Itinerary

Journey to the Galapagos Islands
Date:
January 25, 2013 - February 03, 2013
Meeting point:
Fort Lauderdale Executive, FL (KFXE)
Length:
10 days / 9 nights
Mileage:
3,400 NM
Day 1 - Friday, January 25: Fort Lauderdale, Florida → Boscobel, Jamaica (500nm) → Cartagena, Colombia (485nm)

We’ll meet at Banyan FBO of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE) for a briefing about the upcoming flight.

Our flight today will bring us over Cuba before landing in Boscobel (Jamaica) to refuel. We’ll then continue on to Colombia – one of the most ethnically diverse nations in South America – for our visit to Cartagena, undeniably one of Latin America’s most beautiful cities lost somewhere in time between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, with the Caribbean sea as a sparkling backdrop. Sir Francis Drake laid siege to the city but the fortress walls and cannons remain, making the area within the old walled city a living museum.

There will be time to relax before we enjoy a well-deserved welcome cocktail and dinner.

Hotel : Sofitel Santa Clara Hotel
Welcome cocktail and Dinner included
Day 2 - Saturday, January 26: Cartagena, Colombia

Enjoy a full day tour to experience Cartagena’s colonial charm with its tiled roofs, balconies and flower-filled courtyards, and to relive history in the old walled city. There are four sectors in the Ciudad Amarullada--San Diego, La Matuna, Getsemani and Santo Domingo--each with a peculiar story to tell.

Today will include a walking tour and a city tour to enjoy the highlights of this beautiful city.

Hotel : Sofitel Santa Clara Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 3 - Sunday, January 27: Cartagena, Colombia → Guayaquil, Ecuador (800nm)

After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Strategically located in the downtown commercial and banking heart of the city, the Hilton Colon Guayaquil is only a short transfer from the airport.

Hotel : Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 4 - Monday, January 28: Guayaquil, Ecuador to Baltra, Galapagos

Embarkation Today we will fly commercial airline (ticket not included) to Baltra in the Galapagos. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the Itabaca Channel. A small ferry will take us across the Channel to the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. We board our bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, where guests will learn about the unique montane ecosystems and biodiversity. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: El Chato (Santa Cruz Island) After lunch, we will travel by bus to El Chato Reserve, one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, eating grass and leaves and wallowing in the small pools that are common in the reserve. You may also spot some highland birds, like cattle egrets, mockingbirds, finches or flycatchers. There are several lava tunnels in the reserve, a great place to spot the barn owl. There is also a small lagoon covered in red algae where gallinules and Galápagos pintails can be found. We will take a bus ride to Puerto Ayora to board Yacht La Pinta. Yacht La Pinta is a 48-guest luxury yacht offering superb service, expert crew, the most knowledgeable multilingual naturalist/guides and menus that feature the very best international cuisine and celebrated Ecuadorian dishes. There will be a welcome introductory briefing on board, including the expedition plan for Tuesday. The staff will give a boat drill, among other activities.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 5 - Tuesday, January 29: Bahia Ballena – Whale Bay (Santa Cruz Island) and Sombrero Chino Islet

Morning: Bahía Ballena – Whale Bay (Santa Cruz Island) After breakfast we will disembark (wet landing) at a beautiful olivine beach (a volcanic crystal that forms in fast-cooling lava). The area has historical relevance since a small community lived in this area in the late 1900s, collecting lichen (Rosella Tictoria), used in the textile industry. The trail leads guests to an old watering hole used by the former settlers. There are also boobies, land birds and beautiful views of the northwest side of Santa Cruz Island to enjoy. Several activities are possible after the walk, such as snorkeling or a panga ride along the shoreline. We go back on board for lunch.

Afternoon: Sombrero Chino Islet Less than a quarter of a square kilometre in size, the tiny island of Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance: a Chinese hat. Lying just off the southeastern tip of San Salvador Island (James), this island, only formed fairly recently, makes a beautiful visit as one explores along its 400-meter-long trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped, white, sandy beach. Several species of shore birds can be spotted, along with marine iguanas, lava lizards, Galápagos penguins, and sally lightfoot crabs. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities with white-tipped reef sharks and tropical fish.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 6 - Wednesday, January 30: Bartolomé Island & Sullivan Bay (James Island)

Morning: Bartolomé Island A small satellite island of the neighboring Santiago Island, Bartolomé is a landmark of Galápagos. Broken volcanic material reveals one of the most striking volcanic landscapes, the Pinnacle rock. After a dry landing, the short, yet somewhat steep trail will reveal virtually every volcanic feature expected to be found in Galápagos: lava flows, tuff, cinder and spatter cones. To reach the summit, a wooden staircase was built to minimize erosion on the island ́s slopes. The vista of the Pinnacle Rock next to golden beaches and turquoise waters is the prize! There will then be swimming and snorkeling along the north beach of Bartolomé. A glass-bottom boat ride is an option for non-snorkelers. Lunch will be on board.

Afternoon: Sullivan Bay (James Island) After lunch, board the panga for the short ride to the landing site at Sullivan Bay on the East Coast of Santiago. There will be a wet landing on a white coral sand beach, and a walk over lava that flowed here less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galápagos. The last major eruption on Santiago was probably in the early 1900s. One observer aboard a sailing vessel reported that the ship approached the lava flow so closely that the pine tar used to seal the hull of the ship began to soften, and the captain had to hurry the ship away from the bay.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 7 - Thursday, January 31: Darwin Bay (Tower / Genovesa Island) and Price Philip's Steps

Morning: Darwin Bay (Tower / Genovesa Island) In the morning, there will be a wet landing for an easy stroll on the island, where you will observe thousands of birds, mainly frigate birds, but also red footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds. There is an optional walk over sharp lava and uneven terrain for dramatic views, or you may return to the beach to enjoy swimming and snorkeling at this beautiful natural harbour. Those more adventurous can snorkel along the cliffs or paddle sea kayaks. Lunch will be on board.

Afternoon: Prince Philip’s Steps (Tower / Genovesa Island) The afternoon starts with a fascinating panga ride along the cliffs and then a disembarkment (dry landing) on rocks for a steep climb (90 feet) up built stairs. Once at the top of the stairs, the land is flat, allowing for a stimulating walk of about a mile to the other side of this small island, observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Those not wishing to disembark can enjoy a longer panga ride along the cliffs (depending on weather conditions).

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 8 - Friday, February 1: Baltra Island Disembarkation to Guayaquil → Panama City, Panama (665nm)

We will disembark on Baltra Island and transfer to the airport to take the commercial flight (ticket not included) back to the Guayaquil.

We will retrieve our planes and fly to Panama. Enjoy a scenic approach to Panama City, including a beautiful view of the Panama Canal.

Hotel : Le Meridien Panama
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 9 - Saturday, February 2: Panama City, Panama

After breakfast we will depart for a full-day sightseeing tour, including a one-hour tour on the Panama Canal to enjoy the vegetation and wildlife such as monkeys.

We will then proceed to the Miraflores Lock, where we will be able to watch ships entering the lock, as well as visit a new museum where you can enter the lock on a simulator. A buffet lunch will be served at the Miraflores Restaurant, which offers a great view of the canal. In the afternoon, we will continue our tour of the Old City, with its most important sites.

Hotel : Le Meridien Panama
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 10 - Sunday, February 3: Panama City, Panama → Grand Cayman (625nm) → Key West, Florida (315nm)

We will transfer to the airport and fly back home with great memories. There will be an optional fuel stop in Grand Cayman.

Breakfast included