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.