Day 1 Galapagos Islands
Early this morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Galapagos.
Your Galapagos Cruise include: Accommodation in selected cabin, all meals, Island sightseeing, Naturalist guides and lecture services in English, snorkelling gear, shared transfers in the islands and from main hotels in Quito and Guayaquil.
Please remember that the exact route and programme may vary according to weather and ocean conditions and the wildlife we encounter.
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.
On arrival you will be transferred from the airport to your first excursion to El Chato Tortoise Reserve. The reserve is divided into two areas: Caseta and Chato. The trail begins at Santa Rosa (13.7 miles / 22 km) from Puerto Ayora, with the Caseta route being the more challenging. The reserve allows visitors to observe giant tortoises in the wild during the dry season and is also a good place to spot short-eared owls, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, Galapagos rails and paint-billed crakes.
Next, transferred to the Galapagos Infinity Yacht for boarding, cabin assignment and briefing.
Day 2 Santa Cruz Isl./Galapagos Islands
AM: Dragon Hill- Situated on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.
PM: Bachas Beach- Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Las Bachas is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest off the beach.
Day 3 Floreana Isl./Galapagos Islands
AM: Post Office Bay- Embark on a captivating journey to Post Office Bay, an utterly unique corner of the Galapagos archipelago. Here, on the shores of Floreana Island, history whispers tales of seafaring adventurers. Imagine the 18th century, when intrepid whalers, traversing these remote waters, established an ingenious system: a simple wooden barrel, strategically placed, served as an unofficial maritime post office. This was not merely a fleeting practice; it is a living tradition that endures to this day. As you step ashore, you will become a part of this fascinating legacy. Visitors, carrying on the time-honored custom, deposit their addressed postcards into the weathered barrel, hoping they will find their way home via a fellow traveller.
PM: Cormorant Point – This site hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and white-cheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The “Green Beach” named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the “Four Sand Beach” composed of white coral.
Or Devil’s Crown-One of the best deep water snorkelling sites in the Galapagos. This volcanic crater has been eroded by the waves leaving the northern and southern sides poking out of the water. The coral reef in the middle is perfect for attracting marine life. Snorkelers enjoy the variety of marine life and exciting currents that rush through the crown creating an exhilarating experience.
Day 4 Española Isl./Galapagos Islands
AM: Punta Suarez – This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the ocean front, the large, waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air. This site presents wonderful photography opportunities.
PM: Gardner Bay- In the afternoon we visit Gardner Bay, a magnificent long white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore, and inquisitive mockingbirds boldly investigate new arrivals. Its rocky shores make this site a beautiful place for diving and snorkelling or kayaking.
Day 5 San Cristobal Isl./Galapagos Islands
AM: Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center-The Center was opened in 1998 as a phase of the project “Interpretation and Environment Education Project.” Visitors enjoy exhibitions on natural history, human history, and conservation. The conservation efforts represent the movement to protect the wildlife and natural environment through means of population and tourist control. The Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center has an outdoor stadium, audio-visual equipment, and meeting rooms.
Afterwards you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back to the mainland.