Galapagos Islands on the Eden

Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you’ll truly be landing in a place like no other. The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you’re about to see why.

Your bilingual naturalist guide will greet you at the airport and meet you after customs. During lunch your guide will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will encounter at our first destination, Las Bachas Beach.

On the sandy white beaches of Las Bachas you will get a close look at a sea turtle nesting area as well as a lake frequented by pink flamingos and other migratory birds. Afterwards, you’ll cool off with a dip in the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean.

As this is the first evening together, the crew will invite everyone to a pre-dinner cocktail on the yacht before the welcome dinner. If the night is clear, as it usually is, the stars above will sparkle; look for the Southern Cross, the Big Dipper (turned up-side down!) and Orion.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Monday): Genovesa Island – Darwin Bay & El Barranco

Early in the morning you’ll have breakfast and then you’ll disembark at Genovesa “Tower” Island, which is located in the northeastern part of the Galapagos (less than half a degree north of the equator). Genovesa is known as one of the best places to see large populations of unique, Galapagos birdlife and is a highlight of any itinerary.

At “Tower” Island you’ll anchor at Darwin Bay, which is located on the southern part of the island, and is actually the caldera of an extinct, partially eroded volcano, with the surrounding cliffs forming the inner lining of the rim. While the origin of the name “Tower” is not known, one can imagine it had something to do with these towering cliffs in a horseshoe shape around the beach.

After a wet landing on a coral beach the trail begins in an area where there are several swallow-tailed gulls. The tour will be a long, fairly-easy walk, but it is usually hot and dry here, so you may want to carry some water. Along the way, you’ll see Great Frigatebirds, Nazca Boobies, Blue-Footed Boobies, sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, and mockingbirds.

Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood. As you walk back from the beach, you’ll see a variety of Opuntia cactus and mangroves. You will have an opportunity to snorkel after this or the next visit.

You’ll visit El Barranco, or Prince Philip’s Steps, during the afternoon. This is the only other visitor site on Genovesa aside from Darwin Bay. You’ll first visit the beach and continue on the trail to see nesting birds like red-billed tropicbirds, storm petrels, and red-footed boobies. Hopefully, you’ll also be able to spot the adorable Galapagos short-eared owl and perhaps the Galapagos fur seal. After this very full day, we then return to the boat for dinner and overnight.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Bartolome Island & Sullivan Bay

Bartolome Island contains one of the most photographed vistas in the archipelago. This island is quite young and quite volcanic; therefore, it’s relatively unpopulated with only a small handful of die-hard plant and animal species having survived long enough to call this lava-land home.

The land visit here is more about the amazing view of the pinnacle standing straight out of the sea; the volcanic formations of the Islands; and get in an invigorating hike. After our short hike up the wooden stairs, you’ll return to the nearby beach for some very fun snorkeling.

Here at Bartolome, you’ll have a very good chance of snorkeling alongside the unique Galapagos penguin. The colony of penguins here seem to love flying through the water as snorkelers swim in the calm bay.

After the visit to Bartolome Island you’ll visit nearby Sullivan Bay. At the turn of the century a huge lava flow spilled right down to the sea and today you can stroll across this black volcanic expanse, admiring its time-frozen ripples, bubbles and ropes.

This is a fascinating area for seeing the differences in the volcanic creation of the Islands. There are two nearby beaches also where sea turtles lay their eggs and you may find broken egg shells here left behind by the baby turtles.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Wednesday): Daphne, Black Turtle Cove, & Cerro Dragón

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.

You won’t go ashore here, but the group will 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 this visit you’ll move on to our next site, Black Turtle Cove, which is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and is a nursery for many sharks and rays. It’s also a great location to observe mating turtles around this time of year.

You’ll see large groups of resting White-Tip Reef Sharks, schools of Golden Rays and Spotted Eagle Rays, and a few juvenile Scalloped Hammerhead sharks and Black-Tip sharks. The water very calm so paddles are often used rather than the loud panga engines to move around the area. You’ll go for a naturalist walk here and snorkel in the nearby water with your guide.

After lunch you’ll navigate for a couple of hours to Cerro Dragon, where you’ll make a dry landing on lava rocks. Cerro Dragon is a small bay on the west coast of Santa Cruz and got its name from the many land iguanas that live in the area. Land iguanas are endemic to the Galapagos Islands where they have found good mating and nesting areas.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Thursday): Santa Cruz Island – Charles Darwin Station & Highlands

After breakfast you’ll sail to Santa Cruz Island, where you’ll visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises, including Lonesome George, the last survivor of his subspecies.

Of course, you’ll also visit the station’s Tortoise Rearing Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!). Galapagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need.

Aside from the Station headquarters, Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. In this portside town you can buy souvenirs (postcards, t-shirts, books, etc.) of the islands. If there is free time, you can explore the town a bit on your own and shop for souvenirs.

After our stop in Puerto Ayora and lunch on the boat (guests may dine in town if they desire), you’ll explore the upper region, “parte alta” of the island, which is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils.

You’ll learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, often strikingly different than that found at lower elevations. Darwin’s finches, Yellow warblers, and Bright Red Vermillion flycatchers will fly in and out of the moss-covered trees. From this high vantage point you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the surrounding archipelago.

In the late afternoon you’ll return to town. For those who wish to check out the nightlife, this is your chance; the boat will be docked in port most of the night.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Friday): Floreana Island – Post Office Bay, Mirador de la Baronesa, Punta Cormoran, & Devil´s Crown

When you wake up and look out from the boat deck today, you will see Floreana, one of the greenest islands in the archipelago. Your guide will tell you about its mysterious history laden with rumors of witches, murderous baronesses, blackmail, and dubious disappearances.

Your first stop is Punta Cormorant, where you’ll follow a footpath to a lagoon inhabited by flaming-pink flamingos. You will also pass by Carolina Beach, a Sea Turtle nesting area and a superb spot for watching sea birds and sea rays.

Back on the yacht, you’ll skirt the island’s coast until you arrive at La Corona del Diablo (the Devil’s Crown), a sub-marine crater that offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos. This is a great spot for seeing the wide array of tropical fish, many endemic to the islands, including purple sea stars and spiky sea urchins.

The crater’s most thrilling undersea creatures, however, are the white-tipped sharks. As with most of the creatures in the Galapagos they are unperturbed by your presence, so you can swim in their company freely and fearlessly.

After returning to the boat for lunch you’ll sail on to Post Office Bay, where the islands’ original post office (really only a wooden barrel) was established in 1793. The current system still functions as it did three centuries ago: Visitors drop off unstamped letters and postcards AND pick-up whatever mail they can hand deliver themselves when they return home! (Try it, it actually works!).

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 7 (Saturday): Española Island – Punta Suarez, Bahia Gardner, Islote Gardner, & Islote Osborn

Espanola is one of the most magical of all the islands. It is a place where the animals reign supreme and we humans are merely guests. As your dingy brings you to shore you’ll see Sea Lion pups sunbathing with Marine Iguanas and Blue-footed boobies nesting in between, and nearby may be a Galapagos Hawk.

If it is Booby mating season watch the bonded pairs do the infamous Booby dance (if it’s not mating season, ask your guide to demonstrate — after all it’s their job to teach you about the local fauna!). As you follow the footpath around the island, you will pass hundreds of Blue-footed booby nesting sites including one colony of masked boobies.

There is also a good chance you’ll see the thief-like Frigate Bird (which has the habit of stealing other birds’ food), as well as the stunning Red-Billed tropicbird and the nocturnal Swallow-Tailed gull.

If it is the right time of the year (mid-April to December) you’ll also encounter the giant Waved Albatross. Apart from a few pairs that breed on Isla de Plata, off the Ecuadorian mainland, all of the world’s 12,000 Waved albatross breed on Española Island.

At the end of the breeding season, the entire population leaves the island and heads out to sea, where they spend years without touching land; four or five years may pass before the fledglings return to Española.

These large, quirky, and beautiful birds are wonderful to see at any time of year — but perhaps the most charming event to witness is their curious mating dance. Count yourself even more lucky if you get to see this spectacle!

As you make your way around the island you’ll pass by El Soplador, a giant blowhole that explodes to heights reaching 25 feet. In the nearby tide pools you can often find lounging sea lions enjoying the blowhole’s misty spray.

Following lunch on board the yacht, you’ll visit Garner Bay, a great place for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling. Lionfish, flycatchers, and Galapagos hawks will keep you company as you relax under the rays of the evening sun. Dinner on the yacht completes your day.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 8 (Sunday): San Cristobal – Leon Dormido, Centro de Interpretacion, & Airport

On day 8 of visiting the Galapagos you’ll arrive early in the morning to San Cristobal, the capital of the Galapagos. The first site will be Kicker Rock or Leon Dormido, a tuff volcanic cone that has been eroded by the wind and marine currents giving it the shape from the distance of a sleeping sea lion. This site is now home to Blue-footed boobies and Frigate birds amongst many others, which have turned this area into their nesting site.

After navigating around Kicker Rock you’ll continue on to the Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo, the local branch of the Galapagos National Park Service, where your guide will explain the formation of the islands, how the flora and fauna arrived and were established in Galapagos, as well as visit the corrals where there are several species of giant tortoises under the care of the National Park Service.

Before taking the flight back to the mainland you will have some time to visit the town on your own for last-minute shopping or people watching in the Galapagos.

(Breakfast)

Please note that itineraries are always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, policies of the Galapagos National Park authorities, weather conditions, and for comfort of our passengers.

Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you’ll truly be landing in a place like no other. The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you’re about to see why.

Your bilingual naturalist guide will greet you at the airport and meet you after customs. During lunch your guide will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will encounter. You will go from the airport straight back to the boat to show you to your accommodations.

After lunch we’ll navigate to Isla Lobos, a very small islet made of volcanic rocks that gets its name from the colony of Sea Lions (Lobo de Mar in Spanish) that live there. Here you can observe the behavior and interaction of Sea Lions living in a small community. Night navigation to your next destination.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Monday): Santa Fe Island – Plazas

After breakfast on the yacht, you’ll continue to Santa Fe Island. Upon arrival to the island, you’ll be treated to a noisy welcome from the local Sea Lion colony. Following your naturalist guide on the island paths you’ll reach Santa Fe’s main attraction, a towering forest of giant cacti.

Scattered around the cacti trees you’ll see a number of the island’s indigenous sun-seekers: marine and land iguanas, the rainbow-streaked lava lizards and, if you’re lucky, land tortoises – the namesakes of the islands. After the walk you’ll dive into the salty sea and snorkel in the company of Sea Lions, Lion Fish and Sea Turtles. Finally, you’ll return to the yacht for lunch.

After lunch we’ll navigate to Plazas Island, where a large colony of Sea Lions lounge daily in the equatorial sun. Plaza also boasts excellent examples of typical Galapagos native flora such as the towering cacti “trees” that form the principal diet for both the Land Iguanas and the Cactus Finch. Other birds that may flutter by include Lava gulls, Yellow warblers and Red-Billed tropicbirds.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Santa Cruz Island – Charles Darwin Station & El Chato

This morning, we’ll visit the world famous Charles Darwin Research Center and make a stop in the fascinating Tortoise Rearing Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!) which you will also see at the center.

Galapagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need. The research center has been an invaluable tool in helping conserve the ecosystem of the Galapagos and ensure that tortoises do not become extinct.

Aside from the Station headquarters, Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. In this portside town you can buy souvenirs (postcards, t-shirts, books, etc.) of the islands. Check out the uniquely Galapagos ceramic shop near the entrance of the Charles Darwin Station.

After shopping in Puerto Ayora and lunch on the boat (guests may dine in town if they desire), you’ll explore the upper region, “parte alta” of the island, which is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils. You’ll learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, often strikingly different than that found at lower elevations.

This area in the highlands is called El Chato which is a giant tortoise reserve, and one of the few places open to visitors where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat interacting with the rest of the Galapagos life. While wandering through the reserve, you’re very likely to spot these massive creatures munching on leaves and lumbering through the vegetation.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Wednesday): Isabela Island – Puerto Villamil, Humedales, Muro de las Lagrimas, & Centro de Crianza Arnaldo Tupiza

Your first visit in the morning will take place in Puerto Villamil, one of the smallest towns in Galapagos, located right in front of a white sand beach. Puerto Villamil is one of the most beautiful spots in the islands and you may feel like you’ve arrived on a Caribbean island.

After a dry landing you will go to visit the humedales, which is a mangrove area with small brackish water lagoons that create the perfect environment for a small type of shrimp that serves as the food for the island’s flamingos. Hopefully, we’ll get to observe some of these flamingos feeding in the lagoon.

Following this visit you will be transported to El Muro de las Lagrimas or “The Wall of Tears” which was built by former prisoners when the Island was a penal colony. Here, your guide will explain some of the Island’s history while you climb the lookout beside the Wall of Tears and observe the expansive view of the coastline. After this visit you’ll return to the beach for some relaxation before lunch on the boat.

In the afternoon you’ll visit the local branch of the Galapagos Park Service whose main purpose is to take care of the many species of giant tortoises that inhabit Isabela Island so that you can see the efforts made by the National Park Service to protect and increase the declining population of giant tortoises on this island.

This small breeding center is a great place to see the teeny tortoise babies up close and how the repopulation efforts in the Galapagos work together. Back on board and night navigation to your next site.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Thursday): Isabela Island – Punta Moreno & Bahía Elizabeth

This morning we land on the west coast of Isabela which begins our exploration of some of the most remote sites in the Galapagos. The west coast of Isabela and Fernandina Island is scenic, filled with wildlife, and uncrowded. On Punta Moreno you have a dry landing and continue across barren lava field to start the walk.

You will discover a number of coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. Pink flamingos, blue herons, brown pelicans, and Bahama pintail ducks are all found here. Additionally, you’ll have a panoramic view of three of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos, which are Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul of Isabela Island and La Cumbre of Fernandina Island.

After lunch on board you’ll continue on your way to Elizabeth bay, located on Isabela Island`s west shore, which is an excellent spot for observing marine life. You’ll motor past a few islands where you can usually see Galapagos penguins; this is one of the best areas to take their photos.

