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Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino) Island, Galapagos

Eastern Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Reina Silvia
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The Eastern Islands cruise features the older, volcanically inactive islands of Española, San Cristóbal, and Genovesa. On many islands you will visit more than one visitor site, and there are many opportunities around these islands to snorkel and kayak as you cruise aboard the Reina Silvia.
Kayaking with sea lions on a Galapagos tourPanga rides will take passengers on voyages to explore the Galapagos islandsExploring the GalapagosApproaching kicker rockChinese Hat (Sombrero Chino) Island, Galapagos
Highlights
  • Snorkel at Garden Bay, a magnificent beach with turquoise waters
  • Observe land iguanas and lava lizards on Santa Fe
  • Hike Prince Phillip's Steps and observe a picturesque turquoise lagoon
  • Photograph the red landscape of Rabida Island
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive on Baltra | Embark Puerto Ayora | Santa Cruz Island

Arrive at the airport on Baltra Island in the morning and after going through immigration and baggage claim, meet your guide from the Reina Silvia.

The afternoon visit is to the “Fausto Llerena” breeding center where giant tortoises are bred in captivity and reared until the age of 5 years when they can survive the effects of introduced predators. This is home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-foot long adults. Subspecies of the giant tortoises interact with one another, and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity.

Day 2: Espanola

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Gardner Bay has a magnificent beach with turquoise waters. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers 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.

Osborn Islet, a small island to the southeast of Espanola Island, is a marine visit where you can enjoy fantastic snorkeling and swimming.

Suarez Point 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, Galápagos doves and Galápagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island.

Day 3: San Cristobal

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit Isla Lobos, a small island named after the sea lions that rest and play on its rocky shores. It is also home to blue-footed boobies, great frigate-birds, brown pelicans, lava gulls, common noddies, yellow warblers and small and medium ground finches. There is good snorkeling in the clear waters of the channel and this is one of the best sites at which to swim with sea lions underwater.

Continue to Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock. This small, distinctive island comprises two rocks which jut out of the ocean and is home to a large colony of seabirds. 

Tracking a steep path climbs up a cliff and through a ravine that takes to an area inhabited by a large number of birds on Pitt Point


 

Day 4: Santa Fe | South Plaza Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Santa Fe is a volcanic uplift and hosts a forest of Opuntia cactus, which are the largest of the archipelago, and palo santo. Weathered cliffs provide a haven for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, and sehar-waters petrels. The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are often seen, as well as lava lizards. There is a picturesque turquoise lagoon and calm waters where you can snorkel amongst sea lions.

South Plaza has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the Galapagos. It is also home to marine iguanas and a hybrid iguana whose fathers are marine iguanas and mothers are land iguanas. There are cliffs with spectacular views and a rocky trail circumnavigates the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. The island is home to enormous prickly pear cactus and the endemic succulent sesuvian.

Day 5: Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Darwin Bay boasts a coral beach where a 750m trail takes you through more seabird colonies. You get to see the cliffs from the seaward side, which are home to a large red-footed booby colony. Once ashore the number of birds seems overwhelming – Nazca boobies soar overhead, great frigatebirds display their pouches while resting on the nearby rocks and plants, and mockingbirds scamper quickly across the sand.

Hike Prince Phillip's Steps, an extraordinary, steep path leading through a seabird colony full of life, up to cliffs that are 25m high. At the top the trail continues inland, passing more seabird colonies in a thin palo santo forest. Leaving the forest you can overview a rocky plain. You could get a view of masked and red-footed boobies, great frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, and hundreds of storm petrels at the edge of the cliff.

Day 6: Santiago - Bartolome

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Sullivan Bay lava field on Santiago has a variety of interesting patterns made by the shapes and textures of trees that once existed there and hornitos caused when pockets of gas or water trapped under the lava exploded. The low-lying mollugo and the lava cactus are the only plants that have managed to take root in this harsh environment. On the shoreline black and white oystercatchers can be seen fishing for crabs and molluscs in the tide pools.

Bartolomé Island is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island in the Galápagos Islands Group. It is one of the "younger" islands in the Galápagos archipelago. This island, and Sulivan Bay on Santiago island, are named after naturalist and life-long friend of Charles Darwin, Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan, who was a Lieutenant aboard HMS Beagle.

Day 7: Rabida | Chinese Hat

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The high amount of iron contained in the lava at Rabida gives it a distinctive red color. White-cheeked pintail ducks live in a salt-water lagoon close to the beach, where brown pelicans and boobies have built their nests. Up until recently, flamingos were also found in the salt-water lagoon, but they have since moved on to other islands, likely due to a lack of food on Rabida. Nine species of Finches have been reported in this island.

Chinese Hat or Sombrero Chino is named after its shape formed by volcanic rock giving it the name, Chinese Hat. Since it was given a maximum visiting capacity by the National Park Service it offers rare, up close viewing of Galapagos wildlife and well-preserved remnants of fragile volcanic rock that can’t be found in such a unique condition anywhere else. The islet is home to a colony of sea lions on the white coral sand beach. Here you can see American Oystercatchers, Galapagos Penguins swimming along the shores, and Sally Lightfoot crabs in bright contrast to the dark volcanic rock.

Day 8: Disembark at Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
Disembark at the Baltra airport for your return flights home.

Ship/Hotel

Reina Silvia

Exterior image of the Reina Silvia
Reina Silvia's dining area.
Enjoy a drink in Reina Silvia's lounge.

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$5,045
Reina Silvia's cabins.
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Staterooms
6 Staterooms with twin beds or matrimonial beds, en-suite bath facilities, A/C.

Notes

Please provide your wetsuite size in advance prior to trip

Child Discount

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Bilingual Naturalist Guide 
  • Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
  • Shore Excursions, Swimming and Snorkeling 
  • Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
  • Snorkeling and kayaking equipment is included in the cruise cost and available for your use on board.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12 (fees of $100 per adult and $50 per child valid on arrivals through Aug 1, 2024). Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675
  • Wetsuits are not included but are available to rent on board - $50 for 4-day, 5-day and 8-day tours.

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This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Lindsay Gompf
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