ESTRELLA THE MAR I SHIP DETAILS

The motor yacht Estrella del Mar is elegantly furnished and thus, is one in a series of ships that cruises the Galapagos with style. All cabins are air-conditioned with bunk beds and hot water. Its spacious interiors, from the comfortable lounge to the dining room are designed to please. Its ample sun decks provide wonderful open and shaded space to take in the Galapagos breeze and equatorial sun.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

1. Type: Motor Yacht
2. Length: 22.7 meters
3. Accommodations: 16 passengers in 8 double cabins with private baths
4. Crew: 7 + Naturalist guide
5. Category: First Class Yacht
6. Length 80 feet
7. Beam 21,3 feet
8. Speed 8 knots
9. Electricity: 110 Volts
10. TV – DVD
11. A large Staging area, air compressor, tanks, weights and diving equipment
12. 8 double cabins with private bathroom, air conditioner and hot water.
13. Fully Air Conditioned Social Areas.
14. 7 crew members plus a naturalistic dive master,
15. All safety equipment complies with international coast guard and DAN regulations.

Galapagos Cruises Day 01 - Monday:
Flight to Galápagos - San Cristóbal Island - Lobos Island

In the morning flight to the Galapágos Island San Christobal from which you will start your cruise. After paying the National Park Entrance Fee, a crew member will accompany you to your yacht which anchors at Baquerizo Moreno harbour. After arrival on board, check-in and explanations in general, lunch will be served. In the afternoon you will visit Lobos Island, which is located in front of San Cristobal Island. It is a seasonal nesting location for the blue footed booby and frigate birds. You also should enjoy swimming and snorkelling with sea lions in this calm bay. (L, D)

Galapagos Cruises Day 02 - Tuesday:
Española Island - Suarez Point – Gardner Bay

Española is the southernmost and oldest island of the Galápagos archipelago. Because of its isolated position you can explore a lot of endemic wildlife. In the morning you will have an excursion to Point Suarez which 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, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Point Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air.

The walkabout on a stony path is about 2km (duration about 3 hours). Gardener Bay is on the eastern shore with turquoise shot coloured water and a magnificent beach. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will 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.(B, L, D)

Galapagos Cruises Day 03 - Wednesday:
Floreana Island - Post Office Bay – Punta Cormorant

Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Island of the archipelago. In the morning you will visit the famous Post Office Bay which keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers historically used to post their mail in. Nowadays you can leave a letter and hope that it will make its destination via another tourist. At Cormorant Point you land on a green olivine sand beach. Following a 100 m long path you will soon reach a lagoon with flamingoes, white-checked pintail ducks and other shorebirds.( B, L, D)

The Motor Yacht Estrella del Mar is a great tourist Class ship and offer accommodation for just 16 pax. which gives you the perfect atmosphere and privacy in your cruise through the Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Cruises Day 04 - Thursday:
Isabela Island - Puerto Villamil – Tintoreras

This day will lead you to the largest island of the archipelago, Island Isabela. With a surface of 4588 sq.km the isle engages more than the half of the land area of whole Galápagos. Here you will have a short boat trip through the harbor bay of Isabela. After passing sea lions and pelicans, which take a relaxing sun bath on the fishing boats there, you will reach the small island of “Tintoreras”.

There you will take an easy walk through the bizarre landscape of lava with its huge colonies of sea lizards. Also a colony of sea lions is local here and often you can observe white tip sharks, resting in the flat water near the shore. (B, L, D)

Galapagos Cruises Day 05 - Friday:
Santa Cruz Island - Charles Darwin Station - Highlands

Today you anchor at the harbour of Puerto Ayora on Island Santa Cruz. Beside its rank as homestay for sea lions and pelicans, the marina is a popular starting point for round-the-world-yachtsman. The island itself has come to be both touristic and scientific center of the archipeleago.

The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based on Santa Cruz Island. The station encompasses an information centre, a museum, a library and the tortoise breeding station as well. Here you will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of the Galápagos. Park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. In the tortoise breeding and rearing centre you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats.

The most popular inhabitant of this island is probably Lonesome George. He is the only survivor of his specific turtle species. In the past all approaches to find a partner for him failed. But in July 2008 the scientists found a carved nest wit nine eggs from a female tortoise. Three of them could be saved and now accordingly to strict instrcuctions they are incubated syntheticly. In the afternoon you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz. The lush landscape there is a welcome contrast to the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. On your way you will cross the different zones of vegetation, from the dry lower region full of cactuses to the woods of scalesia in the highlands.(B, L, D)

Galapagos Cruises Day 06 - Saturday:
North Seymour Island / Bartolomé Island

After a dry landing, you will have a short walk along the coast of the northernmost island of Seymour. Guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls, sea lions and cliff crabs. 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 species different to the great frigate bird. You can also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the marine iguanas and land iguanas. You will enjoy this relaxing hike around the nesting sites.

Arriving at Bartolomé you will ascend a lookout point from where you can admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous needle shaped rock, the so called Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some fine snorkeling spots from which you can discover the marvelous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles. (B, L, D)

Galapagos Cruises Day 07 - Sunday:
South Plaza Island / Santa Fé Island

Today you will explore South Plaza Island, the more southernly island of the both Plaza Island, located in the east of Island Santa Cruz. On this island so full of life you will encounter colonies of sea lions and land iguanas. On the steep banks it is possible to see a great number of birds such as nesting tropic birds and fork-tailed seagulls.

But most of all, enjoying the beautiful view from atop the steep banks or strolling along the base of the cliff is an extremely pleasurable experience. The Opuntia cactus and red coral bushes grow here and the vegetation changes colour according to the seasons of the year.

Today you visit Santa Fe Island, a small rocky peninsula which is covered by little Palo Santo trees and by up to 6m high opuntia cacti. Inhabitants of this island are a specific species of large yellow land iguanas, the Galápagos buzzard, some blue footed boobies and pelicans. After the hike you can swim or snorkel in the bay in company of sea lions and marine turtles. Finally you can observe the tropic underwater world.( B, L, D)

Galapagos Cruises Day 08 - Monday:
San Cristóbal Island - Interpretation Center - Lobos Island

At the port of Baquerizo Moreno, which is the capital of the province Galápagos, you will visit the Interpretation Center. The center will give you a good impression of the history of the Galápagos Islands. Afterwards you will fly back to mainland of Ecuador. Enjoy the last view back to the enchanting islands, this unique paradise with its fascinating nature.