A colony of these adorable birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay and we’ll make sure to take time to observe this colony. The boat drifts through a small passage lined with mangroves and eventually emerges into an enclosed cove. The motor will be turned off and you will look in the sheltered waters for Green Sea turtles, rays, Flightless cormorants, sea lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos hawks.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Friday): Isabela Island – Caleta Tagus & Fernandina Island – Punta Espinoza, Punta Vicente Roca

The visitor’s site of Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island and was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers, and the tradition of inscribing the names of boats is a tradition still observed today. At the beginning of the walk, going up and passing the staircase, is a small cave where you’ll find inscriptions dating to the 1800s.

The trail, mostly gravel, leads into the interior, along Darwin Lake. During the walk, you can see various land birds and we’ll identify the characteristic vegetation of the arid zone. Finally, you’ll see the lava fields of Darwin Volcano.

After lunch, the group will have a short navigation to Punta Expinoza on Fernandina Island, a true highlight of any Galapagos trip. Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of Marine Iguanas as well as being the habitat of unique species like the Flightless cormorant, the Galapagos penguin, the Galapagos hawk, and the Galapagos snake, among others.

On land, your guide will explain the unique adaptations of each strange animal that has managed to survive on this barren and strange Island. The marine iguanas pile up on the hot rocks to get warm before diving in the ocean below and swimming alongside green sea turtles, rays, and the hilarious flightless cormorants.

Bright red Sally Lightfoot Crabs scurry across the lava, dotting the black ground with dots of vibrant color. From here, we also get an outstanding view of Isabela’s towering volcanoes and verdant coast just across a short stretch of water.

After visiting Fernandina you will start the navigation to the central part of the Galapagos and on the way we’ll pass Punta Vicente Roca, a mostly eroded volcano which now is a great site for seeing Blue-footed boobies, Frigate birds and other marine birds from the boat.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

DAY 7 (Saturday): Santiago Island – 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 8 (Sunday): Seymour Norte Island & Baltra Airport 

After an early breakfast you’ll disembark at North Seymour Island. Here you will see Frigate birds, the clownish Blue-footed booby, and of course the ubiquitous sea lions. With luck you’ll witness the striking courtship display of the male Frigate Bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females.

The Frigate birds nest in the scraggly trees just above the colonies of Blue-footed boobies who dance and nest on the bare ground. Near the end of the trail, you’ll come to a long beach that is a favorite hangout for sea lions.

Return to the boat and sail to Baltra Island to catch your plane back to the mainland.

(Breakfast)

Please note that itineraries are always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, policies of the Galapagos National Park authorities, weather conditions, and for comfort of our passengers.

Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you’ll truly be landing in a place like no other. The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you’re about to see why.

Your bilingual naturalist guide will greet you at the airport and meet you after customs. During lunch he/she will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will encounter at our first destination, Las Bachas Beach.

On the sandy white beaches of Las Bachas you will get a close look at a sea turtle nesting area as well as a lake frequented by pink flamingos and other migratory birds. Afterwards, you’ll cool off with a dip in the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean.

As this is the first evening together, the crew will invite everyone to a pre-dinner cocktail on the yacht before the welcome dinner. If the night is clear, as it usually is, the stars above will sparkle; look for the Southern Cross, the Big Dipper (turned up-side down!) and Orion.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Monday): Genovesa Island – Darwin Bay & El Barranco

Early in the morning you’ll have breakfast and then you’ll disembark at Genovesa “Tower” Island, which is located in the northeastern part of the Galapagos (less than half a degree north of the equator). Genovesa is known as one of the best places to see large populations of unique, Galapagos birdlife and is a highlight of any itinerary.

At “Tower” Island you’ll anchor at Darwin Bay, which is located on the southern part of the island, and is actually the caldera of an extinct, partially eroded volcano, with the surrounding cliffs forming the inner lining of the rim. While the origin of the name “Tower” is not known, one can imagine it had something to do with these towering cliffs in a horseshoe shape around the beach.

After a wet landing on a coral beach the trail begins in an area where there are several swallow-tailed gulls. The tour will be a long, fairly-easy walk, but it is usually hot and dry here, so you may want to carry some water. Along the way, you’ll see Great Frigatebirds, Nazca Boobies, Blue-Footed Boobies, sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, and mockingbirds.

Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood. As you walk back from the beach, you’ll see a variety of Opuntia cactus and mangroves. You will have an opportunity to snorkel after this or the next visit.

We’ll visit El Barranco, or Prince Philip’s Steps, during the afternoon. This is the only other visitor site on Genovesa aside from Darwin Bay. You’ll first visit the beach and continue on the trail to see nesting birds like red-billed tropicbirds, storm petrels, and red-footed boobies. Hopefully, we’ll also be able to spot the adorable Galapagos short-eared owl and perhaps the Galapagos Fur Seal.

