Day 1: – June 7 Depart US
Depart the US and Arrive in Guayaquil Ecuador and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel Oro Verde 5
Day 2: – June 8 Guayaquil
Optional half-day tour of Guayaquil with guide. Rest of day at leisure to explore. (B)
Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant.
Overnight at Hotel Oro Verde 5*
Day 3: June 9 Depart Guayaquil to Galapagos
Arrive in Baltra the Galapagos
Board the NEMO II – Sail to SEYMOUR ISLAND
We will disembark at North Seymour Island. Here we see frigate birds, the clownish blue-footed booby, and of course sea lions. With luck we will witness the striking courtship display of the male frigate bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females. Seymour North, Plaza Sur and Plaza Norte, Baltra, northeastern Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and part of Española, were formed by uprisings of underwater volcanic lavas. They were part of a volcanic lava table deposited in sheet form along cracks located on the ocean floor. The uprisings occurred sporadically and lasted more than a million years to reach its current level.
All marine fossils found in the archipelago are found in these islands, and the best examples are found in the North Channel side of Baltra. The fossils date from the Pleistocene era when the volcanic tables were close to the surface, about a million years ago.
Evening: Guide briefing. Welcome cocktail. Dinner service and navigation to San Cristobal Island.
Monday, Day 2: June 10 SAN CRISTOBAL: LOBOS ISLAND – KICKER ROCK (LEÓN DORMIDO) – BRUJO HILL
Morning: Breakfast service. Dry landing. Nature walk and more wildlife watching. Deep water snorkeling.
Lobos Island, as its name suggests is famous for its population of sea lions and fur sea lions. You will also encounter nesting grounds for the great Frigatebird and a small number of blue footed boobies. We visit the breeding center where we will learn about the natural phenomena that created the Galapagos Islands.
Afternoon: Lunch service and navigation to Cerro Brujo. Panga boat exploration rides. Wet landing. Nature walk. Deep water snorkeling.
One of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin, Cerro Brujo is a beautiful white sand beach where Brown Pelicans, Blue‐Footed Boobies, sea lions, and marine iguanas are all found. Cerro Brujo is a very striking, eroded tuff cone.
There is no landing at Kicker Rock. Also known as León Dormido, these rocks are located off the coast of San Cristobal. It is the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, the two vertical rocks rising 500 feet from the ocean to form a channel that is navigable by small boats. This natural monument has become a favorite site for cruises due to the many Tropicbirds, Frigates and Boobies that fill the surrounding air. Beneath the sea the almost crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Floreana Island.
Tuesday, Day 3: June 11 FLOREANA CHAMPION ISLET – CORMORANT POINT – POST OFFICE BAY – THE BARONESS VIEWPOINT
Morning: Breakfast service. Visit to Floreana Island: Champion Islet, Cormorant Point, wet landing. Nature walk. Possible activities: deep water snorkeling, kayaking, panga boat exploration rides.
The visit to Cormorant Point offers two contrasting beaches. Arriving on shore you will encounter a green sand beach (the green sand is caused by the olivine crystals derived from silicates, magnesium, and iron). From here you will follow the trail leading to a lagoon where Pink Flamingos and other shore birds can be seen in the distance making their home. If you look closely at the mud in this lagoon, there appear to be ‘cracks’ in the surface. These cracks are not caused from dryness but are actual flamingo footpaths.
This is also a good spot for seeing Large‐Billed Flycatchers, Small‐Ground Finches, Medium‐Ground Finches or Cactus Finches. The walk continues to another beach on the other side made of fine white sand particles known as “Flour Beach”. In the waters Ghost Crabs and Rays can be seen swimming. Time and weather permitting you may even go for a swim or a snorkel. Other activities include a panga ride to Champion Point and kayaking at Baroness Viewpoint.
In 1793, British whalers established the Post Office Barrel to send letters back home to England. This tradition has continued over the years, and even today visitors may drop off and pick up letters, without stamps, to be carried to far-off destinations. Whaling Captain James Colnett established the wooden post barrel in 1793. At the time, whaling was a big industry, and ships were typically gone for 2 years at a time. The Galapagos Islands were a frequent stop for these whalers.
