Galapagos Escape – Solaris (Itinerary B)

Galapagos Escape - Solaris (Itinerary B)

Activity

Wildlife

Overview

Walk (and snorkel) with the animals of Genovesa, Santa Fe, San Cristóbal and more

With lumbering giant tortoises, playful sea lions and an aviary of swooping, squawking, soaring bird life, the Galapagos Islands is wildlife-watching heaven. For this five-day trip, it’s all aboard the Solaris, a first-class motor yacht, to cruise around the archipelago in the company of an expert naturalist. Along the way, we stop at a string of biologically diverse islands, including Genovesa, Santa Fe and San Cristóbal, with the chance to get out and explore on foot and by snorkelling. Expect moments worthy of a nature documentary and plenty of photo opportunities.

Key Information

Trip Code: WGSB
Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Small Ship Cruises
Countries: Ecuador
Carbon Footprint: 144kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Arrival transfers
Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) available free of charge on board

Highlights

Spend four nights aboard the Solaris with a knowledgeable naturalist guide
Experience incredible wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities with near-tame animals
Enjoy a high chance of spotting waved albatrosses, blue- and red-footed boobies, giant tortoises, sea lions and marine iguanas

Itinerary

First Destination: Quito
Next Destination: Guayaquil

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Quito
Next Destination: Guayaquil

There are free transfers available for all clients today – make sure to check the Joining Instructions for further details. A local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.

Accommodation: Hotel Wyndham (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Morning flight to Galapagos

You take a transfer to Quito Airport this morning and fly to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, pass through the airport inspection point to make sure no foreign plant or animals are introduced to the island and to pay the national park entrance fee. Your guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour where a dinghy waits to take you to the yacht.

Afternoon: El Chato Tortoise Reserve and Twin Craters (Santa Cruz)

The native scalesia forest of El Chato Tortoise Reserve is the best place to search for Galapagos giant tortoises in their most authentic setting. Despite the interesting breeding centres – where you are guaranteed to find tortoises in their corrals – there is nothing better than to observe them in their wild environment. Though it can be quite moist and muddy, your visit may turn into an adventurous quest.

The Twin Craters are found on either side of the road leading to Puerto Ayora. These impressive formations are not volcanic craters but were formed by magma domes, which hardened on the outside while the lava continued flowing inside, leaving huge and empty magma chambers that eventually collapsed, leaving two large holes. The craters lie within a lush scalesia cloud forest, a high-altitude plant species endemic to the Galapagos. This area is also home to the carpenter finch, which uses tools to search for food. You may also see the vermilion flycatcher, a small, red-breasted bird.

Accommodation: Solaris

Note: Breakfast is boxed

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: North Seymour

North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and therefore is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing.

Afternoon: Mosquera

Galapagos sea lions are true beach lovers and Mosquera has coral white-sand beaches that contrast with the blue water to attract numerous sea lions. During a beach walk, you can observe several species of waders and sanderlings. Between the rocks, red clip crabs play hide and seek while you try to get the perfect photo. If you are lucky, you may even encounter yellow-crowned night herons or even a red-footed booby.

Accommodation: Solaris

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: Darwin Bay (Genovesa)

Inside the submerged caldera of Genovesa lies Darwin Bay, with a diameter of more than 1mi (1.5km) and a depth of almost 650ft (200m). The small area will surprise you repeatedly, as you walk along a coral-sand beach, crossing barren lava formations and creeks, passing tidal pools, shrubs and following the cliff tops. With these peaceful surroundings, every species occupies its ecological niche without disturbing others. Whimbrels and wandering tattlers forage actively along the surf, next to resting Galapagos sea lions. Impressive frigatebirds and red-footed boobies nest in the mangroves, where you can also see vocalists such as the yellow warbler, Darwin’s finches and the Galapagos mockingbird. Uniquely, two subpopulations of the same species of large cactus finch differ in their singing.

