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5950 euro
Schedule
Our local guide, Juan Manuel, awaits us at Baltra airport. He will drive us to the harbor, where we will embark on our ship, The Samba. We discover the jungle surrounding the Galapagos from the Santa Cruz highlands. Darwin finches, mockingbirds, Galapagos vermillion flycatchers, and diverse indigenous plants can be seen. We visit giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Punta Cormorant contains a lagune where flamingos like to forage. Opposite this point, you’ll find tortoises, stingrays, and reef sharks.
We’ll go snorkeling at noon and take the rubber boat around Champion Island, joined by sea lions, as we look out for the rare Floreana mockingbird.
We end at the legendary Post Office Bay for a walk and kayak trip among sea lions, mangrove forest and blue-footed boobies.
Punta Suarez is full of life: sea lions, bright-colored iguanas, and elegant red crabs moving across the rocks. Here, you’ll find the only tropical albatrosses in the world, joined by many others like tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies, and blue-footed boobies. We go snorkeling around Gardner Bay in the afternoon.
Chatham is the first island Charles Darwin entered when he visited the Galapagos islands. The volcanic cliffs of Kicker Rock are over 130 m high at some points; they are a beloved spot for large numbers of seabirds. We swim with Galapagos sharks, tortoises, countless colorful fish, and beautiful eagle rays.
In the afternoon, we sail to Punta Pitt.
Barrington Bay is one of the most picturesque places on the Galapagos: white beaches, a turquoise sea, and giant cacti. Having been isolated from the other islands for a long time, you can find endemic Galapagos iguanas, a real-life yellow dragon. He’s joined by Galapagos hawks, mockingbirds, and Darwin finches.
Further north is South Plaza, with its bright red seaweed, iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, and red-billed tropicbirds.
Chinise Hat is a hotspot for lava tunnels and white beaches surrounding black cliffs. We snorkel and enjoy the view of the present penguins.
In the afternoon, we walk to the top of Bartolomé Island, to admire the view at Pinnacle Rock.
At James Bay, we can see countless coast birds and reptiles – wandering tattlers, marine iguanas, and bright-colored crabs, to name a few.
The grand finale is our visit to the enormous lava tunnels, home of the Galapagos sea bears. We snorkel with the tortoises, reef sharks, and stunning colored fish.
On our last day, we visit North Seamore in the morning for a walk among the largest Galapagos colony of blue-footed booby, swallow-tailed gulls and frigatebirds.
After breakfast, we leave our ship to go back to Baltra airport.
Partnership
REMARKABLE HISTORY
From a geological point of view, the Galápagos Islands are very young. They ‘only’ emerged a few million years ago and were discovered by chance in 1535. Ecuador annexed the archipelago a hundred years later. But it was Charles Darwin who really discovered the islands in 1835. This is when he set foot ashore and explored the islands for weeks. His extensive research of the fauna and flora formed the basis of his evolutionary theory. Because he noted the presence of several species of Darwin’s finches, he linked the isolation of the archipelago to the evolution of the species who lived there.
UNIQUE CLIMATE
The Galapagos Islands are characterised by extremes. The cold Humboldt Current brings in cold and eutrophic water, supporting an enormous ecosystem. But this changes every few years, because of the El Niño-phenomenon. Warm water comes in and the sea currents change. This causes a massive decline in the population of iguanas, seals, penguins and other species, and an absence of sea birds. Extreme climate changes that have, however, proven to be optimal for the emergence of new species. Evolutionary theory at work!
A PHOTOGRAPHER’S DREAM
The Galapagos Islands never disappoint photographers. Impressive landscapes and spectacular wildlife are united on the archipelago. It has been a protected Ecuadorian National Park since 1968. This measure has proven to be vital for the conservation of numerous unique species.
The broad deck of our ship and the limited number of guests ensure sufficient room for manoeuver. We offer the very best conditions to explore all the beauty the islands have to offer.
EXTRAORDINARY WILDLIFE
The Galapagos islands harbour many endemic species. There’s the famous sea iguana, whose black skin heats its body temperature every time it emerges from the cold waters. The giant tortoise is the largest species of tortoise on earth. And sea life along the coasts is absolutely abundant.
The iconic blue-footed booby, a Pacific species of gannet, is one of the hallmarks of the Galápagos. Most of the islands house several species of the famous Darwin finches. They are not the only species that have diversified on the island during evolution. For example, you’ll find 4 different species of mockingbirds. And how about that ivory black lava gull? In short, nature lovers and birdwatchers alike can rest assured when embarking on this adventure.
AN EXPERIENCED TEAM
I will guide this trip, together with nature photographer Jeffrey Van Daele and a very experienced local crew. Expedition leader Juan Manuel Salcedo grew up in the Galápagos Islands. He developed a passion for wildlife while sailing on his father’s boat. Studying the archipelago for many years, he attained a degree in ecology, specializing in biology and geology. He is always up-to-date with the regulations for protection of the fragile ecosystem. His crew guarantees a correct attitude in this National Park, undoubtedly the best-conserved archipelago of the tropics.
LOOKING FOR AN EVEN GREATER ADVENTURE?
Exploring the islands of San Cristobal and Española means you mainly discover the east side of the archipelago. Curious about what the other islands have in store? Here’s your chance to find out! STARLING organises two consecutive trips to the Galapagos islands. If you register for both, you get a 5% discount. The ultimate adventure!
Discover our trip to Fernandina and Isabela.
NATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographers, nature lovers and bird watchers will all indulge themselves during this trip. We discover many endemic birds, explore the waters around the islands and photograph rare sea creatures. Each island is unique due to the volcanic landscapes. Our well-adjusted ship allows us to sail close to every island, assuring care-free photography. In short: this is the ultimate journey for anyone who wants to zoom in on the Galapagos under professional guidance.
ACCOMMODATION
The Samba houses 14 guests. This is the perfect number to fully experience the magic of the Galápagos Islands, because privacy and room for manoeuver are guaranteed. The latter is essential for exhaustive nature photography. The boat crew is very professional and kind. And your guides? We will always go the extra mile to show you the beauty of nature and share our best photography tips and tricks. A trip of a lifetime!
We charter the boat, which gives us more freedom to sail where we want.
Extra overnight stays and excursions in Ecuador – Quito are possible. We can supply an overview of all the options and extensions on demand.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
The cold season lasts from May to September, with an average temperature of 20°C. December to April brings really hot and dry weather, with an average temperature of about 32°C. We travel in-between seasons, so be prepared for both types of weather. It gets cold at night during both seasons, and rain is no exception. Be sure to bring sweaters and a raincoat.
Our hikes comprise several kilometres at most. Because of this, they are accessible for anyone with a normal physical condition. The volcanic terrain can be rough, so be sure to bring sturdy shoes.
