DAY 1 (Sunday): Fly to Galapagos – North Seymour

Early in the morning you will catch your flight from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos. Arriving to the airport, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage.

Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored. Now the cruise can begin!

You begin your Galapagos adventure with a wildlife-filled visit to North Seymour, an Island very close to Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. On your walk with the naturalist guide, you will observe abundant and entertaining birdlife as well as a sizeable sea lion colony.

On North Seymour, blue-footed boobies make their nests on the ground right below nesting Magnificent Frigate birds. You will likely see the male frigate birds inflate their incredible neck pouches, hoping to attract some lucky females flying overhead.

The trail ends at a scenic beach where loads of sea lions love to sunbathe. Along this visit, you’re also likely to see Sally Light-foot crabs, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Monday): Chinese Hat – Bartolome

Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops and falls close to where it came from, which forms a cone inclined) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast.

On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. With your guide, you will walk along the gorgeous white sand beach and learn about these lava formations.

You will also have the chance to go snorkeling where it’s likely to swim with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks.

From a dry landing on a jetty, you take the summit trail that first goes over sand and then leads to the top of Bartholomé on a wooden staircase. The view from the top of Santiago with Sullivan Bay and the surrounding islands is wonderful. All the secondary cones, lava flows and lava tubes mimic a moon landscape.

After the hike, you will snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, the famous landmark of Bartolome. With the dinghy you go along the coast of Bartolomé to look for the Galapagos penguins.

This is the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos and you are extremely like to swim with them here and see them nesting. The penguins live and nest in the lava tubes of the rocky coast, along which they also fish.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Genovesa: Darwin Bay – Prince Phillips Steps

Genovesa Island is known for its outstanding birdlife, even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, you will likely be delighted by the large colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Also, since the Island is only visited by cruises, it’s usually fairly uncrowded.

Darwin Bay was created by the collapse of a huge, underwater crater — this also explains the horseshoe shape of Genovesa Island. You first land on a white coral beach where you will immediately spot several birds on land and soaring overhead. Great frigate birds display their inflated, bright red neck pouches to attract passing females; Nazca and blue-footed boobies tend to their nests on the ground below; and mockingbirds sprint across the sand.

Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood. On this walk, you’re also likely to see the sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galapagos doves and swallow-tailed gulls.

At the end the trail you reach a cliff’s edge where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Island and ocean beyond. After this walk, you can enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the natural harbor.

In the afternoon, you visit Prince Philip’s Steps, the only other visitor site on Genovesa. The visit begins with a view of the rocky shore where many birds nest and raise their young. On the trail here one may observe red-billed tropicbirds, nesting boobies and a colony of storm petrels. Genovesa Island offers a chance to also spot the Galapagos short-eared owl and the Galapagos fur seal as well as several species of finches, herons, and petrels

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Wednesday): Puerto Egas – Rabida

Today begins with a hike and snorkeling at Puerto Egas, aka James Bay. This spot is home to the fascinating Galapagos hawk as well as Galapagos oyster catchers and Galapagos lava lizards.

We will walk to the coastline where we observe tidal pools and an abundance of Galapagos sea lions. Here the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions bathe in the sun. While snorkeling, you swim alongside reef sharks, turtles, and rays.

Later in the day, you will visit La Rabida, another small but fascinating Island. The first thing you’ll notice on La Rabida are its unique red cliffs and beaches. While walking on this Island, you’re likely to spot sea lions, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, flamingos and blue-footed boobies. You will also have time to go for a snorkel in the waters just off La Rabida, where you will hopefully swim with sea lions and tropical fish.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Thursday): Darwin Station – Highlands of Santa Cruz

The Charles Darwin research station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and it’s a 10-minute walk from the center of town. At the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll learn first-hand of the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands.

See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. You’ll also see several species of giant iguanas that are being saved from extinction as well. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts and facilitates research in the Islands and you’ll learn about their important research here at the station.

[Travelers joining the 4-day cruise arrive in the Galapagos this morning and are transferred from the airport to meet up with the group in the Santa Cruz highlands].

[Travelers doing the 5-day cruise are transferred to the Baltra airport after this visit. In Baltra, they will board the flight headed back to mainland Ecuador].

Highland Santa Cruz: Drive up to the highlands in a bus. In a short time one can see the transition between the different vegetation zones from the Arid zone to the Transition zone up to the Scalesia zone (and agricultural area). The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones.