Afternoon: Prince Phillip’s Steps (Genovesa)

Before landing, you take a dinghy ride along the eastern arm of the caldera with a chance to admire the 80ft (25m) high walls. Sometimes, a Galapagos fur seal is resting or a seabird is nesting on one of the ledges at the base. You then have to hike and overcome the steep stairs from the landing dock to a bush of palo santo shrubs on top. Red-footed boobies use these scarce nesting places, so they don’t have to nest on the rocky ground. Upon arriving at the edge of the rim, the bushes open up and you can enjoy panoramic views, a strong sea breeze and the amazing flying skills of countless seabirds. Following the exposed rim, you first pass nazca boobies and finally reach the extensive storm petrel nesting places, where, if you’re lucky, you can spot the well-camouflaged short-eared owl hunting for food.

Accommodation: Solaris

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: South Plaza

Enjoy an unforgettable guided walk on South Plaza, the best place to encounter endemic Galapagos land iguanas – patient and photogenic models. You can also look for some of the unique hybrids between the male marine iguanas and female land iguanas. Arriving at the upper rim, you’re 75ft (20m) above the waves splashing against the foot of the cliffs. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and brown noddies make spectacular flights and sometimes look like they’re walking on the waves. Take your binoculars and don’t miss the red-billed tropicbirds with their graceful long tails and spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also a nesting place for the endemic swallow-tailed gull.

Afternoon: Santa Fe

In the southeastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift instead of a volcanic origin, which is why it is mostly flat. Some say this could be the oldest island in the archipelago. Santa Fe is the home of several endemic species, including the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats, and one of the two species of land iguanas on the islands. After disembarking in the beautiful, clear waters, you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies here. Along the trail, many salt bushes can be seen as well as giant prickly pear cacti; gigantism is a characteristic of oceanic islands. Although there is little vegetation on Santa Fe, it has two breath-taking beaches inhabited by sea turtles. At the foot of the mountain, you can also discover a small colony of Galapagos penguins.

Accommodation: Solaris

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: Witch Hill (San Cristobal)

Witch Hill is the remains of a tuff cone and one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin. It has an impressive landscape, where it is often possible to see coastal and migratory birds, including pelicans, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, plus sea lions and marine iguanas. At times, the lagoon is completely dry and salt deposits lie at the bottom. The people of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno used to use the lagoon as a salt mine.

Afternoon transfer to San Cristobal Airport

Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to San Cristobal, where we take the airport shuttle. From here, we fly to Guayaquil where it’s possible to connect with international flights this evening from 6pm onwards.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Call us on 1 844 462 4317

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View Details

Accommodation

The Solaris, a first-class motor yacht

Cruise around the Galapagos on the Solaris, a first-class motor yacht overseen by 10 crew members. On top is a spacious sundeck (come here for stretching views over the Pacific Ocean and islands) with sun loungers, a dining table and barbecue area.

Inside, there’s a lounge with a stocked bar and another dining space. Additionally, the vessel has 11 cabins: five singles and six twins (four with a queen bed and a single bed, two with a queen bed and a sofa bed); all have air conditioning and private bathrooms.

The experience is undoubtedly enhanced by the on-board naturalist, an expert on the wildlife of the Galapagos. The vessel also has four double sea kayaks and snorkeling equipment, which we can use on guided adventures.

Boat specifications:

First-class motor yacht
16-passenger capacity with five single cabins and six twin cabins
Crew: 10 and one naturalist guide
Length: 118ft (36m)
Beam: 52ft (9m)

Take a virtual tour of the Solaris: https://oniriccruises.com/views-360/solaris/SOLARIS/SOLARIS.html

Worth knowing

There are five dedicated single cabins on the Solaris; these can be booked by solo travellers with no additional supplement for the cabin.
Travelling between islands is often done overnight, so expect some cabin noise and movement.
Room upgrades are available in the Quito hotel – please speak to your sales representative for more details.

Essential Information

This trip has been graded Activity Level 1 (Easy) with a Wildlife Rating of Five. Visit our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife ratings. For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This trip is great for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and those with an interest in history or geology. Though you do not need to be particularly fit, there will be some walking on rough ground and sharp volcanic rocks due to the volcanic nature of the Galapagos Islands. The ability to withstand high temperatures and to swim will maximise your enjoyment of the trip. Due to local regulations, we have specific time slots for making our landings and site visits. There is usually very little disruption to the schedule, but this can mean little room for deviation in the event of poor weather or other circumstances.

