8 days cruise yacht Endemic – B8

Morning – Arrival at Baltra Airport: At the mainland airport, you have purchased your TCC or Ingala card and a luggage inspection has already been conducted to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced. Upon your arrival at Seymour Ecological airport, your TCC (Transit Control Card) will be stamped. This must be kept in a safe place during your trip, as it must be presented again on your return flight. In addition, the Galapagos National Park entrance fee is due upon entry (US$200), if not already paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, help you with your luggage and will accompany you on the short bus ride to the port. Here you will board the yacht. After greeting the crew and captain, you will be assigned your cabins and then have your first lunch together.

Afternoon – Dragon Hill: On Dragon Hill there are two main species that are most likely to be seen on any visit to the Galapagos, although not too widely distributed throughout the islands: Galapagos land iguanas and American flamingos. You will climb a hill with giant Opuntia cacti where these “dragons” feed and breed. A short trail crosses the coastal vegetation zone as well as the slightly higher dry zone with endangered tropical dry forest. During the warm and humid season in the first half of the year, everything turns green. Evergreen giant opuntias with internal water reservoirs chose a different survival tactic in this dry climate than the leaf-dropping palo santo trees; in the end, both succeed. In addition, this is also a very photogenic site, with breathtaking panoramas over the bay and onto a fascinating, steep volcanic spout of red lava that overlooks the area. Dragon Hill has become famous for its salty lagoons behind the beach; these contain seaweed and shrimp and seasonally attract American flamingos. Dragon Hill is the best place on Santa Cruz to see them.

Meals: Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Kicker Rock, Witch Hill (San Cristobal): Kicker Rock is a huge boulder with a dagger-like tower next to it. It is 150 m high and has the shape of a shoe from the side (hence the name Kicker Rock) in longitudinal direction it resembles more a sleeping lion (hence the name in Spanish Leon Dormido). A breakfast on a speedboat trip and optional snorkeling is planned, where you can see squid, different types of sharks and green turtles. The main attraction at this site is the coral sand beach. It is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Witch Hill is a left-over piece of a tufa cone. It is one of the first places Charles Darwin visited. Captain Fitzroy climbed the hill to spy out reefs. It’s a stunning landscape that often makes it possible to see shorebirds and migratory birds, including pelicans, blue-footed boobies and fork-tailed gulls, as well as sea lions and marine lizards.   Sometimes the lagoon is completely dry and there are salt deposits on the bottom. The people of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno used the lagoon as a salt mine.

Afternoon – Lobos Islet: Lobos is a small island about an hour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. There is a small colony of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds that nest in the area. You will encounter many sea lions on the beach. It is also possible to see wading birds.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Gardner Bay, Osborn Islet: On the north-eastern coast of Española Island, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and marvel at the large number of colorful reefs fish. Snorkel side by side with green sea turtles or enjoy the proximity of playful Galapagos sea lions. The white sandy beach is also an important breeding ground for green sea turtles. You may also spot whales in the crystal-clear ocean. Afterwards, continue to Osborn Islet where you have wonderful opportunities for snorkeling and swimming.

Afternoon – Suarez Point: This rocky area is home to some of the most impressive and diverse seabirds in the archipelago. The endangered Galapagos Albatross returns to Española Island annually (March – December). This allows visitors to marvel at the whistling and bowing courtship dance (especially in October). Blue-footed and Nazca boobies, fork-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds are also native to this island. Along the southern coast, high cliffs allow spectacular views of soaring birds and seawater shooting up through air holes like fountains.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Santa Fe: After lunch, you will be welcomed directly by a Galapagos sea lion colony on the beach, where you will have time for either a refreshing swim or exceptional snorkeling surrounded by tropical reef fishes in the crystal-clear waters of Barrington Bay. In addition, you will see vast opuntia cactus forests. The largest cacti on the island have extremely thick trunks and can grow over 10 meters tall. After a wet landing on Santa Fe beach, you will take a guided nature walk. This extraordinary island is a remnant of what is probably the oldest volcano in Galapagos. Your guide will decide whether to do an easy, short walk or a strenuous, longer hike inland (medium difficulty, about 3 km).

