Galapagos First Class Yachts

Motor Catamaran Cormorant II - 8 Day Cruise

General Description:
Welcome Aboard!
Discover a world of evolutionary enchantment amid volcanic island with unique species of wildlife. Our vision for this catamaran is to introduce a new level of confort and elegance to Galapagos trips.

Confort:
Cormorant II offer lots of space and confort for naturalist and diving cruises , the artful combination of stability , grace and speed make this catamaran a perfect partner for a Galapagos discovery adventure.

Cormorant II Has 6 cabins with lower twin beds, & 2 cabins with a lower double bed with private bathroom, hot water; air aconditioning .

Comfortable dinig room, tv, dvd, stereo, library ; an inside bar , an upper deck bar , jacuzzy, & spacious sundeck with reclining chairs.

All the cabin are exterior and located on the main deck with outside view.

M/C Cormorant II Characteristics
Type	Motor Catamarán
Year	2006
Capacity	16
Length	27.60 M.
Beam	11 M.
Gross Tonnage	281 Tons
Main Engines	2 John Deere 300 Hp Each
Electric Sistem	2 Generadores Marathon 70kw Each
Electric Power	110v And 220v. Ac/
Material Construcción	Construcción: Fiberglass
Speed	12 Knots
Crew	8 Crew Menbers + Naturalist Guide Level 3

Motor Catamaran Cormorant II - 8 Day Cruise

Itinerary:
Sunday: Airport – Highlands of Santa Cruz
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.
The lush greenery of the Santa Cruz 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. The trip to the highlands ends with a visit to the Twin Craters. The vegetation around these is very special and is renown for its about 300 fern species and the many sunflowers. -/L/D

Monday: Espanola—Punta Suarez—Gardner Bay
One of the oldest of the islands, Española is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. 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 Española 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.
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. B/L/D

Tuesday: Plaza South - 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.
Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the archipelago. A turquoise lagoon with two small white sand beaches are protected by a peninsula where sea lions rest. A trail runs along side the coast and then crosses through an Opuntia Forest. These prickly pear cacti are the largest ones in Galapagos. The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are larger and of a paler yellow than on the other islands. After the hike you can swim or snorkel in the bay in company of sea lions. B/L/D

Motor Catamaran Cormorant II - 8 Day Cruise

Wednesday: North Seymour – Baltra – Bartolome
North Seymour is an uplifted island. In previous times, this was the ocean's bed. Afternoon outing at North Seymour (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island observing bird colonies of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. A shorter walk is also available. In the afternoon you will disembark at Bartolomé Island (dry landing) for a hike to the summit. Great way to start the day. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase; the view from the top is worth the effort. Return to the Catamaran for breakfast. Panga ride around colossal Pinnacle Rock, time to enjoy the beach (wet landing) and snorkelling. Chance to snorkel next to Galapagos Penguins. B/L/D

Thursday: Punta Espinoza (Fernandina) - Urbina Bay (Isabela)
Fernandina is the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos with eruptions taking place every few years. The flat lava of Punta Espinosa offers a stark and barren landscape, but here flightless cormorants build their nests on the point, sea lions sprawl on the beach or play in the tide pools and marine iguanas dot the sand. Urbina Bay is an easy wet landing on a gentle sloping beach. This area is very interesting in that it is a perfect example of the geological activity of the islands. In 1954 over 3 miles (5 kilometres) of the marine reef at the edge of the shore were uplifted by 13 feet (4 meters). B/L/D

Friday: Elizabeth Bay - Moreno Point (Isabela)
In the morning you will visit the mangrove bay Bahia Elisabeth with little islands off-shore. Here you can see little dwarf penguins as well as schools of manta rays, turtles and other giants of the ocean such as whale-sharks and others. In the afternoon you will visit Punta Moreno. This young volcanic landscape is marked by several freshwater-pools where Bahama Ducks, flamingoes and other birds gather B/L/D

Saturday: Floreana - Pto. Cormorant / Devil's crown / Post Office Bay
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

Sunday: Charles Darwin Station – Airport
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. Aferwards you will cross the Itabaca Channel to Baltra from where you will fly home. B

B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner

Motor Catamaran Cormorant II - 8 Day Cruise

Price: Individual Passengers 2008:
7 Nights 8 Days USD 2.670.-
4 Nights 5 Days USD 1.670.-

Price: Charter 2008:
7 Nights 8 Days USD 42.720.-
4 Nights 5 Days USD 26.720.-

Included in the price:
All transfers, 8-day cruise on board of the Motor Catamaran Cormorant II in double accommodation with all facilities, all meals during the cruise, multilingual naturalist guide, purified water free for drink, coffee or tea.

Not included:
Flights mainland to/from Galápagos USD 410.-, Entrance fee to Galápagos National Park USD 100.- Beverages tips, personal items, transfers and meals in Quito, International flight airport tax (USD 41.- per person).