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Red border indicates selected itinerary. - Click on any “button” along route for description of that location.
or - Scroll through list of Islands and Place Names,
- Underlined name is a link to the itinerary that visits that location.
- Underlined number links in parentheses indicate location visited
on more than one itinerary.
Islands and Place Names
Baltra
Baltra Airport: All three itineraries visit this island, as follows:
- 3 night: At the end of the cruise, visitors return to the mainland from the airport here.
- 4 night: Visitors arrive here and then travel overland to board their yacht in Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz. They return to Baltra at the end of the cruise for the return flight to the mainland.
- 7 night: Visitors arrive here and board their yacht in the nearby harbor.
After a dry landing, a steep wooden staircase brings visitors to thie island's highest point, with a panoramic view of the surrounding terrain. Later, a panga ride gives everyone a closeup view of the famous Pinnacle Rock. This is followed by either a wet landing on the beach for swimming and snorkelling, with possible Galápagos penguin sightings, or a glass-bottom boat ride for great views of the underwater world.
Gardner Bay: After a wet landing, enjoy a short walk along the white coral beach to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds and finches. There is great snorkelling in this area, and also the chance for kayaking or a ride in the glass-bottom boat.
Punta Suarez: After a dry landing, visitors walk across the lava/boulder terrain to observe unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatross (April-December), blue-footed and Nazca boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous blowhole. Among the land birds are the Hood island mockingbird and three species of Darwin's finches. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas.
Punta Espinosa: description to follow.
Post Office Bay: description to follow.
Punta Cormorant & Isla Campeón: description to follow.
Darwin Bay: After a wet landing, enjoy an easy bird-watching stroll to see observe thousands of frigate birds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. Afterwards, try an optional walk over sharp lava and uneven terrain for dramatic views, or return to the beach for swimming and snorkelling in the beautiful natural harbour, or along the cliffs. This is also the place for sea kayaking.
Prince Philip's Stairs: A fascinating panga ride along the cliffs leads to a dry landing and a short climb followed by a stimulating walk of about a mile to the other side of the island, observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds and storm petrels. Or, remain in the panga to enjoy a longer ride along the cliffs.
Punta Vicente Roca: description to follow.
Tagus Cove: description to follow.
Urbina Bay: description to follow.
[Description to follow]
San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal airport: Two itineraries visit this island, as follows:
- 3 night: Visitors arrive here and board their yacht in the Puerto Baquerizo Moreno harbour.
- 7 night: Visitors debark here to catch their return flight to the mainland.
Cerro Brujo: After a panga ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers, visitors make a wet landing on a white coraline beach for a bird-watching walk to observe blue-footed and Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and other shore birds. The Chatham mockingbird and lava lizard are endemic to this island and are found nowhere else in Galápagos.
Galapaguera Natural: An early wet landing is followed by a 4-mile hike that leads to the slopes of San Cristóbal's well-eroded shield volcano. The trail passes through an arid zone, a great place to see Darwin's finches and other land birds including the endemic Chatham mockingbirds. Also found here are the last individuals of the island's giant tortoise population.
Punta Pitt: A wet landing at the eastern tip of the island brings visitors to a trail ascending from the beach for spectacular views of the shoreline. This is the Galápagos site where the three species of boobies can be found together, as well as the two frigate species, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions along the beach. After the walk, there is a chance to swim from the beach.
Bahia Ballena: A wet landing at a beautiful beach of olivine; a volcanic crystal that forms in fast-cooling lava. The area has historic interest since a small community lived here in the late 1900s, collecting lichen (Rosella Tictoria), used in the textile industry. The trail leads guests to an old water hole used by the settlers. There are also boobies, land birds and beautiful views of the northwest side of the island. Later on, enjoy snorkelling or a panga ride along the shoreline.
Cerro Dragón: [Description to follow.]
El Chato Reserve: This is one of the finest places to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, eating grass and leaves and wallowing in the small pools that are common in the reserve. You may also spot some highland birds, like cattle egrets, mockingbirds, finches or flycatchers. There are several lava tunnels in the reserve, a great place to spot the barn owl. There is also a small lagoon covered in red algae where gallinules and Galápagos pintails can be found. Later on, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and continue to Puerto Ayora.
Charles Darwin Research Station: Puerto Ayora is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise captive rearing program. Here visitors witness the efforts and results of all the field work done in the name of science. An impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds can be also seen.
After touring the station, visitors on the 3-night itinerary take a chartered bus across the island, followed by a short ferry ride to the airport for the return flight to the mainland.
Los Gemelos: “The Twins” are . . .[More to follow].
Puerto Ayora: Visitors on a 4-night cruise board their yacht here. [More to follow.]
[Description to follow]
Sulivan Bay: A short panga ride and a wet landing on a white coral sand beach is followed by a walk over lava that flowed here less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galápagos.
Less than a quarter-of-a-square-kilometre in size, Sombrero Chino gets its name from its resemblance to a Chinese hat. A 400-metre long trail begins at the crescent-shaped white sandy beach. Several species of shore birds can be spotted, along with marine iguanas, lava lizards, Galápagos penguins and sally lightfoot crabs. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkelling opportunities with white-tipped reef sharks and tropical fish.
[Description to follow]