Days aboard the Explorer generally involve a 6:30 am dive followed by breakfast, dives at 9:30 and 11:00 am, lunch at 12:30, and an afternoon dive at 2:30. Dinner is served at approximately 7:00pm. Under current National Parks guidelines no night dives are allowed. Limited island nature tours will be offered when possible during the week on board; no land access is allowed at Darwin and Wolf Islands. There will be panga rides available to see wildlife and a land visit to the Santa Cruz highlands to see the giant tortoises.
Please note that these itineraries are examples only, and will change depending on local regulation, weather and logistics at the Captain's discretion. Also, due to the Isla Cristobal Airport closure through the end of 2007, the vessel will be boarding at Isla Baltra. Aerogal tickets will still read as San Cristobel for arrival and departure but all flights go to/from Baltra.
SAN CRISTOBAL/BALTRA DEPARTURES
If meeting the vessel in Baltra, Galapagos Islands, a guide will meet you upon exiting the baggage claim area for transfer to the vessel.
Monday: San Cristobal and Isla Lobos
Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. Guests are met at the airport and taken to the Explorer. Boarding the vessel after 1:00pm, guests will depart for a short crossing to North Seymour for a check out dive and safety orientation briefing Lunch will be served during the crossing and dinner will be served after the check out dive. The vessel will make a late day departure to the next destination. Currently each week the itinerary includes the same islands. The order of the islands, however, is dictated by the National Parks Foundation and may vary weekly. A land visit on North Seymour may be possible if Isabela is the first island on the itinerary. Crossing to Isabela Island is made late evening/night and is 8-10 hrs.
Tuesday: Isabela Island - Cabo Marshall
6:30, 9:30, 11:30 and 3:00 dives. Sightings include giant manta rays, mobula rays, turtles, hammerheads, black-striped salema. Overnight or early morning transit to Roca Redonda (4 hrs)
Wednesday: Roca Redonda
6:30, 9:30, and possibly 11:30 dives. Sightings include turtles, sharks and volcanic vents . Late afternoon crossing to Wolf Island (15 hrs)
Thursday: Wolf Island
8:30, 11:00 and 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, and occasional whale sharks. The vessel will travel 2 -1/2 hours to Darwin early Friday morning.
Friday: Darwin Island
6:30, 9:30, 11:30 and 3:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Night at anchor
Saturday: Darwin Island
6:00, 9:00, 11:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks Afternoon/overnight transit to Cousin's rock (18-20 hrs)
Sunday: Cousin's Rock
8:00 dive - macro diving with excellent chance of seeing sea horses, frog fish, sea lions, eagle rays. Snorkeling with the penguins. Lunch and transit back to Santa Cruz (3 hrs). Land trip to see the giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz and possible visit to the town of Puerto Ayora.
Monday: Baltra
Early morning panga ride in Black Turtle Cove. Breakfast; depart the vessel by 9 am . Transfer back to the airport for flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.
