DAY 1: Arrive in the Galapagos & San Cristobal Island: Cerro Colorado

AM: Arrival at San Cristobal Airport
Arrived at San Cristóbal Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; This must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight.

In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $ 100), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and will accompany you on the short bus ride to the port of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Here you go aboard the yacht Archipel II. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then the first joint lunch will take place.

PM: Cerro Colorado (San Cristobal)
Cerro Colorado Tortoises Protection and Growing Center, located at 40 minutes approximately by bus to the south east of the island. This center was built to improve the status of the population of the island tortoises.

The center includes a large corral, a Visitors center, breeding center and an interpretive trail. Along this trail is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants as well birds as the San Cristobal Mockingbird, Yellow Warblers, and many species of finches and the Galapagos flycatcher.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: South Plaza Island & Santa Fe Island

AM: South Plaza
After breakfast you will make an unforgettable guided walk on South Plaza, best place to encounter endemic Galapagos land iguanas, patient and photogenic models. Beware as well for some unique hybrids between a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.

Arriving at the upper rim, about 20m/75ft downwards impressively droning waves splash against the foot of massive cliffs. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and brown noddies make spectacular flights and sometimes appear to walk on the waves.

Take your binoculars and don’t miss the red-billed tropicbird with its graceful long tail and spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also a nesting place for the endemic swallow-tailed gull. Before lunch we will sail to Santa Fe, possibly escorted by bottlenose dolphins.

PM: Barrington Bay (Santa Fe)
After lunch you will land right into a Galapagos sea lion colony on the beach, where you will have time for a refreshing swim or excellent snorkeling between tropical reef fish in the crystal clear azure waters of Barrington Bay.

You will also encounter bizarre giant prickly pear cactus (opuntia) forests. These largest cacti of the islands have extremely thick trunks indeed, and can grow over 10m/33ft tall! At the end of the morning we have a wet landing at the beach of Santa Fe and have a guided nature walk.

This extraordinary Island is remnant of the probably most ancient volcano of Galapagos. Your guide decides whether the easy shorter circuit is followed, or a strenuous longer hike land inward (moderate level; about 3km/2mi).

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Sombrero Chino & Santa Cruz Island; Dragon Hill

AM: Chinese Hat
Chinese Hat is a 52m/170ft high volcanic cone, forming another islet right out off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins has settled. Because its primordial fire has been extinguished recently, this is an excellent place to learn more about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels.

On the beach you can also find curious pillow-type lavas with coral heads on top! These spheres have a submarine origin before being lifted above sea level. Beaches of white coral sand grow, and holes in the eroding lava fields are filled up with lava sand, which enables rooting.

Galapagos sea lions and countless marine iguanas contribute to fertilization. All together create more favorable options for newcomers, like saltbush and the discoloring sesuvium carpet. Colonization of Chinese Hat can occur in a much higher pace than elsewhere, hence Santiago is just a stone’s throw away.

PM: Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)
The Dragon Hill has been open to the public since 1993 and is located in the north-west of the island of Santa Cruz. A path leads to a salted water lagoon behind the beach, which is visited by flamingos, ducks and other bird species. This place was re-populated with land iguanas of Seymour, Isabela and Santa Cruz. From the top of the hill you have a beautiful view of the bay.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands

AM: Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
After lunch our dinghies will bring you to the touristic pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are carried out.

The complex houses interpretation and information centers about the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve around. Most memorable from your visit will probably be the successful breeding center and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises.

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Because wild Galapagos giant tortoises don’t stop at official National Park boundaries, dozens of them also roam on the adjacent woodlands in the populated agricultural zone of Santa Cruz.

Thanks to their concentrations around their favorite muddy pools, these semi-open pastures and moist scalesia-woodlands are best place for a quick visit. After this trip you will have some time to walk and explore around.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Isabela Island: Tintoreras, Tortoise Breeding Center, & Wetlands

AM: Las Tintoreras (Isabela)
Just outside the harbor of Puerto Villamil a group of islets protrude just above the ocean. The jagged black formations, dotted with mangrove and candelabra cactus, are the remnants of a lava stream that has ended up into the ocean. Marine life gets trapped, including spectacular white tip reef sharks (called “tintoreras” in Spanish, as is the site’s official name).

