Infinity

ITINERARY B

Day 1 (Tuesday): (GALAPAGOS) & JACINTO GORDILLO BREEDING CENTER or PUERTO CHINO

Assistance at the airport by our representative for your Galapagos flight. You will arrive at San Cristobal Island in the morning. After going through immigration and baggage claim you will be met by an Infinity staff member and transferred to the yacht. You’ll be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.

The Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center is a new visitor site in the northeast part of San Cristóbal Island and takes approximately one hour by road from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. At the Breeding Center, you will be able to admire the hatchling turtles, from their birth until they are 4 years old when the grown turtles are taken to their natural habitat.

In the afternoon, you will visit Puerto Chino located 15,2 miles (24.5 km) away from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and a few miles from the Breeding Center Cerro Colorado, this walk takes approximately 30 minutes to the beach.

• Highlights & Animals: White sandy beach, sea birds, snorkeling

Day 2 (Wednesday): SANTA FE & SOUTH PLAZA ISLANDS

Your morning visit is to Santa Fe Island (Barrington) which is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails: one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest.

• Highlights & Animals: Land iguanas, giant Opuntia cacti

In the afternoon, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is Sesuvium.

• Highlights & Animals: Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon’s shearwaters, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies, amazing landscape with cliffs

Day 3 (Thursday): SANTA CRUZ: FAUSTO LLERENA GIANT TORTOISES BREEDING CENTER & TWIN CRATERS

Today, you will visit the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center. This is home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of tortoises interact with one another and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans, stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity.

• Highlights & Animals: Giant Land Tortoises

The afternoon visit is to a site called Los Gemelos (Twin Craters). Los Gemelos wait for you at the end of a short hike. These sinkholes are often referred to as craters, though the term is only descriptive, not literal. The endemic Scalesia forest surrounds the site where you may see vermillion flycatchers, short-eared owls, and finches.

Day 4 (Friday): ISABELA: SIERRA NEGRA & WETLANDS, THE WALL OF TEARS OR BREEDING STATION

The morning will consist of a visit to The Sierra Negra Volcano which is the largest basaltic caldera in the Galapagos at 9 x 10 km. The site offers impressive views and the opportunity to observe up to 7 species of finches and a rich display of vegetation.

• Highlights & Animals: Basaltic caldera, stunning views, finches

In the afternoon, a visit will head to the Wetlands of Isabela Island, which are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path through the swamps.

• Highlights & Animals: Giant mangroves, shorebirds

The Wall of Tears (El Muro de las Lágrimas) is 65-feet / 25-meters high and an important piece of the island's history. A penal colony existed on Isabela from 1945-1959, and the prisoners were forced to build the wall, stone by stone, while in isolation from the rest of the world and thousands died during the construction. Many claim to feel the heavy energy of this historical site and locals claim to hear cries in the wind.

• Highlights & Animals: Historic site

The Tortoise Breeding Station was created to protect animals in their first years of life from the threats of foreign species such as pigs and donkeys. Giant tortoise eggs are collected and brought to the center where they are hatched and kept for five years before being released to their natural environment.

Day 5 (Saturday): ISABELA ISLAND: MORENO POINT & TAGUS COVE

MORENO POINT AM

In the morning, you will visit Moreno Point located southwest of Elizabeth Bay. Here, a dry landing onto what was once flowing lava is possible. The lava has left craters in its wake which formed crystal tide pools.

In the brackish pools of this area, you may see pink flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, and common gallinules. If you look carefully into the pools, you may see white-tip reef sharks and some sea turtles.

• Highlights & Animals: Flamingos, gallinules, pintail ducks, turtles, white-tip reef sharks.

In the afternoon, you will visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island which is located across from Fernandina Island, close to the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s, using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views. Punta Tortuga, just north of Tagus Cove, is another lovely beach surrounded by mangroves.

Day 6 (Sunday): FERNANDINA ISLAND - ESPINOSA POINT & ISABELA ISLAND - VICENTE ROCA POINT

ESPINOSA POINT

In the morning, you will visit Fernandina Island. No foreign species have ever invaded this island, and therefore it is one of the world’s most pristine island ecosystems. Fernandina is the youngest island in the Galapagos. Access to this site is extremely restricted by the Galapagos National Park, and you will be one of those very lucky visitors. The volcano “La Cumbre” dominates the landscape with lava fields reaching the ocean.

Crossing the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina Islands, you will land at Espinosa Point, and after walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, you’ll reach the island’s highlight: The flightless cormorant nesting site. This area also provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos hawk.

• Highlights & Animals: Flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, ‘a’a lava, sea lions, penguins, active volcano “La Cumbre”

In the afternoon, you will head to Isabela Island which is the largest in the archipelago. This seahorse-shaped island is also one of the youngest and most volcanically active.

VICENTE ROCA POINT PM

The afternoon visit is at Vicente Roca Point. Comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (or sunfish).

