Your Travel Experience with Galapagos PRO
Day 1
Arrival at San Cristóbal Island
After arrival in the San Cristóbal airport, you will be transferred with the help of the Elite staff to your first experience, La Galapaguera Tortoise Breeding Centre
La Galapaguera, San Cristóbal
In the highland plains of the island of San Cristóbal lies the reserve La Galapaguera - a breeding ground for giant tortoises. The leisurely giants move freely in their natural habitat, seek out cooling mud pots, slowly munching a few blades of grass, or leisurely ambling on their way without taking any notice of the tourists. The dry and tropic climate attracts not only giant tortoises but also vermillion flycatchers and mockingbirds.
Day 2
Punta Suarez, Española
Española is a geologically interesting island where you can explore the volcanic formations and spot a lot more of the Galapagos's unique fauna. Regular sightings include large sea lion colonies and flocks of seabirds, such as the Española mockingbird, the nazca booby and the spectacular red-beaked tropicbird. There are also marine iguanas, lizards and Sally lightfoot crabs.
A long hike will take you past the world's largest colony of Galapagos albatrosses! During mating season (May to December) you will have the opportunity to see the nesting area of the albatrosses and if you're lucky, you'll even get to witness their courting dance. The courting dance of the albatross is extra special as it is the start of a life-long bond for these birds who mate for life. Other interesting birds include Galapagos doves, Galapagos hawks, whip-tailed gulls.
Make a final stop to admire the dramatic topography of the famous Blow Hole, catapulting seawater an impressive 23 meters into the air.
Gardner Bay and Osborn Islets, Española
Join the colony of sea lions on the beautiful white coral beach. From the shoreline, you can observe the Galapagos hawks, American oystercatchers, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, gold-warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas and three different types of Darwin finch!
When snorkeling or diving, you have the opportunity to see the diverse underwater world of Gardner Island. Californian angelfish, neon fish, parrotfish, manta rays and white-tip reef sharks all call these waters home.
Afterwards, visit Osborn Islet for a stroll along a beautiful, white sand beach, again covered in sunbathing sea lions. If you choose not to sunbathe with the locals, you might prefer to swim or snorkel here.
Day 3
Punta Cormorant, Florena
Punta Cormorant is home to two stunning natural beaches. You'll make a wet landing in the first bay, where you'll find a special black sand beach that twinkles green in the sunlight. The shimmering sand is made of olivine crystals, remnants of a long-gone violent volcanic eruption.
Following the short trail along the beach, you'll come to a second little bay. Visitors will be delighted by the soft, white powdery sand that feels like walking in fine baking flour. This gorgeous beach certainly earned the name "Flour Beach". In the bay you will likely spot green sea turtles, and if you wander back from the sandy stretch, you can find a salt water lagoon that attracts vibrant flamingos and the adorable white cheeked pintails.
Post Office Bay and Baroness Lookout, Floreana
Floreana offers wonderful testament to the fascinating human history of the Archipelago. Although paling in comparison to the geological history, the human history extends far beyond the island's first residents.
At Post Office Bay you can learn about the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Lonely sailors, away from home for years at a time, would stop at Floreana to restock their supplies of food and water. The homesick sailors devised a clever solution - they left letters in a makeshift 'post box' on Floreana, and when passing ships stopped on the way back to their home port, they would pick up all the letters destined for that place and deliver them.
To this day, the system is alive and well - each year thousands of visitors continue to leave letters for loved ones, and search for letters to bring home and deliver. To keep the tradition alive, hunt for a letter destined for a town near you and hand deliver it.
Baroness Lookout is a fantastic place to absorb the environment of the Galapagos. Once inhabited by an indulgent Baroness and her three lovers, the history of this island is an intriguing tale. The legends about this baroness are associated with a fascinating murder mystery. There are easy trails in this area for exploring the unique flora and fauna of Floreana.
Day 4
Mosquera Islet
Between the two islands North Seymour and Baltra lies the small island Mosquera. The narrow island's coastline stretches out with white sand beaches, lava rocks and tide pools. Created by Geological uplift, the island has a relatively flat landscape. Mosquera is a great place for snorkeling, strolling on the beach, and enjoying the animal life without the tourist crowds that are common on many of the more popular islands. This islet is home to a huge colony of resident sea lions, and is also home to many shorebirds.
