Tour itinerary
Day 1,QUITO
Arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2,QUITO – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Fly from Quito to the Galapagos Islands and transfer onto the Monserrat II. On the way we visit the impressive Los Gemelos (Twin Craters), the Primicia Ranch where you can observe giant Galapagos tortoises in a natural environment, and the Charles Darwin Research Station located near to the port town of Puerto Ayora, where we board our vessel. (BLD)
Day 3,SOUTH PLAZA - SANTA FE
We sail to the Plaza Islands, and visit South Plaza. The island is only a kilometre long and a little wider than 100 metres, but you will find the smallest species of land iguanas, and also nests of gulls, boobies, frigate birds, tropicbirds, marine iguanas, lava lizards and on the dock are often large male sea lions and their young resting. In the afternoon we arrive at Santa Fe on a great white beach with colourful turquoise water; a forest of Opuntia cactus covers the island. Bigger iguanas and many other animals can be found here, and the area is perfect for swimming and snorkelling. (BLD)
Day 4,ESPAÑOLA (HOOD)
On arrival at Espanola we visit Punta Suarez and follow a trail to see blue footed boobies and waved albatrosses nesting in their hundreds. We then head to Gardner Bay, which has a brilliant white sandy beach with hundreds of basking sea lions. (BLD)
Day 5,SAN CRISTOBAL
We arrive at ‘Leon Dormido’, a couple of tall rocks in the sea named because the Spaniards thought they resembled a sleeping lion. We sail close to the rocks to watch the masked boobies and red-billed tropicbirds. Once on land we visit the Interpretation Centre close to the sleepy port-town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, official capital of the archipelago. In the afternoon we stop at Loberia, a small and peaceful rocky islet with lots of sea lions, and then take a walk to see the candelabra cactus and many blue-footed boobies and other birds. (BLD)
Day 6,SANTA CRUZ
The charming Bachas beach is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, and is where pacific green sea turtles nest and lay eggs, especially from November to February. It is also perfect for swimming and you can find marine iguanas resting on the rocks and hermit crabs in the sand. We move on to Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) to look for turtles; from December to March, these beautiful animals breed here in peace and quiet. These are not the only animals we can see - if we are lucky, we can see white-tipped reef sharks or the amazing eagle ray and golden rays under our dinghy! (BLD)
Day 7,GENOVESA ISLAND
Arrive at Genovesa Island and climb Prince Philip’s step to see the colonies of seabirds here. Wwe then spend the day exploring the island and visit Darwin Bay, an exotic, partially eroded volcano, famous for its crater walls, hundreds of magnificent frigate birds, red-footed boobies, swallowtail, gulls and brilliant storm petrels, which all mate here. (BLD)
Day 8,SANTIAGO – BARTOLOME
Visit Sullivan Bay, an awesome natural site dominated by a solidified lava flow. Looking closely, we can see parts of trees that were vapourised by the lava, as well as lava lizards. Later on, at Bartolome Island we can climb up to a viewpoint to see one of the most spectacular views of the surrounding islands. After a walk through moonscape-like landscapes, we reach a beautiful beach nearby the famous Pinnacle Rock. It’s perfect for snorkelling and swimming, and you might even be able to swim together with Galapagos penguins. (BLD)
Day 9,SANTA CRUZ - BALTRA – QUITO
Time to say goodbye to our boat and crew. There is time for last minute souvenir shopping in Puerto Ayora before transferring to Baltra for the flight back to the mainland. On arrival transfer to the hotel. (B)
Day 10,QUITO
Tour ends. (B)