Itinerary 8 Days B

Day 1: San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center

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. The National Park Guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the Queen Beatriz catamaran.

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. We will see giant tortoises living in their natural habitat, and learn about their evolution, history, and future.

Day 2: Bartolome Island & Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay

Bartolome Island

Bartolome, an archipelago island that is relatively new, can still be seen traces of its volcanic past as shown by 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 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 Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island.

Day 3: Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach & Egas Port

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. Espumilla beach is well-known for its Palo Santo Forest, and extraordinary lava formations.

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. Port Egas, a black sand beach on the west coast of James Bay and northwest from Santiago Island is known as Port Egas.

Egas Port

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 walk along the beach and see hundreds of Galapagos fur sea-lions, California sea-lions, and marine iguanas.

Day 4: Santa Cruz Island : Highlands & Charles Darwin Station

Today, you'll visit Santa Cruz which is the second-largest island in the Galapagos. For a complete change of scenery, you will head to the highlands. You will start at the coast and travel through Santa Cruz's agricultural region to the misty forest. This lush, humid zone is home to miconia bushes and scalesia as well as inactive volcanic cones. Santa Cruz is home to more endemic plants that any other island. You will likely see Galapagos giant tortoises and possibly even bright red feathers from a vermillion flycatcher in their natural habitat.

Charles Darwin Station

Puerto Ayora, the small town at the archipelago's economic heart, is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station is vitally concerned with conservation, but it also offers interesting exploration. You will be able to see giant tortoises up close, as well as baby tortoises.

Day 5: North Seymour Island & Mosquera Islet

North Seymour Island

Today's morning excursion will take you to North Seymour. North Seymour's trail traverses the inland and through the island before reaching the coast. The trail takes you through colonies of blue-footed boobies as well as frigate birds. The majestic frigate bird is a large, black bird that has a wide wingspan and a hooked beak. It has great vision and excellent speed. The large, red pouch at the neck of Frigate birds is a hallmark. The red pouch is a sign of male dominance.
The relationship between frigates and boobies is interesting. Blue-footed blueboobies and frigate birds share the same nesting area at North Seymour. They nest on the ground, using the twigs from the palo Santas trees to make their nests, while the frigate bird nests in the saltbushes just above them.

Mosquera Islet

You will be visiting the small, sandy island of Mosquera after lunch. It's a peaceful, picturesque place. Sally lightfoot crabs, also known as red lava crabs, can be seen hopping around the rocks and in the tide pools, skipping over small bodies of water to find food. The brightly colored shells and blue undershells of these crabs contrast beautifully with the black lava.

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove & Dragon Hill

Black Turtle Cove

Today's excursion will take you to Caleta Tortuga Negra, a mangrove swamp on Santa Cruz Island's north shore. For your first glimpse of the underwater treasures of this area, you will kayak among its tranquil waters. It is also a nursery for Galapagos sharks and rays.

You will also find a lot of birdlife here, including the yellow warblers and lava herons. It is also a nesting area for turtles so you may see them mating.

Dragon Hill

Take a stroll on Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill), this is the best place to see the island's land iguanas. The trail runs from the beach to the ocean. Other sightings include flamingos, marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot Crabs.

Day 7: Chinese Hat Islet & Rabida Island

Rabida Island

Rabida, also known by the name "Jervis", is a small island located approximately five kilometers south from Santiago. It is one of most impressive archipelago islands. In 1971, introduced species were eliminated. The indigenous wildlife is now in a remarkable state of isolation. Volcanic activity has also produced spectacular colors here, including beaches of red sand, and scarlet cliffs.

The trail takes you to the best place in Galapagos to view flamingos. Rabida is also an excellent place to see nesting pelicans. Pintail ducks, sea lions, and marine iguanas can be found elsewhere.

Chinese Hat Islet

Sombrero Chino, a small island located close to the south-east coast Santiago. It looks like a Chinese hat (Sombrero Chino), when seen from far.

Day 8: Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach & Baltra Airport

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.
Today's excursion will take you to Las Bachas in the early morning. This is named after the abandoned barges that the American Navy left here in the 1940s. You can often see marine iguanas and the Pacific green turtle nesting on Las Bachas, a sandy beach located north of Santa Cruz Island. Because it is made from decomposed coral, the sand is soft and white.

These rocks are great for snorkeling and provide the ideal habitat for Sally Lightfoot crabs. They are also great for scuba diving. The beach has a saltwater lagoon that is home to whimbrel and flamingos. Keep an eye out for great blue herons. This is your last excursion before returning to Baltra airport for your return flight to Quito.
Please remember to tip your crew and guide 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.