DAY 1: San Cristobal Airport & Cerro Tijeretas

Upon arrival to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, the crew is waiting at the airport to escort you by bus to the main deck and then by zodiac to your yacht anchored in the bay. After the welcome briefing and safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch is served.

The group travels by bus to Cerro Tijeretas, or “Frigatebird Hill,” situated just outside town near La Predial. A fishing community from 1952 to 1960, La Predial is one of two sites where you can spot nesting colonies of both the Great and Magnificent species of frigate birds.

The trail leads to Playa Mann where you will witness beautiful scenery and vistas. The group returns to the yacht and departs at 3 p.m. to cruise around Leon Dormido aka Kicker Rock, a vertical tuff cone formation that rises abruptly nearly 500 feet from the ocean.

On the cliffs, you will spot blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies and Magnificent frigate birds. After joining your fellow yacht mates this evening for the island briefing, you will enjoy our captain’s welcome cocktail party and dinner prepared by our well-trained chefs.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: San Cristobal: Cerro Brujo & Punta Pitt

You arrive in Cerro Brujo, a breathtaking white coral beach considered one of the most spectacular in Galapagos and perfect for a peaceful walk. On the walk, you will enjoy expansive views and good bird watching. You can take an opportunity to snorkel or kayak from the beach or swim with sea lions as well as a Zodiac ride.

During lunch, the cruise heads toward the northeastern tip of San Cristobal Island to Punta Pitt, a tuff formation that serves as a nesting site for many sea birds including all three types of boobies: Blue-footed, Nazca and Red-footed boobies, both frigate species, swallow-tailed gulls, Storm petrels and a colony of sea lions.

Punta Pitt is considered a first-class site for birds and on par with Genovesa, or Tower, Island. You will return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Espanola Island: Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay

You disembark at Punta Suarez on Espanola Island (Hood), where you witness the highest rate of endemic species in Galapagos. Sea lions noisily greet our landing on their beach. Curious Hood mockingbirds peck at your shoelaces.

From April to December, the waved albatross, found only on Espanola, perform their wild mating ritual. Colonies of blue-footed boobies engage in “sky-pointing” to show off for potential mates.

Nazca boobies busily care for their young. Stunning swallow-tailed gulls are the only nocturnal gulls in the world and fish at night.

Red-billed tropicbirds take shelter under the cliffs. Also found here are Darwin’s finches, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks.

This is a great place to observe a unique species of marine iguana identified with traces of red and green colorings. Colorful Sally light-foot crabs crawl along the shoreline near to the famous “blow hole.”

After lunch and a wet landing in Gardner Bay on Espanola Island (Hood), you walk along a seemingly endless stretch of this white sandy beach where you’ll find large colonies of sea lions. With no trail to follow this is a chance to explore or take a long walk.

You may find a Galapagos hawk, Darwin’s finches or Hood mockingbird. Swim with sea lions right from the beach, explore the bay and islets by kayak or just relax on the beach.

There’s an excellent snorkeling site off Gardner Islet with a colorful diversity of sea life near Tortuga Rock. Explore caves by Zodiac covered with invertebrates. We return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Floreana Island: Punta Cormorant, Devil’s Crown & Post Office Bay

Step ashore at Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island (Charles), one of the few populated islands in the Galapagos. Floreana presents a rich human history full of mystery and intrigue and the wildlife is abundant. Your first step on the green-sand beach is greeted by the sounds of sea lions.

You’ll follow a trail to a brackish lagoon, and the home of pintail ducks, common stilts, and the Greater Flamingos, the pinkest in the world.

Continuing on, you wind your way past a rich variety of plants including Morning Glory, Cut Leaf daisies, Palo Verdes and Scalesia leading to a beach with powder-soft sand. Sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand dunes and rays swim in the shallow water.

After the walk, take the opportunity to snorkel at Devil’s Crown or Champion, a shallow sunken crater colonized by a brilliant array of colorful fish and corral. Choose to have a picnic lunch on deck or dine inside.

After lunch, enjoy a visit to Post Office Bay, which is not the most scenic but definitely one of the most famous sites in Galapagos.

Here is where a wooden barrel was erected and put into use by whaling ships in the late 18^th century. Mail was put into the barrel and picked up and delivered by ships heading home, mostly to Europe and the United States.

