General Information 2011
	Departure Days	Price per Person
8 Days	Thursday/Sunday	USD 2,978
5 Days	Sunday	USD 2,039
4 Days	Wednesday	USD 1,884
Capacity	16 passengers

The Motor Yacht Yolita was built in 2007 and is recently operating on the Galapagos Islands. It has 10 comfortable double cabins equipped with private bathroom with cold and hot water. 3 cabins are on the Upper Deck, two of them with twin beds and one with a double bed. On the Main Deck there are four cabins with twin beds and on the Lower Deck are two cabins with single beds and with portholes. The ship has a dining room, a bar, TV, DVD, stereo, sun deck and has air conditioning.

General Description:

The Motor Yacht Yolita was built in 2007 and is recently operating on the Galapagos Islands. It has 10 comfortable double cabins equipped with private bathroom with cold and hot water. 3 cabins are on the Upper Deck, two of them with twin beds and one with a double bed. On the Main Deck there are four cabins with twin beds and on the Lower Deck are two cabins with single beds and with portholes. The ship has a dining room, a bar, TV, DVD, stereo, sun deck and has air conditioning.

Detailed Itinerary:

Thursday: Flight to Galápagos – Baltra / Island Santa Cruz – Highlands

Morning arrival on Baltra Island where you firstly will pay the National Park Entrance Fee before you will be met by your guide. You will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz. The lush landscape there is a welcome contrast to the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. On your way you will cross the different zones of vegetation, from the dry lower region full of cactuses to the woods of scalesia in the higlands. There you will visit the private owned finca “Las Primicias”, which is open to the territory of the National Park of Galápagos. This reserve offers you one of the best possibilities to see the huge turtles of Santa Cruz island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from very close and learn more about their daily activities. Furthermore you will encounter one of the most beautiful lava tunnels in this area. -/L/D

Friday: Rábida Island / Chinese Hat

Today you will make an excursion to the small volcano island Rábida with its dark red beach. A small path there leads you to the little lagoon, which is often visited by flamingos. On your way to this lagoon you will pass nesting pelicans and other sea birds. The beach of Rábida Island is considered as one of the most beautiful places to go snorkeling. Because of a huge richness of fishes you can also observe a lot of sea lions there. After a wet landing at Chinese Hat, you will encounter a small colony of sea lions and then proceed to hike for approximately one hour up this dark unyielding solid rock island. Amazingly you will encounter a certain type of cacti vegetation growing here; the only flora on the island. From a distance, before you arrive, you will notice the shape of the island, hence its name! At the top of the hat you can enjoy stunning views of other islands. B/L/D

Saturday: Bartolome Island / Black Turtle Cove

Arriving at Bartolomé you 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 snorkeling spots from which you can discover the marvelous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles. In the afternoon you visit the Black Turtle Cove, a nesting site for marine turtles. With good luck you can observe different types of sharks in the calm water, so for example the white-tipped shark or schools of golden mustard rays as well. B/L/D

Sunday: North Seymour Island / Island Santa Cruz – Bachas Beach

After a dry landing, you will have a short walk along the coast of the northernmost island of Seymour. Guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls, sea lions and cliff crabs. 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 species different to the great frigate bird. You can also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the marine iguanas and land iguanas. You will enjoy this relaxing hike around the nesting sites. In the afternoon you will visit the long sandy “Las Bachas” Beach. Here you encounter sea lions, herons and marine iguanas and with good luck penguins. You also have the opportunity to swim offshore of this soft white sand beach. Snorkelling enthusiasts can explore the fascinating underwater world as well. B/L/D

Monday: South Plaza Island / Island Santa Fé

Today you will explore South Plaza Island, the more southernly island of the both Plaza Island, located in the east of Island Santa Cruz. On this island so full of life you will encounter colonies of sea lions and land iguanas. On the steep banks it is possible to see a great number of birds such as nesting tropic birds and fork-tailed seagulls. But most of all, enjoying the beautiful view from atop the steep banks or strolling along the base of the cliff is an extremely pleasurable experience. The Opuntia cactus and red coral bushes grow here and the vegetation changes colour according to the seasons of the year. In the afternoon you visit Santa Fe Island, a small rocky peninsula which is covered by little Palo Santo trees and by up to 6m high opuntia cacti. Inhabitants of this island are a specific species of large yellow land iguanas, the Galápagos buzzard, some blue footed boobies and pelicans. After the hike you can swim or snorkel in the bay in company of sea lions and marine turtles. Finally you can observe the tropic underwater world. B/L/D

Tuesday: Española Island – Point Suarez – Gardner Bay

Española is the southernmost and oldest island of the Galápagos archipelago. Because of its isolated position you can explore a lot of endemic wildlife. In the morning you will have an excursion to Point Suarez which 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 marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Point Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air. The walkabout on a stony path is about 2km (duration about 3 hours). Gardener Bay is on the eastern shore with turquoise shot coloured water and a magnificent beach. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. The bay is also frequented by a transient colony of sea lions which like to swim with you. Birds, like the endemic Hood-Mockingbird and different species of Darwin finches, are omnipresent. B/L/D

Wednesday: Floreana Island – Cormorant Point – Devils Crown – Post Office Bay

Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Island of the archipelago. At Cormorant Point 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. Then you will reach Devils Crown (Corona del Diablo), a broken volcanic cone, which is one of the most beautiful places to go snorkeling on Galápagos Island. You can dive or swim between riff sharks, star fishes, marine turtles, sea lions and many tropical ornamental fishes. Afterwards you will visit the famous Post Office Bay which keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers historically used to post their mail in. Nowadays you can leave a letter and hope that it will make its destination via another tourist. B/L/D

Thursday: Island Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Research Station / Baltra – flight back to the mainland

Today you anchor again at the harbour of Puerto Ayora on Island Santa Cruz. Beside its rank as homestay for sea lions and pelicans, the marina is a popular starting point for round-the-world-yachtsman. The island itself has come to be both touristic and scientific center of the archipeleago. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based on Santa Cruz Island. The station encompasses an information centre, a museum, a library and the tortoise breeding station as well. Here you will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of the Galápagos. Park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. In the tortoise breeding and rearing centre you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this island is probably Lonesome George. He is the only survivor of his specific turtle species. In the past all approaches to find a partner for him failed. But in July 2008 the scientists found a carved nest wit nine eggs from a female tortoise. Three of them could be saved and now accordingly to strict instrcuctions they are incubated syntheticly. Afterwards you will be escorted to the airport of Baltra island and from there you will fly back to Ecuador mainland. B

B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner

Prices per Person for 2011:

Motor Yacht Yolita – 5 days cruise with first night in a hotel
Double cabin per person: USD 1,884.-
Charter: USD 30,140.-

Motor Yacht Yolita – 5 days cruise
Double cabin per person: USD 2,039.-
Charter: USD 32,620.-
 
Motor Yacht Yolita – 8 days cruise
Double cabin per person: USD 2,978.-
Charter: USD 47,640.-
 
Single supplement: 90 %
No child discount!

Included in the price:

8 days cruise aboard the of Yolita in double cabins with private bathroom, full board, naturalist guide.

Not included in the price:

Flights mainland to/from Galápagos USD 420.-, entrance fee to Galápagos National Park USD 100.-, migration card USD 10.- per person, drinks, tips, personal expenses, International flight airport tax (USD 41.- per person)

NB

Itinerary is subject to change without previous notice, due to weather conditions, operational matters, National Park Authorities advice, or captain´s decision for passengers’ security.