You will walk to Los Gemelos (meaning “twins”) which are two big pit craters in the middle of a wonderful Scalesia forest. These endemic trees and the lush vegetation, with a lot of different ferns, mosses and liverworts, show a totally side of the Galapagos. Darwin’s Finches and the vermilion flycatcher inhabit this area.

Afterwards, you visit the Lava Tunnels and Rancho Primicias. This is a private ranch, owned by the Devine family. There are dozens of wild giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Friday): Española: Puerta Suarez – Playa Gardner

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its very remote location, there are a large number of endemic species that evolved independently from the rest of the archipelago.

Gardner Bay is a spectacular, long, white-sand beach where one can swim with sea lions and wander at your own pace. Your guide will lead you while snorkeling, pointing out wildlife like green sea turtles, manta rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and tropical fish.

Afterwards, you will visit Punta Suarez. This site offers quite a display of wildlife: marine iguanes with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, mockingbirds, masked and blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, sea lions, and lava lizards.

This is the only island where the waved albatross is to be seen during their breeding season. From April through December, the fascinating waved albatrosses are found on the Island performing mating rituals, nesting, and raising their young.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 7 (Saturday): Santa Fe – South Plaza

Santa Fe Island has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region, a turquoise lagoon protected by a peninsula of rocks and small islands that extends from the shore. The Santa Fe species of iguana are a brighter yellow color and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine.

The opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, grows unusually tall here, up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles may be seen against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe’s beautiful anchorage. Today you will have a few opportunities to snorkel, hopefully swimming with sea lions and colorful fish.

South Plaza Island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the archipelago and can be observed feeding on the prickly pear cactus. There are also iguanas that are a cross between the marine and land varieties. Along the sea cliffs frigate birds, shearwaters, brown pelicans and masked boobies may be seen.

You may snorkel from the beach where turtles, sharks and other fish are found. One of Plazas attractions is also a colony of bachelor sea lions who laze around on the sand. Depending on the season, the sesuvium ground vegetation changes its color from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 8 (Sunday): Black Turtle Cove – Depart Galapagos

With the dinghy we go into Black Turtle Cove, a big protected mangrove cove located in a remote corner of Santa Cruz Island. In the far away small corners the motor of the dinghy is turned off so we can travel noiselessly and observe the marine turtles.

There are a lot of them in the cove during mating and nesting season (December to February), but even out of season there are always some turtles staying back in the mangrove cove to rest. Spotted eagle rays, golden rays, white-tipped reef sharks and young Galapagos sharks can often be spotted.

At the end of the cruise, the passengers leave the Angelito again at the Baltra harbor. Your guide takes care of everything until you’re on your flight back to the continent.

(Breakfast)

DAY 1 (Sunday): Fly to Galapagos. Visit Las Bachas

Early in the morning you will catch your flight from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos. Arriving to the airport, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored. Now the cruise can begin!

You begin your trip with a visit to Las Bachas, which is a white coral beach in the north of the Island Santa Cruz. You have a wet landing and easy walk along the beach to small brackish water lagoons.

On the sandy beaches of Las Bachas you will get a close look at a sea turtle nesting area and further on, you walk to a lake frequented by pink flamingos, black-necked stilts, whimbrels and white cheeked pintail ducks. Afterwards, you’ll cool off with a dip in the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean and you can snorkel here as well.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Monday): Mosquera & Cerro Dragon

Mosquera is a newly opened, small sandy island located between North Seymour and Baltra. Mosquera has one of the biggest sea lion colonies in Galapagos with different Harems and it is a wonderful visiting point to observe their behavior.

Often you have the possibility to see the endemic lava gulls and other coastal birds. On the lava rocks we find marine iguanas sunning themselves in-between swims in the ocean to hunt for seaweed. Brightly colored Sally Light-foot crabs are also present here.

Later in the day, you visit Cerro Dragón (which means Dragon Hill), a scenic spot where you can find very iconic Galapaganean wildlife. The short hike passes a flamingo lagoon, located behind the beach vegetation and then leads through an impressive forest of prickly pear cactus forest. A loop trail goes to a small hill where land iguanas live and nest. The view from this small hill over the surrounding landscape is spectacular.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Isabela Island: Tagus Cove; Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza

Today you visit some of the most far-flung and wildlife-rich sites within the Galapagos archipelago. The western Islands of Isabela and Fernandina are usually the top highlight of any cruise due to the large populations of iconic Galapagos animals and their unusual relationships with their environs.

