DAY 1 (Wednesday): Fly to Galapagos, Santa Cruz Highlands & Darwin Station

In the morning, you will fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the Baltra airport in the Galapagos. You will be picked at the airport by a guide and transferred to your first excursion in the Galapagos. Once on Santa Cruz, another vehicle will be waiting for you to take you for a tour in the highlands looking for giant tortoises in the wild. Water and box lunch will be available at one of these private properties before heading down to the town of Puerto Ayora for a visit of the Charles Darwin Scientific Research Station. The Charles Darwin research station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, 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. You will see the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts and facilitates research in the Galapagos Islands and the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve of Ecuador. The Darwin Station is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, an international non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research in the Galapagos Islands since 1959. (Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Thursday): Plazas & Santa Fe Island

Santa Fe: Santa Fe 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: You will visit South Plaza Island in the afternoon with your guide. The Plaza islands are situated off the east coast of Santa Cruz. You will alight at South Plaza via a dry landing. The 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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Friday): San Cristobal Island: Cerro Brujo, El Junco

Located on the western side of San Cristobal, Cerro Brujo is a beautiful white sand beach with turquoise water where blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, sea lions, and marine iguanas are all found. This is a true wildlife highlight on San Cristobal. Above the beach, you’ll see a very striking volcanic cone and you’ll see the volcanic rock formations all around. This was actually one of the first stops Charles Darwin made in the Galapagos during his famous journey. Your guide will explain the fascinating history and wildlife of this area while walking.

El Junco Lake is a huge fresh water lagoon and the only fresh-water reservoir in the Galapagos. This site is reached by road and is about a half hour drive from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the major town of San Cristobal. The lake is the caldera (collapsed cone) of an extinct volcano and is about 300 meters wide. The name El Junco is Spanish for sedge, which is present along the banks of the lake. The ecosystem at El Junco is strikingly different from what you saw earlier in the day at Cerro Brujo and the focus here is discovering the various fauna. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Saturday): Española Island

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its 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 iguanas with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, 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 5 (Sunday): Floreana Island

Floreana Island is famous for its colorful history of pirates, whalers, and fascinating early settlers. There is also some unique wildlife to be seen here as well as outstanding snorkeling at nearby Devil’s crown. The visit to Punta Cormorant takes you to two very different beaches. You begin on a green sand beach and take a trail leading to a lagoon where you can spot pink flamingoes and other shore birds. Along the way, you may also see large-billed flycatchers, small-ground finch, medium-ground finch or cactus finch. You continue until you reach a fine, white-sand beach known as “Flour Beach.” Just off shore, you will likely observe ghost crabs and rays gliding in the shallow water.

Later, you will visit Post Office Bay where you can participate in a tradition started by whaling ships in 1793. The Galapagos Islands was a highly used stop for whaling ships in those days and Post Office Bay became a way for sailors to receive and send messages home. At the post barrel the guide will pull a hand full of letters for the group. Continuing the tradition, the letters are brought home with the traveler and then mailed to the addressee. Visitors also have the opportunity to send letters of their own. You finish the day with snorkeling at Devil´s Crown, a submerged volcanic cone. This site is considered some of the best snorkeling in the entire Galapagos and although the current can be strong, this will be to your advantage as you snorkel from the zodiac back to the Cachalote. While snorkeling, you’re like to see large schools of fish, playful sea lions, tiger snake eels, white-tipped sharks, eagle rays, amberjacks, wrasses, hammerhead sharks, and sea turtles. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Monday): Santa Cruz & Santiago Islands

The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). A dinghy ride among mangrove-lined islets allows the observation of the dramatic landscape and coastline, an area of amazing past volcanic activity. While exploring the nearby waters, various types of birds can be seen, such as boobies, frigates, and pelicans. Quite commonly, the black lava will reveal the presence of marine iguanas. The navigation in shallow turquoise-colored water gives the chance to see marine turtles, rays and sharks. Make a dry landing for a walk that includes a brackish water lagoon frequented by greater flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and a variety of shore and lagoon birds.

Further along the trail, head to Dragon Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a natural nesting site of a large number of land iguanas, which is constantly monitored and assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The arid-zone vegetation can be a rewarding location for bird watching, where Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galapagos flycatcher, and yellow warblers are regular sightings.

