Luxury Galapagos cruise deals

The M/Y Galapagos Odyssey [link] is a brand new luxury yacht, offering the highest level of comfort of any boat its size in the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Odyssey was built to to fulfill the highest expectations of any traveler seeking to experience the wonders of the Galapagos Islands in the most exclusive way. This luxury yacht has been designed especially fro small groups to offer you more privacy abd comfort, and to reduce the impact on the fragile Galapagos eco-system.

From JULY to DECEMBER 2009 (except Christmas & New Year’s), we are happy to pass on the following DISCOUNTED RATES:

7-night cruise: USD $2674 per person
4-night cruise: USD $1750 per person
3-night cruise: USD $1120 per person

Yacht specifications:

- Permit for 16 passengers, capacity for 20
- Mono hull of steel
- 10 Cabins for passengers, all with lower berths. Four twin cabins are located on the upper deck, two twin cabins and two matrimonial cabins are located on the main deck. Two additional cabins are matrimonial/single cabins located on the lower deck and can be made available for tour leaders and/or single passengers. All cabins have private facilities, individually controlled air conditioning, a small desk and sofa. All the 8 main and upper deck cabins feature large windows which can be individually opened.
- 41 m long & 8 m wide
- 4 passenger decks (sun deck, top deck, main deck, lower deck).
- 12 knots cruise speed.
- The highest deck is a sun deck with comfortable loungers and a jacuzzi.
- The top deck offers a shaded area and a cocktail bar.
- Besides a spacious lounge, dining area, bar and library on the main deck, there is a shaded outside space for al fresco dining.

Galapagos Odyssey Deck plan:

Lower Deck: Two cabins with a queen size bed, which can be used for single occupancy or tour leaders.

Main Deck: Four cabins, 2 twin cabins & 2 matrimonial cabins. The main deck also gives room to a spacious lounge, chic dining area, bar and library as well as an impressive, shaded terrace for al-fresco dining.

Upper Deck: Four twin cabins. On the upper deck you can also find an outdoor bar with shaded terrace.

Sun Deck: On this deck you will find the Jacuzzi and a shaded area with comfortable loungers, as well as a spacious area for sunbathing.

ITINERARIES:

8 Days / 7 Nights

1 SUNDAY
PM – Bachas (Santa Cruz)
2 MONDAY
AM – Bartolome
PM – Sullivan Bay (Santiago)
3 TUESDAY
AM – Sierra Negra Volcano (Isabela)
PM – White Tipped Reef Shark Canal (Isabela)
4 WEDNESDAY
AM – Highlands (Santa Cruz)
PM – Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
5 THURSDAY
AM – Leon Dormido – Interpretation Center (San Cristobal)
PM – Loberia (San Cristobal)
6 FRIDAY
AM – Gardner Bay (Espanola)
PM – Punta Suarez (Espanola)
7 SATURDAY
AM – Punta Cormorant (Floreana)
PM – Post office bay (Floreana)
8 SUNDAY
AM – North Seymour – tour end

IMPORTANT NOTES: Itinerary subject to change.

5 Days / 4 Nights

1 SUNDAY
PM – Bachas (Santa Cruz)
2 MONDAY
AM – Bartolome
PM – Sullivan Bay (Santiago)
3 TUESDAY
AM – Sierra Negra Volcano (Isabela)
PM – White Tipped Reef Shark Canal (Isabela)
4 WEDNESDAY
AM – Highlands (Santa Cruz)
PM – Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
5 THURSDAY
AM – Leon Dormido (San Cristobal) – tour ends

IMPORTANT NOTES: Itinerary subject to change.

4 Days / 3 Nights

1 THURSDAY
PM – Interpretation Center – Loberia
2 FRIDAY
AM – Gardner Bay (Espanola)
PM – Punta Suarez (Espanola)
3 SATURDAY
AM – Punta Cormorant (Floreana)
PM – Post office bay (Floreana)
4 SUNDAY
AM – North Seymour – tour ends

IMPORTANT NOTES: Itinerary subject to change

DAY BY DAY …….

Galapagos Odyssey detailed itinerary

Day 1
AM: Upon arrival at Baltra travelers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands, as well as to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless it has been prepaid). Guides will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbor. Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you in order to cross the Itabaca Channel, then transportation by bus to Puerto Ayora, and finally to the Galapagos Odyssey where our crew will welcome you onboard. After departure and lunch, the first island visit will be made.