This species of shark is fairly common in the archipelago, and generally spotted on the seabed when snorkeling, whilst these are resting from their nocturnal hunts. But on this unique place you can observe them comfortably from the bank in the crystal clear turquoise waters.

Sometimes turtles and elegant white-spotted eagle rays or golden rays glide back and forth through this calm channel, as well as smaller fish and Galapagos sea lions. Also, here the largest species of marine Iguanas reproduce.

The rocky shoreline with its intertidal life also attracts sally lightfoot crabs, lava herons and Galapagos penguins, which particularly reside on the other (western) side of Isabela.

PM: Tortoise Breeding Centre & Wetlands
Isabela Island is the largest and one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We land in Puerto Villamil, which has the second smallest population in Galapagos with approximately 3.000 habitants.

First, we will visit the Flamingos Lagoon; the largest coastal lagoon found in Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the greater Flamingos On your visit to Colorado Hill, you will get to discover the amazing and emblematic Giant Galapagos Tortoises in the Tortoise breeding center, and maybe even get to see one hatch (seasonally)!

In addition, you will get to see how much hard work is put into save the last local giants of San Cristobal.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Isabela Island: Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay

AM: Punta Moreno (Isabela)
Punta Moreno is located between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, on the north coast of Isabela Island. The trail leads along the lava river Pahoehoe to a complex of several coastal lagoons. The main attraction are various bird species which can be found in lakes and mangrove forests.

PM: Elizabeth Bay
The inflatable dinghy will turn landwards, leaving the surf behind and enter the calm estuary of Elizabeth Bay through a quite narrow entrance. Graceful Pacific green turtles swim in slow motion around, sometimes popping-up their heads for breathing. Maybe you can also see spotted eagle rays or sharks.

Brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies show diverging plunge-diving techniques, while lava herons and great blue herons prefer to wait patiently for what comes along. You can also compare the huge red mangroves with black, white and button mangroves.

Overnight on board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 7: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove & Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza

AM: Tagus Cove (Isabela)
In the morning we will enter Bolivar Channel to Tagus Cove (navigation time: 3h). Meanwhile you can enjoy the delicious lunch buffet before snorkeling and island visit at Tagus Cove. Explosive eruptions have blown out a part of the outer rims of both tuff cones, and created their characteristic horseshoe shapes and Tagus Cove.

The inner crater rim contains Darwin Lake. Traditionally sailors started to write the names of their vessels on the eastern cliffs of Tagus cove. During the hike along the inner crater ridge of Darwin Lake you can continue to a great viewpoint on the outer caldera rim, with views to the outstretched lava slopes of Darwin Volcano.

This arid inland zone is overgrown with characteristic tropical dry forest vegetation including a special variety of palo santo, Galapagos cotton and yellow cordia (muyuyu). During the hike you can spot different Darwin’s finches, flycatchers and Galapagos hawks.

PM: Punta Espinoza (Fernandina)
Espinoza Point is Fernandina’s only terrestrial visitors site, and one of the few locations where you will find some bizarre outgrowths of natural selection. Figurehead is the emblematic flightless cormorant that lives exclusively in the remote west of Galapagos, and could be considered as the ‘holy grail of evolution’.

You will also love the almost unworldly views with the dominating cone of Volcán La Cumbre as a spectacular backdrop. The narrow headland that you walk is the end of a lava tongue that has reached the coast and solidified on contact with the cold seawater.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: Santa Cruz Island: Las Bachas & Depart Galapagos

AM: Las Bachas (Santa Cruz)
These two small beaches are located in the west of the Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz. Their sand consists of decomposed corals, which makes it white and soft. This makes it the favorite nesting site for sea turtles.

Behind one of the beaches there are small water lagoons, where one can occasionally observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilt birds and rainbows. On the second beach, the wider one, you can explore the remains of two abandoned warships.

In the second world war these were left by the US, as the island of Baltra was used as a strategic point for the protection of the Panama Canal. After this excursion, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.