You make several stops on Isabela because it is such a massive Island with incredible diversity at each stop along the way due to lava flows which isolated many animals.

You begin with a visit to Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. This protected cove was a favorite resting site for the early pirates and whalers who also carved and painted their names in the high cliffs of the cove. Here, you embark on a scenic walk uphill to Darwin Lake, a saltwater crater lake, and then a bit further on, we have a wonderful view overlooking the lava fields of Darwin Volcano.

After the hike, you have a zodiac ride along the cliffs to look for Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants. If the water is clear, Tagus Cove is a fascinating snorkeling spot with a great amount of marine invertebrates to be found on the vertical walls.

The hike at Fernandina may feel like the most remote and scenic excursion during your entire cruise. Fernandina’s stark black landscape is juxtaposed by neighboring Isabela’s lush volcanoes and the turquoise ocean in between. But this visit is about much more than scenery since you have the opportunity to see an abundance of marine iguanas, Sally Light-foot crabs, flightless cormorants, sharks, and sea turtles.

It’s common here to snorkel in a bevy of sea turtles feasting on sea grass alongside swimming marine iguanas and penguins on the hunt for fish. Fernandina is probably the most pristine of all the Islands in the Galapagos since there have never been introduced mammals that plagued many other Islands in the archipelago.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Wednesday): Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Elizabeth Bay

You begin today with an early hike at Urbina Bay where your guide will explain the recent geologic events that created the bay and the surrounding uplift. Wildlife here includes colorful land iguanas, giant tortoises, and flightless cormorants. After your hike, you snorkel in the bay where you may spot Galapagos penguins and sea lions.

Later in the day, you will travel to Elizabeth Bay which is ideal for snorkeling and wildlife viewing. While traveling to the Bay, you may be lucky enough to spot migrating whales (between June and September). More likely, you’ll come across Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, sea turtles, sea lions, and sharks once in the cove.

Outside of the mangrove cove we make a dinghy drive around the small islets, the Marielas. These islets are important nesting places for the Galapagos Penguin and you often see a lot of Blue-footed Boobies resting in the steep cliffs. The flightless cormorants are also easy to spot on these islets as well.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Thursday): Isabela Island: Punta Moreno & Navegation to Puerto Villamil

Early in the morning we head out for a hike on the rough lava field of Punta Moreno. It’s a place where you can see all the three species of cactus: candelabra cactus, prickly pear cactus and lava cactus. Hopefully, in the middle of the lava field amidst some brackish water pools, you will find flamingoes, common gallinules, white cheeked pintail ducks and paint-billed crakes. On a dinghy drive you can see flightless cormorants, Galapagos Penguins and huge marine iguanas.

Around 11 a.m. we depart for the long (about 6 hours) but beautiful navigation to Puerto Villamil. We follow along the shoreline of the Volcano Cerro Azul, which is very scenic. Your guide and you will be on the look-out for dolphins, sperm whales, humpback whales, and orca pods; if they are spotted, we stop to observe them. Just before dark we arrive in the small harbor Puerto Villamil.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Friday): Isabela Island: Sierra Negra, Volcan Chico, Puerto Villamil

Today you see a vastly different side of the Galapagos as you visit the idyllic beach town of Puerto Villamil and explore the high volcanoes just outside town. By bus you begin the journey to the rim of the Sierra Negra caldera. You leave the bus behind and walk for about an hour, observing the different vegetation zones as you ascend.

Often it is a little bit raining or misty and foggy. You finally arrive at the rim of the huge caldera, measuring 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from north to south and 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) from east to west. This is the second largest caldera in the world and a very impressive site.

After the hike, you make a trip to the lagoons of Villamil. You start in the Tortoise Breeding Center where you can see different subspecies of the Galapagos land tortoises and the work for restoring the population of endangered populations. There are loads of adorable, tiny tortoises at all stages and you’ll find the research center here is a charming counterpart to the much larger Darwin Station on Santa Cruz.

On the walk back to town you take a nice trail from lagoon to lagoon and look for flamingoes, common gallinules, white-cheeked pintail ducks and black-necked stilts. If there is time, you can kick back on the sprawling white sand beach of Puerto Villamil and enjoy the view out over the turquoise water.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 7 (Saturday): Floreana Island

This morning you have a wet landing on the “Green Beach” of Punta Cormorant. Depending on the light conditions, the sand shines green because of the high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand. On an easy walk you come to a big salt-water lagoon with flamingoes, white-cheeked pintail ducks, black-necked stilts and, depending of the season, more migratory shore birds.