In the afternoon, you will travel to nearby Santiago Island to visit Sullivan Bay. The Sullivan Bay lava field shows a variety of interesting patterns, the shapes and textures of trees, which once existed there and hornitos caused when pockets of gas or water trapped under the lava exploded. In the 100 years since the last major lava flow little in the way of fauna has returned except the lava cactus so the landscape is bizarre and fascinating. The walk with your guide is about 1.5 hours and you will have plenty of opportunities to take photos of this strange island and the birdlife you’re likely to encounter. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 7 (Tuesday): Genovesa (Tower) Island

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 you 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 8 (Wednesday): Turtle Cove, Depart Galapagos

Early this morning, you will have a dinghy ride in Black Turtle Cove, a mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz Island, where you have the opportunity to see stingrays, sharks, the night heron and several species of Darwin’s finches. After this excursion, you will be transferred by your guide to the Baltra airport to catch your flight back to mainland Ecuador. (Breakfast)

DAY 1 (Wednesday): Fly to Galapagos, Begin Cachalote Cruise

In the morning you will fly from mainland Ecuador (either Quito or Guayaquil) to the Baltra airport in the Galapagos. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you in the airport and you will travel to the small town of Puerto Ayora where you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Center.

At the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll witness firsthand the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands. The Darwin Station is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, an international non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research in the Galapagos Islands since 1959. Here you will see the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs that are saving several races of tortoises and iguanas from extinction. 

Finally, you will board the Cachalote, your vessel for exploring the Galapagos. After dinner, your guide will explain the next day’s adventure and the wildlife you are likely to encounter. (Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Thursday): Sombrero Chino & La Rabida

Your day starts with a visit to Sombrero Chino, an adorable conical island that offers some great snorkeling in the surrounding water. You snorkel here and find sea lions and penguins in the water, playing with you as you swim along. Sombrero Chino is known as a wonderful snorkeling spot since it’s protected by the larger Santiago Island making the water is fairly calm, but still deep enough to attract some spectacular marine life like white-tipped reef sharks.

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 may swim with sea lions and tropical fish. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Friday): Isabela Island (Puerto Villamil & Sierra Negra)

With only 1,000 inhabitants, a white sandy beach and turquoise water, Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island is considered the prettiest town in the Galapagos. The day begins with an optional, and highly recommended, early-morning visit to Las Tintoreras. A short distance from Puerto Villamil is the small island known as “Las Tintoreras,” where a colony of white-tipped sharks can often be seen resting in a lava canal. You can snorkel or swim in the unique habitat of these animals. Nearby hundreds of marine iguanas can be observed, as Las Tintoreras is one of their main breeding sites. On the nearby sandy beaches, sea lions play and relax in the sun. This is one of Isabela’s most beautiful visitor sites.

After visiting Tintoreras, you will have a drive and hike up to the impressive Sierra Negra caldera. This caldera is the second largest in the world—only the Ngorongoro in Africa is bigger. This is certainly one of the vistas in the entire Galapagos. Later in the afternoon, you will make a stop by the Tortoise Breeding Center just outside Puerto Villamil. In this Breeding Center, populations of tortoises from South Isabela (Sierra Negra Volcano, Cerro Azul): Cazuela, Cinco Cerros, Roca Union, San Pedro, Tables and Cerro Paloma have been reproduced in captivity. In total there are 330 between juvenile and adult tortoises. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Saturday): Isabela Island (Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay)

Punta Moreno is one of the most remote visitor sites on Isabela and its landscape is dominated by black, pahoehoe lava. The tour starts with a panga ride along the beautiful rocky shores where Galapagos penguins and shore birds are frequently seen. After a dry landing the path traverses through jagged black lava rock. As the swirling black lava flow gave way to form craters, crystal tide pools formed-some surrounded by mangroves. The small, blue lagoons are a magnet for birdlife, such as pink flamingos, blue herons, and Bahama pintail ducks. Brown pelican can be seen nesting in the green leaves of the mangroves. You can walk to the edge of the lava to look straight down on these pools including the occasional green sea turtle, white-tipped shark and puffer fish.

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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Sunday): Isabela Island (Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove)

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. At certain times of the year, female tortoises journey to this area to lay their eggs in the sand. After your hike, you snorkel in the bay where you may spot Galapagos penguins and sea lions.

Lying directly east of Fernandina on the west coast of Isabela is the narrow channel of Tagus Cove. Arriving here the boat will sail through the Bolivar Channel, which has the coldest, most productive waters in the Galapagos due to the upwelling of the Cromwell Current, where dolphins and whales are frequently seen. Tagus Cove, named for the British naval vessel that moored here in 1814, was used historically as an anchorage for pirates and whalers. One can still find the names of the ships carved into the rock above the landing (a practice now prohibited). The coves quiet waters make for an ideal panga ride beneath its sheltered cliffs, where blue-fitted boobies, brown noddies, pelicans and noddy terns make their nests, and flightless cormorants and penguins inhabit the lava ledges.

From the shore, a wooden stairway rises to the dusty trail passing through the palo santo forests to reach the perfectly round saltwater crater, Darwin Lake. Continuing on the trail around the lake through a dry vegetation zone, you turn to climb inland to a promontory formed by spatter cones. The site provides spectacular views back toward the anchorage in the bay, as well as Darwin Volcano and Wolf Volcano farther north. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Monday): Fernandina Island (Punta Espinoza), Isabela Island (Punta Vicente Roca)

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 Lightfoot crabs, flightless cormorants, sharks, and sea turtles. 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.