PM: Transfer to Baltra Airport 

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in the Galapagos & North Seymour Island

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport
Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; this must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight.

In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $ 100), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbor of Puerto Ayora.

Here you will climb aboard the yacht Archipel II. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board.

PM: North Seymour
The tabletop islet of North Seymour is an uplifted part of the seabed. Between the dry shrubs you might perceive a Galapagos land iguana. You can spot lots of seabirds, such as brown pelicans, red-billed tropicbirds, endemic swallow-tailed gulls and seasonally even Nazca boobies.

But the main attraction are the archipelago’s most extensive breeding colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. At the start of the breeding season adult male frigatebirds blow up their vivid red pouches to impressive football-sized balloons.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: Bartolome Island & Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach & Buccaneer Cove

AM: Bartolome
The island of Bartolomé rises 114m above Sullivan Bay. Climb the steps of the Bartolomé Peak Trail and you will be rewarded with panoramic views over volcanic peaks, lunar craters and lava fields.

Afterwards you can refresh yourself at the foot of the famous “Pinnacle Rock” and explore the underwater world in the shallow water while snorkeling. Although there is little vegetation on this island, it has two breathtaking beaches, where sea turtles live. At the foot of the mountain you can also discover a small colony of Galapagos penguins.

PM: Espumilla Beach & Buccaneer Cove (Santiago)
Espumilla Beach is a visitor’s site at the northern end of James Bay, on the western coast of Santiago. This beach has been revived as an important breeding site for turtles, as it is no longer suffering from digging wild pigs.

The turtles return year after year to bury their eggs into the cinnamon colored sand dunes. The beach ridge hides a mangle with two picturesque lagoons. The colony of American flamingos and aquatic birds used to be its main attraction, but after the climate phenomenon of El Niño, strong sedimentation altered the brackish water environment, and it no longer contains their food.

During the climb of a hill you will be rewarded with a beautiful overview of the transitions from sea into beach into mangrove into dry palo santo forest.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

AM: Puerto Egas (Santiago)
After breakfast we will navigate south to Puerto Egas with its famous fur seal grottos, where you will enjoy another, very different guided walk along the coastline.

Its masterly sculptured coastline of black basalts and polished multi-colored ash-layers forms a photogenic scene with collapsed lava tunnels, natural arches, caves and blowholes such as ‘Darwin’s toilet’.

In a grotto directly below a spectacular rock arch at the end of the beach, a colony of sea lions occupies the shade. Hundreds of sally lightfoot crabs seem even brighter orange against the black rocks.

PM: Rabida
After lunch and a ‘wet landing’ on the remarkable red beach of Rabida, there are two short guided hikes. Oxidized iron particles give the rocks and sand their rusty color. The beach wall holds a shallow green-fringed lagoon; this oasis is the most fertile place on the otherwise arid islet, which is overgrown with leaf-dropping palo santo trees.

The salty pool attracts all kind of aquatic birds, like pintails and sometimes American flamingos. Between the evergreen foliage of the surrounding mangrove bushes many species of songbirds hide and breed.

One of the most outstanding attractions is the major breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only ones in the world that plunge-dive. On return you will be picked up by the inflatable dinghies, to get ready for snorkeling.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands

AM: Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)
Our dinghies will bring you to the touristic pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This is where biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are carried out.

The complex houses interpretation and information centers about the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The most memorable part of your visit will probably be the successful breeding centre and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises.

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Because wild Galapagos giant tortoises don’t stop at official National Park boundaries, dozens of them also roam on the adjacent woodlands in the populated agricultural zone of Santa Cruz.

Thanks to their concentrations around their favorite muddy pools, these semi-open pastures and moist scalesia-woodlands are the best place for a quick visit. After this excursion you will have some time to visit the surroundings.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Post Office Bay, & Baroness Lookout

AM: Cormorant Point (Floreana)
The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the extreme north cape of Floreana, which was formed by a number of smaller volcanic cones, covered with tropical dry forest (palo santo).

