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Tour Description:
The "Legend experience" is a great
way to get a "taste" of the Galapagos islands. During four days you will
cruise along some of the most interesting islands of the archipelago while
traveling onboard a great ship, the
Galapagos Legend.
Accommodations, great ambiance and excellent
service, provided by a professional and friendly crew, will
make this an unforgettable experience. Naturalist guides will explain and teach you about the
history of the islands and show you the fascinating
Flora, Fauna and underwater world of the this amazing
group of islands during the entire cruise.
A day on the
"Legend cruise" begins with breakfast
followed by the morning excursion. Excursions are scheduled either
in the morning and afternoon and can be a "dry" or "wet"
landing. During dry landings passengers step from a
dinghy onto rocks or a dock while on a wet landing the
dinghy will edge onto a sandy beach where passengers
will step into knee deep water and wade ashore. Every night the Naturalist guides
will give a briefing on the day's activities and the
excursions planned for the following day. Enjoy your
Galapagos cruise. |
Day 1
- Monday
AM / PM - QUITO or GUAYAQUIL /
BALTRA ISLAND
Our services will begin upon your arrival at the airport of
Baltra island (Galapagos) from
Quito or
Guayaquil after a flight of approximately 2 and a half hours.
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Contact us for services in Quito and Guayaquil and airfares
to the Galapagos and Ecuador |
The guides of the
Galapagos Legend will greet you outside the customs area of
the airport and provide the transfer to the pier from where you will
board a dinghy to join the ship, anchored nearby. After a warm
welcome on board check into your suite or cabin in preparation for
the first excursion of the cruise itinerary.
PM - NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
This afternoon we will make a dry landing on
North Seymour island where we will encounter
Swallow Tailed Gulls and Sea Lions. 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 different species from
the Great Frigate bird). We will also be able to spot both endemic species of
Iguanas, the Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas. Enjoy
a relaxed hike around the
nesting sites or snorkel in the blue waters before returning to the ship.
EVE - The crew and your Naturalist guides on board the
Galapagos Legend will give a briefing on security procedures
and an outline of the program to follow over the next 4 days. Dinner
and evening at leisure. Overnight on board.
(L, D.)
Day 2 -
Tuesday
AM - SANTA CRUZ (INDEFATIGABLE /
CHAVEZ) ISLAND - Dragon Hill or Venice
After a great breakfast leave the ship for a wet landing on
Santa Cruz island. We will start out on a trail that leads
us to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the
beach where observers report that at times they
observe a high number
of Flamingos. From here we follow the trail
up to Dragon Hill, which offers a beautiful view of
the bay. The area is a nesting site for a big
number of reintroduced Land Iguanas, thanks to the
Charles Darwin Research Station. There is also a
bizarre Scalesia tree forest.
Before returning to the ship we will have the option to make a dinghy
ride in Venice islet to observe the vegetation and
marine animals. Spotted Eagle Rays and
Golden Rays, Mullets, Sharks and Sea Turtles which
rest in calm waters of the coves and channels. Land
Iguanas are often been observed from the dinghy.
PM - FLOREANA (SANTA MARIA /
CHARLES) ISLAND - Punta Cormorant
Lunch on board while the ship sails to our next anchoring spot near
Floreana island. We disembark at Punta Cormorant for a wet landing on a greenish colored sand beach.
The guides will lead us on a well-marked trail, beginning
in the Black Mangrove beds, heading towards the back
of the lagoon. This large brackish lagoon holds one
of the biggest populations of Flamingos in the
Galapagos. The island is best known for its endemic
plant life, such as: the Galapagos millwork, Passion
flower, and unique Button Mangrove. Later, novice snorkelers can practice back
near the main
beach where Sea Lions are playful while
experienced snorkelers can roam the waters around
Devils Crown. We kindly remind you this activity is
an open water experience; it means there is no place
to step on.
EVE - Dinner and evening at leisure. Overnight on board.
(B, L, D.)
Day 3 -
Wednesday
AM - ESPANOLA (HOOD) ISLAND - Punta
Suarez
In the morning hours we will visit Punta Suarez on
Espanola (Hood) island where we will arrive on a dry landing.
Here we will learn more about
the lava terrain of the island while crossing the inactive lava
fields. Aside from the sea lion colony Punta Suarez is one of the
most important sites for bird watching in the
Galapagos. As soon as
we set foot on this island many species can be
spotted and observed from up close. Among the many
species we find the Hooded Mocking bird and Red Billed
Tropic bird. Visitors will also spot a
large colony of Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards, and
colorful Sally Light Foot Crabs.
A short trek will take us to colonies of
Masked and Blue-Footed Boobies where the nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail.
We will also find Galapagos Doves, Hawks and
Swallow-Tailed Gulls. After crossing the nesting
grounds we will reach the world’s largest colony of
Waved Albatross (15,000 approximately). From May thru December the mating rituals
of the Albatross are a
highlight of the visit. By the end of this excursion
we will visit the famous blowhole, where
water shoots almost 23 meters (75
feet) into the air.
PM - SAN CRISTOBAL (CHATHAM) ISLAND
- La Galapaguera
After lunch on board the ship we will visit the village of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
on
San Cristobal island.
Here we will visit the San Cristóbal breeding
center for about an hour. Here we have the
opportunity to learn more about the Giant Tortoises
breeding efforts of the Galapagos National Park, especially of
the endemic specie "Geochelone
Elephantopus
Chatamensis". We can also observe some of these
animals in their natural environment.
EVE - Dinner and evening at leisure. Overnight on board.
(B, L, D.)
Day 4 -
Thursday
AM - PUNTA CARRION
During this last excursion we visit Punta
Carrion. Here we have a chance to snorkel and see a variety of fish,
rays, and perhaps the harmless white tip sharks. From Punta Carrion
we navigate a short distance through the beautiful Itabaca Channel
with its turquoise waters. We return to the Galapagos Legend where
we will check out and transfer to the airport for the flight to
Quito or
Guayaquil.
(B).
END OF SERVICES |