You are invited to leave a post card and to pick up any mail from your home area. Our group returns to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Center

Our bus takes us to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The scenery gradually changes as the route winds through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos.

Here, you visit the tortoise reserve at Las Primicias, one of the private farms in the highlands where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat. Next, a stop at “the tunnels,” which are the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos.

Then it’s off to visit Los Gemelos (“the twins”), a pair of large pit craters where the bright red male vermilion flycatcher is right at home.

After lunch, a visit to the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena (aka the Charles Darwin Research Station) puts us among several tortoise species and the breeding center where new hatchlings are studied and protected until they’re ready for release back to the wild.

Scientists from all over the globe work at the station where they conduct biological research from anatomy to zoology.

A stop at Van Straelen Hall provides the opportunity to view exhibits and a presentation. Visitors can see the tortoise and land iguanas.

Puerto Ayora is the social heart of the islands with the largest population of 24,000 people. This evening you have the option to return to your yacht for a buffet dinner or remain in town on your own account.

Those who return to the yacht will be provided zodiacs to return to town to shop for souvenirs or to stop in at an internet café and connect with home. Zodiacs will be provided for your return to your yacht.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Bartolome Island & Sombrero Chino

At Bartolome Island, after a dry landing you’ll swear you’re walking on the moon. This young Island is inhospitable to most plants and animals.

From the beach you climb stairs for 30 minutes to arrive at the summit of a once-active volcano. Along the way, pause to marvel at lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones.

From the top of the wooden stairs, gaze out across the island for a panoramic view of the island and “Pinnacle Rock,” an eroded tuff cone.

Crystal-clear water is an invitation to snorkel from the beach with schools of tropical fish and Galapagos penguins or take a Zodiac ride.

After lunch, enjoy a visit to Las Bachas (“barges”). Just off this long stretch of beach with soft, white sand are interior lagoons where the Greater flamingo forages for food.

This stop also provides a wonderful chance to snorkel from the beach. Located off the southern tip of Santiago is Sombrero Chino aka Chinese Hat, a place owing its name to its shape.

After a wet beach landing near sea lion colonies, the trail gives way to a primeval landscape of volcanic rubble including cracked lava formations and lava tubes.

Marine iguanas and pairs of oystercatchers like it here, where you have the option nearby to snorkel at a site frequented by Galapagos penguins. After a briefing, enjoy a great dinner at anchor in a calm protected area.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: South Plazas Island & North Seymour Island

Today we visit South Plaza Island, a small geological uplift with tall cliffs offering spectacular views. After a dry landing, the trails lead us through prickly pear cactus, or opuntia, and sesuvium.

Here you can find the Galapagos Land iguana feeding on the cactus leaves. Toward the end of the hill, you encounter a colony of bachelor sea lions. The dominant bulls are in various stages of recovery from battles lost over prime beach territory.

Swallow-tailed gulls, Shearwaters and Red-billed tropicbirds build their nests along the cliffs. After a dry landing at North Seymour Island, a small geological uplift, you follow a trail that leads to Swallow-tailed gulls, Blue-footed boobies and the endemic Land iguanas.

Visit the largest colony of Magnificent frigate birds found in Galapagos. Strolling the beach, witness Marine iguanas and sea lions body surf the northern swells.

After the walk you can take a snorkeling opportunity offered in deep water. Back at the yacht, you’ll partake in the Captain’s farewell cocktail party and dinner as well as a special slide show presentation by your guides.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: San Cristobal Interpretation Center & Airport

With a visit to the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island you gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the Islands.

Afterwards, the group spends time in port before heading to the airport for our flight back to the mainland, departing at noon on Aerogal.

Overnight: –

Meals Included: Breakfast

* 7-day/ 6-night cruise option 
Passengers can disembark on Saturday from Baltra for a shorter, 6-night cruise. This is available only on seasonal or peak departure dates and not on holiday weeks.

The 6-night rate is a 10% discount off the 7-night cruise rate and cannot be combined with any other promotional or child discounts.

For passengers departing early who require a transfer to the airport, there is an additional charge of $15 per person (2 passenger minimum, or $30). The return flight from Baltra is subject to availability and confirmation is requested at the time of booking.

