Tip Top IV
per person
Our First Class yacht Tip Top IV was designed and constructed to offer the highest level of security in 2006.
- Length: 125 feet
- Beam: 25 feet
- Draft: 6 feet
- Cruising speed: 12 knots
Mechanic Equipmment
- Twin DEUTZ BF8M 1015 MC 442 HP engines.
- Twin 55 KW CUMMINS ONAN 6BS.9-D (M) electric generators (M).
- Village Marine Tec Oil / Water Separator.
- Tidal Wave HMX HEADHUNTER Marine Sanitation Device sewage treatment system (MSD)TW.
- Westphalia Separator Mineral oil Systems.
- WMSQ-2500 Reverse Osmosis desalination system.
- (2) 24 mile range Furuno Navnet Radar/Chart Plotter
- (2) Furuno-FCV620 Eco sounder, GPS, Furuno NX300 Navtex, Furuno SC-Satellite Fluxgate compass, Furuno HF-MF/DSC Radio
- (2) VHF/DSC Standard radios, ACR Epirb, Sart
- (2) ACR VHF bi directional rescue radios, Ritchie Magnetic Compass, hydraulic helm, barometer, clock, thermometer, helm indicator, searchlight, horn, fire & smoke detector system
- (2) You Lung inflatable life rafts for 25 passengers each one
- (50) life jackets
- Twin 19 feet Nautica Inflatable boats with 25 HP four stroke outboard motors for 16 passengers each one.
All safety equipment complies with International Coast Guard regulations.
Guestt Accommodation:
Lower Deck:
- 6 cabins with two single lower berths (cabins: 1 to 6)
Upper Deck:
- 4 cabins with two single lower berths (cabins: 7 to 10)
Upon request, all the cabins can be used as king size berths (01 double bed).
Social Areas (main deck):
-
-
- Dinning room for 20 people (435 square feet)
- Salon room (310 square feet)
- Comfortable Lounge
-
Social Areas (upper deck):
-
-
- Bar & Salon (775 square feet)
-
16 passengers accommodated in 10 cabins:
Each cabin has:
- Private bathroom (toilet, shower, washbasin and vanity)
- Locker and drawers
- Air conditioned
- Safety box.
- Air conditioned.
Crew:
8 members:
- Captain
- Bilingual naturalist guide
- Engineer
- International cook
- Barman & waitress
- Two sailors
-
Included
Air ticketCoffee & Herbal teaInternational and Ecuadorian foodKayaksPersonalized serviceSwim finsWater -
Not Included
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beveragesGalapagos Park Fee USD100 per personPersonal ExpensesTipsTransit Control Card USD20 per personTravel insurance mandatoryWetsuits for rent
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OPTION #1 (WEST): 7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS
Day # | Week Day | AM | PM |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Friday | Baltra | North Seymour (SN/PR/WA) |
2 | Saturday | Darwin Bay (SN/PR/KY/WA) | Prince Phillip ́s Steps (SN/KY/WA/PR) |
3 | Sunday | James Bay (SN/WA) | Espumilla Beach (WA/SN/KY) / Buccaneer Cove (SN/PR/KY) |
4 | Monday | Punta Vicente Roca (SN/PR) | Punta Espinosa (SN/WA) |
5 | Tuesday | Tagus Cove (SN/PR/KY/WA) | Elizabeth Bay (PR/KY) |
6 | Wednesday | Urbina Bay (SN/WA) | Punta Moreno (SN/PR/WA) |
7 | Thursday | Punta Cormorant (SN/PR/WA) / Champion (SN/PR) | Post O. Bay (WA) / Asilo de la Paz / Baroness Viewpoint (PR/KY/WA) |
8 | Friday | Twin Craters [Santa Cruz Island] (WA) Baltra |
SN SNORKEL, KY KAYAK, PR PANGA RIDE, WA WALKING
OPTION #2 (EAST): 7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS
Day # | Week Day | AM | PM |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Friday | Baltra | Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (WA) |
2 | Saturday | Punta Suarez (WA) | Gardner Bay (SN/KY/WA) / Gardner Islet (PR/SN) / Osborn Islet (SN) |
3 | Sunday | Pitt Islet (SN) / Punta Pitt (SN/KY/PR/WA) | Kicker Rock (PR) / Cerro Brujo (SN/KY/PR/WA) |
4 | Monday | Mosquera Island (WA/SN) | Black Turtle Cove (PR) |
5 | Tuesday | Chinese Hat (SN/WA/KY/PR) | Rabida Island (SN/PR/WA/KY) |
6 | Wednesday | Bartolome Island (SN/PR/WA) | Sullivan Bay [Santiago Island] (SN/WA) |
7 | Thursday | Santa Fe Island (SN/PR/KY/WA) | South Plaza Island (WA) |
8 | Friday | Las Bachas Beach (SN/WA) | Baltra |
SN SNORKEL, KY KAYAK, PR PANGA RIDE, WA WALKING
OPTION #3 (EAST): 4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS
Day # | Week Day | AM | PM |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Monday | Baltra | Black Turtle Cove (PR) |
2 | Tuesday | Chinese Hat (SN/WA/KY/PR) | Rabida Island (SN/PR/WA/KY) |
3 | Wednesday | Bartolome Island (SN/PR/WA) | Sullivan Bay [Santiago Island] (SN/WA) |
4 | Thursday | Santa Fe Island (SN/PR/KY/WA) | South Plaza Island (WA) |
5 | Friday | Las Bachas Beach (SN/WA) | Baltra |
SN SNORKEL, KY KAYAK, PR PANGA RIDE, WA WALKING
OPTION #4 (EAST): 4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS
Day # | Week Day | AM | PM |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Friday | Baltra | Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Santa Cruz Island) (WA) |
2 | Saturday | Punta Suarez (WA) | Gardner Bay (SN/KY/WA) Gardner Islet (PR/SN) / Osborn Islet (PR) |
3 | Sunday | Pitt Islet (SN/WA) / Punta Pitt (SN/KY/PR/WA) | Kicker Rock (PR) / Cerro Brujo (SK/KY/PR/WA) |
4 | Monday | Mosquera Island (WA/SN) | |
SN SNORKEL, KY KAYAK, PR PANGA RIDE, WA WALKING
Friday, Day 1
Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, with LATAM Airlines. Your guide conducts cou to the bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; we board the Yacht without delay. As the crew weighs anchor, we greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack. In the afternoon, we make a dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island, a low, flat island that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. We observe blue footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shore birds, sea lions and endemic Palo Santo.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. We return to the Yacht for a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.
Saturday, Day 2
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Darwin Bay to walk and observe frigatebirds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, etc.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Prince Phillips’s Steps (Barranco), we walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. Dinner on the Yacht, and then our orientation about conservation efforts made to protect the Islands.
Sunday, Day 3
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on James Bay (Puerto Egas), to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas and sea lions.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch.
In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Espumilla Beach, a brown sand beach. This beach is an important site for nesting marine turtles. Here we also observe a lot of land birds like yellow warblers, darwin’s finches an Galapagos flycatchers. A trail takes us through a Palo Santo forest. We walk behind the beach and we arrive to a salt-water lagoon, occasionally flamingos are seen.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We navigate around Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero), an area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. The cliffs and pinnacle are used as nesting areas by several species of seabirds.
This was a popular place for 17th & 18th century buccaneers to careen their vessels.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Dinner and our nightly orientation.
Monday, Day 4
After breakfast, we make a panga ride on Punta Vicente Roca to observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies, and flightless cormorants.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Punta Espinoza to observe and see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas and the flightless cormorants and clumps of lava cactus. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Tuesday, Day 5
After breakfast, we make a panga ride on Tagus Cove, a protected cove between the shoulders of two volcanic craters which protect it from the open sea; we observe penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and a variety of birds including flightless cormorant and blue footed boobies.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a panga ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to see marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Wednesday, Day 6
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Urbina Bay to take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants and giant tortoises.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak. Sail to Punta Moreno, again we make a wet landing. We make a walk along shore lagoons located among petrified lava flows where different type of birds can be seeing. On top we have a panoramic view of the famous volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, as well as the highest part of Fernandina Island.
Return to the yacht for dinner and our night orientation.
