8 days cruise yacht Infinity – A

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 – 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 dinghy. The crystal-clear water gives you a view of groups of whitetip reef sharks, hammerheads and eagle rays.

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. Sometimes Galapagos fur seals 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 – 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 oysterfischers.

Afternoon – Rabida: Oxidized iron particles give the stones and sand their rusty color. A green-fringed lagoon hides behind the beach. This oasis is the most fertile place on the otherwise dry island, which is overgrown with Palo Santo trees. The salty pool is attractive to all kinds of water birds, such as pintail ducks and sometimes American flamingos. Hidden among the evergreen foliage of the surrounding mangrove bushes, many species of songbirds’ breed. An outstanding attraction is the large breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only species that dive.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Charles Darwin Station / Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Santa Cruz): At Fausto Llerena Breeding Center you will have the opportunity to take amazing photos of the turtles! The tour starts at the GNP information booth. The trail continues to the Van Straelen Interpretive Center, the breeding center, and from there a path will take you to see the Española Island turtles, ending at the turtle exhibit enclosure. The turtles of this enclosure are used to people; it is an excellent place to be photographed with them!

Afternoon – El Chato Reserve: The native Scalesia Forest of El Chato Turtle Reserve is the best place to observe Galapagos giant tortoises in their most authentic environment! Besides the interesting breeding centers – where you are guaranteed to find turtles in their enclosures – there is nothing better than observing them in their natural environment. It can get quite wet and muddy as you embark on an adventurous search for the turtles once they have silently left their favorite pond.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Dragon Hill: Dragon Hill is home to two key species that are most likely to appear on any visit to the Galapagos, although not too often spread around the islands: Galapagos land iguanas and American flamingos. They climb a hill with huge Opuntia cacti where these “dragons” feed and breed. Although they are quite shy and elusive, you have a good chance to see the success of this project with your own eyes. The short trail leads through the coastal vegetation zone as well as the slightly higher dry zone with vulnerable tropical dry forest. During the warm and humid season in the first half of the year, everything turns green. Evergreen giant prickly pear cacti with internal reservoirs used a different survival tactic in this dry climate than the leaf-falling palo santo trees; in the end, both were successful. It is also a very photogenic site, with stunning panoramic views across the bay and of a fascinating, steep volcanic spout of red lava overlooking the area. Dragon Hill has become popular for its salty lagoons behind the beach; these contain seaweed and shrimp and attract seasonal foraging American flamingos. Dragon Hill is the best place in Santa Cruz to see them.

Afternoon – Bachas Beach: The two small beaches of Bachas are located to the west of Turtle Bay. The sand is made up of decomposed coral, so it is very white and soft, making it a favorite spot for nesting sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches is a small, salty lagoon. Occasionally you can see flamingos or other shorebirds here, as well as the American stilt and the whimbrel. The other beach is longer and on it lie two old barges from the Second World War, when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategic point to protect the Panama Canal. Over time, however, these ship ruin.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Morning – Post Office Bay: In the 18th century, a wooden barrel was placed at this bay by the crew of a whaling ship, which was used as a post office by sailors then and by tourists now. The idea was to ‘post’ letters and postcards, in which everyone who passed by left letters there and took others to be sent to places where the traveler wanted to go. Also, this area was the landing place of the first colonists. In the north of the island, you will reach an elevated place from where you can enjoy the beautiful view of the “Baroness Viewpoint”. It is said that the Baroness Eloisa von Wagner loved this place and spent many hours there looking at the horizon. 30 meters from there are the ruins of the house where she probably lived. From this viewpoint you can see the whole landscape of the coastline from Enderby Island to Post Office Bay, Cerro Pajas, Flamingo Lagoon Flamingos to Palo Santo Forest.

Afternoon: Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown: The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the northern cape of Floreana, surrounded 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 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 Galapagos. Here you can observe an incredible variety of marine life.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Morning – Suarez Point: This rocky area is home to the most impressive and diverse seabirds of the archipelago. The endangered Galapagos 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 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.

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 reeffish. Snorkel side by side with green sea turtles or enjoy the proximity of playful Galapagos 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 – Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center (San Cristobal): The Interpretation Centre is located near the capital Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It was opened in 1998 as part of the Interpretation and Environmental Education Project. Visitors can view exhibits on natural history, human history and conservation in the Galapagos Islands. Conservation efforts represent the movement to protect wildlife and the natural environment through population and tourist control. The Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center has an outdoor area, audiovisual equipment and meeting rooms. After this excursion, you will be transferred to San Cristobal airport for your return or onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch