Day 1: San Cristobal Airport - Lobos Island and Kicker Rock
AM: Upon arrival, reception and assistance at the airport, transfer from San Cristobal Airport to the M/C Ocean Spray.
PM: San Cristobal - Lobos Island/Kicker Rock
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.
Day 2: Pitt Point - Witch Hill
AM: San Cristobal - Pitt Point
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: San Cristobal - Witch Hill
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: Post Office Bay - Cormorant Point and Devil’s Crown
AM: Floreana - Post Office Bay
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: Floreana - Cormorant Point / Devil’s Crown
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 look green because of the olivine crystals, and the other is appropriately called Flour Beach because of the powdery white sand, made from fine, pulverized 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 snorkeling opportunities. Below the surface are amazing volcanic structures that have submerged over time. Hundreds of colorful 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: Black Turtle Cove - Pinnacle Rock
AM: Santa Cruz - Black Turtle Cove
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: Bartholomew - Pinnacle Rock
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 colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions.
Day 5: Darwin Bay - El Barranco
AM: Genovesa - Darwin Bay
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: Genovesa - El Barranco
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: Espumilla Beach and Buccaneer Cove - Egas Port
AM: Santiago - Espumilla Beach / Buccaneer Cove
As the second Island Charles Darwin discovered, it was originally named after King James of England. Buccaneer Cove is an excellent opportunity for snorkeling 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.
Activities: Snorkeling and swimming, short walk on beach
PM: Santiago - Egas Port
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 snorkeling sites in the Galapagos.
Day 7: North Seymour - Highlands
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: Santa Cruz - Highlands
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: Mosquera Islet - Beltra Airport
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 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. 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.
Depart from Baltra airport.
After this last visit, transfer to Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.
Assistance and farewell at the airport.
