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Galapagos Sea Star

Private Charter - Southern Galapagos Journey

Example 6 Day Cruise aboard Galapagos Sea Star
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This Galapagos private cruise highlights the best of the southern islands with 6 days of exploration and adventure! Discover the islands of Espanola, Floreana, Santa Fe, North Seymour, and Mosquera, among others! Kayak and snorkel in crystalline waters, traverse picturesque volcanic landscapes and observe fascinating native wildlife as you cruise through the beautiful southern archipelago on the Galapagos Sea Star
Enjoy a blissful snorkeling trip.Here I come to save the day! Gentle giants roam on FloreanaSea lion by the kayaks(Floreana) CoastlineGalapagos Sea Star JourneyGalapagos Sea Star
Highlights
  • Walk along the rocky shore of North Seymour Islands
  • Learn about San Cristobal's tortoise population
  • Observe various species of shore birds
  • Snorkel and swim around Mosquera with your private group of up to 16 guests
Activities
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: San Cristobal | Embark | Breeding Center David Rodriguez

Upon arrival at San Cristobal airport, personnel of the Galapagos National Park will check your luggage in order to avoid the introduction of foreign plants or animals to the Islands. The entrance fee must be paid to them. Passengers are received by the naturalist guide and taken on a five-minute bus drive to the pier, to board the Galapagos Sea Star Travel.

In the afternoon, visit the David Rodriguez giant tortoises breeding center also known as “La Galapaguera”. Here the tortoises wander in a semi-natural habitat, which will be perfect for photography. It will be the only chance to observe this emblematic species. Along the trail you will be able to see: San Cristobal mockingbirds, lava lizards, Darwin finches, yellow warblers, and Scalesia trees, which are endemic to the Galapagos.

Activities: Hiking

Day 2: Suarez Point | Gardner Bay, Española

This is one of the highlights of the cruise. At the moment of arrival at the pier, you will be received by a welcome committee of marine iguanas and sea lions. Meet the biggest bird of the archipelago, the large Waved albatross, which uses the edge of the cliff to start the fly. Suarez Point seems to have everything: Nazca boobies, endemic lizards, gulls, Darwin finches, Galapagos hawks, endemic mockingbirds, Galapagos doves, and even a dramatic blow hole.

Activities: Hiking

One of the most beautiful beaches in all of the Galapagos is located on the northeastern coast of Española, Gardner Bay has a white sandy coral beach giving the chance to observe one of the biggest colonies of Galapagos sea lions. See Española mockingbirds, they enjoy flying around the visitors. After the excursion, you can also snorkel from the beach, in the shallow waters of the bay, or relax and enjoy the landscape.\

Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Day 3: Punta Cormorant | Devil’s Crown | Post office bay & Baroness Lookout, Floreana

After a wet landing, walk on an olivine green sanded beach. The walk is going from the beach through the vegetation (white and black mangrove, holly stick, endemic Scalesia villosa), to get the first viewpoint to look for the famous flamingos, common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks, and other migratory birds. The other trail goes to another beautiful white sandy beach, where the Green Pacific Sea Turtles come for nesting during the breeding season. It is not permitted to walk in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand. Occasionally, observe small reef sharks along the shoreline. Deep water snorkeling is another optional activity around the Devil’s Crown which is a volcanic natural formation where you have the chance to see white-tipped reef sharks, reef fish such as parrot, trumped, puffer, king angel, surgeon fish, and occasionally Galapagos sea lions.

Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Located on the north side of Floreana, the Post Office Bay was named because in 1973 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel that served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them back to their destinations. Today, visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to the letter destination, will take it back for free. Wet landing on a greenish beach for a short walk to visit the Post Office Barrel, walk back to the beach for snorkeling in the shallow waters, and a good opportunity to observe marine turtles and sting rays. The next optional activity will be in Baroness Bay, where you can kayak and see great scenery with mangrove trees and volcanic natural formations.

Activities: Hiking, Kayaking, Snorkeling

Day 4: Santa Fe | South Plaza Island

Wet landing on one of the two white sand beaches where a big colony of sea lions is in the area with alfa males fighting to get a harem, there is an interior path through the island with an endemic cactus forest (Barringtonensis). Santa Fe land iguanas (Conolophus pallidus), Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snakes, rice rats (one of the few endemic Galapagos rodents), a variety of finches, and one of the four mockingbird species of the archipelago. Two additional activities kayak or snorkeling off the zodiac in the turquoise water, good view for sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, sea lions and white-tipped reef sharks, and colorful fish.

Activities: Hiking, Kayaking, Snorkeling 

There are two Plaza Islets (north and south) located east of Santa Cruz Island. After a dry landing, the path is going along an impressive cactus forest where colorful yellow land iguanas live, it is estimated a population of around 300 individuals; during the dry season, they survive on fruits and flowers of the opuntia cacti. South Plaza Island is the only place on the Galapagos where you find hybrid iguanas (sea and land), with very sharp claws making it easy to climb up to reach the fruits of the cacti. During the cool dry season walking along the edge of the cliff, observe red-billed tropicbirds, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, brown pelicans, swallow-tailed gulls, and frigates flying around. At the end of this path, find a bachelor sea lion colony area; at the same time, the greenish and yellowish vegetation (sesuvium edmonstonei plant) changes color creating a bright red landscape.

