Seaman Journey

East Itinerary - 3 nights

Friday to Monday

DAY 1

AM: Baltra - arrival, immigration and boarding of the ship.

PM: Seymour Norte - 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.

DAY 2

AM: El Barranco, Genovesa - The visitor site of El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island. The trail is on volcanic rock that has a length of 1.5 km and the tour can be done in about 2 hours. The youngest area of the island, from a geological point of view, lies in this area. The cliffs located in the south are composed of very fragile lava.

The natural erosion that has occurred in these lava flows has become the ideal place for nesting Storm Petrels. You can see two species of petrels that nest in cavities and holes in the lava. One of its main predators is the short-eared owl. The red-footed booby nests only in the outer islands of the archipelago, Punta Pitt, Gardner (Floreana), Wolf, Darwin and Genovesa. Also present on this island is the masked booby. During the “panga rides” along the cliffs fur sea lions can be seen and several species of seabirds.

PM: Darwin Bay - This bay has its origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favorite island for birdwatchers: red footed-booby, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, yellow- crowned, and black-crowned lava herons, and yellow warblers can be seen in the area. Continuing on the trail, visitors climb gradually to the edge of the cliff seeing Red-Foots nesting in the Mangrove trees below. Bird watching includes sightings of sharp-beaked finches, large cactus and ground finches, Galapagos doves, and swallow-tailed gulls. Reaching the end the trail at the cliff’s edge offers an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.

DAY 3

AM: Plazas - Plazas is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas land iguanas are smaller than its relatives found at other islands. Throughout the island are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, they are unique, recognizable at first glance by their black/gray color, with a land iguana’s crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana. The big population of iguanas is due to the presence of tunas, their favorite food. Swallow tailed gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other sea birds as: Audubon shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds, and brown pelican.

PM: Santa Fe - Located in the southeastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift instead than a volcanic origin, this is why is mostly flat. There are some t h e o r i e s which assure this could be the oldest island in the Archipelago. Santa Fe is the home of a number of endemic species like the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats, and one of the two species of lands Iguanas of the islands. After disembarking in the beautiful and clear waters you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well giant Pickly pear cactus, gigantism is a characteristic of oceanic islands. There are great possibilities of snorkeling with playful sea lions and tropical fishes.

DAY 4

AM: Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center - In 2004 the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises Jacinto Gordillo, named after a famous settler, was inaugurated in Cerro Colorado, San Cristobal Island, in order to take care of young tortoises. In 2008, an assisted reproduction program started on the island with due to the birth of a little turtle in captivity. After the morning excursion you will be taken to the airport for your flight to the mainland.

South & East Itinerary - 4 nights

Monday to Friday

DAY 1

AM: Baltra - arrival, immigration and boarding of the ship. Guides will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbour. Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you to the M/C Seaman Journey and our crew will welcome you onboard. After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.

PM: Interpretation centre - It is an interpretation centre with exuberant gardens and stunning ocean views in contrast with the
1960´s buildings in Charles Darwin Centre. Visitor to the interpretation centre can learn a lot about the geological and human history of the islands, conservation facts and natural history. This is the oldest museum of the Natural History of the Galapagos Islands that is trying to preserve the nature of the islands.

DAY 2

AM: Galapaguera. San Cristobal - A short visit to the Galapaguera is a good place to observe Galapagos tortoises in its natural
habitat. San Cristobal island has endemic species such as the Mockingbird, lava lizard, Chatham Leaf-toed Gecko and tortoises. All of these species can be observed in this place, the beach is really big and it works as a nesting zone for marine tortoises. Between January and May it is common to find the footprints of the female tortoises that have climbed to the sand dunes to deposit their eggs. 

PM: Cerro Brujo, San Cristobal - A beautiful beach of white coral beach where you can swim and watch birds and sea lions, plus you can snorkel. This is the first coast where Charles Darwin walked in 1835. In this marvellous lava landscape where you can see seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds and shore birds. The protected bay is very popular to observe young tortoises and for swimming. The pools with salty water behind the sand dunes were used for the fishers as a salt mine in order to preserve food for the local population. Among the fauna that you can observe the Chatham Mockingbird and the San Cristobal Lava Lizard, both species are endemic to the island and unique to the area as they cannot be observed nowhere else. Also you can find the island canary, the Galapagos turtles and with luck the little bird known as the Pájaro Brujo in Spanish, an endemic specie from San Cristobal Island. The vegetation covers all the route where you can find species like the candelabrum cactus and carob trees. Located on the north coast of Isla San Cristobal it is a peaceful place with white sand and crystal water, a perfect combination for an incredible stay.

DAY 3

AM: Gardner Bay, Española - Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing,
swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here we can also observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters. Here you will find three species of endemic Darwin Finches. Also, here it is possible to observe resident and
migratory bird species. This zone is really important for marine tortoises nesting.