Landings: Each day in the Galapagos will feature a mixture of walking, snorkelling and exploring the islands by boat. To get closer to the designated landing sites on each of the islands, we disembark into small pangas (motorised dinghies). Landings are divided into two types – wet and dry. For dry landings, the panga will take you right up to a landing stage or rocky outcrop where you can disembark without getting wet. However, where there is no landing stage, the panga will stop close to a beach and you will be expected to walk through shallow water (generally no more than ankle-deep) to the shore. The leader will always advise on conditions prior to leaving and it is possible to skip any excursion if you would rather relax on the boat.

Snorkelling: There are plenty of snorkelling opportunities in the Galapagos and this is one of the best ways to experience the marine life. A mask and snorkel will reveal an exciting underwater world with sea lions, rays, turtles, marine iguanas, and a colourful array of fish. On most days, there will be one or two snorkelling sessions. Snorkelling in the Galapagos does not require any special skills; however, at times, you will be snorkelling in open water where there are fairly strong currents. Before going into the water, the guide will evaluate the strength of the currents and the general sea condition to ensure they are right for a safe and enjoyable activity. The dinghy will remain very close at all times; if you get tired or feel like coming out of the water, you only have to raise your arm and they will pick you up so you can rest for a while before going back in or stay in the dinghy until it is time to return to the boat. Snorkelling equipment (snorkel, fins and masks) is provided; however, it is advisable to wear a wetsuit, which not only protects you from the cold but also makes floating much easier without as much effort.

Travellers: We offer this Galapagos cruise in conjunction with our Ecuadorian partners, and Exodus participants will join an international group, not all of whom have booked through Exodus. Occasionally some of these may be younger than Exodus’ minimum age for this trip.

Deposit terms

At the time of booking, we will ask you for the standard Exodus deposit plus an extra 10% of the trip cost to secure your space on the boat. If for any reason we are unable to secure the space and we have to cancel the trip, you will receive a full refund.

Cancellation terms

Due to the nature of this trip, it has slightly different cancellation charges to those listed in the standard Exodus Booking Conditions. After booking, if cancelling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay cancellation charges as follows:

From 90 days to 65 days before departure – loss of deposit (20%)
64 days or less (or failure to join the trip) – 100% of the trip cost

Islands visited on this itinerary:

North Seymour: A tiny island with a huge sea lion colony and a very large colony of frigatebirds – it’s one of the best places to see the males displaying their bright red pouches during mating season. You may also get to see one of these relatively aggressive birds performing aerial tricks as they steal food from boobies or gulls.

Santa Cruz: The second-largest island in the archipelago, Santa Cruz is home to Puerto Ayora – where most Galapagos ships are docked for embarkation – and the Charles Darwin Research Station, which conducts tortoise research programmes and is heavily involved in the management and conservation of the islands along with the national park authorities. The Santa Cruz highlands are much greener than the dry lowlands of the other islands and are home to freely roaming tortoises. In common with the rest of the group, Santa Cruz has many interesting volcanic features, such as pit craters and lava tunnels, and there is also a flamingo lagoon at Cerro Dragón.

Genovesa: Renowned for the sheer number of birds living on its volcanic cliffs, Genovesa is a true paradise for birdwatchers. There are large populations of red-footed boobies, storm petrels, frigatebirds, tropic birds and nocturnal swallow-tailed gulls. Prince Philip’s Steps lead to a plateau where the visitor is almost totally surrounded by different bird species. It’s not just the land that provides a great natural habitat – the nutrient-rich waters make for great snorkelling too.

Santa Fe: The dense vegetation of Santa Fe is made up of some of the largest species of cactus, including a forest of prickly pear. Large numbers of the endemic Santa Fe land iguana reside here – one of the largest land iguanas on the islands.

South Plaza: A tiny island formed of lava and carpeted with cacti and plants that give it a luxurious red surface. There is abundant bird life here (including tropic birds and swallow-tailed gulls), plus a large number of land and marine iguanas that feed on the cacti.

