M/V Galapagos Legend

	Category: Luxury Capacity: 110 passengers
	Itinerary
	Deck Plans
	Cabins
	Services
	Tecnical Specifications

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Monday - Baltra Island

Welcome at Baltra Airport. Briefing on ship's facilities as well as National Parkat at the lounge given by naturalistic guides. Safety drill practice with passengers, crew and guides.

North Seymour Island.

After a dry landing guests will encounter Swallow Tailed Gulls and Sea Lions.

This site is also known for being a major nesting colony of Blue Footed Boobies, and the largest colony of the Magnificent Frigate Bird. (a different species from the Great Frigate Bird). Travelers will also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas. Passengers will enjoy this relaxed hike around the nesting sites.


Day 2 - Tuesday - Genovesa Island

Best known as "the island birds". Passenger enjoy the safe harbor of being anchored deep within the cater formed bay. A dry landing al El Barranco (Prince Phillip`s Steps). Passengers will walk on lava terrain observing Red Footed Boobies, frigates and the fragant Palo Santo trees. Thousands of Storm Petrels can be seen hovering over the open expanses. Your second visit is a refreshing wet landing. Travelers visit Darwin Bay and will enjoy observing the Red Footed Boobies, Frigates, Sea Lions, Lava Gulls, Night Herons, and Fiddler crabs at this site. This place also offers snorkeling opportunities in the bay to observe sharks and rays at a safe distance. Passengers never forget the wonderful beaches on this island.


Day 3 - Wenedsday - Española Island.

Travelers enjoy a dry landing at Suarez Point. Upon landing visitors will learn more about the lava terrain while crossing the inactive lava fields.

Aside from the Sea Lion colonies, this is one of the most important sites for bird watching. As soon as visitors out foot on this island many species can be spotted and observed closely. Among the many species, the Hooded Mocking bird and Red Billed Tropic Bird can be seen. Travelers will also spot a large colony of Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards, and the colorful Sally Light Foot Crabs.
After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies.

The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos Doves, Hawks and Swallow-Tailed Gulls. After crossing the nesting grounds you will reach the world's largest colony of Waved Albatross (15000 approx.),

Their mating rituals are a highlight of the visit by the end of this excursion passengers will visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air at almost 23 mts. (75 ft.).

Masked Boobies, Frigate, Sea Lion, Albatroses, Blue footed boobie.

San Cristóbal Island

Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here passengers visit the Interpretation Center providing travelers an opportunity to learn about the natural and human history of the islands that takes one hour interactive presentation. There is some time to shop in town. Dinner.

Day 4 - Thursday - Santa Cruz Island.

Arrive at Black Turtle Cove located near Las Bachas beach in the north of Santa Cruz Island. This excursion provides passengers with a "panga" ride though the mangrove, during which the outboard motor of the small boat is turned off. This allows the close observation of Sea Turtles, White Tipped Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Yellow Rays.

Bartolomé Island

Dry landing. Arriving on this island, passengers will see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit visitors available to enjoy an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the ascent travelers will often see a large colonies of Marine Iguanas and Lava Lizards. Red Mangroves, Tiquilla, and various cacti, that add to the experience. Visitors also enjoy a chance to cool off while snorkeling. Here it is possible to see the Galapagos Penguin, Sea Turtles, and White Tipped Sharks from a safe distance.

Day 5 - Friday - Fernandina Island.

After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, passengers will see the largest colony of Marine Iguanas mingling with Sally-light Foot Crabs. They will also enjoy the Flightless Cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Hawks, and Sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will note Brachycereus Cactus, "pa-hoe-hoe" lava, and other unusual lava formations. Travelers will view recent lava flows from a safe distance. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea, depicting a healthy and thriving eco-system.

Isabela Island

This is the largest island in the Galapagos. At Tagus Cove, passengers enjoy a dry landing. Visitors learn more about the eruption of five volcanoes that flowed together to form this land mass.

During the walk passengers will see the largest population of Giant Tortoises. (about 4000, but they are difficult to spot) the marked trail leads to Darwin's salt water lagoon and an excellent view of the lava fields, scoured with unique volcanic formations.

Time allows us to observe marine life from the dinghy. Frequently visitors see Galapagos Penguins at this site.
A view of graffiti dating back to the 1800's can help passengers to better appreciate the relationship between the islands and tourism today. Most of the graffiti is believed to be done by pirates and buccaneers.

"panga" ride
"pa-hoe-hoe" lava
Bartolome Island
Pirates Graffities

Day 6 - Saturday - Santiago Island.

Visit the dark sand beach at Puerto Egas during a wet landing. Most of the landscape are tuff-stone layers and lava flows, the surrounding area is prime for spotting and observing Hunting Herons, Great Blue Herons, Lava Herons, Oyster Catchers, and the Yellow Crowned Night Heron. Passengers enjoy the sight of Marine Iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide sharing space with Red Sally Light-Foot Crabs. There is a colony of Fur-Seal swimming in deep pools of cool water called "grottos". This is an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling in search of Octopuses, Sea Horses, Star Fish and other sea life caught in the small tidal pools. From a safe distance travelers can admire Moray Eels, Hammerhead Sharks, White Tip and Galapagos Sharks, Golden and White Spotted Eagle Rays, Jacks, Wahoo, Tuna, Groupers, Red-Tailed and Dog Snappers, Sea Lions, and Sea Turtles. All of them are hidden in the back drop of cold water and warm water.

Rábida Island

Dry landing at the dark red colored beach of volcanic origin, frequented by sea lions. It is often considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the Islands.

A short trail leads to a salt water lagoon, where we find small colonies of Flamingos feeding.

The brown pelican nests in the mangroves found at the far side of the lagoon. Also to be observed are boobies and 9 species of Darwin's finches.

Dinghie ride by the reefs and an excellent opportunity for snorkeling.



Day 7 - Sunday - Santa Cruz Island

On another visit, travelers have the chance to investigate the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can also admire Giant Tortoises, that are part of the breeding program.

Travelers can also admire the impressive Giant Prickly-Pear Cactus forest and many land birds. The visit to the station takes around 40 minutes. After this visit passengers have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.

Day 8- Monday - Santa Cruz Island.

Disembarkment at Bachas Beach (wet landing) which is located at north of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will be encountered by sea lions that will be found bodysurfing, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and passengers would have the opportunity to swim in this white sanded beach.

Baltra Island

Baltra´s airport in order to take the flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.