Tip Top II

Our M/C Tip Top II was built in 2008 and redesigned in 2015-2016 to offer the highest level of comfort and the best experience in the Islands.

Technical Information

Technical Information

Length: 104 feet
Beam: 40 feet
Draft: 5 feet
Cruising speed: 12 knots

Safety & Communications System:

(2) 24-mile range Furuno Navnet Radar/Chart Plotter
(2) Furuno-FCV620 Eco sounder, GPS, Furuno NX300 Navtex, Furuno SC-Satellite Fluxgate compass, Icom M802 HF-MF/DSC Radio
(2) Icom M506 VHF/DSC radios, ACR Epirb, ACR 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) Viking inflatable life rafts for 25 passengers each one
(30) life jackets
Twin 17 feet Caribe Nautica Inflatable boats with 25 HP four-stroke outboard motors for 12 passengers each one

All safety equipment complies with International Coast Guard regulations.

Mechanic Equipment:

Twin Detroit Diesel MTU 350 HP main engines. Twin 60 KW John Deere/Marathon (M) electric generators. Water Separator, Raritan Marine Sanitation Device sewage treatment system. Westfalia Separator Mineral oil Systems. WMSQ-2500 Reverse Osmosis desalination system.

Capacity:

16 passengers

Cabins:

16 passengers accommodated in 10 cabins:

Each cabin has:

Private bathroom (toilet, shower, washbasin, and vanity)
Locker and drawers
Hairdryer
Safety box
Air-conditioned

Guest Accommodation:

Main Deck: (2)

cabins with one full bed – Cabins 1 & 2

Main Deck: (4)

cabins with two twin beds – Cabins 3 to 6

Upper Deck: (2)

cabins with two twin beds – Cabins 7 & 8

Upper Deck: (2)

Cabins with one king bed – Cabins 9 & 10

Social Areas :

Sundeck
Dinning room
Comfortable Lounge

Crew:

8 members:

Captain
Bilingual naturalist guide
Engineer
Cook
Barman & waiter
Two sailors

Video

Video

Deck Plan

Deck Plan

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Itinerary

Itinerary

Summary

OPTION 1

No	Day	AM	PM
1	Friday	Baltra	Mosquera Islet
2	Saturday	Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island)	Rabida
3	Sunday	Espinoza Point	Elizabeth Bay
4	Monday	Urbina Bay	Tagus Cove
5	Tuesday	Egas Port	Bartolome
6	Wednesday	Chinese Hat	Dragon Hill
7	Thursday	Santa Cruz Highlands	Interpretation Center Fausto LLerena
8	Friday	North Seymour / Baltra

OPTION 2

No	Day	AM	PM
1	Friday	Baltra	Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island)
2	Saturday	Prince Phillip's Steps	Darwin Bay
3	Sunday	South Plaza	Santa Fe
4	Monday	Santa Cruz Highlands	Interpretation Center Fausto LLerena
5	Tuesday	Baroness Point View / Asilo de la Paz /Post Office	Commorant Point / Champion Islet
6	Wednesday	Suarez Point	Gardner Islet/Gardner Islet / Osborn Islet
7	Thursday	Kicker Rock/Cerro Brujo	B.Moreno Port /Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center
8	Friday	Black Turtle Cove / Baltra

7 Night/8 Days (Option1

Friday, Day 1

Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, arriving at 09:20 a.m. approximately. Your guide will meet you at the arrivals gate, our crew will take care of your luggage. Your guide will conduct you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; you board the Yacht immediately. As the crew weighs anchor, we greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack. After lunch, you make an early wet landing on Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising), and a great white sand beach and tide pools. You 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. In the evening, we have an orientation about the Galapagos Islands in general: their origin and evolution. Welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

Saturday, Day 2

After breakfast, 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 boat for a delicious lunch. After this, you make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, and brown pelicans. You make a little walk and you arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where you can see pink flamingos. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Sunday, Day 3

After breakfast, 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. You come aboard for lunch. In the afternoon, you 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.