At the landing beach, you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion-colony. The green sand on this beach contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals that have been blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the southern side of the peninsula is made up of even finer white coral sand that feels very smooth on your feet.

Parrotfish have pulverized it, grinding the calcareous skeletons of living coral. You can spot schools of stingrays who love burying themselves in the sandy bottom. During the first months of the year, Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs.

PM: Post Office Bay & Baroness Lookout (Floreana)
While having lunch we will navigate back to Post Office Bay (about 1hr). Post your holiday greetings in the historical barrel, one of three nearby visitor’s sites on Floreana’s north coast (short displacement, wet landing) and relax.

Besides Galapagos sea lions, Pacific green turtles and golden cownose rays you might spot Galapagos penguins! This is the only place in the south-eastern archipelago where penguins reside. Explore by inflatable dinghy – or in your own pace by sea-kayak – another submerged crater rim around the bay of Baroness Lookout.

Climb the miniature basaltic cone of Baroness Lookout and take in the paradisiacal coastal views. This viewpoint was the favorite spot of one of Floreana’s first colonists, the eccentric Baroness and self-proclaimed ‘Empress of Galapagos’ Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, who even built her house a few meters behind.

She and one of her lovers were the first in a series of mysterious disappearances and deaths in the 1930s.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Española Island: Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez

AM: Gardner Bay (Española)
On the north-eastern coast of the island of Española, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and to admire the large number of colorful reef fish.

You will also have the opportunity to snorkel side by side with green sea turtles, or to enjoy the proximity of the playful Galapagos sea lion. The white sand beach is also an important breeding ground for the green sea turtles. In the crystal-clear ocean, sometimes whales can be sighted under certain circumstances.

PM: Punta Suarez (Española)
This rocky area is home to the most impressive and diverse seabirds of the archipelago. The endangered Galapagos albatross returns to Española (March – December) annually.

This allows visitors to admire the balances of pipes and bows (especially in October). Blue-fronted and nazcat oil pipes, black-tailed gulls and red-billed tropic birds are native to this island. Along the southern coast, high cliffs allow spectacular views of ascending birds and the sea water shot through air holes.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: San Cristobal Island: Punta Piit & Cerro Brujo

AM: Punta Pitt (San Cristobal)
Two wind sculptured tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute the extreme eastern end of San Cristobal. On the small green sand beach, you will be welcomed by a cacophony of barking Galapagos sea lions.

From saltbush and spiny shrubs behind the beach a trail leads up to an area of tropical dry forest vegetation: most of the year leafless palo santo trees, yellow cordia shrubs, tiny prickly pear cacti and carpetweed, that turns red in the dry season.

After the pretty steep climb through a gully to the cliff top, you can wander around the only colony in Galapagos that is home to all species of booby.

PM: Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal)
The primary attraction of this site is the coral sand beach. It is an excellent place to swim and snorkel. Cerro Brujo is the remains of a tuff cone. It is one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin. Captain Fitzroy climbed to the top of the hill to scout out reefs.

It has an impressive landscape, where it is often possible to see coastal and migratory birds, including pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, and Swallow-tailed Gulls, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas. At times the lagoon is completely dry and deposits of salt may be found in the bottom. The people of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno used to use the lagoon as a salt mine.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: San Cristobal Island: Isla Lobos & Depart Galapagos

AM: Isla Lobos (San Cristobal)
The island is named after the amount of sea lions that rest on the seaside. Though at first sight it appears to just be barren rocks overgrown by palo santo, this low islet is home to male blue footed boobies and great frigate birds that try to impress the females with clumsy dances heaving their striking blue feet or blowing up their balloon-sized scarlet pouches.

You can also find a lot of life in the intertidal zone, including striking bright orange sally lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas on the boulders. On the horizon you can distinguish the contours of Kicker Rock. That impressive rock islet has become one of the landmarks of Galapagos.

PM: Transfer to San Cristobal Airport

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in the Galapagos & San Cristobal Island: Cerro Colorado

AM: Arrival at San Cristobal Airport
Arrived at San Cristóbal Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; This must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight.

In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $ 100), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and will accompany you on the short bus ride to the port of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Here you go aboard the yacht Archipel II. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then the first joint lunch will take place.

