Galapagos Isabela II
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights
Tuesday to Tuesday
Day 1
Arrival to Baltra airport / North Seymour Island
Morning arrival to Baltra Island and immediate transfer to the dock to board the Isabela II. Welcome introductory briefing and lunch.
Afternoon disembarkation on North Seymour Island (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas.
A shorter walk is also available. Welcome Cocktail offered by the Captain. Naturalist's briefing on the next day's activities and dinner.
Day 2
Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez (Española Island)
Gardner Bay after breakfast, disembark (wet landing) at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area, or ride the glass-bottom boat around Gardner or Tortuga islets.
Punta Suarez afternoon dry landing for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses (May - December) and the famous blowhole.
A shorter walk is also available. For those not planning to walk there will be panga (dinghy) ride along the coastline of Punta Suarez. Naturalist's briefing and dinner.
Day 3
Punta Cormorant / Post Office Bay (Floreana Island)
After breakfast, disembark at Point Cormorant (wet landing) for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. There is great snorkeling from the beach or near by, at the Devil's Crown. Those who do not snorkel can enjoy a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Lunch on board.
Wet landing at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galapagos penguin. Naturalist's briefing and dinner.
Day 4
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island after breakfast, disembark (dry landing) to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds.
Then a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before driving to the highlands for lunch at a farm.
Afternoon in the Santa Cruz highlands, visiting the Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April a visit to see the Galapagos giant tortoises in the wild may be included, if weather conditions are good. Naturalist's briefing and enjoy the dinner.