Thursday, Day 7
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Point Cormorant for a short walk to the Flamingos Lagoon of this island. Then we continue the walk until we reach the beach called "La Picona" to see marine turtles and their spawning grounds.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Later, we make a panga ride on Champion Islet, a small island off the Coast of Floreana Island. The principal attraction of Champion Islet is the nearly-extinct Charles (Floreana) Mockingbird. Visitors can also observe bird species such as Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies or Brown Noddies. It is a great place for snorkeling; we will see sea turtles, reef fishes, Galapagos Penguins and white-tipped reef sharks.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Post Office Bay, a historic site that recalls the days of the whalers, who presumably placed a wooden barrel in the 18th century to use it as a post office.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel, then, you make a wet landing, you will continue to the Baroness Point view, named due to the presence of a particular character who lived on Floreana Island, it is the Baroness Eloisa von Wagner, you will enjoy of the beautiful landscape and the ruins of her house. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Friday, Day 8
After breakfast, we disembark and a bus takes us to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests and twin craters. Then the bus takes us directly to the airport (Baltra). Your guide accompanies you on this ride.
THESE ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT A PREVIOUS NOTICE, DUE OPERATIONALL REASONS, WEATHER CONDITIONS OR BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK.
Friday, Day 1
Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, with LATAM Airlines. Your guide meets us and accompanies us as we ride the bus to the Itabaca Channel, we cross the channel by barge and then we continue to Puerto Ayora by bus. We board the Yacht and the crew greets us and offers us a light snack and we have our first orientation. In the afternoon, we land at the pier for a visit to the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Return to the Port for a walk through the little town to appreciate various handicrafts. We board and we have a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.
Saturday, Day 2
After breakfast, we make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez to walk along lava beds where we will observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December). Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing in Gardner Bay for a walk on the beach and observe a colony of sea lions, which inhabit the beach in great quantity during the breeding season; this is also an important nesting area for sea turtles. We then make a panga ride around the Osborn and Gardner islets.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Sunday, Day 3
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Punta Pitt in San Cristobal Island; the trail includes an olivine beach approximately 90 meters and a trail that ascends to the top of a volcanic tuff hill passing through several natural viewpoints. Punta Pitt is composed of volcanic tuff substrate. High winds present there have led to natural erosion. This is the only site in the Galapagos Islands, where you can watch the three species of boobies and 2 species of frigates nesting in the same area.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel, at Punta Pitt Islet. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, our experienced Captain sails easily around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a massive tuff-rock that juts abruptly almost 500 feet straight from the ocean. Kicker Rock serves as nesting place for many sea birds. Then we make a wet landing on Cerro Brujo to walk on a white sand beach and observe sea lions, brown pelicans, marine iguanas and blue- footed boobies.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Monday, Day 4
After breakfast, we make an early wet landing on Mosquera Island, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach and tide pools. We observe colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue footed boobies and sally light-foot crabs, the contrast between these bright red crabs on top and blue on the bottom and the black lava is stunning. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a panga ride on Black Turtle Cove, series of mangrove-surrounded coves and islets; here we can observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays. We board the Yacht for dinner and the first of our nightly orientations.
Tuesday, Day 5
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the coast of Santiago Island, we can observe on the rocky shoreline: Galapagos penguins, eagle rays, sea lions and marine iguanas. This is an excellent snorkeling site.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or Kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and brown pelicans. We walk and we arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where we can see pink flamingos.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Wednesday, Day 6
After breakfast, we make a dry landing on Bartolome Island, to hike to the summit; during the hike we observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit we have an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock.
We return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the yacht for a delicious dinner and our nightly orientation.
Thursday, Day 7
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Santa Fe Island to visit the cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas native from Santa Fe.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch and sail to South Plaza, where we make a dry landing on the pier of the island, there we can enjoy the antics of the sea lions. A walk through a cactus forest allows us to observe land iguanas and many species of tropical birds.
At the end of the afternoon, we return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Friday, Day 8
After breakfast we make an early disembark on Las Bachas Beach, a place where we can appreciate a Flamingos lagoon. During all walks, your guide will be explaining details about the lives of the birds and animals. We return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.