PM: Cerro Colorado (San Cristobal)
Cerro Colorado Tortoises Protection and Growing Center, located at 40 minutes approximately by bus to the south east of the island. This center was built to improve the status of the population of the island tortoises.

The center includes a large corral, a Visitors center, breeding center and an interpretive trail. Along this trail is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants as well birds as the San Cristobal Mockingbird, Yellow Warblers, and many species of finches and the Galapagos flycatcher.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: South Plaza Island & Santa Fe Island

AM: South Plaza
After breakfast you will make an unforgettable guided walk on South Plaza, best place to encounter endemic Galapagos land iguanas, patient and photogenic models. Beware as well for some unique hybrids between a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.

Arriving at the upper rim, about 20m/75ft downwards impressively droning waves splash against the foot of massive cliffs. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and brown noddies make spectacular flights and sometimes appear to walk on the waves.

Take your binoculars and don’t miss the red-billed tropicbird with its graceful long tail and spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also a nesting place for the endemic swallow-tailed gull. Before lunch we will sail to Santa Fe, possibly escorted by bottlenose dolphins.

PM: Barrington Bay (Santa Fe)
After lunch you will land right into a Galapagos sea lion colony on the beach, where you will have time for a refreshing swim or excellent snorkeling between tropical reef fish in the crystal clear azure waters of Barrington Bay. You will also encounter bizarre giant prickly pear cactus (opuntia) forests.

These largest cacti of the islands have extremely thick trunks indeed, and can grow over 10m/33ft tall! At the end of the morning we have a wet landing at the beach of Santa Fe and have a guided nature walk. This extraordinary Island is remnant of the probably most ancient volcano of Galapagos.

Your guide decides whether the easy shorter circuit is followed, or a strenuous longer hike land inward (moderate level; about 3km/2mi).

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Sombrero Chino & Santa Cruz Island: Dragon Hill

AM: Chinese Hat
Chinese Hat is a 52m/170ft high volcanic cone, forming another islet right out off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins has settled. Because its primordial fire has been extinguished recently, this is an excellent place to learn more about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels.

On the beach you can also find curious pillow-type lavas with coral heads on top! These spheres have a submarine origin before being lifted above sea level. Beaches of white coral sand grow, and holes in the eroding lava fields are filled up with lava sand, which enables rooting. Galapagos sea lions and countless marine iguanas contribute to fertilization.

All together create more favorable options for newcomers, like saltbush and the discoloring sesuvium carpet. Colonization of Chinese Hat can occur in a much higher pace than elsewhere, hence Santiago is just a stone’s throw away.

PM: Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)
The Dragon Hill has been open to the public since 1993 and is located in the north-west of the island of Santa Cruz. A path leads to a salted water lagoon behind the beach, which is visited by flamingos, ducks and other bird species.

This place was re-populated with land iguanas of Seymour, Isabela and Santa Cruz. From the top of the hill you have a beautiful view of the bay.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Depart Galapagos

AM: Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
After lunch our dinghies will bring you to the touristic pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are carried out.

The complex houses interpretation and information centers about the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve around. Most memorable from your visit will probably be the successful breeding center and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises.

PM: Transfer to Baltra Airport 

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in the Galapagos & Santa Cruz Island: Highlands

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport
Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; this must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight.

In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $ 100), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbour of Puerto Ayora.

Here you will climb aboard the yacht Archipel II. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board.

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Because wild Galapagos giant tortoises don’t stop at official National Park boundaries, dozens of them also roam on the adjacent woodlands in the populated agricultural zone of Santa Cruz.

Thanks to their concentrations around their favorite muddy pools, these semi-open pastures and moist scalesia-woodlands are best place for a quick visit. After this trip you will have some time to walk and explore around.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: Isabela Island: Tintoreras, Tortoise Breeding Center, & Wetlands

AM: Las Tintoreras (Isabela)
Just outside the harbor of Puerto Villamil a group of islets protrude just above the ocean. The jagged black formations, dotted with mangrove and candelabra cactus, are the remnants of a lava stream that has ended up into the ocean.

