Choosing a cruise to take is a daunting task for any tourist new to the Galapagos islands. There are several classes of tours on different sized boats doing different routes. When searching for a comfortable first class tour that did the route I wanted to take, I came upon the Fragata Yacht.
Using galapagoscruiselinks.com I was able to contact the yacht company directly to get their best pricing (including last minute availability) instead of going through a third party tourism website which is often more expensive.
They also offer to book your roundtrip flights to the Galapagos islands which is often much less expensive than booking the flights directly (as they can get group pricing with their airline partners). I actually booked last minute separately before I knew about this option and could have saved a bit.
With a tour booked, I arrived in Seymour Airport (GPS) on Baltra Island, the main hub of the Galapagos. Staff from the boat were easy to find at the airport and organized a bus to take our group directly to the boat launch.
The company that operates the Fragata Yacht, Tierra Verde has several boats in its portfolio. The Golondrina was a sister boat that did the same cruise route so we saw those passengers along the way.
I took the 5 day 4 night cruise, which may be a different route displayed on their website. Tour companies apparently book the route with the Galapagos authority to make sure that there are a limited number of boats at each island which is an excellent initiative to minimize the environmental impact and at the same time deliver a more personal experience for the visitors.
The boat sleeps 16 passengers and has several room types. I stayed in a lower room with two beds and a bathroom. There was running hot water in the shower, closet space, and even a safe.
The boat had four levels with rooms on the one level down and the second level. The main level had the restaurant, common area and loading space in the back. The top deck was a popular hang out to relax between excursions.
After our pick up the first day of our tour started with a small stretch of beach called Mosquera Island. The highlight here and one of my highlights of the trip was swimming and playing with sea lions. That evening and night, we drove to our next destination.
On Day 2 we woke up at Vicente Roca Point with many sea turtles popping up around the boat to greet us. We toured the area by boat, birdwatching and looking for sunfish. Then we snorkeled and again encountered playful sea lions.
That afternoon we moved to Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island where we snorkeled with many sea turtles and I had the lucky chance to witness penguins circling and hunting schools of fish. It was quite amazing to see them flying underwater!
After that we took a walk around the island which holds the largest population of marine iguanas in the Galapagos. There were also a group of flightless cormorants.
Day 3 started with a walk at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island where we discovered giant land tortoises and land iguanas. Large hermit crabs scurried along the beach. Unfortunately snorkeling wasn’t ideal as the water was pretty rough.
In the evening we hiked up the crater at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island to see the naturally formed Darwin’s Lake in the crater. Then we snorkeled the surrounding area and again saw penguins, sea turtles, and many other species of birds.
On Day 4 we started at Chinese Hat, an name given to an island that supposedly looks like a Chinese hat. Here we had a chance to see rays, sharks and sea turtles.
From there we moved to St. James Bay on Santiago Island to see baby sea lions waddling in the shallow pools and fur seals which are unique to this area. During the night we relocated to Santa Cruz.
Our last day was bittersweet as we departed our home for adventure and visited Charles Darwin Station on Santa Cruz Island. Here a breeding program keeps the tortoise population healthy. There are also several reserves where large tortoises roam. I had a chance to visit that separately from the tour before catching my flight back to Quito!
The experience of course was unforgettable. The Fragata team did a great job by creating a fun and comfortable atmosphere. Milton our guide was really passionate about the Galapagos and knowledgeable on all the unique animals.
Dining was casual with buffet style meals and menus that varied daily. The group tables allowed you to meet and get to know the other guests. By the end of the trip you feel like a small family. http://world-adventurer.com/galapagos-experience-fragata-yacht/ http://world-adventurer.com/galapagos-experience-fragata-yacht/
Overall I was very satisfied with the Fragata Yacht. The crew helped create an experience to remember, the facilities were comfortable, and the excursions were excellent!
The Galapagos photo set coming soon!
Contact
Fragata Yacht by Tierra Verde Tours
Address: Juan León Mera 1574 y La Pinta, Quito, Ecuador
Telephone: (593.2) 290.5331 / (593.2) 255.7013 / (593.2) 250.9610
Website: http://www.fragatayachtgalapagos.com
Email: info@fragatayachtgalapagos.com
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