Monday, Day 4

After breakfast, you 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 or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a panga ride on Tagus Cove, a 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 cormorants and blue-footed boobies. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel, and/ or kayak. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation

Tuesday, Day 5

After breakfast, you make a wet landing on James Bay (Puerto Egas), to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shorebirds, barnacles, and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. You return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, you make a dry landing on Bartholomew Island, to hike to the summit; during the hike, you observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit, you see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. You return to the yacht for a delicious dinner and our nightly orientation.

Wednesday, Day 6

After breakfast, you make a wet landing on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the coast of Santiago Island, you 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. You return to the boat for lunch. Later in the afternoon, you make a dry landing on Dragon Hill, where you can see land iguanas; you walk to a hypersaline lagoon (saltier than the ocean), where you can observe flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. You return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Thursday, Day 7

After breakfast, you will disembark to take the bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests, Twin Craters, then, you will go to one of the ranches to see the giant tortoises in the wildlife. You will be delighted with the lunch in the ranch. After lunch, you will return to Puerto Ayora to start the visit to the Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena. You return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation

Friday, Day 8

After breakfast, you make an early 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. You observe blue-footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shorebirds, sea lions, and endemic Palo Santo. You return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.

7 Night/8 Days (EAST -Option2)

Friday, Day 1

Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, arriving at 09:20 a.m. approximately. Your guide will meet you at the arrivals gate, our crew will take care of your luggage. Your guide will conduct you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; you board the Yacht immediately. As the crew weighs anchor, we greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack. After navigating, we disembark on Playa Las Bachas, a place where you can appreciate a Flamingos lagoon. During all walks, your guide will be explaining details about the lives of the birds and animals. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel, in the evening you have an orientation about the Galapagos Islands in general: their origin and evolution. Welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

Saturday, Day 2

After breakfast, you make a wet landing on Darwin Bay to walk and observe frigate birds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, etc. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. You come on board for a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, you take a panga ride and you make a dry landing on Prince Phillips’s Steps (Barranco), you walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. Dinner on the Yacht, and then your orientation about conservation efforts made to protect the Islands.

Sunday, Day 3

After breakfast, you make a dry landing on the pier of the South Plaza, where you 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. Return to the Yacht for lunch. Then, you make a wet landing on Santa Fe Island to visit the cactus forest and a colony of land iguana’s natives from Santa Fe. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel, and/or kayak. At the end of the afternoon, we return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Monday, Day 4

After breakfast, you will disembark to take the bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests, Twin Craters, then, you will go to one of the ranches to see the giant tortoises in the wildlife. You will be delighted with the lunch on the ranch. After lunch, you will return to Puerto Ayora to start the visit to the Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena. You return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Tuesday, Day 5

After breakfast, you 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. Then, 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 the beautiful landscape and the ruins of her house. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, you visit the Champion Islet, then you make a wet landing on Point Cormorant for a short walk to the Flamingo Lagoon of this island. You then 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. You return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Wednesday, Day 6

After breakfast, you make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez to walk along lava beds where you will observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December). Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, you 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. Then we make a panga ride around the Osborn Islet and the islets of Gardner. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Thursday, Day 7

After breakfast, your 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 a nesting place for many seabirds. Then you 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.

In the afternoon, you make a dry landing on San Cristobal port, after a short drive, you arrive at Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center this tour takes you through the geological and human history of the islands and its conservation. You return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Friday, Day 8

After breakfast, you make a panga ride on Black Turtle Cove, a series of mangrove-surrounded coves and islets; here you can observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays. You return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.

Availability

AVAILIABILITY 2022

DEPARTURE	ITINERARY
OCTOBER
October/17/2022	05 D - 04 N / MONDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
October/21/2022	15 D - 14 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST + ROUTE EAST)
October/21/2022	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)
October/28/2022	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
NOVEMBER
November/04/2022	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)
November/11/2022	04 D - 03 N / FRIDAY-MONDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
November/18/2022	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)
November/28/2022	12 D - 11 N / MONDAY - FRIDAY (ROUTE WEST +EAST)
DECEMBER
December/02/2022	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)
December/16/2022	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)

AVAILIABILITY 2023

IN	ITINERARY
February
February/03/2023 February/10/2023 February/10/2023 February/17/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST) 15 D - 14 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST + ROUTE EAST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
March
March/17/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY ( 02 - ROUTE EAST)
April
April/14/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY ( 01 - EAST)
May
May/05/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)
May/19/2023 May/19/2023 May/26/2023	15 D - 14 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST + ROUTE EAST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
July
July/28/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)
August
August/25/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)
September
September/01/2023 September/08/2023 September/15/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
October
October/20/2023 October/20/2023 October/27/2023	15 D - 14 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST + ROUTE EAST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
November
November/03/2023 November/10/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST)
December
December/08/2023 December/15/2023	08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 02 - ROUTE EAST) 08 D - 07 N / FRIDAY - FRIDAY (OPTION 01 - ROUTE WEST)

Included

Included

Air ticket
Kayaks
International and Ecuadorian food
Water
Coffee & Herbal tea
Personalized service
Swim fins

Booking and Cancellation Policy

Booking and Cancellation Policy

RESERVATION & PAYMENTS

CANCELLATION POLICY

RESERVATION & PAYMENTS

1.1. Charters:
 A deposit of twenty-five percent (25%) of the net charter rate is required to confirm your booking.
 The balance must be paid sixty (60) days prior to the departure cruise date, plus passenger’s names, passport numbers, nationality, date of birth, cabin assignment, flights route, allergies or illnesses, wetsuits sizes, and food restrictions.
 The immediate deposit of the total amount is required to confirm bookings for departures with promotional and last-minute rates.
1.2. Individual Fit’s Passengers:
 A deposit of twenty-five percent (25%) of the cruise rate per passenger is required to confirm your booking.
 The balance must be paid sixty (60) days prior to the departure cruise date, plus passenger’s names, passport numbers, nationality, date of birth, rooming list, flights route, allergies or illnesses, wetsuits sizes, and food restrictions.
 The immediate deposit of the total amount is required to confirm bookings for departures with promotional and last-minute rates.

CANCELLATION POLICY

2.1. Charters:
 If notice is received one hundred twenty-one (121) days prior to departure or more, we will refund the first deposit retaining 10% as administrative and banking expenses.
 If notice is received from one hundred twenty (120) to sixty-one (61) days prior to departure, no refund is possible.
 If cancellation occurs sixty (60) days prior to and the date of departure, the full rate is charged as a cancellation fee.
 Clients have the option to release not sold spaces one hundred twenty-one (121) days prior to the departure cruise date, in this case, fit’s rate will be applied.
The Company will sell and will be responsible for all spaces released by the Client.
 A 100% penalty applies on cancellations for departures with promotional and last-minute rates.
2.2. Individual Fit’s Passengers:
 If notice is received one hundred fifty-one (151) days prior to departure or more, we will refund the first deposit retaining 10% as administrative and banking expenses.
 If notice is received between one hundred fifty (150) and sixty-one (61) days prior to departure, no refund is possible.
 If cancellation occurs between sixty (60) days before and the date of departure, the full tour rate is charged as a cancellation fee.
 A 100% penalty applies on cancellations for departures with promotional and last-minute rates.
 In case of health-related cancellations, we will refund 50% upon receipt of medical certificates, (issued by a hospital or medical center) which proves that is impossible for passengers to take the cruise, and to which one the reimbursement will be done.

Tip Top Fleet Health Protocols

Tip Top Fleet Health Protocols

ENHANCED SCREENING PROTOCOLS

ENHANCED CLEANING AND SANITATION

SAFETY DURING MEALS

EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES

ENHANCED SCREENING PROTOCOLS

All crew members resident in the Galapagos Islands, regardless of their position, must be tested before boarding, the crew entering from the continent must pass all the controls and triages defined by the airports.