San Cristóbal: The easternmost island of the archipelago and the first landing point for Charles Darwin in 1835. The provincial capital of the Galapagos Islands, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is on San Cristóbal, and the town is home to the excellent Galapagos Interpretation Centre. Popular sites for visitors include El Junco Lake (one of the few freshwater lagoons in the archipelago), Frigatebird Hill (unsurprisingly named for the large colonies of magnificent and great frigatebirds), and Kicker Rock, a towering split rock that rises more than 330ft (100m) from the ocean. The highland cloud forests provide a natural habitat for giant tortoises. Huge numbers of sea lions are also present on San Cristóbal and nearby Isla Lobos, reachable by boat, is a big nesting site for blue-footed boobies.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Wyndham Quito Airport, Parroquia Tababela SN Via A Yaruqui, Quito 170183, Ecuador
Phone: +593 2-395-8000
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today
Airport: Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately five minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

The trip ends at Guayaquil Airport, where it’s possible to connect with international flights from 6pm onwards. Please speak to your sales representative if you need more information.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the arrival transfer will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Ecuador

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Ecuador. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/ecuador
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/ecuador
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ecuador.html

All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included.

On-board meals are plentiful with a wide choice of international and local cuisine. Breakfasts will usually consist of cheese, meats, eggs, cereal, toasts, yoghurts and fruits. Snacks are provided mid-morning and mid-afternoon. For lunches and dinner, soup usually precedes the main course.

Alcoholic drinks are available on board (approximately US$4 per beer, US$35 for a bottle of wine, around US$8 for selected cocktails) and the crew request you do not bring your own alcohol with you. Drinking water, tea, coffee and juice is freely available at no additional charge.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this trip; please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.

It is possible to visit the Galapagos at any time of year, but seasonal variations do affect what you see and there are climatic changes to note. The weather is controlled by the two main ocean currents of the region: the Humboldt, bringing cold water from the Antarctic, and El Nino, which brings tropical water from the Gulf of Panama. How close to the Galapagos they converge (which varies from year to year) is the key to the weather.

Dry season

Generally speaking, late May to early December is the cooler dry season. In this period, it is not necessarily dry, as there is a persistent light mist (garua) and often light drizzle, and the higher mountain slopes are covered in cloud and fog or rain. The winds are in the southeast and are higher than at other times, so seas can sometimes be choppy and anyone worried about seasickness might want to avoid it. Daytime maximum temperatures are 27C-31C (81F-88F), the cooler months being July to November. In July and August, the fairly strong winds introduce a chill factor, and it can feel quite cold at nights, though throughout the year the official night temperatures are 19C-24C (66F-75F).

Wet season

Depending on how close the convergence of the two currents comes to the Galapagos, there may or may not be a wet season from January to April or May. Approximately every seven years the El Nino current actually hits the islands and there will be heavy rains in these months. In other years, rain usually falls sporadically from otherwise clear skies. The ocean temperatures are higher with generally calm seas and strong sunshine: pleasant, but potentially very hot. Apart from an El Nino year, the weather is usually better from December to January and April to May than at other times even if there is some rain. Most people would regard these months as the best time to go.

There are plenty of wildlife highlights throughout the year:

January: Nesting land birds; green sea turtles arrive to lay eggs on the beaches
February: Nesting marine iguanas on Santa Cruz
March: The bright red throat pouches of frigatebirds are inflated during mating season on Genovesa and San Cristobal
April: Green sea turtle eggs begin to hatch
May: Courtship of blue-footed boobies begins on North Seymour
June: Giant tortoises migrate to the lowlands and start nesting; migrating birds stop in the Galapagos to rest; migrating humpback whales can often be seen around the western islands
July: Dolphins and whales are more likely to be seen around the western islands
August: Nazca boobies nest on Genovesa; sea lions start giving birth to pups
September: Penguins seen in the water when snorkelling around Bartolome
October: Galapagos fur seals start mating; blue-footed boobies start raising chicks
November: Curious sea lion pups found in the water among snorkellers
December: Mating green sea turtles; waved albatross chicks fledge

In Quito, it should be warm by day and generally dry. Maximum daytime temperatures are almost constant throughout the year at 20C (68F) and nights at 8C (46F). Expect some rain in February-May and October-November. Storms, though heavy, are generally short.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.