Ocean Spray – 5 Day Cruise North Galapagos

Overview:

The classic Mega-Catamaran Ocean Spray offers the best performance and comfort in Galapagos Cruising. The elegant design includes a huge sundeck, Jacuzzi and spacious cabins each with a private balcony. Her speed, comfort, top guides and itinerary will make Ocean Spray perfect for your luxury Galapagos cruise. Kayaks are also available for use. This 5 day Galapagos Cruise is a great option for those looking to visit the Galapagos with a shorter itinerary. 

Ships that operate this itinerary:

Ocean Spray

Islands Visited:
- Santa Cruz
- Bartholomew
- Genovesa
- Santiago 

Included:

• Accommodation onboard cruise
• All meals
• Airport transfers 
• All visitor site excursions
• Regular soft drinks and juices and a champagne reception
• Galapagos National Park bilingual Guide
• Use of snorkeling gear and wetsuits
• Kayaks
• Carbon Offset for your Cruise

Exclusions:

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Gratuities
• 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

Welcome to the Galapagos Islands aboard the M/C Ocean Spray. The guide and crew will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your vessel. They will show you to your accommodations upon your arrival. Afterwards, the guide and cruise manager will hold a short briefing on all safety and emergency protocols, different areas of the vessel and the normal routine of the itinerary. 

PM: Bartholomew - Pinnacle Rock 

Pinnacle Rock is a volcanic cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano. The sea cooled the hot lava and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed together this huge rock of many, many layers of basalt. The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest during breeding season. Galapagos penguins gather here and swimming can offer beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions.

Activities: Hike, snorkel and panga ride
Possible Wildlife: Galapagos penguins, sally lightfoot crabs, sea lions, rays, sea turtles, sharks, various tropical fish, various shore birds.

Note: Itineraries are subject to change due to many different elements such as weather, park authorities and regulations, airline operations, guide experience and safety concerns.

AM: Genovesa - Darwin Bay 

Darwin Bay used to be a shield volcano, now you can see where one of the sides of its caldera collapsed after hundreds of years of erosion. It is known for the wide variety of birds that can be seen. Over 20,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to call this island home within the trees and bushes of Genovesa Island. 

Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, finches, various shorebirds, rays, tropical fish species, marine iguanas, sea lions. 

PM: Genovesa - El Barranco 

This visitor site is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps. It leads to a rocky path up a cliff that rewards guests with a remarkable view. It is also home to a Palo Santo forest that is home to the nesting red-footed boobies and other shorebirds. 

Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, storm petrels, Galapagos doves, short-eared owls, sea turtles, rays, sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas

AM: Santiago - Espumilla Beach / Buccaneer Cove 

As the second Island Charles Darwin discovered, it was originally named after King James of England. Buccaneer Cove is an excellent opportunity for snorkeling and was once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates. The underwater formations provide an amazing home for the many different tropical species of fish that can be found here. 

Activities: Snorkeling and swimming, short walk on beach
Possible Wildlife: Marine iguanas, sea lions, various shorebirds, tropical fish species, rays, sea turtles, sally lightfoot crabs. 

PM: Santiago - Egas Port 

Egas port is also known as James Bay, home to quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. There are grottos and tide pools housing all kinds of different marine species. This is also one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos. 

Activities: Snorkeling, hike
Possible Wildlife: Fur sea lions, Galapagos hawks, oyster-catchers, marine iguanas, finches, sharks, sea turtles, tropical fish.

AM: North Seymour Island 

The island was named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour. Formed by uplifted submarine lava, the island is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. Along the coast, it is possible to see land and marine iguanas and the biggest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds. 

Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride, hike
 Possible Wildlife: Land and marine iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, sea lions. 

PM: Santa Cruz - Highlands 

The Highlands of Santa Cruz is a very interesting site due to the rich wildlife, hills, ferns, volcanoes and lava tubes present. Exploring the lava tubes is a surreal and unique experience. Here you can see all the different agricultural zones that are present in the Galapagos in one place. The variety of birds makes this a bird watchers delight.

Activities: Hike
Possible Wildlife: Wild Galapagos Tortoises, various shorebirds, lava lizards.

AM: Mosquera Islet 

This visitor site is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. In most of the perimeter there is a base of lava rocks, as evidence of the lava uprising, except in the southwest side where the landing occurs. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions. 

Activities: Short walk
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shore birds, frigate birds, sally lightfoot crabs. 

PM: Transfer to Airport 

In the afternoon, you will have time to gather your belongings and then the guide and cruise manager will thank you for your time and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.