Afternoon – Charles Darwin Station: Inflatable boats will take you to the tourist pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will continue to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here biological research and essential conservation of the unique archipelago is carried out. The complex houses the Interpretation and Information Center of the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The most memorable part of your visit will most likely be the successful hatchery and encounter with the Galapagos giant tortoises. In the highlands of Santa Cruz, you can admire different species of birds, such as the small and large tree finches, ground finches, Galapagos flycatchers and cattle egrets (often standing on the backs of turtles). As you drive into the island’s protected area, you can see the contrasts of this diverse ecosystem. The path leads from the coast through the agricultural land and directly to the dense wet forests. Often you can see the Galápagos giant tortoises in the middle of the trail or walking across the pastures and through the grass. This place is a paradise for ornithologists, because almost all birds either live on the island or pass through here.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – South Plaza: After breakfast, you will take an unforgettable guided walk on South Plaza, the best place to encounter the native Galapagos land iguanas. Also, note the unique mix between a male marine lizard and a female land iguana. Once on the top ledge, you’ll get an impressive view of booming waves crashing against the cliffs some 20 meters below. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and noddi terns delight you with their spectacular flights. Take your binoculars and watch the red-billed tropicbirds with their graceful tails and their spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also the nesting sites of the native fork-tailed gulls.

Afternoon – Bartolomé: Bartolomé Island reaches 114 meters high and towers across from Sullivan Bay. Climb the steps of the Bartolomé Summit Trail and be rewarded with panoramic views of volcanic peaks, moon-like craters and lava fields. The island has two stunning beaches, is home to sea turtles, and a very small colony of Galapagos penguins at the base of Pinnacle Rock.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Devil´s Crown, Coromorant Point: Devil’s Crown is probably one of the best places to snorkel in Galapagos. Here you can observe an incredible variety of marine life. The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the northern cape of Floreana, which was formed by a series of smaller volcanic cones covered with tropical dry forest (palo santo). The green sand on the beach at the site contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals that were blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the south side of the peninsula consists of even whiter coral sand that feels very smooth on the feet. Parrotfish have provided pulverization by grinding up calcium-bearing skeletons of still-living corals. You may spot swarms of stingrays that like to bury themselves in the sandy bottom. During the first months of the year, green sea turtles come ashore to bury their eggs.

Afternoon – Baroness Lookout, Post Office Bay: In the north of Floreana Island is the beautiful “Baroness Lookout”. The island was the destination of the first colonialists in Galapagos. Among them was the Baroness Eloisa von Wagner. The viewpoint is located very close to the ruins of the house inhabited by the Baroness. From this viewpoint you have a wonderful view of the coastal landscape of Enderby Island to the Post Office Bay, Cerro Pajas, the Flamingo Lagoon and the Palo Santo Forest. Later, you will visit the Post Office Bay. The history of this place is closely linked to a wooden barrel that was built there by the crew of a whaling ship in the 18th century. At that time, the barrel was used by sailors as a post office. Even today, visitors use the barrel in the same way. The idea is to “send” letters and postcards to their destinations by placing them in the barrel. At the same time, other mail is taken out to be sent to one’s home address. This foreign mail is then delivered. Feel free to give it a try! It could well be that your mail will be at your destination faster this way than it would be with Ecuadorian mail.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Chinese Hat: Chinese Hat is a 52m high volcanic cone that forms another island just in front of the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins has settled. If you approach Chinese Hat from the north, you will understand the significance of the name. This is an excellent place to learn about volcanoes, lava bombs and lava tubes. You are just in time to see how this barren islet is colonized by pioneer species that have started to sprout! Beautiful beaches of white coral sand and holes in the eroding lava fields are covered with lava sand that allows rooting to take place. Galapagos sea lions and countless marine iguanas add to the fertility and overall create many options for newcomers, such as the saltbush.

Afternoon – North Seymour: This small island is one of the most visited places and is teeming with birds. An easy circular walk takes you through the most extensive colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds in the archipelago. At the beginning of the breeding season, the adult frigatebirds inflate their bright red pouches into impressive football-sized balloons. This is one of the few places where you can compare the magnificent and the large frigatebirds breeding side by side.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz): This small cove is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island and offers a unique setting for adventure. The landscape gives you the feeling of being in the Amazon rainforest instead of the ocean. Explore the tranquil emerald lagoon and surrounding flat coves by rubber boat. The crystal-clear waters will give you a view of groups of whitetip reef sharks, hammerheads and eagle rays. After this excursion, you will be transferred to Baltra airport for your return or onward flight.