After another short walk you come to the “White Flour Sand Beach,” made of white corals. It’s a famous nesting beach for marine turtles. Making sure not to disturb any nesting sites, you may be lucky enough to see the remains of tiny turtle egg shells lying on the beach. Often you can see a lot of stingrays in the shallow water.

After your walk, you travel a short way to Devil’s Crown, the remains of a volcano now sunken into the ocean and whose sharp rocks make the shape of a black crown. This is one of the most famous snorkeling places in Galapagos, but it is only suitable for experienced snorkelers. Here, you are likely to snorkel alongside sharks, eels, turtles, sea lions, and an assortment of dazzling fish.

Before lunch, you make a short visit to the famous barrel in Post Office Bay. This “post office” is simply a barrel and was first used in 1793 by the whalers. They used it to receive and send letters home and to have contact within them; this tradition continues with the visitors who come to the Galapagos today.

A nearby beach is also lovely for wandering, swimming, or snorkeling on your own. After this visit we navigate to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, arriving around 5:00 p.m. You will have a bit of time to explore the town before returning to the Angelito for dinner.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 8 (Sunday): Daphne & Depart Galapagos

Early in the morning you’ll arrive to Daphne Island, a conical Island, which is home to thousands of birds such as blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, tropic birds, and many more. We’ll navigate around this volcanic cone and get as close as possible for you to observe the birds without disturbing them (of course, binoculars are recommended to make sure you get a good look at the birds).

Daphne has been a great research site on which many scientists have spent years studying the behavior of Darwin’s finches. After breakfast, around 8:00 a.m, you depart for Baltra airport for your flight back to the mainland.

(Breakfast)

Early in the morning you will catch your flight from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos. Arriving to the airport, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored.

Now the cruise can begin! You begin your Galapagos adventure with a wildlife-filled visit to North Seymour, an Island very close to Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. On your walk with the naturalist guide, you will observe abundant and entertaining birdlife as well as a sizeable sea lion colony.

On North Seymour, blue-footed boobies make their nests on the ground right below nesting Magnificent Frigate birds. You will likely see the male frigate birds inflate their incredible neck pouches, hoping to attract some lucky females flying overhead. The trail ends at a scenic beach where loads of sea lions love to sunbathe. Along this visit, you’re also likely to see Sally Light-foot crabs, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Monday): Chinese Hat – Bartolome

Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops and falls close to where it came from, which forms a cone inclined) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast.

On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. With your guide, you will walk along the gorgeous white sand beach and learn about these lava formations.

You will also have the chance to go snorkeling where it’s likely to swim with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks. From a dry landing on a jetty, you take the summit trail that first goes over sand and then leads to the top of Bartholomé on a wooden staircase. The view from the top of Santiago with Sullivan Bay and the surrounding islands is wonderful.

All the secondary cones, lava flows and lava tubes mimic a moon landscape. After the hike, you will snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, the famous landmark of Bartolome. With the dinghy you go along the coast of Bartolomé to look for the Galapagos penguins.

This is the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos and you are extremely like to swim with them here and see them nesting. The penguins live and nest in the lava tubes of the rocky coast, along which they also fish.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Genovesa: Darwin Bay – Prince Phillips Steps

Genovesa Island is known for its outstanding birdlife, even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, you will likely be delighted by the large colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Also, since the Island is only visited by cruises, it’s usually fairly uncrowded.

Darwin Bay was created by the collapse of a huge, underwater crater — this also explains the horseshoe shape of Genovesa Island. You first land on a white coral beach where you will immediately spot several birds on land and soaring overhead. Great frigate birds display their inflated, bright red neck pouches to attract passing females; Nazca and blue-footed boobies tend to their nests on the ground below; and mockingbirds sprint across the sand.

Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood. On this walk, you’re also likely to see the sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galapagos doves and swallow-tailed gulls.

At the end the trail you reach a cliff’s edge where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Island and ocean beyond. After this walk, you can enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the natural harbor. In the afternoon, you visit Prince Philip’s Steps, the only other visitor site on Genovesa.