After a short cruise, you arrive at Punta Vicente Roca, a spot where you can observe dramatic volcanic scenery and amazing snorkeling. The volcanic activity here at the north end of Isabela Island created a tower cliff above the sea and twin, bright blue coves. On land, you are likely to find masked (Nazca) boobies, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, land iguanas, and Darwin finches. Once snorkeling, you may encounter Galapagos penguins, rays, sea turtles, and perhaps the bizarre sunfish. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 7 (Tuesday): Santiago Island (Puerta Egas) & Bartolome Island

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. You will walk to the coastline where you 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.

In the afternoon, you will hike to the top of Bartolome’s extinct volcano (about an hour on stairs) where an amazing view of Pinnacle Rock awaits you. This is one of the most iconic vistas in the entire Galapagos, so you’ll definitely want to bring your camera. After the hike, you’ll enjoy a swim and/or snorkel in the nearby bay; since Bartolome is home to the largest penguin population in the Islands, you’re most likely here to snorkel alongside these fun birds as they “fly” through the water. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 8 (Wednesday): North Seymour Island & Depart Galapagos

Your Galapagos experience ends with a fantastic visit to North Seymour Island, a place to observe abundant and entertaining birdlife. 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. After this visit, you will be dropped off at the Baltra airport. Your guide will explain the check-in process and you will board your flight back to mainland Ecuador (either Guayaquil or Quito). (Breakfast)

DAY 1 (Friday): Fly to Galapagos, San Cristobal Island: El Junco

In the morning, you will fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the San Cristobal airport in the Galapagos. You will be picked at the airport by a guide and transferred to your first excursion in the Galapagos.

El Junco Lake is a huge fresh water lagoon and the only fresh-water reservoir in the Galapagos. This site is reached by road and is about a half hour drive from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the major town of San Cristobal. The lake is the caldera (collapsed cone) of an extinct volcano and is about 300 meters wide. The name El Junco is Spanish for sedge, which is present along the banks of the lake. The ecosystem at El Junco is strikingly different from what you saw earlier in the day at Cerro Brujo and the focus here is discovering the various fauna. (Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Saturday): Española Island

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its 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 iguanas with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, 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 (Sunday): Floreana Island

Floreana Island is famous for its colorful history of pirates, whalers, and fascinating early settlers. There is also some unique wildlife to be seen here as well as outstanding snorkeling at nearby Devil’s crown. The visit to Punta Cormorant takes you to two very different beaches. You begin on a green sand beach and take a trail leading to a lagoon where you can spot pink flamingoes and other shore birds. Along the way, you may also see large-billed flycatchers, small-ground finch, medium-ground finch or cactus finch. You continue until you reach a fine, white-sand beach known as “Flour Beach.” Just off shore, you will likely observe ghost crabs and rays gliding in the shallow water.

Later, you will visit Post Office Bay where you can participate in a tradition started by whaling ships in 1793. The Galapagos Islands was a highly used stop for whaling ships in those days and Post Office Bay became a way for sailors to receive and send messages home. At the post barrel the guide will pull a hand full of letters for the group. Continuing the tradition, the letters are brought home with the traveler and then mailed to the addressee. Visitors also have the opportunity to send letters of their own. You finish the day with snorkeling at Devil´s Crown, a submerged volcanic cone. This site is considered some of the best snorkeling in the entire Galapagos and although the current can be strong, this will be to your advantage as you snorkel from the zodiac back to the Cachalote. While snorkeling, you’re like to see large schools of fish, playful sea lions, tiger snake eels, white-tipped sharks, eagle rays, amberjacks, wrasses, hammerhead sharks, and sea turtles. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Monday): Santa Cruz & Santiago Islands

The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). A dinghy ride among mangrove-lined islets allows the observation of the dramatic landscape and coastline, an area of amazing past volcanic activity. While exploring the nearby waters, various types of birds can be seen, such as boobies, frigates, and pelicans. Quite commonly, the black lava will reveal the presence of marine iguanas. The navigation in shallow turquoise-colored water gives the chance to see marine turtles, rays and sharks. Make a dry landing for a walk that includes a brackish water lagoon frequented by greater flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and a variety of shore and lagoon birds.

Further along the trail, head to Dragon Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a natural nesting site of a large number of land iguanas, which is constantly monitored and assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The arid-zone vegetation can be a rewarding location for bird watching, where Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galapagos flycatcher, and yellow warblers are regular sightings.

