Ocean Spray Galapagos Luxury Cruise 5 Days Route B

Ocean Spray - Route B (Tuesday - Saturday)

📥 Download PDF

Overview

Highlights

Mega-catamaran with luxury interiors
All cabins with sea-views and private balconies
Abundant social areas for relaxation
Quality control manager and bi-lingual naturalist guide onboard

The Ocean Spray Mega-Catamaran offers year-round exciting cruises to the Galapagos Islands. Built for comfort and performance, the 34m/113ft catamaran caters to just 16 guests in 9 tasteful cabins. Each cabin has ample storage and living space, en-suite bathroom, AC, twin or double beds and private balcony to enjoy the stunning Galapagos views. Social areas include the indoor lounge and dining area, spacious sun deck with loungers and hot tub and al-fresco deck with bar and dining area. Guests will receive a champagne reception, and all meals, soft drinks and juices are included throughout the cruise.

Island you will visit:

Santa Cruz
Bartholomew
Genovesa
Santiago
North Seymour
Mosquera Islet

Itinerary

DAY 1

BALTRA ISLAND / BARTOLOMé ISLAND

Tuesday: Arrival to Baltra and Transfer to Bartolomé Island

AM: Upon arrival, reception and assistance at the airport, transfer from Baltra Airport to the M/C Ocean Spray.
PM: Bartholomew - Pinnacle Rock
Pinnacle Rock is a volcanic cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano. The sea cooled the hot lava and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed together this huge rock of many, many layers of basalt. The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest during breeding season. Galapagos penguins gather here and swimming can offer beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions.
Activities: Hike, snorkel and panga ride
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Galapagos penguins, sally lightfoot crabs, sea lions, rays, sea turtles, sharks, various tropical fish, various shore birds.
( -, L, D)

DAY 2

GENOVESA ISLAND

Wednesday: Genovesa Island

AM: Genovesa - Darwin Bay
Darwin Bay used to be a shield volcano, now you can see where one of the sides of its caldera collapsed after hundreds of years of erosion. It is known for the wide variety of birds that can be seen. Over 20,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to call this island home within the trees and bushes of Genovesa Island.
Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, finches, various shorebirds, rays, tropical fish species, marine iguanas, sea lions.
PM: Genovesa - El Barranco
In English, this visitor site is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps. It leads to a rocky path up a cliff that rewards guests with a remarkable view. It is also home to a Palo Santo forest that is home to the nesting red-footed boobies and other shorebirds.
Activities: Hike, panga ride, snorkel
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Dry Landing
Possible Wildlife: Red-footed boobies, storm petrels, Galapagos doves, short-eared owls, sea turtles, rays, sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas.
(B, L, D)

DAY 3

SANTIAGO ISLAND

Thursday: Santiago Island

AM: Santiago - Espumilla Beach / Buccaneer Cove
As the second Island Charles Darwin discovered, it was originally named after King James of England. Buccaneer Cove is an excellent opportunity for snorkeling and was once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates. The underwater formations provide an amazing home for the many different tropical species of fish that can be found here.
Activities: Snorkeling and swimming, short walk on beach
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Marine iguanas, sea lions, various shorebirds, tropical fish species, rays, sea turtles, sally lightfoot crabs.
PM: Santiago - Egas Port
Egas port is also known as James Bay, home to quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. There are grottos and tide pools housing all kinds of different marine species. This is also one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos.
Activities: Snorkeling, hike
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Fur sea lions, Galapagos hawks, oyster-catchers, marine iguanas, finches, sharks, sea turtles, tropical fish.
(B, L, D)

DAY 4

NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND / SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Friday: North Seymour and Santa Cruz

M: North Seymour Island
The island was named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour. Formed by uplifted submarine lava, the island is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. Along the coast, it is possible to see land and marine iguanas and the biggest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds.
Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride, hike
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Landing: Dry Landing
Possible Wildlife: Land and marine iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, sea lions.
PM: Santa Cruz - Highlands
The Highlands of Santa Cruz is a very interesting site due to the rich wildlife, hills, ferns, volcanoes and lava tubes present. Exploring the lava tubes is a surreal and unique experience. Here you can see all the different agricultural zones that are present in the Galapagos in one place. The variety of birds makes this a bird watchers delight.
Activities: Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Dry Landing
Possible Wildlife: Wild Galapagos Tortoises, various shorebirds, lava lizards.
(B, L, D)

DAY 5

BALTRA ISLAND / MOSQUERA ISLAND

Saturday: Mosquera Islet and Transfer to Baltra Airport

AM: Mosquera Islet
This visitor site is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. In most of the perimeter there is a base of lava rocks, as evidence of the lava uprising, except in the southwest side where the landing occurs. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions.
Activities: Short walk
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shore birds, frigate birds, sally lightfoot crabs.
Depart from Baltra airport.
After this last visit, transfer to Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.
Assistance and farewell at the airport.
(B, -, - )

Book This Tour

Loading departure information...