Las Bachas, Santa Cruz island
Afternoon: On the north side of Santa Cruz, you will land on Bachas’s beach - one of the most important nesting sites for the Galapagos Islands’ Sea turtle population. A hidden lagoon behind the bay reveals a treasure trove of animal sightings - sunbathing iguanas, curious shorebirds, and Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and seagulls frolic here. Native plant life is also interesting in this area. Red and black mangroves and salt bushes line the edges of the pond. In this heavenly place, you will also find the remains of barges that sank long ago when the US Navy operated a base on the island of Baltra during the Second World War. Local people changed the word Barges to "Bachas".
Day 5
Prince Philip's Steps, Genovesa island
Morning:
Darwin Bay, Genovesa island
Afternoon:
Day 6
Espumilla Beach, Santiago island
Morning: At the northernmost end of James Bay is Espumilla Beach. Next door, feeding sea lizards, the Green Galapagos Sea Turtles also visit this beach to lay their eggs here. In addition, the beach also offers a nice snorkelling experience, where sharks, rays and octopods have been observed in the clear water. Continue a trail that leads inland, passing a seasonal lagoon, some of which is quite green due to the algae in the water. Along the way, you might encounter Galapagos flamingos, Bahama ducks and many other species of Galapagos birds. If you are lucky, you might also spot a Galapagos hawk circling in the skies above you.
Puerto Egas, Santiago island
Afternoon: The black beach along the northwest coast of Santiago Island is a great sight, even from the boat. After arriving at the beach, two paths invite you to take a walk. One leads you along the coast to "Fur Seal Grotto", where fur seals lie in the shade and rest on the cool stones of the coast from the strong sun. The grotto provides an excellent place for this, and the surrounding pools of the tide attract marine lizards to forage in them.
The second trail takes you to the island's Pan de Azucar volcano, which is responsible for turning the beach black. The volcano's crater is filled with salt water, which dries up in hot weather, leaving a dry saline landscape. Between 1928 and 1930, a salt mine was considered, but it was decided against because it was not feasible or lucrative. The lagoon is often home to Galapagos flamingos and other birds such as the Galapagos hawk, which circles high above the landscape.
Day 7
Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz island
Morning: Black Turtle Cove is a red mangrove lagoon serving as a nursery for sharks and rays. Black Turtle Cove is a great location to observe mating sea turtles during nesting season. Travellers often see large groups of resting white-tip reef sharks, schools of golden rays and the incredibly beautiful spotted eagle rays. As the water is usually very calm, this area can be navigated using paddles instead of the loud panga engines, increasing your chances of wildlife encounters.
Highland & Charles Darwin Station, Santa Cruz island
Afternoon: Visit the Galapagos giant tortoises and land iguana breeding programme, where the famous Lonesome George (the last surviving specimen from Pinta Island) lived for decades. The centre is managed by Galapagos National Park (GNP) staff in collaboration with scientists from the Charles Darwin Station (CDS). Here, eggs from Pinzon, Santiago and Santa Cruz Islands hatch without the risk of introduced species. After artificial incubation, the "galapaguitos" (newborn turtles) are bred until they are 5 years old so that when they are released into their native habitats, they have enough skills to survive on their own. Since the 1970s, more than 2,000 specimens have returned to their native islands. In addition, Darwin Station undertakes several scientific projects, conducts botanical research, and provides environmental education to local communities, schools, and tourists. If there is still time, you can take a stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora, one of the most important wetlands in the Galapagos. With bogs and lagoons, there are many things to admire here. Walk along the path on good ground or a boardwalk and observe a variety of birds, including flamingos, Galapagos finches, Galapagos doves, Galapagos mockingbirds, and sea lizards. Those interested in the flora of the wetlands will not be disappointed here either. This is one of the few places where you can see all four mangrove species. These mangroves are not only important for the inhabitants of the wetland, but they also protect the coast from the crashing waves of the sea.
Day 8
Islet Lobos, San Cristóbal island
Morning: The small island of Lobos, near the island of San Cristóbal, is not only home to a colony of sea lions, but also to a pair of fur seals. In the midst of these large sea dwellers, there are also nesting blue-footed boobies that raise their young here. One or two paths lead to the centre of the island, where you can enjoy the tranquility of the Galapagos archipelago. It is a popular place for visitors to simply become aware of nature and the wonders of the islands.
Back on the beach, the island's position close to the island of San Cristóbal makes it an excellent snorkeling spot to marvel at the underwater world. The water is clear and calmer than in other areas of the archipelago, offering perfect conditions to see seahorses and a variety of colorful tropical fish.
Conclude in San Cristóbal
The cruise will conclude in the harbour of San Cristóbal. From there, transfer to Baltra Airport in time for your return flight to the mainland, or continue with your planned route through the Galapagos.