Daily Tour Galapagos
WINDROSE YACHT DAILY TOUR
Itinerary
Bartolome & Chinese Hat - Monday
BARTOLOMÉ & CHINESE HAT
General details:
- Activity level: Moderate
- Tour style: Trekking | Snorkeling
- Pick up: 7:00 am
- Departure & Return location: Hotel
- Drop off: 17:00 pm
What to You bring: We suggest bringing a compact waterproof backpack, comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or shoes with rubber soles, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, long and short-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker, a swimsuit, a hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
Bartholomew is renowned as one of the premier snorkeling spots in the central Galapagos region. Snorkeling at the base of the iconic Pinnacle Rock offers an exceptional opportunity to explore the depths teeming with a diverse array of parrotfish, marine turtles, sea lions, and occasionally Galapagos penguins. Following a delectable lunch on board the M/Y WindRose, we will venture to Chinese Hat, a small volcano located near Santiago Island. Surrounded by spatter cones, it boasts a striking and dramatic landscape. Chinese Hat has captivated visitors with its distinct shape throughout the years. Although one of the smallest Galapagos Islands, it offers a unique visitor site with an unforgettable panoramic view. Galapagos Penguins and occasional Galapagos hawks can be spotted here, adding to the allure. Upon a wet landing at the island’s main beach, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the sandy shore where sea lions rest and various wading birds forage along the coastline.
North Seymour & Bachas Beach - Tuesday
NORTH SEYMOUR – BACHAS BEACH
General Details:
- Activity level: Moderate
- Tour style: Trekking | Snorkeling
- Pick up: 7:30 am
- Departure & Return location: Hotel
- Drop off: 17:00 pm
What to You bring: We suggest bringing a compact waterproof backpack, comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or shoes with rubber soles, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, long and short-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker, a swimsuit, a hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
North Seymour Island, located an hour away from the Itabaca Channel on the northern side of Santa Cruz, is a small rocky landmass that is home to an impressive array of animal species. During your exploration of the island, you will encounter magnificent Great frigate birds engaged in courtship rituals, spending hours passing nesting materials to each other. Blue-footed boobies can also be observed, tidying the ground and occasionally moving twigs, although they do not construct nests. The nesting area is marked by a ring of white guano. As you walk along the shore, you will come across a vast expanse of sand crisscrossed with trails made by marine iguanas, which use the island as a nesting site. Take care where you step. To your left, a boulder beach is pounded by impressive waves, often enjoyed by young sea lions as they body-surf. Towards the west, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor.
After a delightful lunch aboard the M/Y WindRose, we will proceed to Bachas Beach, a stunning coral beach. This idyllic spot is perfect for snorkeling, swimming, or simply enjoying the soft white sand. Just a few steps away from the shore, several brackish lagoons serve as feeding grounds for various wading birds, including stilts and flamingos.
South Plazas & Santa Fe - Wednesday
SOUTH PLAZAS & SANTA FE
General details:
- Activity level: Moderate +
- Tour style: Trekking | Snorkeling
- Pick up: 7:30 am
- Departure & Return location: Hotel
- Drop off: 17:00 pm
What to You bring: We suggest bringing a compact waterproof backpack, comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or shoes with rubber soles, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, long and short-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker, a swimsuit, a hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
Our adventure begins with a dry landing in the heart of South Plaza Island, a breathtaking location teeming with terrestrial life and a variety of birds. Here, you can spot Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Frigatebirds, Masked Boobies, Blue-footed Boobies, Pelicans, and Red-billed Tropicbirds. It’s not uncommon to come across gull nests with chicks flapping their wings in an attempt to fly. South Plaza Island, formed by volcanic activity that lifted the seabed, is ancient and has been gradually colonized by its resident wildlife and diverse plant life. The island’s steep, sloping cliffs host an incredible array of birds, as well as large colonies of sea lions and marine animals.
After a delightful lunch on board the WindRose, we will set sail for Santa Fe Island, also known as Barrington Island, named after British Admiral Samuel Barrington. This small island was formed by uplifted submarine basaltic lava around 4 million years ago. Much of the island is a faulted plateau covered in a forest of giant Opuntia cacti. As you walk along the short trail through the dense bushes, be cautious of the Croton bushes, an endemic plant known for its indelible stain. Santa Fe Island is home to unique flora, including the impressive giant prickly pear cacti (Opuntia echios barringtonensis). Keep an eye out for the Galapagos dove and painted locusts along the trail, often followed by a snake or two. The park monument offers a great vantage point to spot a Galapagos hawk. The highlight of Santa Fe Island is the land iguana, a distinct lighter-colored species endemic to the island. Santa Fe is also a sanctuary for a large sea lion nursery, adding to its natural charm.
Santa Fe & South Plazas - Thursday
SANTA FE & SOUTH PLAZAS
General details:
- Activity level: Moderate
- Tour style: Trekking | Snorkeling
- Pick up: 8:00 am
- Departure & Return location: Hotel
- Drop off: 17:00 pm
WHAT TO BRING: We suggest bringing a compact waterproof backpack, comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or shoes with rubber soles, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, long and short-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker, a swimsuit, a hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
Santa Fe Island, also known as Barrington Island in honor of British Admiral Samuel Barrington, is characterized by its uplifted, submarine basaltic lava that formed around 4 million years ago. The island features a faulted plateau covered with a dense forest of giant Opuntia cacti. As you traverse the short trail through the thick bushes, keep an eye out for the Croton bushes, an endemic plant known for its indelible stain. The most remarkable plants on the island are the unique giant prickly pear cacti (Opuntia echios barringtonensis). Along the trail, you can spot the common Galapagos dove and painted locusts, often pursued by a snake or two. The park monument frequently serves as an observation point to catch a glimpse of the majestic Galapagos hawk. One of the highlights of Santa Fe Island is the endemic land iguana, which boasts a lighter-colored appearance. Additionally, the island is home to a large nursery for sea lions.
After a satisfying lunch on board the WindRose, we will set sail for South Plaza Island. This picturesque island is abundant with terrestrial life and diverse bird species, including Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Frigatebirds, Masked Boobies, Blue-footed Boobies, Pelicans, and Red-billed Tropicbirds. It is quite common to pass by gull nests and witness chicks flapping their wings in their attempts to fly. South Plaza Island, formed by volcanic activity that tilted the seabed, has existed for countless years, with its resident wildlife and varied plant life gradually taking over the island since its formation. Visitors to the island will be enthralled by the steep, sloping cliff sides teeming with a remarkable array of bird species. The island is also home to large colonies of sea lions and other marine animals.
North Seymour & Bachas Beach - Friday
NORTH SEYMOUR & BACHAS BEACH
General Details:
- Activity level: Moderate
- Tour style: Trekking | Snorkeling
- Pick up: 7:30 am
- Departure & Return location: Hotel
- Drop off: 17:00 pm
What to You Bring: We recommend bringing a compact waterproof backpack, comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or shoes with rubber soles, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, long and short-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker, a swimsuit, a hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
North Seymour Island, a small landmass located an hour away from the Itabaca Channel on the northern side of Santa Cruz, is known for its impressive array of different animal species. As you explore the rocky island, you will encounter Great Frigatebirds engaged in courtship rituals, spending hours passing nesting materials to one another. You will also come across Blue-footed Boobies diligently cleaning the ground and transporting twigs, although they never actually construct a nest. The area where the birds lay their eggs is marked by a ring of white guano. Along the shore, you will walk across a wide expanse of sand crisscrossed with trails left by marine iguanas. Exercise caution as these reptiles nest in this area. On your left, you will witness the magnificent waves crashing against a boulder beach, where young sea lions often enjoy body-surfing. Looking west, you will be treated to stunning views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor.
After a delectable lunch onboard the M/Y WindRose, we will proceed to Bachas Beach, a breathtaking coral-lined beach. This idyllic spot is perfect for snorkeling, swimming, or simply relishing the soft white sand. Just a few steps away from the sea, you will find several brackish lagoons that serve as feeding grounds for a variety of wading birds, including stilts and flamingos.
Bartolome & Sullivan BaySaturday
BARTOLOME & SULLIVAN BAY
General details:
- Activity level: Moderate
- Tour style: Hiking | Snorkeling
- Pick up: 7:00 am
- Departure & Return location: Hotel
- Drop off: 17:00 pm
What to You bring: We recommend bringing a small waterproof backpack, comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or shoes with rubber soles, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, long and short-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker, a swimsuit, a hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
Bartolome is a small island located 18 miles northwest of the Itabaca Channel in the Galapagos. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by one of the most incredible landscapes. The summit trail begins with a dry landing, where sea lions add excitement to the purpose-built dock. The trail takes you through dusty volcanic ash, with the only vegetation being the “pioneer Tiquilia plant” and greenish Chamaesyce. These plants play a vital role in binding the ash that fans down from the hill.
Bartolome is renowned as one of the best snorkeling sites in the central Galapagos region. A swim at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock and around its base offers an extraordinary deep-water snorkeling experience, with numerous species of parrotfish, marine turtles, sea lions, and occasionally Galapagos penguins. After enjoying a delicious lunch onboard the M/Y WindRose, we will continue to Sullivan Bay, located on the eastern coast of Santiago. Sullivan Bay features the most interesting lava field in the Galapagos.
A short walk on the lava presents a unique opportunity to experience the volcanic origins of the islands. Pahoehoe and AA lava dominate this moonscape-like terrain. Following a land visit, you will have time to snorkel and enjoy an incredible white sand beach, where you can observe a variety of fish species, turtles, sea lions, and perhaps even Galapagos penguins.
North Seymour & Plazas Islet - Sunday
NORTH SEYMOUR & PLAZAS ISLET
General details:
- Activity level: Moderate
- Tour style: Hiking | Snorkeling
- Pick up: 7:30 am
- Departure & Return location: Hotel
- Drop off: 17:00 pm
What to You bring: We recommend bringing a small waterproof backpack, comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or shoes with rubber soles, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, long and short-sleeved shirts, a windbreaker, a swimsuit, a hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
North Seymour Island is a small land mass located an hour away from the Itabaca Channel on the north side of Santa Cruz. This rocky island is home to one of the most impressive colonies of different species of animals. While exploring the island, you will find Great frigate birds engaging in courtship displays, where they spend hours handing nesting materials to each other. You will also encounter blue-footed boobies cleaning the ground and moving twigs around, although they never actually build a nest. The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano. As you traverse along the shore, you will come across a wide expanse of sand crisscrossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so caution must be taken while walking. On the left, you will find a boulder beach where some of the island’s finest waves pound, and young sea lions often body-surf. Looking west, you will enjoy beautiful views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor.
After enjoying a delicious lunch onboard the WindRose Yacht, we will head to South Plaza Island, a stunning island teeming with both land life and birds. Here, you can observe Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Frigate birds, Masked boobies, Blue-footed boobies, Pelicans, and Red-billed Tropicbirds. It is quite common to pass by a gull’s nest and see chicks flapping their wings, attempting to fly. South Plaza Island was formed by lava that tilted up the sea bed countless years ago, and since then, its resident wildlife and diverse plant life have gradually taken over the island. Visitors will discover that its steep, sloped cliff sides are home to an incredible variety of birds, as well as large colonies of sea lions and marine animals.
General Information
The Windrose Yacht, the latest addition to Galapagos voyages, is an advanced Sunseeker Manhattan 74-foot motor yacht. It sails at unparalleled velocity, ensuring a delightful and cozy journey, equipped with onboard amenities for refreshments and midday meals, ample relaxation space for all passengers, an enthusiastic naturalist guide, and a devoted crew.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
Length overall | 22.60m | 74’2” |
Beam – (maximum) | 5.73m | 18’10” |
Draft – shaft drive (@ full load incl. props) | 1.63m | 5’ 4” |
Displacement– shaft drive (@ half load) | 44,900kg | 98,780Ib |
Fuel capacity | 5,000 litres | 1,321 US gal. |
Performance | Up to 34 knots | |
Range @ 10 knots | Up to 325 nautical miles | |
Drives | Shafts |
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Skyrover6 May 2023 Best way to visit the Galapagos This trip was excellent. The Calypso was the perfect size (16 pax). You could get to know the other guests, and transit to the islands was easy in two landing craft. The rooms were comfortable, and the food was plentiful, creative, and delicious. Best of all, our guide Eduardo was funny, knowledgeable, and really helpful when we were snorkeling. His English was perfect. I was concerned sending money to what appeared to be a casually run business, but they delivered everything promised. I’m very satisfied with this experience, and the family loved the trip. Lynette L25 April 2023 Highly recommend, great tour company!! Great tour company to see the Galapagos - Rodrigo was responsive and helpful over Whatsapp during the booking process, and provided very detailed and clear information about what to expect. The company actually works with other tour companies as well, so you join different tours everyday with different companies and you get to meet different people each time, which is awesome. It also means that they can be flexible and amend the activities depending on what you want to see and do. You get briefed on your itinerary when you arrive, and can ask questions on Whatsapp whenever you want (although wifi signal is poor on the islands!), so we felt reasonably well informed. The tours were all well organised, the guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and the food was amazing. Nicole15 March 2023 Amazing. I had a great time on board of the Millenium catamaran (5 day cruise). The staff was really friendly en helpfull, the guide could tell us so much about all of the animals living there and the facilities on the Millennium were perfect (for example the possibility to rent a wetsuit en snorkeling equipment). The meals were very good as well. I would highly recommend this agency. Tad Sato7 March 2023 Unforgettable experience with perfect arrangement I booked a series of tours 6 days in a row and every tours were almost perfect and unforgettable experience.They arranged every transportations (every driver picked me up in front of my hotels, airports and port wherever I arrived or departed), accommodations, breakfast, lunch and of course my customized tours. Some of tours cannot cancel or book in a last minute due to complexities or capacities, but better to ask.If they could provide a detailed itinerary in advance online, they will be perfect. cj92201210 February 2023 Great cruise, reliable and honest company! Rodrigo booked our 8D/7N cruise and flights around the Galápagos Islands (north east and south) whilst we were travelling in Colombia. We had an amazing time on the cruise and are very grateful for Rodrigo’s patience as we worked out how to do the bank transfer, and find the funds for the trip! It was a really daunting experience putting trust in a company / person when you are in a different country, especially large sums of money - Rodrigo understood and was very reliable sending the confirmation email and tickets and checking us into our flights. We also accidentally transferred $70 too much and Rodrigo let us know and we came to collect it in his Quito office - very honest! Did I mention that we also had the most amazing time! Was a highlight of our South America travels! Would wholeheartedly recommend for a last minute deal! FamilyVic16 January 2023 Amazing Travel Experience to the Galapagos Rodrigo Canchig at Galapagos Natural Life organized a trip for me and my family, a group of 11 people. We had an 8 night cruise on the Beluga Yacht around Isabela Island, and a few days in mainland Ecuador before and after. Our experience was amazing, and everything was so well organized that we could just enjoy it without any worries.The boat was very comfortable, and the staff were amazing. The food was good, everything was always clean, the panga drivers were very skilled and everyone was so attentive to our needs. Our naturalist, Richard Ruiz, was great. He was very organized, knowledgeable, and responsive to everyone's needs and expectations.Rodrigo also helped us organize transport around Quito, and our driver was also great - always on time, very kind and a good driver.If you are organizing a trip to the Galapagos and Ecuador, I highly recommend contacting Rodrigo at Galapagos Natural Life. Jimmy Salazar9 January 2023 Primero Ecuador luego el mundo 🌎 El tour de túneles en Isabela, un encuentro con todas las especies de las Islas Galápagos. Asombroso el JenS6 January 2023 Galapagos 7 night cruise Rodrigo Canchig at Galapagos Natural Life was excellent in helping plan all aspects of our Galapagos trip and more - He was reliable, prompt with all responses, and highly organized. Our 7 night boat tour to Galapagos onboard the Beluga required a lot of planning as we were a big family group with teens, and Rodrigo was attentive throughout. Our boat trip was perfect, and all the details we asked for were included. Rodrigo also helped us book car/drivers and flights for other parts of our trip when we requested. We were 100% happy with our experience with Galapagos Natural Life, specifically Rodrigo (reservacionesgalapagos@gmail.com). Note that he also runs Galapagoslastminute - it is the same Rodrigo! Brenda H24 December 2022 Fantastic travel agency for Galapagos trip! After much research on this site and others, I decided to book our Galapagos Cruise with Galapagos Natural Life (online at galapagoslastminute). I wanted to support a local Ecuadorian agency and boat. They were fantastic! From my very first inquiry online to leaving Ecuador, Rodrigo was only an email or WhatsApp message away. He answered all my questions, usually within an hour any time of day. Rodrigo books and handles reservations for many local ship operators. We picked the luxury boat, Alya. Wow, was it fantastic! I will write a review about the boat and cruise under Alya. I was nervous to send so much money to an Ecuador bank and tried to do some research to make sure it wasn't a scam. When Rodrigo but a hold on a cabin for me I went to the extra effort to see that another travel site now showed 1 less cabin for my cruise, so I was hopeful this was a reliable travel agency. Galapagos Natural Life was not only a reliable agency but very well organized and informative. After all decisions were made about what we wanted to do, Rodrigo booked and sent us all our cruise tickets and air flight tickets, and all the information we needed for the Galapagos fees and transit cards. We also booked their "Quito Extension" tour and had a 2 day tour of Quito highlights with a private driver. Rodrigo booked our Quito hotel as part of this tour, and had a driver meet us at the airport, take us to the hotel and return us to the airport at the end of our trip. I usually organize all these things myself when we travel but it was a nice touch especially when I don't speak Spanish and have never been in South America. He also had a company representative meet us at the airport on the day we flew over to Galapagos, and she made sure we were all booked in with our Galapagos transit cards and fees paid. After all the back and forth WhatsApp messages with Rodrigo, I felt like I knew him, so it was nice that he took the time to stop by our Quito hotel and introduce himself and make sure their wasn't anything else we needed. If you want to book a local Galapagos cruise or land tour I highly recommend Galapagos Natural Life. catycox2 December 2022 The Galapagos For my 60th birthday, my husband took me to the Galápagos Islands. Because it is a National Park, you have to be accompanied by a certified naturalist guide, so we chose the tour group Natural Habitat. It was wonderful. We did a very active tour, with hiking, snorkeling and kayaking every day from a 72 foot catamaran. There were 2 naturalists, 7 crew members and 10 tourists (total). The guides were a fount of information, helpful and fun to be around. The snorkeling was a major highlight. We swam with sea turtles, sea lions and tons of fish. The experience as amazing, and I cannot recommend it any higher