Galapagos Islander
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights
Sunday to Sunday
Day 1
Baltra Island arrival / Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)
This morning fly 1 1/2-hours to the Galapagos. Upon landing on Baltra Island, gather for a briefing in the airport’s VIP lounge. Our staff will be there to collect your luggage and transport it to the ship.
A five-minute bus ride across takes us to the ferry bound for Santa Cruz Island. You head into the lush highlands and walk the dramatic landscape, looking for tortoises that often forage in the wild. After lunch in the highlands, a short half-hour ride brings us to Puerto Ayora. Visit the National Park Headquarters and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Embark our ship in mid-afternoon.
Day 2
Bartolome Island / Santiago Island
Bartolome is an enchanting landscape where lava, mangroves and golden sand converge. Great walks, views and a chance to snorkel with penguins.
Santiago provides us a chance to see the Galapagos fur seal, along with the opportunity to enjoy the best “tide pooling.”
Day 3
Cerro Dragon (Santa Cruz Island) / North Seymour Island
This morning hike in search of Galápagos “dragons” or land iguanas. In Zodiacs investigate mangrove-flanked channels searching for sea lions, a variety of birds, sea turtles, sharks and rays. Later, snorkel near North Seymour. On shore, discover the year-round colony of magnificent frigate birds.
Day 4
Isabela Island / Fernandina Island
In the morning explore Isabela’s caves and shoreline and search the waters for dolphins, whales, sea turtles and the elusive ocean sunfish, the mola-mola.
This afternoon explore Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, the youngest island in Galapagos. It’s marine iguana heaven, with Isabela’s volcanoes as a dramatic backdrop.
Day 5
Puerto Villamil (Isabela Island)
Anchor off Isabela Island near the picturesque port of Villamil. Walk the streets of this small town, visit the nearby saltwater lagoons, home to flamingos or simply stroll along a beautiful beach. Later sail the rich waters around Isabela, searching for marine life.
Day 6
Champion Islet / Floreana Island
Champion Islet, just off the eastern shore of Floreana, is a fabulous snorkel site, home to a large colony of sea lions. There is nothing more delightful than an hour spent in the clear waters with these creatures.
In the afternoon, land on Floreana where you may find flamingoes, pintail ducks and various shorebirds. Hike to a lovely white sand beach, a favorite nesting site for sea turtles.
Day 7
Española Island
Today visit two distinctly different parts of the same island. See blue-footed boobies, sea lions galore, marine iguanas which develop particularly vivid coloration and waved albatross. Snorkel and stroll the island’s lovely beaches.
Day 8
Baltra Island departure
Depart and fly to the Ecuador mainland.