• Highlights & Animals: Penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, Nazca boobies, two types of sea lions. Snorkeling: sea turtles, rays, and pufferfish.

Day 7 (Monday): SANTIAGO – ESPUMILLA BEACH OR BUCCANEER COVE & BARTHOLOMEW ISLAND

ESPUMILLA BEACH AM

Your morning visit is to Espumilla Beach where the marine iguana's lounge and the Sally Lightfoot crabs attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkeling is highly recommended as you could find yourself face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark, and a variety of other species of tropical fish.

• Highlights & Animals: Snorkeling

In the afternoon, you will head for Bartholomew Island, home of the famous Pinnacle Rock. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black, and even green volcanic formations.

BARTOLOME ISLAND

You will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! You will also visit a small, beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see the Galapagos penguins.

• Highlights & Animals: Pinnacle rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus. Reef sharks, rays, great colorful fish.

Day 8 (Tuesday): NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND – DEPARTURE

NORTH SEYMOUR AM

North Seymour. Here, you will be able to see Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigate birds which are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.

• Highlights & Animals: Land & marine iguanas, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, sea lions.

After this final visit, you will be transferred to Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.

PRICE : 4749,00 USD P.P.

ITINERARY A

Day 1 (Tuesday):  (GALAPAGOS) - BLACK TURTLE COVE

BLACK TURTLE COVE AM

Guests are required to book the 06.50 am flight from Quito (UIO) to Baltra (GPS) to arrive by 9.20 am.

Assistance at the airport by our representative for your Galapagos flight. You will arrive at Baltra in the morning. After going through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by an Infinity staff member and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing. In the afternoon you will visit Black Turtle Cove in the northern part of Santa Cruz. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a haven for young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.

Day 2 (Wednesday): GENOVESA: EL BARRANCO & DARWIN BAY

EL BARRANCO AM

Genovesa Island is located in the inner part of Darwin Bay. This area contains an abundance of frigate birds and other interesting seabirds. Behind the small beach filled with nesting areas for frigates, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls are a number of tide pools. At high tide, it is likely that the trail will be covered with water. Your morning visit is to El Barranco which is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, El Barranco’s steep and rocky path leads up to a high cliff-face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to Palo Santo vegetation as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves.

DARWIN BAY

In the afternoon, you will head to Darwin Bay. This white-sand coral beach heads a half-mile trail (0.5 miles / 0.75km) that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path are tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully and at the end of the path, there is a spectacular view off the cliff

• Possible Activities: Hiking (0.9 miles/1.5 km), snorkeling, kayaking & dinghy ride.
• Difficulty: Easy / moderate.
• Type of Landing: Wet landing.
• Highlights & Animals: Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, mangroves, coral pebble beach, snorkeling: rays, colorful reef fish and hammerhead sharks.

Day 3 (Thursday): SANTIAGO – SULLIVAN BAY & RABIDA ISLAND

The morning visit heads to Santiago Island – Sullivan Bay located on the southeast part of Santiago.

This place is interesting for its geology because the area is covered by lava flows. This place has elevations in the form of small volcanoes, formed by the lava flows.

• Possible Activities: Hiking (0.9 miles / 1.5 km)
• Difficulty: Easy / moderate.
• Type of Landing: Dry landing.
• Highlights & Animals: Lava flows, small volcanoes.

RABIDA ISLAND PM

In the afternoon, you will visit Rabida Island (or Jervis) which is one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago as well as a great snorkeling site. You will start on Rabida’s famous maroon/red sand beach and after an easy hike, you will arrive at a stunning lookout point to enjoy the amazing landscapes.

The island is a birdwatcher’s delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance such as nine varieties of finches, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and brown pelicans.

• Possible Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride & short hike (0.6 miles / 1km)
• Difficulty: Easy / moderate
• Type of Landing: Wet landing
• Highlights & Animals: Snorkeling: White-cheeked pintail ducks, colorful fish, sea lions, brackish water lagoon, penguins, Galapagos hawk

Day 4 (Friday): SANTA CRUZ: FAUSTO LLERENA TORTOISE BREEDING CENTER & EL CHATO

Today, you will visit the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center. This is home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of tortoises interact with one another and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans, stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept here until they are about four-years-old and strong enough to survive on their own.

• Possible Activities: Walking
• Difficulty: Easy
• Type of Landing: Dry landing
• Highlights & Animals: Giant tortoises in captivity

Afterward, you will enjoy the El Chato reserve, which is divided into two areas: Caseta and Chato. The trail begins at Santa Rosa (13.7 miles / 22 km) from Puerto Ayora, with the Caseta route being the most challenging. The reserve allows visitors to observe giant tortoises in the wild during the dry season and is also a good place to spot short-eared owls, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, Galapagos rails, and paint-billed crakes.