THESE ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT A PREVIOUS NOTICE, DUE OPERATIONAL REASONS, WEATHER CONDITIONS OR BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK.
Monday, Day 1
Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, with LATAM Airlines, arriving at 09:20 a.m. approximately. Your guide conducts you to the bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; we board the Yacht without delay. We greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack. In the afternoon, we make a panga ride on Black Turtle Cove, series of mangrove-surrounded coves and islets; where we can observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays. We board the Yacht for dinner and the first of our nightly orientations.
Tuesday, Day 2
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the Coast of Santiago Island, we can observe on the rocky shoreline: Galapagos penguins, eagle rays, sea lions and marine iguanas. This is an excellent snorkeling site.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or Kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and brown pelicans. We walk and we arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where we can see pink flamingos.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Wednesday, Day 3
After breakfast, we make a dry landing on Bartolome Island, to hike to the summit; during the hike we observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit we have an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the yacht for a delicious dinner and our nightly orientation.
Thursday, Day 4
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Santa Fe Island to visit the cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas native from Santa Fe.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch and sail to South Plaza, where we make a dry landing on the pier of the island, there we can enjoy the antics of the sea lions. A walk through a cactus forest allows us to observe land iguanas and many species of tropical birds.
At the end of the afternoon, we return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Friday, Day 5
After breakfast we make an early disembark on Las Bachas Beach, a place where we can appreciate a Flamingos lagoon. During all walks, your guide will be explaining details about the lives of the birds and animals. We return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.
THESE ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT A PREVIOUS NOTICE, DUE OPERATIONAL REASONS, WEATHER CONDITIONS OR BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK.
Friday, Day 1
Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, with LATAM Airlines, arriving at 11:40 a.m. approximately. A guide meets us and accompanies us as we ride the bus to the Itabaca Channel, we cross the channel by barge and then we continue to Puerto Ayora by bus. We board the Yacht and the crew greets us and offers us a light snack and we have our first orientation. In the afternoon, we land at the pier for a visit to the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Return to the Port for a walk through the little town to appreciate various handicrafts. We board and we have a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.
Saturday, Day 2
After breakfast, we make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez to walk along lava beds where we will observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December). Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing in Gardner Bay for a walk on the beach and observe a colony of sea lions, which inhabit the beach in great quantity during the breeding season; this is also an important nesting area for sea turtles.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Then, we make a panga ride around the Osborn and Gardner islets, Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Sunday, Day 3
After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Punta Pitt in San Cristobal Island; the trail includes an olivine beach approximately 90 meters and a trail that ascends to the top of a volcanic tuff hill passing through several natural viewpoints. Punta Pitt is composed of volcanic tuff substrate. High winds present there have led to natural erosion. This is the only site in the Galapagos Islands, where you can watch the three species of boobies and 2 species of frigates nesting in the same area.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel, at Punta Pitt Islet. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, our experienced Captain sails easily around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a massive tuff-rock that juts abruptly almost 500 feet straight from the ocean. Kicker Rock serves as nesting place for many sea birds. Then we make a wet landing on Cerro Brujo to walk on a white sand beach and observe sea lions, brown pelicans, marine iguanas and blue- footed boobies.
Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.
Monday, Day 4
After breakfast, we make an early wet landing on Mosquera Island, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach and tide pools. We observe colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue footed boobies and sally light-foot crabs, the contrast between these bright red crabs on top and blue on the bottom and the black lava is stunning. We return to the Yacht for disembarking on Baltra pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.
THESE ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT A PREVIOUS NOTICE, DUE OPERATIONAL REASONS, WEATHER CONDITIONS OR BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK.
Ray Wayne
The crew and staff were attentive to our needs. There are many logistics to a trip like this and we felt that there was always someone to support our needs.
The crew is well organized and seemed to work together very nicely. A ship is a unique environment and the crew made us feel safe and at home.
Karen
The Cruise was excellent in every way. The professionalism, expertise, and kind care from the guide and crew made each day sensational, It was a life-changing experience being here. The Islands full of life, the unique land formations, and the glorious blue ocean have all captived my son. There have been so many lessons learned from nature. New friendships have been formed. Thank you for offering the trip at a reasonable price giving me an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. Many blessings.