Terms & Conditions

**Payment Policy*:**

At the time of booking a deposit of 20% of the total tour price
The remaining balance is due a minimum of 65 calendar days prior to departure date

To issue final confirmation Palace tours requires 60 days prior to departure (or at time of reservation for last minute bookings) the following information for all passengers:

Complete passenger names
Passport numbers (& passport copy in case of children)
Nationality
Date of birth
Marital Status
Dietary or medical restrictions

Failure to provide the above information on time may result in delays and possibly passengers missing the tour completely. Palace tours will not accept responsibility or provide refunds if the above information is not provided in its entirety and on time.

Cancellation Policy*

All cancellations must be done in writing. If a cancellation is received more than 125 days prior to tour departure date a Cancellation fee of 10% of the total price will be retained as cancellation fee.

If a cancellation is received between 124 days and 65 days prior to tour departure date, 20% of the total price will be forfeited.

In the case of a cancellation received less than 65 days prior to the boat departure the full amount will be retained.

*Specific Payment and Cancellation/Reschedule policies for Christmas and New Years´ Eve cruise dates

Inclusions & Exclusions

Rates Include:

Transfers airport/yacht/airport in Galapagos
Airport reception and assistance
Double or single accommodation
Guided expeditions according to the itinerary
Top bilingual National Park guide (English / Spanish)
Cruise Service Officer
Activity daily briefing
All meals and snacks
Soft drinks and juices
Captain’s welcome and farewell cocktail
Use of sea kayaks and paddle-boards
Expedition Gear

Not Included:

Round trip to Galapagos
Galapagos National Park Entrance fee ($100 - subject to change)
Transit Control Card ($20 - subject to change)
Alcoholic beverages
Gratuities for guide and crew
Travel and health insurance
Micro SD Card Mask and snorkel (personal use)

Frequently Asked Questions & Tips

1 When is the best time to visit Galapagos?

Galapagos is a place that can be visited at any time. There are two season, and the warmest is between December and May. It is the time of year when the sky is always clear, and the sun shines strongly. If you love to dive in amazing places, the best time to visit Galapagos is from June to November. During this season the weather is a little cooler, but it gives you the chance to enjoy the best from Galapagos' famous marine reserve.

2 What should we bring?

Since the islands are situated very near the Equator, we recommend that you bring lightweight clothing and of course, don't forget your swimsuits, sun lotion, and good footwear.

3 How long is the flight from Ecuador to the Galapagos?

It depends from where you depart. Flights to the Galapagos leave from Quito and Guayaquil. It takes about half an hour to get from Quito to Guayaquil and roughly one and a half hours from Guayaquil to the islands.

4 Are there any immunizations required/recommended?

For the Galapagos Islands there are no required or recommended immunizations. If you, however, intend to spend more time in Ecuador, especially in the jungle, immunization is highly recommended. As this changes from time to time please check with your local health office (or the Institute for Tropical Diseases) a few weeks in advance of your trip.

5 Are single or triple suites available?

Most of our cruises will assign double cabins to all passengers unless you want to pay the single supplement if traveling alone. Triple cabins can also be arranged on request, depending on availability and the vessel you choose.

6 What is the time zone of the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos Islands are 6 hours behind GMT (equivalent to USA Central Standard Time)

7 Does the equatorial line cross the Galapagos Islands?

The equatorial line does pass through the Galapagos, just north of Isla Santiago. Please refer to our Itinerary page to see which itinerary passes through the equatorial line.

8 What are marine currents like the Galapagos?

The Galapagos Islands waters have the Humboldt Current's influence that brings cold waters especially during the mist rainy season (cool weather) from July to December. The warm season is during the months of January to June. The southeast trade winds become weaker and the water from the Panama Basin remains warm. During this season there is more of a tropical climate with some occasional rains. "El Niño" current may cause a much greater flow of warm waters, making the surface warmer and rainfall increase.

9 What is the water temperature in the Islands?

Average water temperatures in Galapagos:
January - June: 70°F - 80°F (20°C - 26°C)
July - December: 65°F - 75°F (18°C- 23°C)

10 Can you snorkel in the Galapagos?

Snorkeling equipment is available on-board and is an activity on all of our Galapagos Cruises. All water sports convey a certain risk. Passengers participating in these activities do so under their own responsibility.

*Restrictions and fees might apply, please contact us for more information.

11 Special Diets:

Passengers with special dietary needs are asked to request the latest menu offered and in such cases that stated menu does not meet their needs to clearly convey their specific dietary needs. It is the responsibility of passengers with specific dietary needs to addressed additional requirements at least 30 days prior to the start of the cruise. Those general and specific needs not clearly conveyed cannot be met. Every reasonable effort will be made to cater to such requests within reason, subject to availability of products in Ecuador retains the right to refuse to cater such special needs.