After this full day, you then return to the boat for dinner and overnight.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Bartolome Island & Sullivan Bay

Bartolome Island contains one of the most photographed vistas in the archipelago. This island is quite young and quite volcanic; therefore, it’s relatively unpopulated with only a small handful of die-hard plant and animal species having survived long enough to call this lava-land home.

The land-visit here is more about the amazing view of the pinnacle standing straight out of the sea; the volcanic formations of the Islands; and get in an invigorating hike. After a short hike up the wooden stairs, you’ll return to the nearby beach for some fun snorkeling.

Here at Bartolome, you’ll have a very good chance of snorkeling alongside the unique Galapagos penguin. The colony of penguins here seem to love flying through the water as snorkelers swim in the calm bay.

After the visit to Bartolome Island you’ll visit nearby Sullivan Bay. At the turn of the century a huge lava flow spilled right down to the sea and today you can stroll across this black volcanic expanse, admiring its time-frozen ripples, bubbles and ropes.

This is a fascinating area for seeing the differences in the volcanic creation of the Islands. There are two nearby beaches also where sea turtles lay their eggs and you may find broken egg shells here left behind by the baby turtles.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Wednesday): Daphne, Black Turtle Cove, & Cerro Dragón

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.

You won’t go ashore here, but will navigate around this volcanic cone to get as close as possible 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 this visit you’ll move on to our next site, Black Turtle Cove, which is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and is a nursery for many sharks and rays. It’s also a great location to observe mating turtles around this time of year.

You’ll see large groups of resting White-Tip Reef sharks, schools of Golden rays and Spotted Eagle rays, and a few juvenile Scalloped Hammerhead sharks and Black-Tip sharks. Paddles rather than the loud panga engines are used to move around the area. You’ll go for a naturalist walk here and snorkel in the nearby water with your guide.

After lunch you’ll navigate for a couple of hours to Cerro Dragon, where you’ll make a dry landing on lava rocks. Cerro Dragon is a small bay on the west coast of Santa Cruz and got its name from the many land iguanas that live in the area. Land iguanas are endemic to the Galapagos Islands where they have found good mating and nesting areas.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Thursday): Santa Cruz Island – Charles Darwin Station & Baltra Airport

After breakfast you’ll sail to Santa Cruz Island, where you’ll visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises, including Lonesome George, the last survivor of his subspecies.

Of course, you’ll also visit the station’s Tortoise Rearing Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!). Galapagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need.

After this visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra Airport to catch your plane back to the mainland.

(Breakfast)

Please note that itineraries are always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, policies of the Galapagos National Park authorities, weather conditions, and for comfort of our passengers.

Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you’ll truly be landing in a place like no other. The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you’re about to see why.

Your bilingual naturalist guide will greet you at the airport and meet you after customs. During lunch your guide will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will encounter. After your pick-up from the airport, you’ll be transferred to Santa Cruz where you’ll explore the upper region, “parte alta” of the island, which is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils.

You’ll learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, often strikingly different than that found at lower elevations. Darwin’s finches, Yellow warblers, and Bright Red Vermillion flycatchers will fly in and out of the moss-covered trees. From this high vantage point you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the surrounding archipelago.

In the late afternoon you’ll return to town. For those who wish to check out the nightlife, this is your chance; the boat will be docked in port most of the night.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Friday): Floreana Island – Post Office bay, Mirador de la Baronesa, Punta Cormoran, & Devil´s Crown

When you wake up and look out from the boat deck today, you will see Floreana, one of the greenest islands in the archipelago. Your guide will tell you about its mysterious history laden with rumors of witches, murderous baronesses, blackmail, and dubious disappearances.

Your first stop is Punta Cormorant, where you’ll follow a footpath to a lagoon inhabited by flaming-pink flamingos. You will also pass by Carolina Beach, a sea turtle nesting area and a superb spot for watching sea birds and sea rays.

Back on the yacht, you’ll skirt the island’s coast until you arrive at La Corona del Diablo (the Devil’s Crown), a sub-marine crater that offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos. This is a great spot for seeing the wide array of tropical fish, many endemic to the islands, including purple sea stars and spiky sea urchins.

The crater’s most thrilling undersea creatures, however, are the white-tipped sharks. As with most of the creatures in the Galapagos they are unperturbed by your presence, so you can swim in their company freely and fearlessly.

After returning to the boat for lunch you’ll sail on to Post Office Bay, where the islands’ original post office (really only a wooden barrel) was established in 1793. The current system still functions as it did three centuries ago: Visitors drop off unstamped letters and postcards AND pick-up whatever mail they can hand deliver themselves when they return home! (Try it, it actually works!).

