Waved Albatrosses will be in residence during our cruise Photo: Rich Hoyer
The Galápagos Islands were born out of the bowels of the earth millions of years ago as intense volcanic activity spewed forth molten lava and buckled the seabed. The resulting archipelago, some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, now straddles the equator having been scattered far and wide by the slow inexorable movement of tectonic plates within the earth’s crust.
This isolation, both from continental South America and each other, has given each island a unique character. As wildlife colonized the islands, it began a process of adaptation to the specific conditions and when Charles Darwin visited here during his voyage on the Beagle, his observations of this adaptation helped crystallize his epic theory of evolution. Today one can still see virtually all the creatures Darwin did - a mind-boggling array of fascinating, fearless and endemic birds and animals.
Visits to the Galápagos are carefully controlled by the Ecuadorian government, and though the restrictions keep prices high, they also ensure that only a very limited number of boats can visit at one time. We’ve chartered a fine boat, Reina Silvia, from INCA, one of the most experienced companies in the islands, and designed an itinerary with natural history exploration in mind. In addition to seeing nearly all the endemic birds (among which are a couple of gulls, 13 finches, one flycatcher, four mockingbirds, a dove, a penguin, a cormorant, a rail and a martin), we’ll have ample opportunities to spend time with the storied seabirds, sea lions and marine iguanas as well as the multiple other endemic species worth looking for, such as lizards, a few small snakes, a butterfly, a dragonfly and even a scorpion. We’ll also be able to do some thrilling snorkeling among the abundant sea life, from schools of colorful fish to sea turtles.
Our tour is structured so that participants can take just the boat charter or add the land-based bits after the cruise.
Day 1: The tour begins this evening in Quito.
Day 2: We’ll devote the entire day to birding in the mountains near Quito with WINGS leader Gary Rosenberg. We schedule this day as a cushion in the event of luggage delays, and we’re sure to enjoy our time in search of hummingbirds, tanagers and mountain-toucans. Those who do not wish to bird can tour Quito or visit the famous markets at Otavalo. Night in Quito.
Day 3: This morning we’ll fly to Baltra, a small island that formerly hosted a U.S. Air Force base and is now home to the primary airport serving the Galápagos. This is also where most cruises of the archipelago start, and we’ll head directly for the Reina Silvia for lunch. After lunch we’ll make a brief trip to our first stop, the very small South Plaza Island, where on a short walk we may see our only Land Iguanas and our first of many Marine Iguanas. Galapagos Shearwaters and Swallow-tailed Gulls are a couple of the many birds that we’ll see here for the first time.
Days 4-9: Each of the next days features a different island, with different morning and afternoon activities. Typically, we arrive at our island of the day in the early morning hours, waking up to a new and exciting place. After a complete breakfast on board, we’ll depart in the Zodiacs for a short hike that features the specialties of the island. Depending on the length of the hike, we’ll either return to the boat for lunch and a siesta or spend the rest of the morning snorkeling. In the afternoon we’ll motor to a different part of the same island or to a nearby island for a hike of a different nature and perhaps another opportunity for snorkeling.
Each of the islands has its own highlights. Genovesa is known for its wealth of seabirds. Here both Nazca and Red-footed Boobies nest in abundance and at arm’s length–the former on the ground and the latter in the mangroves. Great Frigatebirds are everywhere, and we’ll visit a nesting colony of Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels, where a cloud of hundreds of birds swarms over a lava field. Waiting patiently for just the right moment to snag a meal, Short-eared Owls (an endemic subspecies) hop in and out of the cracks that lead to their underground nests. Here we’ll also see Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch and, with luck, Large Cactus-Finch.
Fernandina is located on a major upwelling of a cold equatorial undercurrent. The result is a rich web of marine life that attracts Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants, two of the most interesting inhabitants of the islands. Snorkeling here is exciting: we’ll have a chance of seeing both these birds underwater as well as Green Sea Turtles and frolicking sea lions.
Santa Cruz is the second largest island and hosts the largest human settlement, Puerto Ayora. Our cruise’s stop here features a visit to a Giant Tortoise sanctuary where wild tortoises still roam. We’ll also visit the Darwin Center to see the breeding program for all other races of the tortoise, and we’ll stroll through town, where gift and art shops abound.
Floreana is perhaps most famous for the tradition of the post office barrel, where visitors leave postcards, addressed but without postage, which are then hand-carried to their destination by other visitors who happen to live near the lucky recipient. There’s also a fascinating human history to the island, which has a permanent source of freshwater in the interior. We’ll take a truck ride into the highlands in search of Medium Tree-Finch, the only single-island endemic among Darwin’s finches, and learn about the people who have settled here. Near Floreana is a tiny islet where the Floreana Mockingbird has found refuge, and a boat ride around this island to spot it can be followed by some excellent snorkeling. A trail on a different part of the main island takes us past a lagoon where Greater Flamingoes and White-cheeked Pintails live.
Española will also provide a memorable visit, for this is where the colony of Waved Albatrosses is located. Galapagos Hawk, Española Mockingbird, Warbling Finch and many other creatures are easily seen here as well.
Day 10: This morning we’ll awake in the harbor of Baltra, where we’ll say farewell to our Reina Silvia crew and transfer to the airport for our flight back to Quito. Night in Quito.
Day 11: The tour concludes this morning in Quito.
San Cristóbal Island Extension: San Cristóbal Mockingbird and Galapagos Rail
Day 10: After departing Reina Silvia, we’ll take a short flight to the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island. Our main target here is the eponymous mockingbird found only on this island. We’ll also have chances to add a few more species of Darwin’s finches, including Vegetarian, Medium Ground- and perhaps the scarcer Woodpecker Finch. After lunch we’ll return to Baltra and continue to Santa Cruz Island, where birding in the interior Scalesia forest could result in the endemic form of Vermilion Flycatcher, Galapagos Flycatcher, and a cleanup of any remaining finches or if we’re very lucky Galapagos Martin. Night in Puerto Ayora.
Day 11: We’ll have one last morning to bird on Santa Cruz Island in search of Galapagos Rail on the fern-choked slopes of the higher elevations, which double as the restricted nesting area of Galapagos Petrel. In the early afternoon we’ll connect with our flight to Quito on the neighboring island of Baltra. Night in Quito.
Day 12: The extension concludes this morning in Quito.
Updated: 10 October 2007
Prices
- 2009 cruise price not yet available
Notes
This cruise is limited to 15 participants in eight two-berth cabins. Note that unlike many Galapagos cruises, our price includes flights from Quito, Galapagos National Park fees and all gratuities.
Deposit for this cruise is $1000 of which $500 is non-refundable. The balance of the cruise price will be due six months before departure.
Our charter company, Inca, produces their own guide to Galapagos Cruises. You can see a PDF version here (2.34 mb). Note that Inca’s handbook assumes that clients will be responsible for certain expenses that are covered in the WINGS cruise.
There are two cabins, slightly smaller but still with two berths, that can be sold as singles. Singles are otherwise not available unless one wishes to pay for both berths. There is an owner’s suite, considerably larger and with a king bed, that is sold at a premium. A list of cabins and their descriptions will be sent to each registrant with cabin selection being on a first-come, first-served basis.