Calipso


5-day Cruise "Naturalist"

(San Cristobal, Bartholomew, Santiago, Fernandina, Isabela, North Seymour)

Day 1: Thursday
San Cristobal Island

In the morning: 

San Cristobal airport arrival

You will arrive at San Cristobal Island in the morning.

After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Calipso staff member and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.


In the afternoon: 

Witch Hill

Located on the northern coast, this eroded hill and its surroundings present one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos with its white powdery sand and the abundance of animals. Wildlife includes sea turtles, rays, and various types of booby birds. The clear water provides an excellent opportunity for enjoying swimming and snorkeling.


Witch Hill, San Cristobal Island
Highlights & Animals:
Beautiful rock formations, sea lions, shore birds, finches and mockingbirds; Snorkeling: nice tropical fish, anemones, sponges, coral
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

Day 2: Friday
Bartholomew and Santiago Islands

In the morning: 

Pinnacle Rock

You will head to Bartholomew Island where the famous Pinnacle Rock is found. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. We will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! A beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see and swim with Galapagos penguins.


Pinnacle Rock, Bartholomew Island
Highlights & Animals:
Pinnacle Rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus; snorkeling: penguins, reef sharks, rays, and great colorful fish.
Difficulty:
Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:
Dry & Wet Landings
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

In the afternoon: 

Egas Port

Egas Port, also known as James Bay, on Santiago Island is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to the coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos furseals bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkeling site.


Egas Port, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:
Furseals, Galapagos sea lions, tidal pools and grottos, Galapagos hawks, oyster catchers, marine iguanas, finches; snorkeling: reef sharks, turtles, rays, nice underwater formations.
Difficulty:
Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

Day 3: Saturday
Fernandina and Isabela Islands

In the morning: 

Espinoza Point

Crossing the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina Islands, you will land at Espinoza Point, and after walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, you will reach the island’s highlight: the flightless cormorant nesting site. This area also provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos hawk.


Espinoza Point, Fernandina Island
Highlights & Animals:
Flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, ‘a‘ā lava, sea lions, penguins, active volcano “La Cumbre”.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

In the afternoon: 

Tagus Cove

You will visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island which is located across from Fernandina Island, near the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s, using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views.


Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:
Penguins, flightless cormorants, Darwin Volcano & Lake
Difficulty:
Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

Day 4: Sunday
Isabela Island

In the morning: 

Urbina Bay

Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954 causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkeling.


Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:
Land iguanas (the biggest in the Galapagos), hawks, coral reef, giant tortoises; snorkeling: turtles, rays, tropical fish
Difficulty:
Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

In the afternoon: 

Moreno Point

Moreno Point is located southwest of Elizabeth Bay. Here a dry landing onto what was once flowing lava is possible. The lava has left craters in its wake which formed crystal tide pools. By looking into the pools, you can peer into another world as the marine life drifts by your window. In the brackish pools of this area, you may see pink flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, and common gallinules. If you look carefully into the pools, you may see white-tip reef sharks and some sea turtles.


Moreno Point, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:
Flamingos, gallinules, pintail ducks, turtles, white-tip reef sharks.
Difficulty:
Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

Day 5: Monday
North Seymour Island

In the morning: 

North Seymour

In North Seymour you may see Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigate birds which are abundant on this island. North Seymour was formed by a series of submarine lava flows containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.


North Seymour Island
Highlights & Animals:
Land & marine iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, sea lions; snorkeling: rays, reef sharks, fish, garden eels.
Difficulty:
Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

Afterwards: 

Baltra Airport Departure

After this final visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.