Nemo II – 8 Day Cruise South Galapagos

Overview:

The South NEMO II Galapagos cruise itinerary includes island hopping daily with several activities planned each day. This itinerary hits several hot spots including the tortoises at Charles Darwin Station, South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands, Suarez Point and Post Office bay at Floreana. Throughout almost every day on your cruise itinerary there is the world renowned snorkeling that is a highlight. This cruise gives you a full encompassing experience that takes you on a beautiful voyage that captures the magic surrounding these islands.

Ships that operate this itinerary:

Nemo II

Islands Visited:

- Santa Cruz
- South Plaza
- Santa Fe
- San Cristobal
- Española
- Floreana 

Included:

• Accommodation onboard cruise in double cabins with private bathroom
• All meals throughout cruise
• Transfers in the islands
• All excursions and activities 
• Bilingual naturalist guides
• Snorkeling equipment
• Airport transfers 

Exclusions:

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Gratuities
• Wetsuit rental ($5USD pp per day)
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Any additional transportation and personal services
• Galapagos Conservation Tax – $100 USD pp payable in cash only upon arrival to the Galapagos

Day 1: Arrival to Baltra and embark cruise
You will land in Baltra Island by plane in the morning and then transfer to the dock to board the yacht. After an introductory briefing onboard, we will all partake in an emergency boat drill, be assigned to your cabin and then be invited to lunch.

PM - Bachas Beach

There will be a welcome cocktail with lunch  and then you will begin your first navigation to Bachas Beach in Santa Cruz where you can go snorkeling and enjoy this beautiful beach. The name is “Spanglish” for 'barges' which were wrecked offshore during the World War II. A common first landing site, there is a delightful swimming beach here, with a lagoon behind, and a longer beach for a stroll and wildlife watching. The saltwater lagoon behind often has great blue herons and small waders such as sander lings and semi‐palmated plovers. Both beaches are nesting areas for green sea turtles, which leave tracks in the sand to the back of the beach, especially from November to February. The beach offers ample space one can explore at leisure.

Note: Itineraries are unlikely to change significantly but are subject to change. Weather, wildlife breeding, safety concerns, instructions from the Galapagos National Park, specific abilities and interests of passengers as well as operational matters may cause your guide or captain to change the time or nature of visits. Your guide and captain will always endeavor to select the best itinerary within these limits.

SOUTH PLAZA/ SANTA FE

AM:  After breakfast, you'll have a dry landing and be able to visit South Plaza for a nature walk and deep water snorkeling. The rocky trail circumnavigates the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. South Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas in the Galapagos. The iguanas seem to be everywhere once you land. These larger than average yellow‐brown land iguanas feed on the fruit and pads of the prickly pear cactus. South Plaza is also home to Marine Iguanas living along the coast and a Hybrid Iguanas whose fathers are Marine Iguanas and mothers are Land Iguanas. As the walk continues along the sea cliffs Swallow‐tailed Gulls, Frigatebirds, Audubon Shearwaters, Red‐billed Tropicbirds, Brown Pelicans, Blue‐Footed and Masked Boobies are frequently seen. Beneath along the shore a colony of Bachelor Sea Lions can be seen.

PM: Afterwards, you'll navigate to Santa Fe. Santa Fe Island is home to one of the most beautiful coves in all the Galapagos. It is located in the southeastern part of Galapagos, 2 1/2 hours from Santa Cruz and 3 hours from San Cristobal. Santa Fe was formed from an uplift (rather than a volcano) giving the island a relatively flat surface rather than the typical conical shape of the other islands. Visits to Santa Fe begin with a panga boat ride across the lovely turquoise lagoon. Once ashore you are brought into contact with one of the many sea lion colonies in the Galapagos. Bulls compete for the right of beach master while cows lounge in the sun. It is quite a fascinating sight! The loop trail around the island leads past the salt bushes where Galapagos Hawks can be approached easily. Santa Fe is home to endemic Land Iguanas. These iguanas are the largest in the islands and they are beige to chocolate brown in color and resemble small dinosaurs. Reaching the summit there 

SAN CRISTOBAL BRUJO HILL/ KICKER ROCK/ LOBOS ISLAND

AM:  Today's visit will be to Cerro Brujo for a Panga boat exploration ride and deep water snorkeling. One of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin, Cerro Brujo is a beautiful white sand beach where Brown Pelicans, Blue‐Footed Boobies, sea lions, and marine iguanas are all found. An onshore version of nearby Kicker Rock, Cerro Brujo is a very striking, eroded tuff cone. 

