Your Travel Experience with Galapagos PRO
Day 1
Transfer from the airport to the port Baltra
After your arrival at the airport of Baltra Island, transfer to the boat.
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Afternoon : As you venture into Santa Cruz's higher altitude areas, you will notice the changes in the vegetation as the climate becomes wetter and warmer. The earth in the upper altitudes is rich in minerals. Coffee plantations and fruit orchards line the streets. Here you can observe the famous Galapagos giant tortoises in the wild, using the new knowledge you gained at Charles Darwin Station in the morning.
The Scalesia forests in this area offer the opportunity to discover endemic species of the Galapagos Islands, as well as giant cacti and a variety of deciduous trees and edible fruits.
Day 2
Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Morning: Genovesa Island is secluded from the other main islands in the north of the archipelago and is well-known as the Bird Island. Emerging from the narrow entrance, you'll reach Darwin Bay, surrounded by protective cliffs. Frigatebirds regularly patrol the skies here and petrels can be seen hunting coastal waters for smaller fish. The green water in the bay is evidence of a high plankton content which attracts fish and seabirds, making this wildlife-rich bay a wonderful site for snorkeling. With some luck, you may also encounter peaceful hammerheads and black spotted stingrays.
Prince Phillip's Steps, Genovesa Island
Afternoon: Prince Philip's Steps are a staircase sunken into volcanic rock that leads to a plateau rich with vegetation and wildlife. True to the nickname of Bird Island, this area is home to nesting masked and blue-footed boobies, Bahama ducks, petrels and gulls amongst a host of other local species. The Galápagos horned owls bask on the warm volcanic rocks here, paying no attention to the tourists around them.
Day 3
Bartolomé Island
Afternoon: Discover a fascinating landscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones —lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones — that resembles the moon. Going up to the summit there will be an impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. You may also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and blue-footed boobies.
The time at the beach is a great opportunity to go snorkeling and see the famous Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles and White-tipped Reef Sharks among a great variety of colorful fish. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best snorkeling experience. Crystal clear water is the perfect spot to appreciate the incredible marine life it has to offer.
Due to its geographical location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable however, there are pioneer plants including the endemic Tiquilia nesiotica and Chamaesyce (known as sand mat or spurge in English), lava cactus, and Scalesia bushes.
Bowditch Point, Santa Cruz Island
Morning: Bahía Bowditch is a true hidden gem in the north of Santa Cruz Island. This sheltered bay, with its turquoise waters and soft, pale sand, feels like a private lagoon – peaceful, spacious and wonderfully untouched. During your landing, you can soak in the tranquil atmosphere far from larger visitor sites. Snorkeling here reveals the magic of the Galápagos underwater world: with a bit of luck, sea turtles glide gracefully through the clear water while colorful reef fish dart among the rocks. An idyllic stop on your cruise that once again highlights the remarkable diversity of the Galápagos Islands.
Day 4
Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island
Afternoon: On the north side of Santa Cruz, you will land on Bachas beach, one of the most important nesting sites for the Galapagos Island's sea turtle population.
Behind the beach, you will find two small flamingo ponds behind the bay. These ponds are 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 ponds edges.
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. Eventually, the local's changed the word Barges to "Bachas".
Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz Island
Morning: Dragon Mountain represents a great success in the history of the maintenance and protection of the nature of the Galapagos Islands. By 1975, almost all the land lizards of Dragon Mountain were extinct, as introduced dogs hunted them and drastically decimated their numbers. With the Galapagos breeding program, the population could be increased again and already in 1991, the last captive-born land lizard was released into the wild. Since then, the breeding stations have been controlling populations and trying to restore and support the species' population as best they can. But not only does the mountain have a lot to offer, already the coast is already impressive! The rocky beach is a beautiful place to get to know the underwater world and see rays, sharks, and green sea turtles. At the foot of the mountain, you will pass two saltwater lagoons where you may see a flamingo or two, and you may also encounter Darwin's finches and mockingbirds during the short hike up.
Day 5
Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island
Afternoon: This place is located on the northern part of Santiago Island, it is a pristine sandy beach where you can find trails that lead through some mangroves to a salty lagoon, if you are lucky, you can see some flamingos, pintail ducks, and other birds. There is a good place to do snorkeling and kayaking.
Puerto Egas, Santiago Island
Morning: After landing on the black sand beach of Puerto Egas, Santiago Island you hike along a 2 km long coastal area boasting sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks and lava herons. The rugged lava coast with natural pools, where sea lions bathe and herons play, marks the end of your hike.
An excursion to Santiago Island is also one of the rare chances to see Galápagos fur seals in the wild, though not in large numbers.
Day 6
Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island
Afternoon: The largest in the archipelago, this seahorse-shaped island is also one of the most volcanically active. While there is no cleared landing site at Punta Vicente Roca, your guide will explain the impressive geology and wonderful wildlife diversity in the area from aboard the dinghy. Explore the two coves and the large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the weird and wonderful mola-mola, also known as sunfish. In good conditions, Punta Vicente Roca is considered one of the best snorkelling sites in the Galapagos.
Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island
Morning: At 700,000 years young, Fernandina is the youngest island in the archipelago. In the midst of a cactus and mangrove-covered lava landscape is the visitor's site Punta Espinoza. At Punta Espinoza, a colony of sea lions and hundreds of marine iguanas sunbathe on the black lava rocks and on the beach. Snorkeling in this area will get you close to the resident penguins, often seen whizzing through the water.
Day 7
Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
Afternoon: Urbina Bay graces the southeast flank of the Alcedo Volcano. After volcanic activity in 1954 caused a significant uplift, the coast expanded almost a kilometer out. Marine life found a way to thrive in this newly fertile area and many species chose to stay. Today, this area is a great place for snorkeling. During your hike, you may see a large colony of land iguanas, Darwin's finches, giant tortoises (from June to September) and flightless cormorants.
Several species of whale have been spotted in the waters you'll be navigating through today.
Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
Morning: The historical pirate hideaway of Tagus Cove has been frequented by sailors since the 1800s. The names of visiting ships were often painted and carved in to the cliffs surrounding the cove.
Trails wind their way around Lake Darwin up to a ridge, offering wonderful views of the landscape, the ocean and Wolf and Darwin Islands on the horizon. Punta Tortuga, just north of Tagus Cove, is another idyllic tropical beach surrounded by mangroves. Later, take a danghy ride through the cliffs, observing penguins, flightless cormorants, boobies, pelicans and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Return to the cove to relax on the shore or snorkel.
Day 8
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.
Transfer to the Airport
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.