Day 1: Baltra Airport Arrival - Sullivan Bay
In the morning: Baltra Airport Arrival
Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra, Galapagos Islands.
You will arrive at Baltra Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Horizon
staff member and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch
and a welcome briefing.
In the afternoon: Sullivan Bay
You will visit Sullivan Bay located on the southeast part of Santiago. This place is interesting for its geology because the area is
covered by lava flows. This place has elevations in the form of small volcanoes formed by the lava flows.
Day 2: Vicente Roca Point - Espinoza Point
In the morning: Vicente Roca Point
Comprised of two separate coves, Vicente Roca Point is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea
turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (or sun fish) while you snorkel.
In the afternoon: Espinoza Point
Crossing the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina Islands, you will land at Espinoza Point, and after walking past a
colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, you will reach the island’s highlight: the flightless cormorant nesting site. This
area also provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos hawk.
Day 3: Tagus Cove - Urbina Bay
In the morning: Tagus Cove
You will visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island which is located across from Fernandina Island, near the Bolivar Channel dividing the
two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s, using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake
Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views.
In the afternoon: Urbina Bay
Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area
experienced a major uplift in 1954 causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out leaving marine life
stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkeling.
Day 4: Elizabeth Bay - Moreno Point
In the morning: Elizabeth Bay
Elizabeth Bay is located on the east coast of Isabela Island. The bay contains many islets, which can be visited by dinghy. Penguins
and blue-footed boobies can be spotted on the rocky islets. With an abundance of marine life and clear water, the area is perfect
for snorkeling and viewing schools of colorful fish, sea lions, and perhaps even sharks.
In the afternoon: Moreno Point
Moreno Point is located southwest of Elizabeth Bay. Here a dry landing onto what was once flowing lava is possible. The lava has
left craters in its wake which formed crystal tide pools. By looking into the pools, you can peer into another world as the marine life
drifts by your window. In the brackish pools of this area, you may see pink flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, and common
gallinules. If you look carefully into the pools, you may see white-tip reef sharks and some sea turtles.
Day 5: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center - Highlands
In the morning: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
You will visit “Fausto Llerena” Tortoise Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora, where giant tortoises are bred in captivity. This is home to
tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long adults. Subspecies of the giant tortoises interact with one another,
and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept
until they are about four years-old and strong enough to survive on their own.
In the afternoon: Highlands
Accessible by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green which contrast beautifully with the dry, lower
part of the islands. The predominant vegetation in the highlands are Scalesia trees which create a lush green forest. The lava
tunnels, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience. At this place you’ll have
lunch.
Day 6: Post Office Bay - Cormorant Point
In the morning: Post Office Bay
You will land on a beach and head to a spot where 18th century whalers placed a wooden barrel used as an unofficial mail box. The
custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So, don’t forget your postcards, and don’t be surprised if the post card
arrives to its destination before you even get home.
Afterwards: Devil’s Crown
You will have a chance to snorkel around Devil’s Crown which is the rocky remains of an offshore volcano sticking out of the water.
This is a great location to spot a wide range of marine creatures.
In the afternoon: Cormorant Point
Cormorant Point 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 is named so due to its green color, which comes from a high
percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the Flour Sand Beach is composed of white coral.
Day 7: Santa Fé Island - Lobos Island
In the morning: Santa Fé Island
Santa Fe Island (Barrington) is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two
visitor trails: one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus
forest.
In the afternoon: Lobos Island
You will take an excursion to Lobos Island which means “Sea Lion Island.” This appropriately named island is ripe with noisy,
playful, jolly sea lions who will welcome you to their home with open, well, fins. This island also offers great snorkeling opportunities
as well as the chance to see blue-footed and Nazca boobies.
Day 8: David Rodriguez Breeding Center “La Galapaguera” - San Cristobal airport departure
In the morning: David Rodriguez Breeding Center “La Galapaguera”
Breeding Center David Rodriguez - “La Galapaguera”, in Cerro Colorado, is a new visitor site in the southeast part of San Cristobal
Island and can now be reached in roughly one hour by road from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. On the trees and shrubs surrounding
the site, you may see land birds like warblers, finches and mockingbirds. Giant tortoises can be observed on the trails. They live
there wild but in a protected area to ensure their survival by sealing them off from introduced predators like pigs and goats.
Afterwards: San Cristobal airport departure
After this final visit, you will be transferred to the San Cristobal airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.
