Sea Star


5-day Cruise "B"

(Santa Cruz, Santiago, Genovesa, Bartholomew, Santiago, Santa Cruz)

Day 1: Sunday
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning: 

Baltra Airport Arrival

Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra, Galapagos Islands.

You will arrive at Baltra Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Sea Star 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: 

Dragon Hill

Situated on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.


Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:
Land iguana nesting spot, Galapagos flamingos, common stilts, palo santo trees and cacti forest
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

Day 2: Monday
Santa Cruz and Santiago Islands

In the morning: 

Black Turtle Cove

Visit Black Turtle Cove in the northern part of Santa Cruz. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a haven for young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.


Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:
Baby hammerhead shark, rays, sea turtles, sea birds.
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
No Landing
Possible Activities:
Dinghy ride

In the afternoon: 

Chinese Hat Islet

This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet’s summit. Chinese Islet is a great location to view many geological formations such as lava tunnels and lava flows. Some of the lava flows were formed underwater and subsequently raised above sea level. The presence of coral heads on the lava flow indicates this phenomenon.


Chinese Hat Islet, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:
Lava formations, great site for snorkeling with an abundance of marine species such as sea lions, sharks, rays and penguins.
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

Day 3: Tuesday
Genovesa Island

In the morning: 

El Barranco

El Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, is a steep, rocky path that leads up a high cliff rock face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to Palo Santo vegetation as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared owls, Galapagos storm petrels, and Galapagos doves.


El Barranco, Genovesa Island
Highlights & Animals:
Red-footed boobies, short-eared owls, storm-petrels, Galapagos doves
Difficulty:
Moderate
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

In the afternoon: 

Darwin Bay

Visit the white-sand coral beach of Darwin Bay which includes a half mile trail (0,75km) that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls, which can easily be spotted here. Further down the path we’ll find tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully. At the end is a spectacular view of a cliff.


Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Highlights & Animals:
Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls, mangroves, coral pebble beach, snorkeling: rays, colorful reef fish, and hammerhead sharks occasionally
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

Day 4: Wednesday
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: 

Sullivan Bay

You will visit Sullivan Bay located on the southeast part of Santiago. This place is interesting for its geology because the area is covered by lava flows. This place has elevations in the form of small volcanoes formed by the lava flows.


Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:
Lava flows, small volcanoes
Difficulty:
Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

Day 5: Thursday
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning: 

Highlands

Accessible by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green which contrast beautifully with the dry, lower part of the islands. The predominant vegetation in the highlands are Scalesia trees which create a lush green forest. The lava tunnels, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience. At this place you’ll have lunch.


Highlands, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:
Lava tunnels, Finches, wild tortoises, tortoise nesting site.
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking

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.