7 days cruise trimaran Horizon – D

Morning – Arrival at Baltra Airport: Your TCC (Transit Control Card), also known as the Ingala card (US$20 per person), will be issued digitally after you complete an online form. At the airport, this digital card will be checked, and your luggage will be inspected to ensure that no non-native plant or animal species are introduced. In addition, the Galápagos National Park entrance fee (US$200) must be paid upon arrival if it has not already been paid. Your naturalist guide will meet you at the airport, assist with your luggage, and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbor, where you will board the yacht.

After meeting the crew and captain, your cabins will be assigned, followed by your first lunch on board.

Afternoon – Highlands & Twin Craters: In the highlands of Santa Cruz, you may observe various bird species such as small and large tree finches, ground finches, Galápagos flycatchers, and cattle egrets, often perched on the backs of giant tortoises. During the drive into the island’s protected area, you will witness the striking contrasts of this diverse ecosystem, from coastal zones and agricultural land to lush humid forests. Galápagos giant tortoises are often seen crossing the road or grazing through the grasslands. This area is a paradise for birdwatchers, as many resident and migratory bird species can be found here.

The Twin Craters (Los Gemelos) are located on both sides of the road leading to Puerto Ayora. Despite their appearance, they are not true volcanic craters. They were formed by collapsed magma chambers after the outer layers hardened while lava inside continued to flow. The craters are surrounded by a lush Scalesia cloud forest, home to endemic highland vegetation. This area is also habitat for the woodpecker finch, famous for using tools to obtain food. With some luck, you may also spot the Vermilion Flycatcher, a striking small bird with a bright red breast.

Morning – Post Office Bay & Devil’s Crown: Your first visit is to Post Office Bay. The history of this site revolves around a wooden barrel placed here by whalers in the 18th century, which served as an informal postal system for sailors. Even today, visitors continue this tradition by leaving postcards and taking mail destined for their home countries to hand-deliver. You are welcome to participate — your postcard may even arrive faster than through the Ecuadorian postal service.

Devil’s Crown is considered one of the finest snorkeling spots in the Galápagos. Here, you can observe an incredible variety of marine life. Along the coastline, you may also encounter Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and lava herons. Birdwatchers may even catch a glimpse of the elusive Floreana mockingbird among the Opuntia cacti — a historically important species that helped inspire Darwin’s theory of adaptive radiation.

Afternoon – Cormorant Point: Cormorant Point forms the northern cape of Floreana Island and is characterized by small volcanic cones covered with palo santo dry forest vegetation. The green-colored beach sand contains high concentrations of olivine crystals ejected from nearby tuff cones. On the opposite side of the peninsula lies a brilliant white coral sand beach, finely ground over time by parrotfish feeding on living coral skeletons.

You may observe stingrays buried in the sandy seabed, and during the first months of the year, green sea turtles come ashore here to nest.

Morning – Santa Fe Island: Upon arrival at Santa Fe Island, you will be welcomed by a colony of Galápagos sea lions resting along the beach. Here, you may enjoy swimming or snorkeling among tropical reef fish in the crystal-clear waters of Barrington Bay. The island is also famous for its extensive forests of giant Opuntia cacti, some exceeding 10 meters in height with exceptionally thick trunks.

Following a wet landing on the beach, you will embark on a guided nature walk. Santa Fe is believed to be the remnant of one of the oldest volcanoes in the Galápagos. Depending on conditions, your guide may choose either a short, easy trail or a longer inland hike of moderate difficulty (approximately 3 km).

Afternoon – Lobos Islet: Lobos Islet lies about an hour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The island hosts a small breeding colony of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. Along the shore, numerous sea lions can be observed, and various shorebirds may also be seen.

Morning – Interpretation Center: You will visit the Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center near the capital town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Exhibits, photographs, models, and diagrams explain the origin of the Galápagos Islands, volcanic activity, ocean currents, climate, species colonization, and the unique ecosystems of the archipelago. After the visit, there will be time to explore the surrounding area.

Afternoon – David Rodriguez Breeding Center: You will continue to the tortoise breeding and conservation center in Cerro Colorado. This facility was established to support the recovery of giant tortoise populations on San Cristóbal. The center includes breeding corrals, an interpretation center, and hatcheries. Along the walking trails, you may observe endemic plants and birds such as the San Cristóbal mockingbird, yellow warblers, finches, and Galápagos flycatchers.

Morning – Pitt Point: Two wind-shaped tuff cones at Pitt Point mark the easternmost point of San Cristóbal Island. At the small green sand beach, barking Galápagos sea lions will welcome you ashore. A trail through thorny shrubs leads into dry tropical forest vegetation with palo santo trees, Opuntia cacti, and flowering succulents that turn red during the dry season.

After a steep ascent through a ravine, you will reach the only site in the Galápagos where all three booby species — red-footed, blue-footed, and Nazca boobies — nest together.

Afternoon – Witch Hill & Kicker Rock: Witch Hill (Cerro Brujo) is the remains of a tuff cone and features a beautiful coral sand beach opening into a tranquil bay. Snorkeling here reveals a rich marine environment inhabited by marine iguanas, stingrays, white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, moray eels, garden eels, and numerous reef fish species.

Behind the dunes lies a dark lava field with salty pools frequented by marine iguanas and coastal birds such as pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. This was also one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin.

This rocky site is home to some of the most spectacular seabird colonies in the archipelago. The endangered waved albatross returns annually to Española Island between March and December, allowing visitors to witness their elaborate courtship dances, especially during October.

Blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and red-billed tropicbirds also nest here. Along the southern cliffs, you will enjoy dramatic views of soaring seabirds and powerful ocean blowholes sending seawater high into the air.

Afternoon – Gardner Bay, Gardner Islet & Osborn Islet: Located on the northeastern coast of Española, Gardner Bay offers an ideal place to relax in turquoise waters and observe colorful reef fish. Snorkel alongside green sea turtles or enjoy the company of playful Galápagos sea lions. The white sand beach also serves as an important nesting site for green sea turtles, and whales are occasionally spotted offshore.

Gardner Islet offers stunning scenery above and below the waterline. While snorkeling, you may observe schools of fish, sea urchins, and starfish.

Afterwards, you will continue to Osborn Islet, where there will be additional opportunities for swimming and snorkeling.

Morning – Bachas Beach: The two small beaches of Bachas are located west of Turtle Cove. Their sand consists of decomposed coral, making it exceptionally white and soft — an ideal nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one beach lies a small saltwater lagoon where flamingos and other coastal birds such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels are occasionally seen.

The second beach is longer and contains the remains of two barges abandoned by the United States during World War II, when Baltra served as a strategic military base for protecting the Panama Canal. Over time, these relics have become partially buried beneath the sand.

After this excursion, you and your luggage will be transferred to Baltra Airport for your departing flight.