There is no landing at Kicker Rock. Also known as León Dormido these rocks are located off the coast of San Cristobal. It is the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, the two vertical rocks rising 500 feet from the ocean form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. This natural monument has become a favorite sight for cruises due to the many Tropicbirds, Frigates and Boobies that fill the surrounding air. Beneath the sea the nearly crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.

PM:  After lunch, you'll navigate to Lobos Island for a nature walk and more wildlife watching. Lobos Island, as its name suggests is famous for its population of sea lions and fur sea lions. You will also encounter nesting grounds for the great Frigatebird and a small number of blue footed boobies.  Breeding center, where will be explained, in a simple manner, the natural phenomena that created the Galapagos Islands. That is the geology and the series of natural processes, such as volcanic eruption and marine current locations that have led to the amazing islands that you are now visiting.

ESPANOLA SUAREZ POINT/ GARDNER BAY 

AM:  Today's activity includes a nature walk on Espanola Island Suarez Point. Suarez point is located on the western tip of Española and it offers great wildlife viewing of such species as Sea Lions, Sea Birds and the largest Marine Iguanas of Galapagos. This is one of the best sites in the Galapagos. The amount of wildlife is overwhelming. Along the beach there are many Sea Lions and large, colorful Lava Lizards and Marine Iguanas. As you follow the trail to the cliff's edge Masked Boobies can be found nesting among the rock formations. After a short walk down to a beach and back up the other side Blue‐Footed Boobies are seen nesting just off the trail.

PM:  This afternoon, you'll have a Panga boat exploration rides to Gardner Bay and Gardner Islet, for some snorkeling and swimming. Gardner Bay is a 45‐minute boat ride from Suarez Point. It has a white sand beach and there is a small colony of sea lions. The possibilities for swimming or scuba diving are excellent here. Visitors find migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly colored Marine Iguanas, Española Lava Lizards, Hood Mockingbirds, Swallow Tailed Gulls, Blue Footed and Masked Boobies, Galapagos Hawks, a selection of Finch, and the Waved Albatross. Snorkel and go on a panga ride at Gardner Islet, and at Osborn Islet snorkel once more.

SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS “LAS PRIMICIAS”/ CHARLES DARWIN STATION

AM:  After breakfast, there will be a visit to Santa Cruz Highlands. The highlands of Santa Cruz have incredible zones of vegetation. Visit to the private estate “Las Primicias”. This reserve offers you one of the best possibilities to see the huge turtles of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from very close. 

PM: Then, visit to the Charles Darwin Scientific Station and Breeding Center. The main visit in Puerto Ayora is to Charles Darwin Station. An excellent way to begin learning about the islands, their origin and formation. You will learn about how the Galapagos turtles are raised and meet Jorge, the famous solitary turtle. The Scientific Station has its own beach that receives many visitors on weekends.

FLOREANA CORMORANT POINT/ CHAMPION ISLET/ POST OFFICE BAY 

AM:  This morning, there is a visit to Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Champion Islet, Baroness Viewpoint, where possible activities include shallow water snorkeling, kayaking, panga boat exploration rides. The visit to Cormorant Point offers two contrasting beaches. Arriving on shore you will encounter a green sand beach (the green sand is caused by the olivine crystals derived silicates or magnesium and iron). From here you will follow the trail leading to a lagoon where Pink Flamingoes and other shore birds can be seen in the distance making their home. If you look closely at the mud of this lagoon, there appears to be 'cracks' in the mud. These cracks are not caused from dryness but are actual flamingo footpaths. This is also a good spot for seeing Large‐Billed Flycatchers, Small‐Ground Finches, Medium‐Ground Finches or Cactus Finches. The walk continues to another beach on the other side made of fine white sand particles known as "Flour Beach". In the waters Ghost Crabs and Rays can be seen swimming. Time and weather permitting you may even go for a swim or a snorkel. Other activities include a panga ride to Champion Point and kayaking at Baroness Viewpoint. 