Activities: Hiking

Day 5: North Seymour | Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz

One of the uplifted islands of the Galapagos: North Seymour, is a small flat island that has the perfect conditions for a nesting site for the two species of frigate birds (great and magnificent) that coexist in the Islands. Frigate birds are the only marine sea birds in the Galapagos that they lost the capability to plunge into the water because they don’t produce enough oil to cover all of their plumage and that enables them to float; for this reason, they need to steel the food from the others seabirds, getting the “pirates of the air” nickname. Here is the only place all year around the courting dance, especially males displaying the bright red gular sack to get female attention. Blue-footed boobies, land iguanas, sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, Darwin finches, and lava lizards may encounter along the trail of excursion, and on a lucky day, you might even come across a Galapagos Snake.

Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

After a wet landing on a white coral sandy beach which is one of the most important nesting areas for Green Sea Turtles, they arrive usually after 6 pm, the trail is about 500 meters long and divided into two sections, at the end of the trail you can find a small brackish lagoon where usually flamingos and shore birds such as whimbrels, black-necked stilts, plovers, herons, white-cheeked pintail, sandpipers, sanderlings, are feeding. Also Darwin finches, yellow warblers, and marine iguanas. After you come back to the landing spot, you will have an outstanding chance to submerge in tropical waters.

Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Day 6: Mosquera Islet | Baltra | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Wet Landing, Mosquera Islet is located between North Seymour and Baltra Island. This flat, sandy island is formed by a geological uplift. A colony of sea lions is present here. It is also an excellent site to observe shorebirds such as herons and lava gulls. There is no trail on the islet, however, the visitor can enjoy the open area. Most of the islet is covered with sand and barren lava rock. Very few Sesuvium portulacastrum plants grow on the sand.

Activities: Hiking

After the visit, sail to Baltra Island for your return flight to the mainland.

Ship/Hotel

Galapagos Sea Star

Galapagos Sea Star
Resting Area - Galapagos Sea Star
Dining Area - Galapagos Sea Star

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$85,673 2-3 travelers
Galapagos Suite - Galapagos Sea StarGalapagos Suite - Galapagos Sea Star
Galapagos Suite
25m2 - Air conditioning, private bathrooms, hair dryer, hot/cold water, biodegradable amenities, safety box and panoramic windows. Cabins #2, 3 and 4 - Galapagos Suites (Twins or Matrimonial)
Balcony SuiteBalcony Suite - Galapagos Sea StarBalcony Suite - Galapagos Sea Star
Balcony Suite
25m2 - Air conditioning, private bathrooms, hair dryer, hot/cold water, biodegradable amenities and safety box. Cabin #5 and 6 - Balcony Suites (Matrimonial only) Cabins #7 and 8 - Balcony Suites (Twins or Matrimonial)
Sea Star Suite - Galapagos Sea StarGalapagos Suite- Galapagos Sea StarSea Star Suite - Galapagos Sea Star
Sea Star Suite
35m2 - Air conditioning, private bathrooms, hair dryer, hot/cold water, biodegradable amenities and safety box. Panoramic windows Lounge area Cabin #1 - Sea Star Travel Suite (Matrimonial only)

Notes

Single Supplement: Galapagos Sea Star Yacht: 70%
Children Discount (under 12) Galapagos Sea Star Yacht: 20% off the net rate (1 child per 2 adults)

RATE INCLUDES:
 
· All transfers in Galapagos;
· Matrimonial/Twin cabin accommodation with private facilities;
· All meals, Water, Coffee and Tea.
· All Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary
· Snorkeling equipment (masks, flippers and snorkel)
· Kayak equipment.
· FREE hotel night (1) in Quito or Guayaquil the day before the cruise: WYNDHAM AIRPORT in Quito, WYNDHAM GARDEN in Guayaquil.
· FREE airport transportation (1) for Galapagos flight (applies when purchasing recommended airfare).
 
NOT INCLUDED:
 
· Round trip to Galapagos;
· Galapagos National Park entrance fee (USD 100 p/p –subject to change);
· Transit Control Card (USD 20 p/p –subject to change);
· Soft-and alcoholic drinks
· Wetsuits
· Travel and health insurance;
· Special requirements from guests (extras).

 

 
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
M/N GALAPAGOS SEA STAR TRAVEL

Class: Superior first class 
Capacity: 16 Passengers
Cabins:
Length overall: 42 m
Beam: 9 m 
Year of construction: 2011 in Guayaquil
Hull: Monohull of marine steel 
Speed: 10 knots
Ship registry: Puerto Ayora - Ecuador 
Deadweight: 437 tons
Gross Tonnage: 480 tons 
Operated by: SETRAVEL S.A.
 

Child Discount

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.
Included
  • 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners
  • 5 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. 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

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
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