- Navigate around Kicker Rock, one of the most photogenic landmarks
- Beautiful and elegant flamingos at Cormorant Point
- Climb the many steps of the Bartolomé Peak Trail for panoramic views
- Find Galápagos flamingos and pin-tail ducks at Espumilla Beach
- Hike the highlands of Santa Cruz to a Galapagos tortoise sanctuary
- Visit Mosquera, home to the largest concentration of sea lions
Day 1:
AM – Boarding
Upon arrival, reception and assistance at the airport, transfer from San Cristobal Airport to the M/C Ocean Spray.
PM – Lobos Island/Kicker Rock (San Cristobal)
Lobos Island is aptly named after the many sea lions that reside here resting and playing along the rocky shores. It is also home to many different birds like pelicans, frigate birds and their nests, yellow warblers and more. Within the small channel the waters are very clear, making it easy to find sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays and perhaps even white-tipped sharks.
Kicker rock is one of the most extraordinary sites in the Galapagos Islands, made of two eroded volcanic cones that tower over the sea at about 104-metres in the middle of the open water. It is a nesting place of sea birds and a nice spot to take pictures while the vessels circumnavigate around the rock.
Day 2:
AM – Pitt Point (San Cristobal)
When arriving at Pitt Point, it will feel as if you’ve landed on an extraterrestrial planet. You can see the many different developments over time of how volcanic activity formed this island. A hike up to the top beholds amazing views of the surrounding waters. Watch out for blue-footed boobie nests on the ground and keep an eye out for the red-footed boobies nesting in the trees once you reach the top of the island.
PM – Witch Hill (San Cristobal)
Witch hill has awesome crevices and eroding rocks along the shoreline where you will first pass in panga. Afterwards be prepared to visit a powdery white sand beach with teal and turquoise waters.
Day 3:
AM – Post Office Bay (Floreana)
Ask the Cruise Manager for one of our complimentary postcards to write a message and address it home. Leave it in the barrel used before by pirates and sailors. While your there, see if there are any other postcards you can take home with you to send for fellow travelers who have already left their messages!
PM – Cormorant Point / Devil’s Crown (Floreana)
Cormorant is an interesting visitor site. Two beaches can be visited here, just beyond the first beach is a saltwater lagoon with flamingos. One of the beaches looks green because of the olivine crystals, and the other is appropriately called Flour Beach because of the powdery white sand, made from fine, pulverised coral. Watch your feet if wading in the water, stingrays love to hang out here as well.
Devil’s Crown boasts one of the finest snorkelling opportunities. Below the surface are amazing volcanic structures that have submerged over time. Hundreds of colourful fish species can be seen along the reef, along with sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea lions, and rays. It’s a beautiful underwater spectacle that cannot be missed.
Day 4:
AM – Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz)
Black Turtle Cove is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. This shallow inlet is surrounded by mangroves and provides a natural protection for a variety of marine life, attracting the vulnerable juveniles of many species. Below the surface of the water, you can see both black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, golden cow-nose rays, and spotted eagle rays. Pelicans and blue-footed boobies hunt here, diving gracefully into the water.
PM – Pinnacle Rock (Bartholomew)
Pinnacle Rock is a volcanic cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano. The sea cooled the hot lava and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed together this huge rock of many, many layers of basalt. The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest during breeding season. Galapagos penguins gather here and swimming can offer beautiful sights of colourful schools of fish and curious sea lions.
Day 5:
AM – Darwin Bay (Genovesa)
Darwin Bay used to be a shield volcano, now you can see where one of the sides of its caldera collapsed after hundreds of years of erosion. It is known for the wide variety of birds that can be seen. Over 20,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to call this island home within the trees and bushes of Genovesa Island.
PM – El Barranco (Genovesa)
In English, this visitor site is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps. It leads to a rocky path up a cliff that rewards guests with a remarkable view. It is also home to a Palo Santo forest that is home to the nesting red-footed boobies and other shorebirds.
Day 6:
AM – Espumilla Beach / Buccaneer Cove (Santiago)
As the second Island Charles Darwin discovered, it was originally named after King James of England. Buccaneer Cove is an excellent opportunity for snorkelling and was once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates. The underwater formations provide an amazing home for the many different tropical species of fish that can be found here.
PM – Egas Port (Santiago)
Egas port is also known as James Bay, home to quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. There are grottos and tide pools housing all kinds of different marine species. This is also one of the best snorkelling sites in the Galapagos.
Day 7:
AM – North Seymour Island
The island was named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour. Formed by uplifted submarine lava, the island is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. Along the coast, it is possible to see land and marine iguanas and the biggest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds.
PM – Highlands (Santa Cruz)
The Highlands of Santa Cruz is a very interesting site due to the rich wildlife, hills, ferns, volcanoes and lava tubes present. Exploring the lava tubes is a surreal and unique experience. Here you can see all the different agricultural zones that are present in the Galapagos in one place. The variety of birds makes this a bird watchers delight.
Day 8:
AM – Mosquera Islet
This visitor site is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160-metres and has an estimated length of 600-metres. In most of the perimeter there is a base of lava rocks, as evidence of the lava uprising, except in the southwest side where the landing occurs. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions.
PM – Depart from Baltra airport.
After this last visit, transfer to Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
King size bed2 peopleShareable