The Baroness Viewpoint is especially attractive because aside from its impressive scenic beauty, it has a history. It is known by letters that Baroness Eloisa von Wagner (referring to “The Galapagos Affair” by John Treherne) loved this place, where she spent several hours where she could acquire knowledge of vessels approaching the island. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as the House of the Baroness. Time and weather permitting you may have the opportunity to snorkel again from the beach.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Espanola Island.
Wednesday, Day 4: June 12 ESPANOLA: OSBORN ISLET – GARDNER ISLAND – GARDNER BAY SUAREZ POINT
Morning: Breakfast service. Deep water snorkeling. Panga boat exploration rides to Gardner Bay.
Osborn Islet is located to the southeast of Gardner Bay, near Española Island. Since landing is not allowed on this site, the visit consists of a tranquil panga ride that will allow us to enjoy the panoramic views and the many species that inhabit the place.
The islet was named after Henry Fairfield Osborn, a true lover of nature and animal species. William Beebe worked for him and named the islet after traveling to discover Galapagos.
There are many different schools of fish and other animal species, such as parrotfish, sea lions, butterfly fish, corals, green pencil urchins and many other colorful fish. This site is also great for snorkeling and swimming around the abundant marine life, as its waters are very calm.
Gardner Island is located a few hundred meters north of Española Island and faces Gardner Bay. Just like Española, Gardner Island is uninhabited and accessible only by cruise. Is a natural islet close to Española, the southernmost island of Galápagos. It is one of the best spots in the archipelago to snorkel with sea lions. Playful and inquisitive, they often join the snorkelers in the water.
Gardner Bay is a 45‐minute boat ride from Suarez Point. It has a white sand beach and there is a small colony of sea lions. The possibilities for swimming or scuba diving are excellent here. Visitors find migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly colored Marine Iguanas, Española Lava Lizards, Hood Mockingbirds, Swallow Tailed Gulls, Blue Footed and Masked Boobies, Galapagos Hawks, a selection of Finches, and the Waved Albatross. Snorkel and go on a panga ride at Gardner Islet, and at Osborn Islet snorkel once more.
Suarez Point is located on the western tip of Española and it offers great wildlife viewing of such species as Sea Lions, Sea Birds and the largest Marine Iguanas of Galapagos. This is one of the best sites in the Galapagos. The amount of wildlife is overwhelming. Along the beach there are many Sea Lions and large, colorful Lava Lizards and Marine Iguanas. As you follow the trail to the cliff’s edge, Masked Boobies can be found nesting among the rock formations. After a short walk down to a beach and back up the other side Blue‐Footed Boobies are seen nesting just off the trail.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Santa Cruz Island.
Thursday, Day 5: June 13 SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS – CHARLES DARWIN STATION
Morning: Breakfast service. Visit to Santa Cruz Highlands. Dry landing.
The highlands of Santa Cruz have incredible zones of vegetation. This reserve offers you one of the best possibilities to see the huge turtles of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from very close.
The main visit in Puerto Ayora is to Charles Darwin Station. You will learn about how the Galapagos turtles are raised and meet Jorge, the famous solitary turtle.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to South Plaza.
Friday, Day 6: June 14 SOUTH PLAZA – SANTA FE
Morning: Breakfast service. Dry landing. Visit to South Plaza. Nature walk. Deep water snorkeling.
Your visit to South Plaza begins with a dry landing. The rocky trail circumnavigates the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. South Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas in the Galapagos. The iguanas seem to be everywhere once you land. These larger-than-average yellow‐brown land iguanas feed on the fruit and pads of the prickly pear cactus.
South Plaza is also home to Marine Iguanas living along the coast and Hybrid Iguanas whose fathers are Marine Iguanas and mothers are Land Iguanas. As the walk continues along the sea cliffs Swallow‐tailed Gulls, Frigatebirds, Audubon Shearwaters, Red‐billed Tropicbirds, Brown Pelicans, Blue‐Footed and Masked Boobies are frequently seen. Beneath along the shore a colony of Bachelor Sea Lions can be seen.