PM:  Suarez Point, Española - This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the ocean front, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air at least from 50 to 75 meters high. This site presents wonderful photograph opportunities.

DAY 4

AM: Cormorant Point, Floreana Island - This site offers probably the best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pin-tail ducks, and other migratory birds. It is 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 & Baroness Lookout, 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 colonists. We will continue to the north of the island and will ascent to an elevated slope to enjoy a beautiful vista at the Baroness lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the horizon. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as h er house. From this lookout, the landscape covers the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and wide forest of Palo Santo.

DAY 5

AM: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station - 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 centre, the Van Straelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises, Lonesome George (turtle from Pinta), and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

After the morning excursion you will be taken to the airport for your flight to the mainland

West & Central Itinerary - 7 nights

Friday to Friday

Day 1

On arrival in Baltra, you will be transferred to Puerto Ayora, to the Ranch Mazanillo where you will have a lunch and a short walk. From there, board the Galapagos Seaman Journey, and discover your cabin.

PM: Santa Cruz Highlands - Journeying across Santa Cruz into the highlands visitors are delighted by the island's variety of life and geology. Beginning at the coast and traveling across Santa Cruz the road departs from Puerto Ayora climbing through the agricultural lands and into the mist covered forests.  As you  travel through  these  zones birders are enchanted. Whether it's the bright red feathers of a vermillion flycatcher or one of Darwin's Finch almost every bird present in the islands can be found here. Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos Tortoises. There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes and craters to explore.

Day 2
 
AM: White Tipped Reef Shark Canal (Tintoreras) - 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.

PM: Wall of Tears: The Wall of Tears is a historic site in Isabela. Between 1946 and 1959 Isabela was a penal colony, where prisoners build a wall with huge blocks of lava as punishment. The wall is 100 meters long and 7 meters high.  A set of stairs provides a bird's eye view of the wall and the surrounding landscape. You can still see the cement foundations of the USA base dating back to the Second World War.

Day 3

AM: Punta Moreno - It is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcano Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcano. The trail runs along a lava flow Pahohoe (solidified lava in the form of corrugated or an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons, its main attraction are several species of birds which can be found around this lakes and mangroves.

PM: Urbina Bay - Located at the base of Alcedo Volcano, the coast expanded half a mile out, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkelling, where combined sand, pumice, lava, coral and vegetation, allowing the presence of iguana burrows, and red and blue lobsters. The beach Bahia Urbina welcomes Darwin's finches, land iguanas, and Galapagos tortoises. Also in this area stands a large amount of vegetation Muyuy, chamomile and Rosewood, as well as the beautiful flowers of cotton Darwin, endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

Day 4

AM: Espinoza Point - Espinoza Point is a place famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.

PM: Vicente Roca Point - One of the most impressive and spectacular places of the Galapagos Island: With high cliffs and tuff stone, ash and lava formations, it gives to this area a majestic touch. This large bay has a spectacular marine life: Here, you can see seahorses, sea turtles and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola or sunfish. This bay is a great place to practice Panga Ride and snorkelling and enjoy Penguins, Blue-footed boobies, Terns, Boobies, Sea lions as well as sea turtles, stingrays and puffer fishes.

Day 5

AM: Playa Espumilla / Bucanero - Espumilla beach is located in northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. Unfortunately, the colony of flamingos which used to live there for long time has disappeared because of the last El Nino phenomenon. However, the beach is an important site for nesting marine turtles and for admiring Palosanto forest.

PM: Puerto Egas, Santiago Island - Known as  "the black beach" due to its tuff deposits which have favoured the formation of this special black sand, this site is also called Puerto Egas, because of Hector Egas, the owner of  a famous company which extracted salt from the Salt Mine Crater in the 50's. However, this project was abandoned and they left their infrastructure.

Day 6

AM: Rabida - Rábida Island is unique because of its red rocks and sand: The volcanic material in this island is very porous and external factors as rain, salt water, and sea breeze have acted as an oxidizing agent. A short walk along a trail lead you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach which allow you to observe the land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mocking birds as well as a colony of flamingos.

PM: Chinese hat - Small islet (1 sq km), it is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat, when seen from north side. On the west you can see lava formations, created under the sea and raised upward. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lions colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.

Day 7

AM: Sullivan Bay - Santiago, also called James Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago and is the fourth largest island in the archipelago. The island is also volcanically active, with many young flows and cones, and 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.

PM: Bartolome - Bartolome Island is situated across Sullivan Bay and has an altitude of 114 metres, from where we can observe volcanic cones, lunar- like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. The island has two beautiful beaches where marine turtles exist as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.

Day 8

AM: Bachas Beach - These two small beaches are found to the West of Turtle Cove and have sand made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, perfect 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 and 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.

AM/ PM:You will disembark from your catamaran and be taken to airport for your flight to the mainland. (Only breakfast is provided today).