Galapagos First Class Yachts

Galapagos Motor Sailor Beagle - 8 Day Cruise

Characteristics:
Motor Sailor Beagle is irresistible with undeniable charm and her beauty under sail. Steel hulled Brigantine Schooner with teak decks and a charming interior.

Beagle Motor sailor provides: comfortable spacious accommodations, yacht maintenance and safety equipment that meet the highest standards, ample open and shaded deck space, delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine served in the salon or on deck, personal service on board by a superbly trained crew and guide.

Motor Sailor Beagle Technical Specifications
Type	Motor Sailor
Length	105 feet
Beam	22 feet
Draft	6 feet
Speed	9 Knots
Crew	5 Plus Naturalist Multilingual guide
Accommodation	12 Passengers in 6 double cabins with upper and lower berths and private Bathroom / air-conditioning
Technical Equipment	Twin Gardner diesels 150 HP, twin 21 KW generators for 110 & 220 AC, 60 cycles, 12 & 24 volt DC, Furuno radar, depth sounder, GPS, EPIRB, Life raft, VHS & SSB radios, 2 tenders outboards, color TV, video equipment. All safety equipment on board meets SOLAS requirements / VHF radio, SSB radio
Facilities	Sun Deck / Library / Dining-room / Water purifier / Snorkelling equipment / VHS / TV / Stereo system

Galapagos Motor Sailor Beagle - 8 Day Cruise

Itinerary:
Day 01 Tuesday: Arrive at Baltra, Galapagos – North Seymour Island
The flight from Quito (via Guayaquil) to the Galapagos is approximately 2 ½ hours on a Boeing 727. Upon arrival at Baltra travellers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid). Guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbour. There our crew will welcome you onboard. After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made to the island of North Seymour. North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found together with marine iguanas. -/L/D

Day 02 Wednesday: South Plaza – Santa Fe
Located on the east of Santa Cruz, the main characteristics on the small island South Plaza are the Opuntia cacti and the carpets of red sesuvium, a succulent plant that turns green in the rainy season. The cactus is the main food of land iguanas, which are usually found resting at the cactu's shade. The island contains one of the largest sea lion colony of Galapagos, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds nesting, and boobies roosting on the south cliff of the island. B/L/D

Day 03 Thursday: Española Island—Gardner Bay
Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and being so isolated, a high percentage of its fauna is endemic.
Gardner Bay is on the eastern shore and has a magnificent beach. This beach is frequented by a transient colony of sea lions, and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. On a trail leading to the western tip of the island you'll pass the only nesting sites in the Galapagos of the waved albatross, huge birds with a 6-foot wingspan. These huge birds nest here from April to December and represent the majority of the world’s population of this species.

Punta Suarez is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Hood Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the brilliantly colored marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air. B/L/D

Day 04 Friday: Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Station – Highlands
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, with the largest population of the 4 inhabited islands (approx 10.000). Santa Cruz is also the only island where six different zones of vegetation can be seen: Coastal, Arid, Transition, Scalesia, Miconia, and Pampa Zones. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based here. We will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of their kind. Scientists, park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing centre, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this island will probably be Lonesome George. He is the only surviver of the specific turtle species.

Galapagos Motor Sailor Beagle - 8 Day Cruise

In the afternoon you will visit the Highlands of Santa cruz. The lush greenery of the highlands is a welcome contrast with the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. Points of interest are the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. In the afternoon you will disembark for the Island of Floreana. B/L/D

Day 05 Saturday: Floreana Island—Post Office Bay - Punta Cormorant
Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Islands of the archipelago.
At Punta Cormorant you land on a green olivine sand beach. Following a 100 m long path you will soon reach a lagoon with flamingoes, white-checked pintail ducks and other shorebirds. The trail goes on to a white beach made of grinned coral, so it looks like flour. This is the green sea turtle’s nesting place. North of Punta Cormorant and eroded volcano, Devil´s Crown, is a snorkel’s delight. To the west, Post Office Bay keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to send their mail. B/L/D

Day 06 Sunday: Puerto Egas – Bartholome
From the visitor center at James Bay on the island Santiago a small path leads you in southern direction along the coast. Passing by the ruins of a former salt mine company and the many inhabitants of the bank area, like sea lions, lizards, herons, and cancers, you arrive at the famous fur seal grotto, the best place at Galápagos in order to observe these elegant animals.
Arriving at Bartholome we will ascend a lookout point from where you can admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous needle shaped rock, the so called Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some fine snorkelling spots from which you can discover the marvellous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles. B/L/D

Day 07 Monday: Genovesa
Morning wet landing for an easy stroll observing thousands of bird life, mainly frigate birds, red footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. If you wish you can continue walking over sharp lava and uneven terrain, or just go back to the beach to enjoy swimming and snorkelling at this beautiful natural harbour. Those most adventurous can look for Hammerhead sharks, snorkelling along the cliffs. Lunch on board.
The afternoon starts with a very interesting panga ride along the cliffs and then disembark (dry landing) on rocks for a steep climb (90 feet) and then a levelled walk for about a mile to the other side of this small island observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and the short-eared owl. Naturalist's briefing and dinner. B/L/D

Day 08 Monday: Santa Cruz - Caleta Tortuga Negra – return flight
Today you will be visiting the bay Caleta Tortuga Negra, which is situated at Santa Cruz Island. This bay is surrounded by mangroves where you can spot pelicans and herons. While snorkelling you can have a swim with the black turtles, white-tip sharks and rays.
After that we will have a short stop at the harbor of Baltra (formerly known as south Seymour). You will cross the Itabaca Channel to Baltra, to take your flight back to the mainland. B

B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner

Galapagos Motor Sailor Beagle - 8 Day Cruise

Price per person: Motor Sailos The Beagle Rates 2008:
For individual travelers:	USD 2.700.-
Charter (16 pax):	USD 35.100.-
Children (under 12 yrs):	USD 2.200.-

Included in the price:
All Transfers, 8-day cruise on board of the yacht Beagle in double accommodation with all facilities, all meals during the cruise, multilingual naturalist guide, purified water free for drink, coffee or tea, snorkelling equipment.

Not included:
Air fares, Galapagos National Park fee USD 100.-, beverages, tips, single cabin surcharge, personal items, transfers and meals in Quito.

NB The itinerary can change due to security reasons or due to regulations of the national park authorities. The security and the interest of the clients is always considered in these decisions.