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Saturday): Española Island – Punta Suarez, Bahia Gardner, Islote Gardner, & Islote Osborn

Española is one of the most magical of all the islands. It is a place where the animals reign supreme and we humans are merely guests. As your dingy brings you to shore you’ll see Sea Lion pups sunbathing with Marine Iguanas and Blue-footed boobies nesting in between, and nearby may be a Galapagos Hawk.

If it is Booby mating season watch the bonded pairs do the infamous Booby dance (if it’s not mating season, ask your guide to demonstrate — after all it’s their job to teach you about the local fauna!). As you follow the footpath around the island, you will pass hundreds of Blue-footed booby nesting sites including one colony of Masked boobies.

There is also a good chance you’ll see the thief-like Frigate bird (which has the habit of stealing other birds’ food), as well as the stunning Red-Billed tropicbird and the nocturnal Swallow-Tailed gull.

If it is the right time of the year (mid-April to December) you’ll also encounter the giant Waved albatross. Apart from a few pairs that breed on Isla de Plata, off the Ecuadorian mainland, all of the world’s 12,000 Waved albatross breed on Española Island.

At the end of the breeding season, the entire population leaves the island and heads out to sea, where they spend years without touching land; four or five years may pass before the fledglings return to Espanola. These large, quirky, and beautiful birds are wonderful to see at any time of year — but perhaps the most charming event to witness is their curious mating dance.

Count yourself even more lucky if you get to see this spectacle! As you make your way around the island you’ll pass by El Soplador, a giant blowhole that explodes to heights reaching 25 feet. In the nearby tide pools you can often find lounging sea lions enjoying the blowhole’s misty spray.

Following lunch on board the yacht, you’ll visit Garner Bay, a great place for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling. Lionfish, flycatchers, and Galapagos hawks will keep you company as you relax under the rays of the evening sun. Dinner on the yacht completes your day.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Sunday): San Cristobal – Leon Dormido, Centro de Interpretacion & Airport

On your last day of visiting the Galapagos you’ll arrive early in the morning to San Cristobal, the capital of the Galapagos. The first site will be Kicker Rock or Leon Dormido, a tuff volcanic cone that has been eroded by the wind and marine currents giving it the shape from the distance of a sleeping sea lion. This site is now home to Blue-Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds amongst many others, which have turned this area into their nesting site.

After navigating around Kicker Rock you’ll continue on to the Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo, the local branch of the Galapagos National Park Service, where your guide will explain the formation of the islands, how the flora and fauna arrived and were established in Galapagos, as well as visit the corrals where there are several species of giant tortoises under the care of the National Park Service.

Before taking the flight back to the mainland you will have some time to visit the town on your own for last minute shopping or people watching in the Galapagos.

(Breakfast)

Please note that itineraries are always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, policies of the Galapagos National Park authorities, weather conditions, and for comfort of our passengers.

Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you’ll truly be landing in a place like no other. The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you’re about to see why.

Your bilingual naturalist guide will greet you at the airport and meet you after customs. During lunch your guide will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will encounter.

After our stop in Puerto Ayora and lunch on the boat (guests may dine in town if they desire), you’ll explore the upper region, “parte alta” of the island, which is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils. You’ll learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, often strikingly different than that found at lower elevations.

Darwin’s finches, Yellow warblers, and Bright Red Vermillion flycatchers will fly in and out of the moss-covered trees. From this high vantage point you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the surrounding archipelago.

In the late afternoon you’ll return to town. For those who wish to check out the nightlife, this is your chance; the boat will be docked in port most of the night.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Friday): Floreana Island – Post Office Bay, Mirador de la Baronesa, Punta Cormoran, & Devil´s Crown

When you wake up and look out from the boat deck today, you will see Floreana, one of the greenest islands in the archipelago. Your guide will tell you about its mysterious history laden with rumors of witches, murderous baronesses, blackmail, and dubious disappearances.

Your first stop is Punta Cormorant, where you’ll follow a footpath to a lagoon inhabited by flaming-pink flamingos. You will also pass by Carolina Beach, a sea turtle nesting area and a superb spot for watching sea birds and sea rays.

Back on the yacht, you’ll skirt the island’s coast until you arrive at La Corona del Diablo (the Devil’s Crown), a sub-marine crater that offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos. This is a great spot for seeing the wide array of tropical fish, many endemic to the islands, including purple sea stars and spiky sea urchins.

The crater’s most thrilling undersea creatures, however, are the white-tipped sharks. As with most of the creatures in the Galapagos they are unperturbed by your presence, so you can swim in their company freely and fearlessly.

After returning to the boat for lunch you’ll sail on to Post Office Bay, where the islands’ original post office (really only a wooden barrel) was established in 1793. The current system still functions as it did three centuries ago: Visitors drop off unstamped letters and postcards AND pick-up whatever mail they can hand deliver themselves when they return home! (Try it, it actually works!).

