Itinerary C 8 Days

You will be transferred to the airport this morning for your flight to Galapagos Islands. The pick-up time is usually at 4:30 AM (a boxed breakfast and coffee will be provided). Because the airport is approximately one hour away, you should allow for delays and check in times. This time will be confirmed by your tour leader at the Welcome Meeting on Day 1.
On departure from Quito Airport, a US$20 per-person transit card and a US$100 national park entry fee are payable. These transactions can be complicated and time-consuming so please have cash available.

A transfer guide will meet you at the airport's arrivals hall. Grand Queen Beatriz, an anchor on the opposite side of Santa Cruz Island. You will be taken by our transfer guide to the airport, where you can take a bus (5 minutes drive) to get you to the ferry crossing the Itabaca Channel. It takes just 7 minutes to cross the ferry. All public transport costs are included. After reaching Santa Cruz Island, board a private bus to take you 45 minutes to Puerto Ayora. Two dinghies will transport you and your companions to the 'MC. Queen Beatriz. You will meet your crew and naturalist guide once you are onboard.

Highlands

For a complete change of scenery, you can embark on your first excursion after lunch. You will start at the coast and travel through Santa Cruz's agricultural region to the misty forest. Here you can view the scalesia cloud forests and take time to observe giant tortoises in the natural habitat. You should also be on the lookout for vermillion flycatchers, Darwin finches, warbler finches, woodpeckers and Darwin finches.

Santa Fe Island

Santa Fe Island is home many sea lions. These animals are eager to swim with their swimming partners. It is a great place to go for a swim, has a lot of wildlife and is a wonderful place to see the Galapagos stars in one area. You will see Galapagos hawks and land iguanas as well as a variety of finches. The island is a natural beauty with one of the most beautiful coves in archipelago. It also has great snorkeling conditions due to its jade-green waters. You can see Santa Fe's largest trees in the Galapagos by following a trail that runs along the coast to the opuntia forests. A unique sub-species is also found on the island. A forest of prickly pears cactus can be found by hiking towards Santa Fe's cliffs. Their name is a member of the cactus family and comes from the pear-shaped fruits they produce. Santa Fe is home of endemic land Iguanas. You will be able to snorkel in the lagoon once you have returned to the beach. Fascinating company is provided by playful sea lion pups and florescent fishing.

South Plaza Island

Plaza Sur, a small island, is a beautiful place. Here you can get close to sea-lions, and follow trails past one the largest Galapagos land iguana population. They rest among cacti and volcanic landscapes that are brightly colored by sesuvium. The rugged, southern cliffs of the island are a great place to spot tropicbirds or swallow-tailed and gulls. You can also find the 'Gentlemen's Club' which is a group of male sealions too young or too old for beach masters.

Today, you will cruise to Espanola, the most southern island in the Galapagos. It is also one of the most beautiful. This island is home to a large number of endemic fauna due to its remote location. It is home to nearly all the 12,000 pair of world's waved albatrosses, and it also hosts colonies of blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.
You can find trails from the golden beaches where sea lions swim and marine iguanas move towards the water. These trails will take you through booby colonies and Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, and other wildlife. Bahia Gardner's beautiful beaches of white sandy beach are also worth a visit. They are great for relaxing and swimming. You will find many species of tropical fish such as angelfish and surgeon on the rocks near the coast. You may also see small, white-tipped reef sharks resting on the rocks.

Suarez Point

Punta Suarez is also a popular spot in the Galapagos. It is home to many species of wildlife and is a beautiful location. A walk along its trails will lead you to a top viewpoint with a breathtaking view. You may see boobies along the shoreline below you. Fry birds can be seen overhead. Albatross also use the cliffs to get up and running from the southeast winds that blow through this area of the island.
If you are lucky, you might be able to see the intricate courtship rituals of albatrosses before the female chooses her mate for life!

Gardner Bay

Bahia Gardner (Gardner Bay) is a beautiful beach in the Galapagos Islands that is home to sea lions, hood mockingbirds, and many other wildlife. You can enjoy the beach, as well as snorkeling. This is a great place to play with sea lion pups or other fish. There are many opportunities to snorkel off the coast, including turtles, reef sharks, and many tropical fish species, such as surgeon and angelfish. You may also see small, white-tipped reef sharks resting on the rocks.