Santa Fe Island is home to one of the most beautiful coves in all the Galapagos. It is located in the southeastern part of Galapagos, 2 1/2 hours from Santa Cruz and 3 hours from San Cristobal. Santa Fe was formed from an uplift (rather than a volcano) giving the island a relatively flat surface rather than the typical conical shape of the other islands. Visits to Santa Fe begin with a panga boat ride across the lovely turquoise lagoon. Once ashore you are brought into contact with one of the many sea lion colonies in the Galapagos. Bulls compete for the right of beach master while cows lounge in the sun. It is quite a fascinating sight! The loop trail around the island leads past the salt bushes where Galapagos Hawks can be approached easily.
Santa Fe is also home to endemic Land Iguanas. These iguanas are the largest in the islands and they are beige to chocolate brown in color and resemble small dinosaurs. Reaching the summit there is a stunning view of the cove beneath.
Evening: Guide briefing. Dinner service and navigation to Santiago Island.
Saturday, Day 7: June 15 SANTIAGO: BARTOLOME – CHINESE HAT
Morning: Breakfast service. Deep water snorkeling. Visit to Bartolome. Dry landing. Nature walk.
This desolate island with few plants consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and glistening black volcanic formations. The best known of the island’s features is the Tuff Cone known as Pinnacle Rock. This large black partially eroded lava formation was created when magma expelled from the volcano reached the sea. When the sea waters cooled the hot lava it caused an explosion. The exploded particles eventually fasten together forming a rock composed of thin layers.
Bartolome’s Pinnacle Rock has become one of the best recognized and most photographed sights in the islands. A prominent sight, it was used as a target for US airmen during WWII. Lying beside the Pinnacle Rock are twin half-moon shaped beaches.
The northern beach is a popular snorkeling site where visitors have the opportunity to swim with fish, Sea Lions and Galapagos Penguins. Much larger animals can be found near the southern beach including stingrays, spotted eagle rays, white‐tipped sharks, and black‐tipped sharks. Little vegetation grows in this barren place. Mangroves border the beach and the small shrub Tiguilia grows in the volcanic sands. The seeds and tiny white flowers of the Chamaesycae provide food for the island’s finch. These plants are common to arid regions and are able to survive in these harsh volcanic conditions.
Visit to Chinese Hat, a tiny island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. Its name describes the island’s shape. Those visitors who travel to the island will find its special landscape worth the visit. Though centrally located it is one of the least visited sites in the area. National Park Service restrictions have limited the number of visitors to Chinese Hat. Multi‐day cruises with 14 passengers or less are the only ones permitted at this site. The landing is on a beautiful crescent‐shaped white sand beach, home to Sea Lions and Sally Lightfoot Crabs. The trail on Sombrero Chino’s explores its volcanic origin, one of the most evident in the islands.
The lava rock is very fragile and tends to break off when people walk over it. The sharp outcroppings caused from these breaks make it necessary to wear good walking shoes. Patches of Pahoehoe Lava, cracked lava and lava tubes can be found on the island. While the path does not lead up the striking red rust sides of the Chinese Hat to the caldera, it does venture high enough on the island to offer some spectacular views of the waves crashing below.
Evening: Guide briefing. Farewell cocktail. Dinner service and navigation to Mosquera Islet.
Sunday, Day 8: June 16 End at 08:30 AM DAPHNE – BALTRA
Morning: Circumnavigation. Breakfast service. Check out and airport departure.
Among the central islands of the Galapagos Archipelago, Daphne Island sits north of Santa Cruz Island and west of Baltra Island. In reality there are two islands: Daphne Major and Daphne Minor. They are one of the more accessible Galapagos Islands and are easily reached by most tour boats and cruises. Please note that disembarkation on these islands is not possible, therefore we will sail around them for one last look at the beautiful vistas of Galapagos.
Transfer to Airport for flight back to Guayaquil
Overnight at Hotel Oro Verde
Day 9: June 17 Transfer to Airport and flight back to USA. (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Guayaquil to return to the US.
The itineraries and program are subject to change without prior notice, due mainly to adjustments in the policies and regulations of the Galapagos National Park, weather conditions, seasonal changes and safety reasons.
* Itinerary subject to change
