Archipel I Cruise

Detailed Itinerary A

Day 1 Monday

Your guide will be waiting for you in the San Cristobal Airport and after the group has arrived you will be taken to the harbor, board the boat, be given general info about the ship and your upcoming adventure, and have a nice lunch. Following this orientation you will visit the Galapagos turtle reserve which was created to preserve this marvelous species and allows you to hike through the forest and witness these massive animals in their natural habitat.

Day 2 Tuesday

Start the day at South Plaza Island, which has unique Sesuvium plants and Opuntia cactuses scattered throughout providing some very interesting wildlife observations. Following lunch you will spot land iguanas and other wildlife while on the trails of Santa Fe Island and have the opportunity for swimming and snorkeling amongst sea lions and more. These are just of a few of the highlights you can expect when seeing the Galapagos Islands by catamaran.

Day 3 Wednesday

Spend the day at Floreana Island. Visit the Peace Asylum, a site where a natural spring attracted pirates, whalers and settlers, as it was one of the very few year-round sources of fresh water in Galapagos. Also visit La Cueva de los Piratas where pirates carved temporary shelters out of soft stone. Later visit La Loberia, a small beach home to a colony of sea lions and a great place to snorkel possibly spotting manta rays and sharks.

Day 4 Thursday

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, which contains a small museum and, importantly, is s tortoise breeding grounds where the Galapagos Tortoises are bred and prepared for reintroduction, a vital project for their long-term survival. In the afternoon visit a vast turtle reserve. You will also have time to explore town and get to know the local Galapagos people.

Day 5 Friday

Explore the Galapagos’ largest island, Isabela, in the morning and witness abundant flora and fauna. You will also visit the small “Tintoreras” Island walking through a surreal landscape formed by lava flows that is home to huge colonies of lizards and other terrestrial species. Later in the day walk through Humedales, or wetlands seeing new species of endemic and introduced species, and take the opportunity to hike to a viewpoint overlooking the spectacular bay, volcanoes, and Puerto Villamil.

Day 6 Saturday

Continue exploring one of the Galapagos’ most scenic islands visiting Isabela’s Moreno Point and Elizabeth Bay. A young volcanic landscape with numerous freshwater pools and lagoons, you can see flamingos, bahama ducks, and many other bird species, as well as dwarf penguins, manta rays, turtles, whale sharks and more while snorkeling. Head to Elizabeth Bay by zodiac through the Marielas islets, home to the largest and most important penguin colony in the Galapagos. Observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, brown pelicans, sea lions and other species in this scenic cove surrounded by red mangroves.

Day 7 Sunday

Taking a zodiac following breakfast, explore Isabela Island’s Tagus Cove, watching for the Galapagos penguin, flightless cormorant and other sea birds. After landing walk along a 30-minute trail to the top of the cliffs for views of Darwin Lake and several volcanoes. During lunch we cruise to Fernandina Island where you visit Espinoza point, a fascinating lava-formed landscape where it’s possible to see one of Galapagos’ largest iguana colonies, penguins, sea lions and more. Today is also a great opportunity for snorkeling and viewing abundant sea life.

Day 8 Monday

Visit Las Bachas, a beautiful white-sand beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Go for a stroll, do some light snorkeling, or relax on the beach. Sea turtles lay their eggs nearby, and you can also look for a rusted pontoon, a relic of the Second World War. Following your excursion you will be transferred to the Baltra Airport to fly back to mainland Ecuador.

DETAILED Itinerary B

Day 1 Monday

Your guide will be waiting for you in the San Cristobal Airport and after the group has arrived you will be taken to the harbor, board the boat, be given general info about the ship and your upcoming adventure, and have a nice lunch. Afterwards enjoy your first excursion in Galapagos visiting North Seymour Island. This low, flat island was formed as a result of volcanic uplift and is covered with low, bushy vegetation that contains the largest colony of frigate birds in the islands. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies which perform amusing courtship dances when nesting, a highlight of the island.

Day 2 Tuesday

Having cruised to Genovesa Island, visit Darwin Bay, the island’s only sandy beach, where colonies of Giant Frigate birds exhibit their red balloon pouches to females when in courtship. Also found here are red-footed boobies. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon walk on a naturally carved stone staircase where you can see masked boobies, frigates, storm petrels, bahama ducks, and possibly a short-eared owl.

Day 3 Wednesday

Waking at Bartolome Island, enjoy a walk to admire the spectacular vista over Sullivan Bay and the famed Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of this iconic site are excellent for snorkeling with colorful fish and home to many larger underwater species. Landing on a white coral sand beach in the afternoon, walk amongst volcanic landscapes around Sullivan Bay watching for more wildlife amongst this surreal landscape.

Day 4 Thursday

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, which contains a small museum and, importantly, is s tortoise breeding grounds where the Galapagos Tortoises are bred and prepared for reintroduction, a vital project for their long-term survival. Also visit Los Gemelos, or The Twins, two enormous collapsed lava chambers and an inspiring reminder of nature’s power. The short walk to Los Gemelos is teeming with endemic flora and fauna. You will also have time to explore town and get to know the local Galapagos people.

Day 5 Friday

Landing at Cormorant Point on Floreana Island, a short walk takes you to a flamingo-filled lagoon. In the afternoon visit Post Office Bay where whalers posted their mail in times past. Also visit the Baroness’s Lookout, where you learn of the island’s murder mystery legend and enjoy a beautiful view.

Day 6 Saturday

Explore Espanola Island, home to a variety of endemic wildlife such as the Hood-Mockinbird. Gardner Bay is an excellent swimming beach where snorkelers often find turtles and sharks in addition to colorful fish. It’s also possible to swim with the sea lions that often frequent the bay. In the afternoon visit Suarez Point, one of the archipelago’s most outstanding wildlife areas with a long list of species found along its cliffs and beaches.

Day 7 Sunday

Arriving to San Cristobal Island visit Punta Pitt, one of only two sites where all three boobies breed, and home to great frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and Galapagos storm-petrels. Later visit one of the first sites explored by Darwin, Cerro Brujo, walking amongst a variety of species.

Day 8 Monday

Visit Lobos Island in the morning where you can snorkel amongst sea lions in this calm bay. Following your excursion you will be transferred to the Baltra Airport to fly back to mainland Ecuador.