Mandatory non-touch thermal scans will be conducted for all passengers and crew members Touchless temperature checks will occur:

• Prior to embarkation at the beginning of every cruise.

• Once a day during the cruise.

• Prior to disembarkation at the conclusion of every cruise

ENHANCED CLEANING AND SANITATION

•	Luggage will be disinfected before loading to the ship
•	Panga boat will be disinfected daily.
•	Shoe sanitizing mats and hand sanitizer/dispenser has been placed at the main deck (boarding area)
	Furthermore, hand sanitizers/dispensers will be available at the dining room and salon. All cabins will include a personal hand sanitizer
•	Housekeeper must wear personal protective equipment.
•	Cabins surfaces and fixtures are thoroughly cleaned up and disinfected twice a day with particular attention to bathrooms and surfaces frequently touched.
	All guest corridors and social areas, including all touchpoints like handrails, doorknobs, balcony railings, light switches, etc.
•	All guests will be informed about the disinfection of cabins and social areas
•	After each meal service: tables, chairs, tablecloths, kitchen utensils, floors will be cleaned and disinfected.
•	All crockery, cutlery, glassware, including unused ones, will be washed and disinfected.

SAFETY DURING MEALS

	Social Distancing
	There will be one meal shift respecting social distancing rules
	Staff
	Servers will wear appropriate personal protective equipment and apparel for the task.
	Table Service
	Meals and drinks, which will be served exclusively at the table by our restaurant crew.
	Food Safety
	As always, we will apply the strictest safety protocols in the procurement and food handling processes.

EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES

•	Biosecurity measures will be explained to guests upon arrival
•	The guide briefings will be held outdoors.
•	A maximum of 8 guests and 2 crew members will be allowed in each panga.
•	The ship authorities will coordinate actions to avoid crowds and crossings on the trails with the other ships that are at the visiting sites.
	The number of visitors assigned to the visiting sites and the management measures determined by the Galapagos National Park may vary.
•	The Galapagos National Park will previously inform the tour operator of the landing and shift order assigned to each vessel.
•	Guides and passengers should bring their face masks and disinfectant to visiting sites.
•	The guide must carry the protective equipment (face mask), alcohol gel, and a medical kit, and will also avoid physical contact with guests, except during boarding and disembarking maneuvers
•	The guide will ensure that the interpretation at the visiting sites (interpretation points) is carried out mostly in open spaces.
•	The guide will ensure that the passengers in their charge, move around keeping at least 1 meter of distance from each other at the visit site.
	Visits to Populated Areas
•	During visits, both guides and guests must keep their protective equipment (face mask)
•	During disembarkation to a populated port, both guides and passengers must use personal protective equipment.
•	All passengers must abide by the biosecurity measures imposed by the local authorities of each port, which must be previously informed by the guide.
•	Passengers will not be able to access a visiting site that is not legally authorized.
•	The guide should contact the park ranger to confirm or wait for their turn to enter the visit sites near the port.
•	Visiting sites near population centers, mainly interpretation centers, will have signs indicating the permitted capacity.

Video

Included

Tip Top Fleet Health Protocols

ENHANCED SCREENING PROTOCOLS

ENHANCED CLEANING AND SANITATION

SAFETY DURING MEALS

EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Rolf Wittmer . Tip Top . Galapagos Cruises

Tip Top II

Technical Information

Safety & Communications System:

Mechanic Equipment:

Capacity:

Cabins:

Guest Accommodation:

Social Areas :

Crew:

Deck Plan

Itinerary

Summary

7 Night/8 Days (Option1

7 Night/8 Days (EAST -Option2)

Charters

Availability

AVAILIABILITY 2022

AVAILIABILITY 2023

Booking and Cancellation Policy

RESERVATION & PAYMENTS

CANCELLATION POLICY

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