Day 1: Arrive in Baltra - Dragon Hill
Upon arrival, reception and assistance at the airport, transfer from Baltra Airport to the M/C Endemic. In the afternoon, visit to Dragon Hill will take place, which is located in the north-western part of Santa Cruz island. Here you will have the opportunity to walk into the island and view the land iguana. Be among these magnificent reptiles, that just a few decades ago were on the brink of extinction. Moreover, at Dragon Hill you will see a flamingos’ lagoon, pintail ducks and other endemic birds including flycatchers and warblers. After a short trek, amazing view awaits us up the hill. Offshore snorkeling before returning to the yacht.
Activities: Walk
Type of landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Easy
Day 2: Kicker Rock, Witch Hill & Lobos Island, San Cristobal Island
In the morning, the first spot to be visited is Kicker Rock, an impressive geological formation due to erosion. This is a nesting place of sea birds and a nice spot to take pictures while the vessels circumnavigate around the rock.
Activities: Circumnavigation
Type of landing: No landing
Difficulty: ------
The next attraction to see is Witch Hill, a tuff cone hill located south west from San Cristobal. This name comes from the Spanish name of the bird known in English as Vermilion Flycatcher. A zodiac ride will take passengers into amazing rock formations along the island shore. A white sand beach and crystal-clear waters are part of this enchanted location. Fantastic opportunity for snorkeling.
Activities: Hike, dinghy ride, snorkeling & kayaking.
Type of landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
In the afternoon, you will be taken to Lobos Island, where a small population of blue-footed boobies, frigates, marine iguanas, and great frigate birds nesting can be observed. Snorkeling with sea lions in this calm bay is also part of the excursion.
Activities: Short hike (less than 0.6 mi/ 1 km), dinghy ride and/or snorkeling
Type of landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Day 3: Espanola Island: Gardner Bay/Osborn & Gardner Islets - Suarez Point
Española Island will be explored today. You will have the chance to observe endemic wildlife such as the Hood-Mockingbird. This is the southernmost island in the Galapagos archipelago, and home to several wildlife species, including masked and blue-footed boobies. Spectacular views from the top of a cliff. In the morning, after breakfast, the first attraction to be seen is Gardner Bay that provides an excellent beach for swimming. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. The bay is also frequented by colonies of sea lions which like to swim with you. Or visit the Osborn and Gardner islets that are amazing for underwater discovery. Snorkeling is a highlight on this visitor point.
Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy, ride, kayaking, short hike of (0.6 miles/ 1 KM)
Type of landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
After lunch, Point Suarez will be visited, which represents one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beach.
Activities: Hike (1.9 mi/ 3 km)
Type of landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Difficult
Day 4: Santa Fe & Santa Cruz - Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre
In the morning, after breakfast, Santa Fe island will be visited, which is one of the most entertaining destinations for shore excursions in the Galapagos Islands. It has two trail choices for visitors, one of which takes you to the tallest Opuntia cactus in the Galapagos. While the other trail takes you into the highlands where land iguanas can be seen. After a long walk, the opportunity to swim in calm waters or snorkel with playful sea lions will be pretty tempting.
Activities: Hiking, snorkeling
Type of laning: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate.
In the afternoon, visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, which is also known as Charles Darwin Research Station. This place has an information center, a museum, a library and a tortoise breeding station. In the tortoise breeding station, you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this Station is probably the Lonesome George turtle, that already died in 2012.
Activities: Walk
Type of landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Easy
Day 5: South Plaza Island & Bartolome Island
In the morning, South Plazas island is the next island to be discovered. It has unique Sesuvium plants and Opuntia cactuses scattered across the landscape which provide some of the most interesting wildlife observations available in Galapagos. Land iguanas are easily seen from the trail, frequently under the shade of cactuses, waiting for a prickly pear to fall.
Activities: Hike (1.5 mi/ 2.5 Km)
Type of landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate
After lunch, you will discover Bartholomew Island. Once here, you will ascend to admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock are excellent for snorkeling from which you can discover the marvelous underwater world, and with a little luck, you’ll get to snorkel with penguins.
Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling & hiking (1.2mi/ 2km)
Type of landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
Day 6: Devil's Crown & Cormorant Point, Baroness' Overlook & Post Office Bay, Floreana Island
In the morning, after breakfast, the first spot to be visited is Devil ́s Crown that is an underwater volcanic crater, almost covered completely by Galapagos waters. Just a small portion of the rock formation can be seen from above and it looks like a crown. The underwater world is very rich in coral reefs, abundant marine species. Birds are also part of this visitor point due to its location in open waters. Or visit Cormorant Point where you will land on a green olivine sand beach. Following a 100 meters long path you will soon reach a lagoon with flamingos.
Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling & walk
Type of landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy/ moderate
In the afternoon, you will visit the Baroness’ Lookout (Mirador de la Baronesa). This viewpoint is located on the north of Floreana Island. The way up and trail is very easy, steps are placed in this area for security. Your naturalist guide will tell the murder and mystery legend of the Baroness. Or you will go to the Post Office Bay, which keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers historically used to post their mail in.
Activities: Short hike (less than 0.6mi/ 1km) & snorkeling
Type of landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
Day 7: Chinese Hat - North Seymour Island
In the morning, after breakfast you will visit Chinese Hat, which is a small islet off the south coast of Santiago, with a maximum elevation of 160 feet (52 meters). Though within easy reach of Santa Cruz, Chinese Hat is typically only visited by those aboard a Galapagos Cruise.
Activities: hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, dinghy ride.
Type of landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
In the afternoon, North Seymour island will be discovered. It is located slightly to the north of Baltra. It is a low, flat island, formed by submarine lava formation uplift. Covered with low, bushy vegetation, it contains the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies that perform an amusing courtship dance when nesting conditions are right.
Activities: Short hike, snorkeling, kayaking, dinghy ride
Type of landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate/ difficult
Day 8: Black Turtle Cove - Depart to Baltra airport
After breakfast, enjoy the visit to Black Turtle Cove, which is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz. It is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Three mangrove species crowd the area from the shore out into the lagoon, which reaches almost a mile inland. As you drift through quiet waters in the zodiac, you are likely to see spotted eagle rays and diamond shaped mustard rays, which swim in a diamond formation. White-tipped reef sharks slip beneath the boat and Pacific green sea turtles come to the surface for air and to mate. Waterfowl, including pelicans, herons and egret, all feed in the cove. This is a peaceful place that will make you feel calm.
Activities: dinghy ride, snorkeling
Type of landing: No landing
Difficulty: Easy
After this last visit, transfer to Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador. Assistance and farewell at the airport.