Marine life gets trapped, including spectacular white tip reef sharks (called “tintoreras” in Spanish, as is the site’s official name). This species of shark is fairly common in the archipelago, and generally spotted on the seabed when snorkeling, whilst these are resting from their nocturnal hunts.

But on this unique place you can observe them comfortably from the bank in the crystal clear turquoise waters. Sometimes turtles and elegant white-spotted eagle rays or golden rays glide back and forth through this calm channel, as well as smaller fish and Galapagos sea lions.

Also, here the largest species of marine Iguanas reproduce. The rocky shoreline with its intertidal life also attracts sally lightfoot crabs, lava herons and Galapagos penguins, which particularly reside on the other (western) side of Isabela.

PM: Tortoise Breeding Centre & Wetlands
Isabela Island is the largest and one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We land in Puerto Villamil, which has the second smallest population in Galapagos with approximately 3.000 habitants.

First, we will visit the Flamingos Lagoon; the largest coastal lagoon found in Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the greater Flamingos.

On your visit to Colorado Hill, you will get to discover the amazing and emblematic Giant Galapagos Tortoises in the Tortoise breeding center, and maybe even get to see one hatch (seasonally)! In addition, you will get to see how much hard work is put into save the last local giants of San Cristobal.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Isabela Island: Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay

AM: Punta Moreno (Isabela)
Punta Moreno is located between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, on the north coast of Isabela Island. The trail leads along the lava river Pahoehoe to a complex of several coastal lagoons. The main attraction are various bird species which can be found in lakes and mangrove forests.

PM: Elizabeth Bay
The inflatable dinghy will turn landwards, leaving the surf behind and enter the calm estuary of Elizabeth Bay through a quite narrow entrance. Graceful Pacific green turtles swim in slow motion around, sometimes popping-up their heads for breathing.

Maybe you can also see spotted eagle rays or sharks. Brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies show diverging plunge-diving techniques, while lava herons and great blue herons prefer to wait patiently for what comes along. You can also compare the huge red mangroves with black, white and button mangroves.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove & Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza

AM: Tagus Cove (Isabela)
In the morning we will enter Bolivar Channel to Tagus Cove (navigation time: 3h). Meanwhile you can enjoy the delicious lunch buffet before snorkeling and island visit at Tagus Cove. Explosive eruptions have blown out a part of the outer rims of both tuff cones, and created their characteristic horseshoe shapes and Tagus Cove.

The inner crater rim contains Darwin Lake. Traditionally sailors started to write the names of their vessels on the eastern cliffs of Tagus cove. During the hike along the inner crater ridge of Darwin Lake you can continue to a great viewpoint on the outer caldera rim, with views to the outstretched lava slopes of Darwin Volcano.

This arid inland zone is overgrown with characteristic tropical dry forest vegetation including a special variety of palo santo, Galapagos cotton and yellow cordia (muyuyu). During the hike you can spot different Darwin’s finches, flycatchers and Galapagos hawks.

PM: Punta Espinoza (Fernandina)
Espinoza Point is Fernandina’s only terrestrial visitors site, and one of the few locations where you will find some bizarre outgrowths of natural selection. Figurehead is the emblematic flightless cormorant that lives exclusively in the remote west of Galapagos, and could be considered as the ‘holy grail of evolution’.

You will also love the almost unworldly views with the dominating cone of Volcán La Cumbre as a spectacular backdrop. The narrow headland that you walk is the end of a lava tongue that has reached the coast and solidified on contact with the cold seawater.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Santa Cruz Island: Las Bachas & Depart Galapagos

AM: Las Bachas (Santa Cruz)
These two small beaches are located in the west of the Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz. Their sand consists of decomposed corals, which makes it white and soft. This makes it the favorite nesting site for sea turtles.

Behind one of the beaches there are small water lagoons, where one can occasionally observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilt birds and rainbows. On the second beach, the wider one, you can explore the remains of two abandoned warships.

In the second world war these were left by the US, as the island of Baltra was used as a strategic point for the protection of the Panama Canal. After this excursion, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.