Today you will be visiting Punta Pitt, the eastern end on San Cristobal Island. For expansive views of this sparsely populated area, climb to the top on the volcanic hill. There are many seabirds that nest here, including frigates and blue-footed bobies. You can enjoy a 'panga ride' to see the three types of boobies nesting at the Galapagos, and also snorkel off the beach.

Kicker Rock

Nearby is Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), a stunning rock that lies in the middle the ocean. Its shape resembles that of a sleeping lion. It rises 150m above the sea surface and is divided by narrow channels. The channel is populated by nesting seabirds, tropic birds overhead and sea lions resting on the rocks. Snorkeling allows us to see Galapagos sharks amongst sea turtles. There is also the possibility of seeing a Hammerhead shark.

Lobos Island

Also, you will visit Isla Lobos which is a small island that almost touches San Cristobal Island. You can see the friendly sea lions playing in the shallow, calm waters. You can also see blue-footed boobies and frigate birds.

In the morning, visit San Cristobal Interpretation Center. The center brings to life the history and geography the archipelago, from its volcanic beginnings to today. The exhibit on human history provides insight into the discovery of and colonization of Galapagos. It also explores the realities of current problems facing the islands.

Galapaguera

Today you will travel to the interior of the island and visit the highlands site of Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado (Red Hill), where the national park has established an information center and breeding program for tortoises. You will see giant tortoises living in their natural habitat, and learn about their evolution, history, and future.

Bartolome Island

Isla Bartolome (Bartolome Island), is one of the most stunning volcanic landscapes in Galapagos. It's home to parasitic spatter cones as well as lava flows, Galapagos penguins, and lavalizards. The archipelago's newest island is the Pinnacle Rock. There are still traces of the volcanic past, evident in the incredible lunar-like landscape. One of the most photographed spots in Galapagos is the Pinnacle Rock. It's an abrupt jag made of rock that protrudes from the ground like a tooth. Two golden bays are located nearby and back onto one another.

Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay

Here you can hike up to the summit of a once active volcano and take in spectacular views to Santiago Island's Sullivan Bay. You might be lucky enough to see the Galapagos Hawk if you're lucky. There are also opportunities to snorkel with starfish, reef sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and rays.
Bahia Sullivan is also known as James Island, and can be found on Santiago's eastern coast. You can walk on Pahoe Hoe lava from an 1897 eruption and see the colonization of plant species. You may see penguins, Sally Lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas. Your guide will be able to explain the geological history of these islands during a walk.

Espumilla Beach

Today, you'll visit some amazing places. Espumilla Beach is located on Santiago Island's northern coast in James Bay. It is a popular nesting spot for marine turtles and one of the most beautiful locations in the Galapagos Islands. It is a popular beach spot for those who love large waves. You might see Galapagos Hawks up close, ghost crabs and blue-footed Bobies (often diving for fish), as well as brown pelicans. It is also known for its extraordinary lava formations and palo santo forests.

Buccaneer Cove

You will also be visiting Caleta Bucanero, a natural landmark of sea-eroded rocks. Pirates used this cove to keep their ships safe. This cove is full of legends and stories. This is where Darwin spent nine days during his research on the islands and their wildlife. You can go snorkeling if the conditions permit.
Port Egas, a black sand beach, is located west of James Bay and northwest from Santiago Island. Sugarloaf Volcano is located south of the beach and has volcanic tuff deposits. Puerto Egas is the name of this site, in honor of Hector Egas, who tried to mine salt there last time. You can find hundreds of Galapagos sea-lions and marine iguanas on the walk along the beach.

Galapagos flights to the mainland depart in the morning, so it's a good time to get up early for our last day on the islands. This final excursion can be short or long depending on when we fly.

Puerto Ayora, the small town that is the economic heart of the archipelago, is also home of the Charles Darwin Research Station. The museum and visitor center at the station offer great insights for those interested in the archipelago’s natural and historical history and are keen to learn about conservation efforts to preserve the Galapagos' unique ecosystems. We can also see giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

This is your last excursion before you fly back to Quito. Please remember to tip your guide and crew if you enjoyed their services. We recommend that each passenger tip US$15 per person for the crew, and US$10 per person for their guide. On the last day of your trip, you can leave tips in envelopes which are placed in your cabin.