In the afternoon, you will travel to nearby Santiago Island to visit Sullivan Bay. The Sullivan Bay lava field shows a variety of interesting patterns, the shapes and textures of trees, which once existed there and hornitos caused when pockets of gas or water trapped under the lava exploded. In the 100 years since the last major lava flow little in the way of fauna has returned except the lava cactus so the landscape is bizarre and fascinating. The walk with your guide is about 1.5 hours and you will have plenty of opportunities to take photos of this strange island and the birdlife you’re likely to encounter. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Tuesday): Genovesa (Tower) Island

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 you 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 6 (Wednesday): Turtle Cove, Depart Galapagos

Early this morning, you will have a dinghy ride in Black Turtle Cove, a mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz Island, where you have the opportunity to see stingrays, sharks, the night heron and several species of Darwin’s finches. After this excursion, you will be transferred by your guide to the Baltra airport to catch your flight back to mainland Ecuador. (Breakfast)

DAY 1 (Friday): Fly to Galapagos, Begin Cachalote Cruise

In the morning you will fly from mainland Ecuador (either Quito or Guayaquil) to the Baltra airport in the Galapagos. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you in the airport and you will travel to the small town of Puerto Ayora. Here you will have lunch and then take the public speedboat to Isabela Island (2.5 hours) where you will meet up with the Cachalote. (Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Saturday): Isabela Island (Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay)

Punta Moreno is one of the most remote visitor sites on Isabela and its landscape is dominated by black, pahoehoe lava. The tour starts with a panga ride along the beautiful rocky shores where Galapagos penguins and shore birds are frequently seen. After a dry landing the path traverses through jagged black lava rock. As the swirling black lava flow gave way to form craters, crystal tide pools formed-some surrounded by mangroves. The small, blue lagoons are a magnet for birdlife, such as pink flamingos, blue herons, and Bahama pintail ducks. Brown pelican can be seen nesting in the green leaves of the mangroves. You can walk to the edge of the lava to look straight down on these pools including the occasional green sea turtle, white-tipped shark and puffer fish.

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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Sunday): Isabela Island (Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove)

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. At certain times of the year, female tortoises journey to this area to lay their eggs in the sand. After your hike, you snorkel in the bay where you may spot Galapagos penguins and sea lions.

Lying directly east of Fernandina on the west coast of Isabela is the narrow channel of Tagus Cove. Arriving here the boat will sail through the Bolivar Channel, which has the coldest, most productive waters in the Galapagos due to the upwelling of the Cromwell Current, where dolphins and whales are frequently seen. Tagus Cove, named for the British naval vessel that moored here in 1814, was used historically as an anchorage for pirates and whalers. One can still find the names of the ships carved into the rock above the landing (a practice now prohibited). The coves quiet waters make for an ideal panga ride beneath its sheltered cliffs, where blue-fitted boobies, brown noddies, pelicans and noddy terns make their nests, and flightless cormorants and penguins inhabit the lava ledges.

From the shore, a wooden stairway rises to the dusty trail passing through the palo santo forests to reach the perfectly round saltwater crater, Darwin Lake. Continuing on the trail around the lake through a dry vegetation zone, you turn to climb inland to a promontory formed by spatter cones. The site provides spectacular views back toward the anchorage in the bay, as well as Darwin Volcano and Wolf Volcano farther north. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Monday): Fernandina Island (Punta Espinoza), Isabela Island (Punta Vicente Roca)

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 Lightfoot crabs, flightless cormorants, sharks, and sea turtles. 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.

After a short cruise, you arrive at Punta Vicente Roca, a spot where you can observe dramatic volcanic scenery and amazing snorkeling. The volcanic activity here at the north end of Isabela Island created a tower cliff above the sea and twin, bright blue coves. On land, you are likely to find masked (Nazca) boobies, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, land iguanas, and Darwin finches. Once snorkeling, you may encounter Galapagos penguins, rays, sea turtles, and perhaps the bizarre sunfish. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Tuesday): Santiago Island (Puerto Egas) & Bartolome Island

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. You will walk to the coastline where you 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.

In the afternoon, you will hike to the top of Bartolome’s extinct volcano (about an hour on stairs) where an amazing view of Pinnacle Rock awaits you. This is one of the most iconic vistas in the entire Galapagos, so you’ll definitely want to bring your camera. After the hike, you’ll enjoy a swim and/or snorkel in the nearby bay; since Bartolome is home to the largest penguin population in the Islands, you’re most likely here to snorkel alongside these fun birds as they “fly” through the water. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Wednesday): North Seymour Island & Depart Galapagos

Your Galapagos experience ends with a fantastic visit to North Seymour Island, a place to observe abundant and entertaining birdlife. 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. After this visit, you will be dropped off at the Baltra airport. Your guide will explain the check-in process and you will board your flight back to mainland Ecuador (either Guayaquil or Quito). (Breakfast)