8 days cruise yacht Golondrina – C

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 Galápagos 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 – Bachas (Santa Cruz). These two small beaches are located to the west of Turtle Bay on Santa Cruz. Their sand is made of mined corals, which make it white and soft. This makes it a favorite nesting spot for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches is a smaller water lagoon where you can seasonally see flamingos or other shorebirds, as well as American Stilt and Rainbows. On the second, wider beach, you’ll explore the remains of two abandoned warships. These were abandoned by the U.S. during World War II, when Baltra was used as a strategic base to protect the Panama Canal.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner

Morning – Prince Philip’s Steps (also called El Barranco)During the morning you will continue sailing to Prince Philip’s Steps, one of the two visitor sites on Genovesa Island. Galápagos fur seals sometimes rest on the rocky ledges. After climbing the steep stone steps, you will take a guided walk where you will see many different birds such as red-footed and blue-footed boobies. The red-footed boobies are almost only seen on Genovesa and nest in the palo santo trees. The bushes on the edge to the ocean side are loosening up, and you can enjoy the incredible view and the ocean breeze. Continuing on, you will pass by a colony of Nazca boobies and eventually reach nests of storm petrels where, if you are lucky, you may also see the short-eared owl hunting.

Afternoon – Darwin Bay. Within the submerged caldera of Genovesa lies Darwin Bay. This bay with a beautiful sandy beach holds a few surprises as you walk over barren lava formations, past tide pools and shrubs, and then climb cliffs at the end. Every single species you observe along the way has its own ecological niche. Whimbrels and migratory sandpipers actively forage in the surf alongside resting Galapagos sea lions. Impressive frigatebirds and red-footed boobies nest in the mangroves, where songbirds such as yellow warblers, Darwin’s finches and Galapagos mockingbirds can also be seen. Something special are the two subpopulations of cactus finches, distinguished only by their song. From the sandy beach, you can snorkel wonderfully.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Morning – Bartolomé. Bartolomé Island towers 114 meters above the sea 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 where sea turtles live, as well as a very small colony of Galápagos penguins at the base of Pinnacle Rock.

Afternoon – Sullivan Bay (Santiago). Arriving at Sullivan Bay is like landing on the moon. The desolate, sprawling area seems mostly lifeless, but this island, which is popular with photographers, still offers much to discover. There’s even life! Green turtles burrow on the small white beach, where you can also spot crabs, Canada herons and oysterfishers.

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 Galápagos 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 tropic birds with their graceful tails and their spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also the nesting sites of the native fork-tailed gulls. Before lunch, you will sail to Santa Fe, possibly accompanied by bottlenose dolphins.

Afternoon – Santa Fe. After lunch, you will be met directly by a Galápagos 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, take a guided nature walk. This extraordinary island is a remnant of what is probably the oldest volcano in Galápagos. Your guide will decide whether to follow an easy, short walk or a strenuous, longer hike inland (moderately difficult, about 3 km).

Meals: Breakfast / 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 snorkelling. Witch Hill is a leftover 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 – Suarez Point. This rocky area is home to the most impressive and diverse seabirds of the archipelago. The endangered Galápagos Albatross returns to Española Island annually (March–December). This allows visitors to marvel at the courtship dance, characterized by whistles and bows (especially in October). Blue-footed and Nazca boobies, fork-tailed gulls and red-billed tropic birds 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. Afternoon – Gardner Bay. On the northeastern coast of Española Island, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and marvel at the large number of colorful reef fish. Snorkel side by side with green sea turtles, or enjoy the proximity of playful Galápagos sea lions. The white sand beach is additionally an important breeding ground for green sea turtles. You may also spot whales in the crystal clear ocean. Gardner Islet has an enchanting landscape above and below the water surface. While snorkeling, you can observe many small fish as well as sea urchins and stars. 

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Morning – Coromorant Point, Devil’s Crown. The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the northern cape of Floreana, which was formed by a series of smaller volcanic cones. Volcanic cones covered with tropical dry forest (palo santo). The green sand on the beach at the site contains a high proportion of glassy olivine crystals that have been blown out by the surrounding tufa cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the south side of the peninsula is made up of even whiter coral sand that feels very smooth on the feet. Parrotfish have provided the pulverization by grinding up calcium-rich skeletons of still-living coral. You may spot schools 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. Devil’s Crown is probably one of the best places to snorkel in Galápagos. Here you can see an incredible variety of marine life.

Afternoon – Charles Darwin Station. In the afternoon, you will visit 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 Centre of the National Park and the Galápagos Marine Reserve. The most memorable part of your visit will most likely be the successful hatchery and encounter with the Galápagos giant tortoises.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Morning – North Seymour. The small island of North Seymour is an elevated part of the seabed. Among the scraggy bushes, you can spot Galápagos iguanas. You will also see many seabirds such as the brown pelican, red-billed tropic birds, fork-tailed gulls and, depending on the season, Nazca boobies. However, the main attraction is Galápagos’ largest breeding colony of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. At the beginning of the breeding season, the adult male frigate birds inflate their vibrant red pouches into football-sized balls. After this tour, you and your luggage will be transferred to Baltra where you will take the airport shuttle.

Meals: Breakfast