DAY 1: San Cristobal Airport & La Galapaguera Cerro Colorado

Upon arrival to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, the crew is waiting at the airport to escort you by bus to the main deck and then by zodiac to your yacht anchored in the bay. After the welcome briefing and safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch is served.

The group travels by bus to the highlands to visit Centro de Crianza Jacinto Gordillo aka La Galapaguera Cerro Colorado where the national park has established a breeding program for the giant land tortoises that you will encounter in their natural habitat. Learn about their origin, evolution and threats by introduced animals at the information center.

Along the trail, you find the San Cristobal (Chatham) mockingbird and Calandrinia plant, both endemic to this island. After joining your fellow yacht mates this evening for the island briefing, you will enjoy our captain’s welcome cocktail party and dinner prepared by our well-trained chefs.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: Tower (Genovesa) Island: Darwin Bay & Prince Philips Steps

Spend the entire day on Tower Island (Genovesa), considered to be one of the most spectacular Islands in Galapagos for bird species.

Your wet landing at Darwin Bay will land you on a coral sand beach where Swallow-tailed and Lava gulls gather near the tide pools. Enter a forest of Opuntia cactus and mangroves where colonies of Great frigate birds nest.

The males inflate their red-throated pouches to attract the females flying overhead. The trail leads through a rich intertidal zone with a wide diversity of wildlife.

After lunch and a dry landing at Prince Philip’s Steps, a trail leads to Red-footed boobies nesting in Palo Santo trees and Nazca boobies nesting near the trail. In an open lava field, find large numbers of Storm petrels.

If you are lucky, we will see the elusive Short-eared owl. Chose to have a picnic lunch on deck or dine inside. Look for the beautiful Red-billed Tropic bird found in the crevices along the cliff by kayak or Zodiac.

You can choose to swim or snorkel from the beach with sea lions in these northern warmer waters or for those with experience, we offer snorkeling in deeper water. Return to the yacht for briefing and dinner before we cross the equator.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Santa Cruz Island: Las Bachas & Cerro Dragon

Today we visit Las Bachas (“the barges”). Just off this long stretch of beach with soft, white sand are interior lagoons where the Greater flamingo forages for food.

This stop also provides a wonderful chance to snorkel from the beach. At Black Turtle Cove aka Caleta Tortuga Negra we have a zodiac ride through a series of coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves.

Here you can view pairs of mating sea turtles (Sept to Feb), white-tipped reef sharks and golden cow-nosed rays. Located on the northern tip of Santa Cruz is Cerro Dragon aka Dragon Hill.

Along the trail, we find Darwin Finches, Galapagos Flycatchers, Yellow Warblers, Audubon Shearwater and the endemic land iguanas, orange-yellow in color with large spines along their backs, were once part of the Darwin Station’s breeding program.

We find pink flamingos feeding in the salt-water lagoon as well as other lagoon birds; stilts, pintail ducks, sandpipers and more.

From the top of the hill, we enjoy a majestic view of the bay island covered in Opuntia cactus, Palo Santo and Cordia Lutea (muyuyu). After the briefing and dinner, we sail toward the western islands and cross the equator line for the second time.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza & Isabela Island: Urbina Bay

Today you start with a semi-wet landing at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, the youngest and most pristine Island in Galapagos where no mammals were introduced.

Recent lava flows formed by an active volcano stretch around the coast. Hundreds of Marine iguanas, members of the largest colony in Galapagos, bask in the sun along the rugged shoreline.

Observe sea lion harems with resident bulls carefully guarding their territory. Flightless cormorants build their nests on the point and Galapagos hawks fly overhead.

There is a chance to snorkel here with sea turtles. After lunch, you will cross the Bolivar Chanel where whales are often spotted and dolphins ride the bow wave.

We disembark at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island, where four miles of coastal seabed and its marine life was exposed due to a dramatic uplift in 1954 when the volcano erupted.

The marine remnants of coral skeletons, some of them waist-high, are visited after a wet landing on the beach. Urbina is home to the very large and colorful Galapagos land iguana.

You will osee here occasionally giant tortoises and Darwin finches. Brown pelicans and Flightless cormorants nest here, and giant Marine iguanas are seen along the coast. You may encounter penguins while snorkeling here.

