Saturday:

AM: Flight to Galapagos from Quito / Guayaquil Airport: Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, guides will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you to the harbor for a short ferry ride to the ship, where the crew will welcome you aboard. After a welcome cocktail and an orientation and safety briefing the cruise begins.

PM: Santa Cruz Highlands: Reached by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green, contrasting beautifully with much of the dry, lower islands. The dominant vegetation in the highlands is the forest of Scalesia trees creating the lush green color. The lava tubes, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience.

Charles Darwin Station / Fausto Llerena Breeding Center: The Charles Darwin Research Station is home to Galapagos tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of tortoises interact with one another and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept until they are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.

(Dinner & Accommodations, Natural Paradise)

Sunday:

AM: Genovesa - El Barranco: (Dry landing) Also known as Prince Phillip's Steps, El Barranco's steep, rocky paths lead up to a high cliff face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to palo santo trees as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves.

PM: Darwin Bay: (Wet landing) This white sand coral beach heads a half mile trail (0.75km) that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path are tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully. At the end is a spectacular view off a cliff.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Accommodations, Natural Paradise)

Monday:

AM: Santiago - Espumilla Beach / Buccaneer Cove: (Wet landing) Espumilla Beach is a popular place for marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The crabs attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey. With an abundance of marine life including octopi, moray eels, and sharks, snorkeling is highly recommended. Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. These pirates would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent sight (wet landing).

PM: Santiago - Egas Port: (Wet landing) Also known as James Bay, Egas Port is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to a coastline with gorgeous tidal pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos fur sea lions bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkeling site. (Wet landing)

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Accommodations, Natural Paradise)

Tuesday:

AM: Santa Cruz - Bachas Beach: (Wet landing) Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Las Bachas is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest off the beach.

After this visit, we will head back to Baltra Airport for the return flight to the mainland.