Itinerary A

During the Second World War, this island served as a significant location due to its strategic value. It currently functions as the primary airport for the Galapagos Islands, serving as the arrival and departure point for tourists and colonists. Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, a naturalist English speaking guide will be available to provide assistance. From there, guests will be transferred to the yacht and greeted with a warm welcome and a briefing.

Santa Cruz Island: Hacienda Primicias

On Santa Cruz Island, visitors will be taken to Hacienda Primicias after lunch to observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat. These tortoises are easy to spot as they slowly move around and feed on grass and leaves, occasionally wallowing in their surroundings. Additionally, it is possible to see some highland birds, such as cattle egrets, mockingbirds, finches, or flycatchers. After the hike, guests will return to the yacht for dinner and receive a briefing on the following day's itinerary.

Tintoreras 

Following breakfast, a visit to Tintoreras can be made, located south of Puerto Villamil. This site features a small bay with calm turquoise waters, where one can observe various marine life, such as sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, and rays. A crevice of clear water, shallow enough to close when the tide is low, connects to the bay. Reef sharks, small fish, and sea lions can be seen swimming in this area. Lunch will be served on board.

Breeding Center Arnaldo Tupiza

The Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center is another stop, where a captive breeding program is in place for tortoises from the southern Isabela populations.

Humedales

At Humedales, visitors will disembark for a dry landing and take a 30-minute walk through an area with sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. There are numerous trails in this area, where all four species of mangroves found in the Galapagos can be observed, along with migratory birds such as the whimbrel, short-billed dowitcher, Wilson’s phalarope, common tern, blue-winged teal, osprey, black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs, and others.

Wall of Tears

A bus ride will take visitors to the Wall of Tears, a somber reminder of Isabela's history as a penal colony from 1946 to 1959. As a punishment, prisoners were forced to construct the wall using large blocks of lava. The wall was named after the many convicts who died during its construction. Dinner will be served on board, followed by a briefing on the itinerary for the next day.

Rabida Island

Upon finishing breakfast, visitors will disembark via a wet landing on Rabida Island, which is known for its diverse volcanic formations and vibrant colors. It is also a great location for snorkeling. Starting at Rabida's maroon sandy beach, an easy hike of about 1 kilometer leads to a breathtaking lookout that offers stunning views of the island's landscapes.

Bird enthusiasts will enjoy the island's abundant and rare species, including nine varieties of finches, Large-billed Flycatchers, Galapagos Hawks, and Brown Pelicans. Lunch will be served on board.

Santa Cruz Island: Cerro Dragon

After lunch, visitors will make a dry landing at a dock on Cerro Dragon in Santa Cruz Island. The walk will take them to a hypersalinic lagoon behind the beach that is often visited by flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other bird species. A short walk to the hill offers a great view of the bay and a nesting site for land iguanas. Many of the iguanas that nest here have been repatriated by the Charles Darwin Research Station. Dinner will be served on board, followed by a briefing for the next day's itinerary.

Following breakfast, visitors will take a dinghy (panga) to Black Turtle Bay (Caleta Tortuga Negra), which is located near Baltra. This site is particularly remarkable for its stunning beach populated with sea lions and its clear, tranquil waters. During the pangas ride through the beautiful lagoons hidden in the mangroves, visitors can observe Black (Pacific Green) Turtles and various species of birds feeding. After this excursion, visitors will take a bus to Baltra Airport for their return flight to Guayaquil/Quito, marking the conclusion of the trip.