PM: Santa Cruz Island – Bachas Beach

These two small beaches are found to the West of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, making it a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small brackish water lagoon, where occasionally is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategically point to protect the Panama Channel.

Day 2
AM: Bartolome Island
Bartolome Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as: Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island.
It has two breathtaking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.

PM: The Sullivan Bay (Santiago)
Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active, with many young flows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. These may even be seen from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.

Day 3
AM: Sierra Negra Volcano, Isabela Island
Isabela Island is the largest and one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We land in Puerto Villamil, which has the second smallest population in Galapagos with approximately 3000 habitants. We head up to the highlands from Puerto Villamil to Sierra Negra slope, and later we will do some hiking on uneven terrain until we arrive to the Sierra Negra volcano rim. Sierra Negra is the second widest crater in the world. From this viewpoint, you have fantastic sights to the 6 x 5 -mile-wide crater, the rest of the volcanoes, and Perry Isthmus, a 12 Km wide lava field. From here we can hike to Chico Volcano to watch the striking lava formations, examples of the geological occurrences that have created the Galapagos Islands.

PM: White Tipped Reef Shark Canal ( Tintoreras)
A delightful place that will be reached by a nice zodiac ride. “Tintoreras” are small islands in front of Puerto Villamil coast.
There is Heron lava on the lookout on mangrove branch, and Galapagos Penguin and sea lion often pop out on shore. White-tipped reef sharks are fairly common in the archipelago. Their name in Spanish is Tintorera, thus the name of this site as they are always found here resting in the shallow waters.

Day 4
AM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)

The trail to the highlands leaves from Bellavista and passes through the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone, and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable)this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round.

PM: Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz) Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are carried out. One of the main attractions are the National Park information center, the Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises, Lonesome George (tortoise from Pinta), and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

Day 5
AM: Leon Dormido – Interpretation Center (San Cristobal)
In the morning we visit Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido) also known as the Sleeping Lion because of its resemblance. It is located of the coast of San Cristobal, and you can find the remains of a lava cone eroded by the ties, as well as two vertical rocks rising 500 feet from the ocean that form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. This Galapagos Island’s natural monument has become a favorite sight for cruises due to the many Tropicbirds, Frigates and Boobies that fill the surrounding air. Beneath the sea, the nearly crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates. Later on we head to the Interpretation Center, which was built with the cooperation of the Spanish Science Centre, and it gives a very good introduction to the Galapagos islands, its marine and land life, fauna and flora. It is located in the outskirts of the small city of Pto. Baquerizo Moreno, which is the capital of the Galapagos Province.

PM: Loberia (San Cristobal)
In the afternoon we will visit Loberia, which is located at a short 10 minute bus ride or a nice 30 minute walk south from Puerto Baquerizo. Travelers frequently note the unusual color of the plants as they near the beach. La Loberia is home to a large sea lion colony and nursery. There are frequently dozens of sea lions visible at any time. Low tide is one of the best times to visit, since it is when the mothers bring the pups into the tide pools for swimming lessons.
Here you’ll enjoy the sea lions, marine iguanas, bird watching, and even Galapagos giant tortoises. You have to always stay on the path and try not to disturb the wildlife!

Day 6
AM: Española Island – Gardner Bay
Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here we can also observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters.

PM: Española Island -Punta Suarez
This rocky land spot sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds, and of the blow whole where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf.

Day 7
AM: Punta Cormorant (Floreana)
This site offers probably the best Flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. Its situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to be seen besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks and other migratory birds. This is a unique zone due to the high percentage of endemic plant species. It is also very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral.

PM: Post office bay (Floreana)
Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since this time by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonist

Day 8
AM: Seymour North Island
North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing. Here is where you can admire the beautiful frigate birds and nests of blue-footed boobies. Watch your step, as the boobies don’t worry much about where they nest, and you might just step on one. The trees are dotted with male frigate birds trying to attract the attention of the ladies by inflating their bright red skin flaps. They sometimes fly in the air to call more attention to themselves, which is, in itself, a funny display, as the puffy flap throws off their sense of balance! There’s a circular path that takes you through the island to a beautiful, rocky shore where the waves crash a silvery-blue.

After your visit to Seymour North Island, transfer to the airport in Baltra.

PM: Flight back to Quito or Guayaquil

~ by sangay on May 5, 2009.