Day 1 Santa Cruz Isl./Galapagos Islands
Morning arrival to Baltra Island by plane and immediate transfer to the dock to board your cruise. Welcome introductory briefing and lunch.
There are two types of landings throughout your Galapagos tour:
Dry landing: guests step from the dinghy onto rocks or a dock.
Wet landing: as the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.
PM: Mosquera Islet- This tiny, low lying islet, covered in coral sand, is set between North and South Seymour Islands. It is home to a group of sea lions that come to laze on the soft white sand. It is a good spot to observe shorebirds as well as herons, lava gulls and boobies. Snorkelling or diving here one can often see sharks, rays and barracudas.
Day 2 Santiago Isl./Galapagos Islands
AM: Egas Port (Santiago)- The black volcanic sand sets this landing apart from most. It is best known for the dramatic shoreline where we meet a host of species that chose to live between land and sea. Particular among these are the endemic Galapagos fur seals which maintain a small colony at the end of our walk. Other species of note include American oystercatchers, sea lions, waders, herons, lava lizards and even Galapagos hawks. An optional visit takes you to an abandoned salt mine famous in its day for supplying salt to mainland Ecuador.
PM: Rabida Island- Lying at the heart of the archipelago this dramatic island, with its distinctive red-sand beach, is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves and vermillion flycatchers. A walk takes you through a forest of palo santo and cacti to an excellent overview of the bay. Snorkelling here can be excellent, often with large schools of black-striped salemas, sea lions and the ubiquitous turtles.
Day 3 Isabela Isl./Galapagos Islands
AM: Urbina Bay (Isabela)- At the far end of a long, level hike arrive at a strange phenomenon where large blocks of coral lie completely exposed after a dramatic geological uplift in 1954. Here you may run into a few very impressive land iguanas as well as some of the endemic Galapagos giant tortoises.
PM: Tagus Cove (Isabela)- A well-known hideout and deep water anchorage in the days of pirates, Tagus Cove was also one of the few sites visited by Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle in 1835. A beautiful hike leads you past an overview of Darwin Lake and on to a stunning volcanic landscape revealing Isabela island’s dramatic northern volcanoes. Once back at sea level the perfect activity is to snorkel along a submerged wall with turtles, lots of fish, penguins and potentially flightless cormorants. You might even be tempted by a panga ride or kayak!
Day 4 Fernandina Isl./Galapagos Islands
AM: Punta Espinosa (Fernandina)- The youngest island of Galapagos and one of the most pristine in the world. Fernandina is simply the marine iguana capital of the world. This desolate volcanic backdrop is home to a huge concentration of these enigmatic reptiles. Incongruously, sharing the same shoreline, you can find the tiny Galapagos penguins. You’ll have the exciting opportunity to snorkel with marine iguanas, penguins, turtles and the bizarre, endemic, flightless cormorants.
PM: Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela)- This is a spectacular visitor site, surrounded by immense cliffs of the eroded volcano. Studded with resting sea birds such as brown noddies and Nazca boobies. Snorkelling here is superb, with certain species of fish only found in the west of the archipelago. You also have a good chance of swimming with penguins and potentially a plethora of green turtles.
Day 5 Santa Cruz Isl.
AM: Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz)- Dry landing. It is possible to admire different kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets. The journey to the reserve offers great opportunities to see the contrasts that the island offers about a variety of ecosystems. The road goes from the coast through the agricultural zone and straight up to the dense humid forests. Often, Galapagos Giant Tortoises are also seen on the way, wandering through pastures in the paddocks. This spot is a birdwatchers’ haven since almost every land bird present on the island lives or migrates here. After the visit, transfer to the airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.
