Solaris Itinerary

Itinerary A - 6N

Day 1:
Arrival at Baltra Airport and transfer in. You will have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee, and your luggage will be inspected. Strolling along its coastline, the blinding white Bachas Beach appears full of natural life. It is one of the most important breeding sites for Pacific green turtles. 

Day 2:
This group of jagged, rocky islets just off the coast of Puerto Villamil forms one of the most stereotypical sites of the Galapagos. The wetlands and brackish lagoons of Isabela are among the best places to spot aquatic, wading and shore birds. In the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre, you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes (the vulnerable hatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand)! 

Day 3: We will be heading to Punta Moreno, on the north coast of Isabela Island. Here, a trail leads along the lava river to a complex of several coastal lagoons. The main attraction is various bird species, which can be found in lakes and mangrove forests. Back on board, we will enter the Bolivar Channel to Tagus Cove while you enjoy the delicious lunch buffet. Once at Tagus Cove, you can enjoy snorkeling and hiking along the edge of Darwin Lake.

Day 4: This morning we will visit Espinoza Point, Fernandina. The highlight here is the flightless cormorant that lives exclusively in the remote west of Galapagos. While having lunch, we will cross the Bolivar Channel for the last time to Vicente Roca Point. While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, roaring echoes of the waves will accompany you. Just around the corner, the collapsed amphitheater of Volcán Ecuador offers another impressive view. The calmer waters of the coves are well-protected against the ocean swell and are a fairly cold but great place for snorkeling amongst various species of sharks, penguins, pufferfish and even seahorses. 

Day 5: Espumilla Beach is a visitor’s site at the northern end of James Bay, on the western coast of Santiago. This beach has been revived as an important breeding site for turtles. The turtles return year after year to bury their eggs in the cinnamon-colored sand dunes. Climbing the hill, you will be rewarded with a beautiful overview of the transitions from sea into beach into mangrove into dry palo santo forest. At lunchtime we will navigate south to Puerto Egas with its famous fur seal grottos, where you will enjoy another, very different guided walk along the coastline. Its masterly sculpted coastline of black basalts and polished multi-colored ash layers forms a photogenic scene with collapsed lava tunnels, natural arches, caves and blowholes.

Day 6: After a ‘wet landing’ on the remarkable red beach of Rabida, there are two short guided hikes. The beach wall holds a shallow, green-fringed lagoon; this oasis is the most fertile place on the otherwise arid islet, which is overgrown with leaf-dropping palo santo trees. The salty pool attracts all kinds of aquatic birds, like pintails and sometimes American flamingos. Between the evergreen foliage of the surrounding mangrove bushes, many species of songbirds hide and breed. One of the most outstanding attractions is the major breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only ones in the world that plunge-dive. On return you will be picked up by the inflatable dinghies to get ready for snorkeling. 

In the afternoon, we will visit Chinese Hat, off the coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins has settled. This is an excellent place to learn more about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels. 

Day 7: Our dinghies will bring you to the pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This is where biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are carried out. The most memorable part of your visit will probably be the successful breeding center and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises.

After that, it is time to say goodbye to the Galapagos. Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to the pier, where you will take the shuttle back to the airport. In case you have booked your trip for a longer stay with us, we would be welcoming any potential new fellow passengers to the yacht and continuing our trip to the next visiting site.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.