PM: Transfer to Baltra Airport

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in the Galapagos & North Seymour Island

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport
Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; this must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight.

In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $ 100), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbor of Puerto Ayora.

Here you will climb aboard the yacht Archipel II. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board.

PM: North Seymour
The tabletop islet of North Seymour is an uplifted part of the seabed. Between the dry shrubs you might perceive a Galapagos land iguana.

You can spot lots of seabirds, such as brown pelicans, red-billed tropicbirds, endemic swallow-tailed gulls and seasonally even Nazca boobies.

But the main attraction are the archipelago’s most extensive breeding colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. At the start of the breeding season adult male frigatebirds blow up their vivid red pouches to impressive football-sized balloons.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: Bartolome Island & Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach & Buccaneer Cove

AM: Bartolome
The island of Bartolomé rises 114m above Sullivan Bay. Climb the steps of the Bartolomé Peak Trail and you will be rewarded with panoramic views over volcanic peaks, lunar craters and lava fields. Afterwards you can refresh yourself at the foot of the famous “Pinnacle Rock” and explore the underwater world in the shallow water while snorkeling.

Although there is little vegetation on this island, it has two breathtaking beaches, where sea turtles live. At the foot of the mountain you can also discover a small colony of Galapagos penguins.

PM: Espumilla Beach & Buccaneer Cove (Santiago)
Espumilla Beach is a visitor’s site at the northern end of James Bay, on the western coast of Santiago. This beach has been revived as an important breeding site for turtles, as it is no longer suffering from digging wild pigs. The turtles return year after year to bury their eggs into the cinnamon colored sand dunes.

The beach ridge hides a mangle with two picturesque lagoons. The colony of American flamingos and aquatic birds used to be its main attraction, but after the climate phenomenon of El Niño, strong sedimentation altered the brackish water environment, and it no longer contains their food.

During the climb of a hill you will be rewarded with a beautiful overview of the transitions from sea into beach into mangrove into dry palo santo forest.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

AM: Puerto Egas (Santiago)
After breakfast we will navigate south to Puerto Egas with its famous fur seal grottos, where you will enjoy another, very different guided walk along the coastline. Its masterly sculptured coastline of black basalts and polished multi-colored ash-layers forms a photogenic scene with collapsed lava tunnels, natural arches, caves and blowholes such as ‘Darwin’s toilet’.

In a grotto directly below a spectacular rock arch at the end of the beach, a colony of sea lions occupies the shade. Hundreds of sally lightfoot crabs seem even brighter orange against the black rocks.

PM: Rabida
After lunch and a ‘wet landing’ on the remarkable red beach of Rabida, there are two short guided hikes. Oxidized iron particles give the rocks and sand their rusty color. The beach wall holds a shallow green-fringed lagoon; this oasis is the most fertile place on the otherwise arid islet, which is overgrown with leaf-dropping palo santo trees.

The salty pool attracts all kind of aquatic birds, like pintails and sometimes American flamingos. Between the evergreen foliage of the surrounding mangrove bushes many species of songbirds hide and breed.

One of the most outstanding attractions is the major breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only ones in the world that plunge-dive. On return you will be picked up by the inflatable dinghies, to get ready for snorkeling.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Depart Galapagos

AM: Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)
Our dinghies will bring you to the touristic pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This is where biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are carried out.

The complex houses interpretation and information centers about the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The most memorable part of your visit will probably be the successful breeding centre and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises.

PM: Transfer to Baltra Airport (Breakfast)

DAY 1: Arrive in the Galapagos & Santa Cruz Island: Highlands

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport
Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; this must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight.

In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $ 100), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbor of Puerto Ayora.

Here you will climb aboard the yacht Archipel II. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board.

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Because wild Galapagos giant tortoises don’t stop at official National Park boundaries, dozens of them also roam on the adjacent woodlands in the populated agricultural zone of Santa Cruz.

Thanks to their concentrations around their favorite muddy pools, these semi-open pastures and moist scalesia-woodlands are the best place for a quick visit. After this excursion you will have some time to visit the surroundings.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Post Office Bay, & Baroness Lookout

AM: Cormorant Point (Floreana)
The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the extreme north cape of Floreana, which was formed by a number of smaller volcanic cones, covered with tropical dry forest (palo santo). At the landing beach, you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion-colony.