At Punta Vicente Roca, a Zodiac ride offers an incredible view of the tuff walls, and can enter the wave-sculpted cave where a sea turtle could be lurking. You may spot the dorsal fin of a Mola Mola, an odd-looking giant sun fish. You return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Isabela Island: Elizabeth Bay & Tagus Cove

Today you visit by zodiac Elizabeth Bay on Isabela Island, starting with a visit to a secluded cove lined with large red mangrove trees. Here, turtles, rays, and shore birds can be seen.

You then motor to the rocky islets known as “Las Marielas,” where a colony of nesting penguins, Flightless cormorants and giant Marine iguanas are found. Isabela was created when six volcanoes flowed together and formed the largest island in Galapagos.

You have a dry landing at Tagus Cove, a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. Old graffiti dating back to the 1800’s is written on the rocky cliffs.

Explore the coves by zodiac or kayak to find Galapagos penguins, boobies, pelicans and other seabirds. An uphill hike brings you to a salt-water lagoon, a scenic overlook with a spectacular view of the ocean, lava fields and volcanic formations.

An excellent snorkeling site is offered from the zodiac or, if you prefer, take a kayak and explore the shoreline. After dinner, a sky full of stars beckons all on deck to observe the galaxy while crossing the equator for the last time.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

 We stroll along the shoreline at Puerto Egas on Santiago Island (James) looking for octopus, starfish and other sea life caught in the tide pools.

At low tide, catch a glimpse of marine iguanas as they feed on exposed green algae. Watch for great blue herons, lava herons, American oystercatchers and yellow-crowned night herons.

Our walk ends at the grottos, deep pools of clear water where you encounter fur sea lions. Before returning to the yacht, there is a snorkeling opportunity.

After lunch, take a seat on deck to view the dramatic landscape and dolphins that are often spotted here.

You begin the day by disembarking on Rabida Island (Jervis), located near James Island. Rabida is considered the geographic center of Galapagos because this island sports the most diversified volcanic rocks.

The dark-red sand beach originated from the high content of iron in the volcanic stones. While strolling along the trail, you may find Marine iguanas, mocking birds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin finches leading to a saltwater lagoon where Greater flamingos migrate.

After the walk, there is not-to-miss snorkeling option with a large colony of sea lions. You return to the yacht for the Captain’s Farwell cocktail party and dinner as well as a special slide show presentation by your guides.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Station

The bus takes the group to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The scenery gradually changes as the route winds through all seven vegetation zones found in the Galapagos.

Here, you visit the tortoise reserve at Las Primicias, one of the private farms in the highlands where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat.

Next, a stop at “the tunnels,” which are the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos. Then it’s off to visit Los Gemelos (“the twins”), a pair of large pit craters where the bright red male vermilion flycatcher is right at home.

After lunch, a visit to the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena (aka the Charles Darwin Research Station) puts you among several tortoise species and the breeding center where new hatchlings are studied and protected until they’re released back into the wild.

Scientists from across the globe work at the station where they conduct biological research from anatomy to zoology. A stop at Van Straelen Hall provides the opportunity to view exhibits and a presentation.

Visitors can observe the tortoise and land iguanas. Puerto Ayora is the social heart of the islands with the largest population of 24,000 people.

This evening you have the option to return to the yacht for a buffet dinner or remain in town on your own account.

Those who return to the yacht will be provided zodiacs to return to town to shop for souvenirs or to stop in at an internet café and connect with home. Zodiacs will return you to the yacht.

Overnight: On the yacht

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: San Cristobal Interpretation Center & Airport

By bus you visit the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island. Opened in 1999, here you gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the islands. Afterwards, you spend some time in port prior to heading to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.

Overnight: –

Meals Included: Breakfast

* 7-day/ 6-night cruise option 
Passengers can disembark on Saturday in Baltra for a shorter, 6-night cruise. This is available on seasonal or peak departure dates only and not holiday weeks.

The 6-night rate is a 10% discount off the 7-night cruise rate and cannot be combined with any other promotional or child discounts.

For those passengers departing early and require a transfer to the airport, there is an additional charge of $90 for three or fewer passengers.

The return flight from Baltra is subject to availability and confirmation is requested at the time of booking.