4 days cruise Yacht Monserrat – 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 guide will welcome you at the airport, assist you 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 (Santa Cruz): The highlands of Santa Cruz are home to a wide variety of bird species, including small and large tree finches, ground finches, Galápagos flycatchers, and cattle egrets, often seen standing on the backs of giant tortoises. During the drive into the protected area, you will witness the contrasts of this diverse ecosystem as the landscape changes from coastal vegetation and farmland to dense humid forests.

Galápagos giant tortoises are frequently spotted crossing the roads or grazing in the grasslands. This area is considered a paradise for birdwatchers, as many resident and migratory birds can be observed here.

Morning – Darwin Bay: Located inside the submerged caldera of Genovesa, Darwin Bay offers a beautiful sandy beach and extraordinary wildlife. As you walk across lava formations, tidal pools, and low shrubs before climbing the cliffs, you will encounter species that each occupy their own ecological niche.

Whimbrels and wandering tattlers search for food along the shoreline beside resting Galápagos sea lions. Magnificent frigatebirds and red-footed boobies nest in the mangroves, while mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, and yellow warblers can also be seen. A fascinating feature is the presence of two populations of cactus finches distinguished only by their songs. The beach also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities.

Afternoon – Prince Philip’s Steps (El Barranco): In the afternoon, you continue to Prince Philip’s Steps, one of Genovesa’s two visitor sites. Galápagos fur seals are sometimes seen resting on the rocky ledges. After climbing the steep stone staircase, you will enjoy a guided walk where you can observe numerous bird species, including red-footed and blue-footed boobies.

Genovesa is one of the few places where red-footed boobies nest in Palo Santo trees. As the vegetation opens toward the cliffs, breathtaking ocean views and refreshing sea breezes accompany the trail. Farther along, you will pass Nazca booby colonies and eventually reach storm petrel nesting sites, where lucky visitors may even spot short-eared owls hunting.

Morning – Bartolomé: Bartolomé Island rises 114 meters above Sullivan Bay and offers one of the most iconic landscapes in the Galápagos. Climb the wooden staircase to the summit and enjoy panoramic views over volcanic cones, moon-like craters, and lava fields.

The island features two stunning beaches frequented by sea turtles and is home to a small colony of Galápagos penguins near the base of Pinnacle Rock.

Afternoon – Bowditch Point: Experience the feeling of visiting one of the least explored sites in the Galápagos Islands. Relax on the beach, snorkel in turquoise waters, and walk beside salt pools and dried white coral formations.

Morning – Bachas Beach: The two small beaches of Bachas are located west of Tortuga Bay. The sand, formed from decomposed coral, is exceptionally white and soft, making it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches lies a small saltwater lagoon where flamingos and other shorebirds, including black-necked stilts and whimbrels, can occasionally be seen.

The second beach is longer and was once the site of two barges left behind during World War II, when the United States used Baltra Island as a strategic base to protect the Panama Canal. Over time, these remains have largely been covered by sand and are now barely visible.

After this excursion, you will be transferred to the airport and bid farewell to your guide and crew.