• Possible Activities: Walking, bird watching
• Difficulty: Easy / medium
• Type of Landing: Dry landing
• Highlights & Animals: Giant tortoises, finches, Galapagos rails

Day 5 (Saturday): SANTA CRUZ: DRAGON HILL / BACHAS BEACH

In the morning, you will visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz. The visitors’ site at Dragon Hill is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island and consists of a 1,600 m long trail that runs through three different environments. The beach is very rocky. At high tide, it’s a nice place for snorkeling. At this visiting site, you can find vegetation of the typical intertidal zone and dry zone.

• Possible Activities: Panga ride & short hike
• Difficulty: Easy.
• Type of Landing: Dry landing
• Highlights & Animals: Frigatebirds, herons, blue-footed boobies, rays, reef sharks

The afternoon visit Bachas Beach, located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Bachas is a swimming beach.

One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest on the beach.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Type of Landing: Wet landing
• Highlights & Animals: World War II remnants, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, whimbrels, sea turtles

Day 6 (Sunday): FLOREANA ISLAND: POST OFFICE BAY & CORMORANT POINT OR DEVIL`S CROWN

There are two visiting sites on Floreana Island. In the morning you will visit the famous Post Office Bay. You will land on the beach and head to a spot where 18th-century whalers placed a wooden barrel for use as an unofficial mailbox. The custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So do not forget your postcards, and do not be surprised if the postcard arrives at its destination before you even get home!

• Possible Activities: Short hike (less than 0.6 miles / 1km) & snorkeling
• Difficulty: Easy
• Type of Landing: Wet Landing
• Highlights & Animals: Post office barrel, nice sandy beach.

In the afternoon, you will head to Cormorant Point. Here you will enjoy a hike to a salt-water lagoon which is home to flamingos. You will also get to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Devil’s Crown.

This extinct volcano peaks out of the waters just off of Floreana’s coast and offers a magnificent snorkeling experience.

• Possible Activities: Snorkeling & panga ride & hike (1.2 miles / 2km)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Type of Landing: Wet landing
• Highlights & Animals: Flamingos, Devil’s Crown: The best snorkeling site in the Galapagos Islands with sharks, rays, rock formations, lots of tropical fish.

Day 7 (Monday): ESPAÑOLA ISLAND: SUAREZ POINT & GARDNER BAY

Española Island is the southernmost island of the Galapagos and is the breeding site of nearly all of the waved albatrosses in the entire world. Española is densely populated with mockingbirds, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, hawks, red and green marine iguanas, and colonies of sea lions.

The morning trip will start with Suarez Point and a trail where you will have the chance to see blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca boobies. It is the breeding site of nearly all of the world’s 12,000 pairs of Waved Albatrosses. You will also visit a beautiful site on the oceanfront where there is a cliff that the large albatrosses use as a launching pad! The landscape is great for photography and you will also have the chance to see the famous blowhole.

• Possible Activities: Hike (1.9 miles / 3 km)
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Type of Landing: Dry Landing
• Highlights & Animals: Hood mockingbird, Nazca boobies, waved albatross, red-billed tropicbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos hawk, blue-footed boobies, blowhole, amazing landscape

In the afternoon, you will visit the spectacular Gardner Bay. After landing, you can walk across a lovely white- sand beach amongst a busy sea lion colony or dive into the water to swim with sea lion pups. You can also see curious mockingbirds on the beach.

• Possible Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride, kayaking, a short hike (0.6 miles / 1km)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Type of Landing: Wet landing
• Highlights & Animals: White sandy beach, sea lions, mockingbirds. Snorkeling: colorful fish, sea lion nursery.

Day 8 (Tuesday): SAN CRISTOBAL: INTERPRETATION CENTER & DEPARTURE

In the morning, you will visit The Interpretation Center which opened in 1998 as a phase of the project “Interpretation and Environment Education Project.” Visitors enjoy exhibitions on natural history, human history, and conservation. The conservation efforts represent the movement to protect the wildlife and natural environment through means of population and tourist control. The Interpretation Center has an outdoor stadium, audio-visual equipment, and meeting rooms.

• Possible Activities: Short hike
• Difficulty: Easy
• Type of Landing: Dry
• Highlights & Animals: Information and history about the Galapagos Islands.

After this final visit, you will be transferred to the San Cristobal airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.

PRICE : 4879,00 USD P.P.

ITINERARY 4 Days

Sunday:        San cristobal,airport-El Junco

Monday:       San Cristobal Punta Pitt and Kiker Rock

Tuesday:      Santiago, Espumilla Beach-Bucanero Cove

Wednesday: Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Center, airport

Price 1300 USD per person

ITINERARY 5 Days

Wednesday:      Baltra, airport-Santa Cruz Highlands

Thursday:          Chinese Hat-Black Turtle Cove

Friday:              Dragon Hill and Daphne Mayor

Saturday:         Plazas and Santa Fe Island

Sunday:           San Cristobal, Interpretation Center –airport

Price 1650 USD per person