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Saturday): Española Island – Punta Suarez, Bahia Gardner, Islote Gardner, & Islote Osborn

Espanola is one of the most magical of all the islands. It is a place where the animals reign supreme and we humans are merely guests. As your dingy brings you to shore you’ll see sea lion pups sunbathing with Marine Iguanas and Blue-footed boobies nesting in between, and nearby may be a Galapagos hawk.

If it is Booby mating season watch the bonded pairs do the infamous Booby dance (if it’s not mating season, ask your guide to demonstrate — after all it’s their job to teach you about the local fauna!). As you follow the footpath around the island, you will pass hundreds of Blue-footed booby nesting sites including one colony of masked boobies.

There is also a good chance you’ll see the thief-like Frigate Bird (which has the habit of stealing other birds’ food), as well as the stunning Red-Billed tropicbird and the nocturnal Swallow-tailed gull.

If it is the right time of the year (mid-April to December) you’ll also encounter the giant Waved albatross. Apart from a few pairs that breed on Isla de Plata, off the Ecuadorian mainland, all of the world’s 12,000 Waved albatross breed on Espanola Island. At the end of the breeding season, the entire population leaves the island and heads out to sea, where they spend years without touching land; four or five years may pass before the fledglings return to Espanola.

These large, quirky, and beautiful birds are wonderful to see at any time of year — but perhaps the most charming event to witness is their curious mating dance. Count yourself even more lucky if you get to see this spectacle!

As you make your way around the island you’ll pass by El Soplador, a giant blowhole that explodes to heights reaching 25 feet. In the nearby tide pools you can often find lounging sea lions enjoying the blowhole’s misty spray.

Following lunch on board the yacht, you’ll visit Garner Bay, a great place for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling. Lionfish, flycatchers, and Galapagos hawks will keep you company as you relax under the rays of the evening sun. Dinner on the yacht completes your day.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Sunday): San Cristobal – Leon Dormido, Centro de Interpretacion, & Isla Lobos

You arrive early in the morning to San Cristobal, the capital of the Galapagos. The first site will be Kicker Rock or Leon Dormido, a tuff volcanic cone that has been eroded by the wind and marine currents giving it the shape from the distance of a sleeping sea lion. This site is now home to Blue-Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds amongst many others, which have turned this area into their nesting site.

After navigating around Kicker Rock you’ll continue on to the Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo, the local branch of the Galapagos National Park Service, where your guide will explain the formation of the islands, how the flora and fauna arrived and were established in Galapagos, as well as visit the corrals where there are several species of giant tortoises under the care of the National Park Service.

After lunch we’ll navigate to Isla Lobos, a very small islet made of volcanic rocks that gets its name from the colony of Sea Lions (Lobo de Mar in Spanish) that live there. Here you can observe the behavior and interaction of Sea Lions living in a small community. Night navigation to your next destination.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Monday): Santa Fe Island – Plazas

After breakfast on the yacht, you’ll continue to Santa Fe Island. Upon arrival to the island, you’ll be treated to a noisy welcome from the local Sea Lion colony. Following your naturalist guide on the island paths you’ll reach Santa Fe’s main attraction, a towering forest of giant cacti.

Scattered around the cacti trees you’ll see a number of the island’s indigenous sun-seekers: marine and land iguanas, the rainbow-streaked lava lizards and, if you’re lucky, land tortoises. After the walk you’ll dive into the salty sea and snorkel in the company of sea lions, Lion fish and sea turtles. Finally, you’ll return to the yacht for lunch.

After lunch we’ll navigate to Plazas Island, where a large colony of sea lions lounge daily in the equatorial sun. Plaza also boasts excellent examples of typical Galapagos native flora such as the towering cacti “trees” that form the principal diet for both the Land Iguanas and the Cactus finch. Other birds that may flutter by include Lava gulls, Yellow warblers and Red-Billed tropicbirds.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 6 (Tuesday): Santa Cruz Island – Charles Darwin Station & Baltra Airport

This morning, you’ll visit the world famous Charles Darwin Research Center and make a stop in the fascinating Tortoise Rearing Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!) which you will also see at the center.

Galapagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need. The research center has been an invaluable tool in helping conserve the ecosystem of the Galapagos and ensure that tortoises do not become extinct.

You will be transferred to the Baltra Airport to catch your plane back to the mainland.

(Breakfast)

Please note that itineraries are always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, policies of the Galapagos National Park authorities, weather conditions, and for comfort of our passengers.

Fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to the islands on an early morning 90-minute flight. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you’ll truly be landing in a place like no other. The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you’re about to see why.

Your bilingual naturalist guide will greet you at the airport and meet you after customs. During lunch your guide will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will encounter.

You head to the Santa Cruz Highlands to an area called El Chato, which is a giant tortoise reserve, and one of the few places open to visitors where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat interacting with the rest of the Galapagos life. While wandering through the reserve, you’re very likely to spot these massive creatures munching on leaves and lumbering through the vegetation.

(Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Wednesday): Isabela Island – Puerto Villamil, Humedales, Muro de las Lagrimas, & Centro de Crianza Arnaldo Tupiza

Your first visit in the morning will take place in Puerto Villamil, one of the smallest towns in Galapagos, located right in front of a white sand beach. Puerto Villamil is one of the most beautiful spots in the islands and you may feel like you’ve arrived on a Caribbean island.

After a dry landing you will go to visit the humedales, which is a mangrove area with small brackish water lagoons that create the perfect environment for a small type of shrimp that serves as the food for the island’s flamingos. Hopefully, we’ll get to observe some of these flamingos feeding in the lagoon.

Following this visit you will be transported to El Muro de las Lagrimas or “The Wall of Tears” which was built by former prisoners when the Island was a penal colony.

Here, your guide will explain some of the Island’s history while you climb the lookout beside the Wall of Tears and observe the expansive view of the coastline. After this visit you’ll return to the beach for some relaxation before lunch on the boat.

In the afternoon you’ll visit the local branch of the Galapagos Park Service whose main purpose is to take care of the many species of giant tortoises that inhabit Isabela Island so that you can see the efforts made by the National Park Service to protect and increase the declining population of giant tortoises on this island.

This small breeding center is a great place to see the teeny tortoise babies up close and how the repopulation efforts in the Galapagos work together. Back on board and night navigation to your next site.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 (Thursday): Isabela Island – Punta Moreno & Bahía Elizabeth

This morning you land on the west coast of Isabela which begins your exploration of some of the most remote sites in the Galapagos. The west coast of Isabela and Fernandina Island is scenic, filled with wildlife, and uncrowded.

On Punta Moreno you have a dry landing and continue across barren lava field to start the walk. You will discover a number of coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. Pink flamingos, blue herons, brown pelicans, and Bahama pintail ducks are all found here.

Additionally, you’ll have a panoramic view of three of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos, which are Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul of Isabela Island and La Cumbre of Fernandina Island.

After lunch on board you’ll continue on your way to Elizabeth Bay, located on Isabela Island`s west shore, which is an excellent spot for observing marine life. You’ll motor past a few islands where you can usually see Galapagos Penguins; this is one of the best areas to take their photos.

A colony of these adorable birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay and we’ll make sure to take time to observe this colony. Your boat drift will through a small passage lined with mangroves and eventually emerge into an enclosed cove.

With the motor turned off, you’ll look in the sheltered waters for Green sea turtles, rays, Flightless cormorants, sea lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos hawks.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4 (Friday): Isabela Island – Caleta Tagus & Fernandina Island – Punta Espinoza, Punta Vicente Roca

The visitor’s site of Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island and was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers, and the tradition of inscribing the names of boats is a tradition still observed today. At the beginning of the walk, going up and passing the staircase, is a small cave where you’ll find inscriptions dating to the 1800s.

The trail, mostly gravel, leads into the interior, along Darwin Lake. During the walk, you can see various land birds and we’ll identify the characteristic vegetation of the arid zone. Finally, you’ll see the lava fields of Darwin Volcano.

After lunch, you have a short navigation to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, a true highlight of any Galapagos trip. Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of Marine iguanas as well as being the habitat of unique species like the Flightless Cormorant, the Galapagos penguin, the Galapagos hawk, and the Galapagos snake, among others.

On land, your guide will explain the unique adaptations of each strange animal that has managed to survive on this barren and strange Island. The marine iguanas pile up on the hot rocks to get warm before diving in the ocean below and swimming alongside green sea turtles, rays, and the hilarious flightless cormorants.

Bright-red Sally Lightfoot crabs scurry across the lava, dotting the black ground with dots of vibrant color. From here, we also get an outstanding view of Isabela’s towering volcanoes and verdant coast just across a short stretch of water.

After visiting Fernandina you will start the navigation to the central part of the Galapagos and on the way pass Punta Vicente Roca, a mostly eroded volcano which now is a great site for seeing Blue-footed boobies, Frigate birds and other marine birds from the boat.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 5 (Saturday): Santiago Island – 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 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 6 (Sunday): Seymour Norte Island & Baltra Airport 

After an early breakfast you’ll disembark at North Seymour Island. Here you will see Frigate birds, the clownish Blue-booted booby, and of course the ubiquitous sea lions. With luck you’ll witness the striking courtship display of the male Frigate bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females.

The Frigate birds nest in the scraggly trees just above the colonies of Blue-footed boobies who dance and nest on the bare ground. Near the end of the trail, you’ll come to a long beach that is a favorite hangout for sea lions.

Return to the boat and sail to Baltra Island to catch your plane back to the mainland.

(Breakfast)

Please note that itineraries are always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, policies of the Galapagos National Park authorities, weather conditions, and for comfort of our passengers.