Afternoon: Afterwards, there is a panga boat ride to Post Office Bay. In 1793 British whalers established the Post Office Barrel to send letters to and from England. This tradition has continued over the years, and even today visitors may drop off and pick up letters, without stamps, to be carried to far destinations. This is one of the few visitor sites that is visited for its human history. Whaling Captain James Colnett established the wooden post barrel in the early 1793. At the time whaling was a big industry, ships were typically gone for 2 years at a time. The Galapagos Islands were a frequent stop for these ships. Outbound ships would drop off letters after rounding the cape and the ships returning home would mail them. Over the years thousands of ships have stopped to send and receive mail at Post Office Bay. Many have posted a sign of driftwood or other materials memorializing their visit. This is the only area in the Galapagos were graffiti is still acceptable.

Arriving at Post Office Bay you will land on a brown sand beach, passing the sea lions lying in the sun. At the post barrel the guide will pull a handful of letters for the group. Continuing the tradition, the letters are brought home with the traveler and then mailed to the addressee. Visitors also have the opportunity to send letters of their own. There are also the remains of a Norwegian Fishing Village a commercial fishing operation established in 1926 and abandoned a couple of years later. The group of Norwegians arrived with dreams of riches started a fishing and canning operation on $900 each. The tough Galapagos life and a few misfortunes had them abandon their dreams. 

SANTIAGO CHINESE HAT/ BARTOLOME 

AM:  After breakfast, there will be a wet landing to visit to Santiago Island to visit the Chinese Hat and a walk with some snorkelling. The visit to Chinese Hat, which is a tiny island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. Its name describes the island's shape. Those visitors who travel to the island will find its special landscape worth the visit. Though centrally located it is one of the least visited sites in the area. National Park Service restrictions have limited the number of visitors to Chinese Hat. Multi‐day cruises with 14 passengers or less are the only ones permitted at this site. The landing is on a beautiful crescent‐shaped white sand beach, home to Sea Lions and Sally Lightfoot Crabs. The trail on Sombrero Chino's explores its volcanic origin, one of the most evident in the islands.

The lava rock is very fragile and tends to break off when people walk over it. The sharp outcroppings caused from these breaks make it necessary to wear good walking shoes. Patches of Pahoehoe Lava, cracked lava and lava tubes can be found on the island. While the path does not lead up the striking red rust sides of the Chinese Hat to the caldera, it does venture high enough on the island to offer some spectacular views of the waves crashing below. Snorkeling in the waters near Chinese Hat can create a stir; white‐tipped sharks frequent the area, as do the playful Galapagos Penguins and Sea Lions. 

PM: After lunch, there is more chance to go Deep water snorkeling at Bartolome. This desolate island with few plants is the most visited and most photographed island in the Galapagos. The island consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and glistening black volcanic formations. The best known of the island's features is the Tuff Cone known as Pinnacle Rock. This large black partially eroded lava formation was created when magma expelled from the volcano reached the sea. When the seawaters cooled the hot lava it caused an explosion. The exploded particles eventually fasten together forming a rock composed of thin layers. Bartolome's Pinnacle Rock has become one of the best recognized and most photographed sights in the islands. A prominent sight it was used as a target for US airmen during WWII. Lying beside the Pinnacle Rock are twin half-moon shaped beaches.

The northern beach is a popular snorkeling site where visitors have the opportunity to swim with fish, Sea Lions and Galapagos Penguins. Much larger animals can be found near the southern beach including stingrays, spotted eagle rays, white‐tipped sharks, and black‐tipped sharks. Little vegetation grows in this barren place. Mangroves border the beach and the small shrub Tiguilia grows in the volcanic sands. The seeds and tiny white flowers of the Chamaesycae provide food for the island's finch. These plants are common to arid regions and are able to survive in these harsh volcanic conditions.

In the evening, back on board, there is a farewell cocktail and Dinner while you navigate back to Santa Cruz Island.

BLACK TURTLE COVE/ BALTRA

AM:  On your last panga boat ride you'll head to Black Turtle Cove. Caleta Tortuga, also known as Black Turtle Cove, there is no landing at this sight. It is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island and the way to reach it is by a panga boat. You will be able to see its mangrove swamp where marine turtles are nesting during certain seasons of the year, as well as sharks and rays. 

Afterwards, you'll bid farewell to the crew and be transferred to Baltra airport for your flight back to the mainland.