Cruise
8 Days 7 Night
Enjoy the Galapagos Islands on our cruise
East Itinerary
Cruise the Galapagos for 8 days on our western itinerary. Black Turtle, Darwin Bay, Bartolome Island don’t miss this adventure, read on for the full itinerary.
8 Days 7 Night
TRAVEL ITINERARY
DAY 1, SATURDAY
AM: MORNING FLIGHT TO BALTRA
PM: BLACK TURTLE
After arriving at Baltra airport, we will be met by our naturalist guide and then board the M/Y Passion for lunch. After our lunch, we will sail a short distance to Black Turtle Cove, a large mangrove lagoon on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. Pelicans and herons perch on the branches, while sea creatures such as green sea turtles and golden rays may swim alongside the panga as it traverses the mangroves. The day ends with dinner and a briefing on the next day’s activities on board the yacht.
DAY 2, SUNDAY
AM: DARWIN BAY
We head to Genovesa Island and make a wet landing at Darwin Bay, a unique place with a beautiful beach lined with red mangroves and soft-haired prickly pear cacti, where red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds roost meekly.
PM: THE RAVINE
After a dry landing at El Barranco, we will climb up to the edge of a cliff where frigate birds, Nazca boobies and red-footed boobies make their nests. The trail will take us into the interior of the island, populated by palo santo trees and cacti. We will be looking for the impressive red-billed tropicbird among Galapagos storm petrels and the endemic long-eared owl.
DAY 3, MONDAY
AM: BARTOLOME ISLAND
We will make a dry landing at Bartolome, then climb a series of wooden steps to the top for a breathtaking panorama of the iconic “Pinnacle Rock” and views of neighbouring Santiago and other central islands in the distance. Afterwards, we will visit the white sandy beach used as a nesting site by sea turtles, followed by snorkelling in the waters of Bartolome Island, where it is not uncommon to spot Galapagos penguins.
PM: CHINESE HAT
Less than a quarter of a square kilometre in size, this island gets its name from its Chinese hat shape. The hat shape is best seen from the north side. Lava formations can be seen on the west side of the island, formed under the sea and then rising upwards, allowing coral heads to be seen above the lava. Be impressed by the landscapes covered with colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.
DAY 4, TUESDAY
AM: RABIDA
We make a wet landing on the deep red beaches of Rábida to explore the fascinating interior of the island and the saltwater lagoon, where flamingos are usually found. Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds and yellow warblers feed on the vegetation. Depending on the time of year, you may see brown pelicans nesting in the salt bushes that line the beach.
PM: DRAGON HILL
In the afternoon, we sail a short distance to Cerro Dragon on the northwest coast of Santa Cruz, where we make a dry landing to visit a saltwater lagoon, home to greater flamingos, black-necked stilts and white-cheeked ducks. Inland, we find a fantastic nesting site for land iguanas.
DAY 5, WEDNESDAY
AM: UPPER SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
We will spend this day visiting the most famous places of Santa Cruz Island. We will make a dry landing at the dock in Puerto Ayora and then board our transport and head towards the highlands of the island. This area, in contrast to the coastal region, has lush vegetation and forests due to the humidity in the higher regions. We will visit one of the farms in the area where it is possible to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. As these animals migrate from the coastal area to the highlands and vice versa, the farm chosen will depend on the presence of the tortoises, as they roam freely and change location. It is also a good place to see the island’s ground finch, which inhabits these forests where it is also possible to see the yellow warbler.
PM: TURTLE BREEDING CENTRE
We will return to the boat for lunch and refreshments and then head back to Puerto Ayora for our second visit of the day, the “Charles Darwin Research Station”. Here we will see tortoises from different islands. The animals are kept in large semi-natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure easy observation for visitors. The pens are divided according to four different stages: eggs, hatchlings, juveniles (which are kept here until they are mature enough to be “repatriated”) and adults.
DAY 6, THURSDAY
AM: SOUTH SQUARE
We will make a dry landing at one of the oldest piers in the archipelago at the colourful South Plaza, home to vibrant green prickly pear fig trees, deep red sesuvium and coppery-orange land iguanas. Stunning sea cliffs provide the perfect place for a variety of shorebirds to roost. This is also an excellent place to observe adult sea lions and pups swimming along the shore.
PM: SANTA FE ISLAND
After a wet landing at Santa Fe, we will find a white beach where sea lions often rest. We will be looking for the endemic species of land iguana, which is larger and has a deeper shade of yellow than the land iguanas of other islands. Here you will also find the largest prickly pear cacti in Galapagos.
DAY 7, FRIDAY
AM: GARDNER BAY
After a wet landing, we will spend the morning at Gardner Bay on Española Island, an exceptional beach with sea lions, marine iguanas and the bold Spanish mockingbird.
Near Española, there are a beautiful variety of islets ideal for observing marine life. While snorkelling at one of these sites, you will come face to face with the endemic species of the marine reserve, including playful sea lions.
PM: PUNTA SUÁREZ
After this visit, we will head to Punta Suarez, one of the most popular landing sites in Galapagos. Highlights include: sea lions near the landing site (sometimes seen surfing the big waves), large marine iguanas, red-coloured males in the breeding season, oystercatchers, blue-footed boobies and Nazca boobies, Galapagos hawks and doves, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and three endemic species of Española: the Galapagos albatross (present only from April to December), the Española nightingale and the Española lava lizard. The trail ends at El Soplador, a tunnel that connects to the sea and its large hole shoots water some 25 metres (75 feet) into the air.
DAY 8, SATURDAY
AM: THE TWIN CRATERS- BALTRA ISLAND FOR RETURN
This is our last day in the islands. After breakfast, we will disembark in Puerto Ayora to take our transport to Baltra airport, making a brief stop to visit the Twin Craters. The Gemelos are two deep craters located on the side of the road leading from Puerto Ayora to the other side of the island to the airport. These huge holes were probably created in a volcanic explosion or due to the collapse of magma chambers beneath the surface of the island. This is also an excellent place to see the Galapagos hawk and the Santa Cruz owl. The surrounding forests are also full of birds such as the scarlet flycatcher and the yellow warbler. After this visit, we will continue our journey to Baltra airport for our flight back to mainland Ecuador.
LOCATION
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RECOMMENDATIONS
On domestic flights, each passenger is allowed one checked baggage allowance of 23kg + one carry-on baggage allowance of 8kg.
The checked baggage allowance is:
Weight: 23kg
Size: 158cm/62in
Carry-on baggage allowance is:
Weight: 8kg.
Dimensions: 55cm x 35cm x 25cm
It is advisable to bring comfortable, light clothing, a waterproof jacket, swimming costume and comfortable walking shoes for the Amazon or Galapagos visit points, and warmer clothing for the days in and around Quito. Visitors should not wear tank tops, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting religious or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a small backpack, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay in Ecuador.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
The itinerary is subject to change in case of force majeure caused by exceptional and natural circumstances.
Prices are subject to change without prior notice and can only be guaranteed once the booking has been made.
Reservations must include the passenger’s full name, nationality, passport number, age and date of birth.
Any deposit or payment made by the Client to the Company for services to be provided by the Company constitutes acceptance by any person receiving services from the Company of the Terms and Conditions described in the following document:
