.
SATURDAY, SANTA FE & PLAZAS
AM: BARRINGTON BAY
PM: SOUTH PLAZA
The bay looks as if artist ornamented it. Barrington Bay is one of the most
picturesque inlets of all visitor sites of the Galapagos. The white sand on
the seabed reflects the light to turn the calm waters turquoise. A small
forest of gigantic prickly pear cactus grows on a peninsula that keeps the
bay sheltered. All the before mentioned are suitable conditions for a large
sea lion colony. Santa Fe is an ancient extinct volcano and it has been
isolated from other island long enough to have an endemic land dragon.
Paler in color than its relatives, the Barrington terrestrial iguana has a
primitive morphology. Galapagos Hawks, mocking birds, finches and
endemic rice rats make company to yellowish monster. The snorkeling
won’t disappoint you.
A two-hour navigation north will take us to South Plaza. The dry landing
takes you to a brilliant combination of life and colors. Land iguanas
wondering through bright red carpet weed, Swallow tailed gulls nesting
around the overhang tops and red-billed tropicbirds and shearwaters
flying with dancing displays. Mind the pirates of the sky; they will strike if
you drop your guard. 13 acres of beauty Hectare is one of the best spots
in the archipelago to see land iguanas and swallow-tailed gulls, both
indigenous to the Galapagos. There are iguana nests scattered all over
the hill. The sheer cliffs of the southern shore are a perfect bird habitat,
making it an unparalleled bird observatory for especially swallow-tailed
gulls, shearwaters, and red-billed tropicbirds.
SUNDAY, CHINESE HAT & BARTOLOMÉ
AM: CHINESE HAT
PM: BARTOLOMÉ
The genesis of the islands is easy to acknowledge at Chinese Hat. The
coiled shiny structures of the pahoe-hoe lava appear as if they were
formed yesterday. Lava tubes run like petrified rivers and white sand from
eroded coral surrounds the black rock, scenic falls short. Located on the
Southeast shores of James this Island is a very symmetrical cinder cone.
The contrast of colors and shapes of the basalt, rust and shine of its surface
will take you travel back to Mars, if you’ve been there before. Did
someone say penguins? We love snorkeling here ☺.
Bartolomé Island offers an explosive volcanic landscape. Get ready to
climb above 270 feet to admire the dramatic spatter cones and the view
of Pinnacle Rock that everyone wants. Later, take a walk on magical
golden beaches where sea turtle nest (December to March). Don’t forget
to make time to swim near penguins, sharks and lava tubes.
MONDAY, SANTIAGO & RABIDA
AM: JAMES BAY
PM: RABIDA
Subsequent to a three-hour sail northwest we will do a we wake up at
Puerto Egas also known as James Bay. The magical shorelines of the west
of James Island are a combination of tuff cone, lava flows and organic
sand. A rocky coast with a very gentle slope is used by a great number of
shore birds and reptiles. Oystercatchers, whimbrels, sanderlings,
turnstones, tattlers and other waders are mixed with marine iguanas and
bright painted crabs to feed by the rich littoral zone.
As grand finally, large lava tunnels, that are partially collapsed, are the
houses of the Galapagos fur sea lions. The snorkel can be one of the best
in the archipelago. Sea turtles feeding, parrot fishes, damsel fishes, white
tipped reef sharks and more…
Galapagos offers a diversity of geological formations without boundaries.
The island of Rábida has lavas rich in iron and after millions of years of
exposure to air they have turned red. The rusted volcanic material has
eroded to form a beautiful crimson sand beach, lovely for a walk. The
protected shore provides excellent conditions for a Galapagos sea lions
nursery, occasional brown pelicans use the nearby saltbushes as a resting
or nesting area, and sometimes we find flamingos in the brackish lagoon!
Hawks and mocking birds are common visitors of the lowlands.
Furthermore, you will find that snorkeling of the beach can be very exciting
as sharks, rays and many colorful fish are often visible.
TUESDAY, NORTH SEYMOUR & CHECK OUT
AM: NORTH SEYMOUR
AM: CHECK OUT
The visit to North Seymour is the best way of saying goodbye to the
Galapagos. Following a dry landing at sunrise we will walk amongst the
largest blue-footed booby colony of the Islands. If breeding you will enjoy
their dancing and singing to find a mate. Not far from the dancers we
have great and magnificent frigate birds nesting. The males inflate their
pouches to attract the ladies that fly above them. Swallow tailed gulls and
tropicbirds decorate the large basaltic walls of the island.
We will be back on board for breakfast at 8:00 and we have to be ready
to check out at 9:00. It is always a good idea to do most of your packing
the previous night so you can have a pleasant last early morning visit and
a relaxed breakfast.