The visit begins with a view of the rocky shore where many birds nest and raise their young. On the trail here one may observe red-billed tropicbirds, nesting boobies and a colony of storm petrels. Genovesa Island offers a chance to also spot the Galapagos short-eared owl and the Galapagos fur seal as well as several species of finches, herons, and petrels.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Wednesday): Puerto Egas – Rabida

Today begins with a hike and snorkeling at Puerto Egas, aka James Bay. This spot is home to the fascinating Galapagos hawk as well as Galapagos oyster catchers and Galapagos lava lizards. We will walk to the coastline where we observe tidal pools and an abundance of Galapagos sea lions.

Here the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions bathe in the sun. While snorkeling, you swim alongside reef sharks, turtles, and rays. Later in the day, you will visit La Rabida, another small but fascinating Island. The first thing you’ll notice on La Rabida are its unique red cliffs and beaches.

While walking on this Island, you’re likely to spot sea lions, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, flamingos and blue-footed boobies. You will also have time to go for a snorkel in the waters just off La Rabida, where you will hopefully swim with sea lions and tropical fish.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Thursday): Darwin Station – Depart Galapagos

The Charles Darwin research station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and it’s a 10-minute walk from the center of town. At the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll learn first-hand of the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands.

See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. You’ll also see several species of giant iguanas that are being saved from extinction as well. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts and facilitates research in the Islands and you’ll learn about their important research here at the station.

You will be transferred to the Baltra airport after this visit. In Baltra, you will board the flight headed back to mainland Ecuador.

(Breakfast) 

Early in the morning you will catch your flight from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos. Arriving to the airport, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored.

Now the trip can begin! Highland Santa Cruz: Drive up to the highlands in a bus. In a short time one can see the transition between the different vegetation zones from the Arid zone to the Transition zone up to the Scalesia zone (and agricultural area). The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones.

You will walk to Los Gemelos (meaning “twins”) which are two big pit craters in the middle of a wonderful Scalesia forest. These endemic trees and the lush vegetation, with a lot of different ferns, mosses and liverworts, show a totally side of the Galapagos. Darwin’s Finches and the vermilion flycatcher inhabit this area.

Afterwards, you visit the Lava Tunnels and Rancho Primicias. This is a private ranch, owned by the Devine family. There are dozens of wild giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Friday): Española: Puerta Suarez – Playa Gardner

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its very remote location, there are a large number of endemic species that evolved independently from the rest of the archipelago. Gardner Bay is a spectacular, long, white-sand beach where one can swim with sea lions and wander at your own pace.

Your guide will lead you while snorkeling, pointing out wildlife like green sea turtles, manta rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and tropical fish. Afterwards, you will visit Punta Suarez. This site offers quite a display of wildlife: marine iguanes with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, mockingbirds, masked and blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, sea lions, and lava lizards.

This is the only island where the waved albatross is to be seen during their breeding season. From April through December, the fascinating waved albatrosses are found on the Island performing mating rituals, nesting, and raising their young.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Saturday): Santa Fe – South Plaza

Santa Fe Island has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region, a turquoise lagoon protected by a peninsula of rocks and small islands that extends from the shore. The Santa Fe species of iguana are a brighter yellow color and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine.

The opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, grows unusually tall here, up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles may be seen against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe’s beautiful anchorage. Today you will have a few opportunities to snorkel, hopefully swimming with sea lions and colorful fish.

South Plaza Island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the archipelago and can be observed feeding on the prickly pear cactus. There are also iguanas that are a cross between the marine and land varieties. Along the sea cliffs frigate birds, shearwaters, brown pelicans and masked boobies may be seen.

You may snorkel from the beach where turtles, sharks and other fish are found. One of Plazas attractions is also a colony of bachelor sea lions who laze around on the sand. Depending on the season, the sesuvium ground vegetation changes its color from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Sunday): Black Turtle Cove – Depart Galapagos

With the dinghy we go into Black Turtle Cove, a big protected mangrove cove located in a remote corner of Santa Cruz Island. In the far away small corners the motor of the dinghy is turned off so we can travel noiselessly and observe the marine turtles.

There are a lot of them in the cove during mating and nesting season (December to February), but even out of season there are always some turtles staying back in the mangrove cove to rest. Spotted eagle rays, golden rays, white-tipped reef sharks and young Galapagos sharks can often be spotted.

At the end of the cruise, the passengers leave the Angelito again at the Baltra harbor. Your guide takes care of everything until you’re on your flight back to the continent.

(Breakfast)