The green sand on this beach contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals that have been blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the southern side of the peninsula is made up of even finer white coral sand that feels very smooth on your feet.

Parrotfish have pulverized it, grinding the calcareous skeletons of living coral. You can spot schools of stingrays who love burying themselves in the sandy bottom. During the first months of the year, Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs.

PM: Post Office Bay & Baroness Lookout (Floreana)
While having lunch we will navigate back to Post Office Bay (about 1hr). Post your holiday greetings in the historical barrel, one of three nearby visitor’s sites on Floreana’s north coast (short displacement, wet landing) and relax.

Besides Galapagos sea lions, Pacific green turtles and golden cownose rays you might spot Galapagos penguins! This is the only place in the south-eastern archipelago where penguins reside. Explore by inflatable dinghy – or in your own pace by sea-kayak – another submerged crater rim around the bay of Baroness Lookout.

Climb the miniature basaltic cone of Baroness Lookout and take in the paradisiacal coastal views. This viewpoint was the favorite spot of one of Floreana’s first colonists, the eccentric Baroness and self-proclaimed ‘Empress of Galapagos’ Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, who even built her house a few meters behind. She and one of her lovers were the first in a series of mysterious disappearances and deaths in the 1930s.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Española Island: Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez

AM: Gardner Bay (Española)
On the north-eastern coast of the island of Española, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and to admire the large number of colorful reef fish. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel side by side with green sea turtles, or to enjoy the proximity of the playful Galapagos sea lion.

The white sand beach is also an important breeding ground for the green sea turtles. In the crystal-clear ocean, sometimes whales can be sighted under certain circumstances.

PM: Punta Suarez (Española)
This rocky area is home to the most impressive and diverse seabirds of the archipelago. The endangered Galapagos albatross returns to Española (March – December) annually.

This allows visitors to admire the balances of pipes and bows (especially in October). Blue-fronted and nazcat oil pipes, black-tailed gulls and red-billed tropic birds are native to this island. Along the southern coast, high cliffs allow spectacular views of ascending birds and the sea water shot through air holes.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: San Cristobal Island: Punta Piit & Cerro Brujo

AM: Punta Pitt (San Cristobal)
Two wind sculptured tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute the extreme eastern end of San Cristobal. On the small green sand beach, you will be welcomed by a cacophony of barking Galapagos sea lions.

From saltbush and spiny shrubs behind the beach a trail leads up to an area of tropical dry forest vegetation: most of the year leafless palo santo trees, yellow cordia shrubs, tiny prickly pear cacti and carpetweed, that turns red in the dry season.

After the pretty steep climb through a gully to the cliff top, you can wander around the only colony in Galapagos that is home to all species of booby.

PM: Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal)
The primary attraction of this site is the coral sand beach. It is an excellent place to swim and snorkel. Cerro Brujo is the remains of a tuff cone. It is one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin. Captain Fitzroy climbed to the top of the hill to scout out reefs.

It has an impressive landscape, where it is often possible to see coastal and migratory birds, including pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, and Swallow-tailed Gulls, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas. At times the lagoon is completely dry and deposits of salt may be found in the bottom. The people of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno used to use the lagoon as a salt mine.

Overnight: On board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: San Cristobal Island: Isla Lobos & Depart Galapagos

AM: Isla Lobos (San Cristobal)
The island is named after the amount of sea lions that rest on the seaside. Though at first sight it appears to just be barren rocks overgrown by palo santo, this low islet is home to male blue footed boobies and great frigate birds that try to impress the females with clumsy dances heaving their striking blue feet or blowing up their balloon-sized scarlet pouches.

You can also find a lot of life in the intertidal zone, including striking bright orange sally lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas on the boulders. On the horizon you can distinguish the contours of Kicker Rock. That impressive rock islet has become one of the landmarks of Galapagos.

PM: Transfer to San Cristobal Airport 

Meals: Breakfast