Monserrat Galapagos 8 Day D + A Itinerary Cruise

Baltra
After arriving to the Baltra airport, our guide will take you to the M/Y Monserrat in order to give you the initial information of the trip. 

Santa Cruz Highlands Excursion (PM) 
In the afternoon you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz and have the chance to observe the Galápagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. Explore the area and its incredible underground lava tunnels – some are more than 1km long! 

Today you will be visiting the beautiful and remote Genovesa Island. This northern island, famous for its red-footed colony, is a paradise for bird lovers. It is estimated that about 200,00 Red-footed boobies live on this island. 

Darwin Bay Excursion (AM) 
Darwin bay was formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island, another name used for Genovesa. After landing at a small sand and coral beach, it easy to realize why this island is a bird lover paradise. Among the bird species found here, the most common are swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos doves and yellow warblers. 
You will continue on a short and flat trail to encounter red- footed booby and great frigatebird nests.

Prince Phillips’s Steps Excursion (PM) 
El Barranco or Prince Phillips’s Steps as otherwise known, was named after a visit by the British Monarch in 1964. El Barranco's steep 81-foot stairway leads up to a high cliff-face that opens out onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay.
Here an amazing view can be appreciated. Once at the top of the stairway you will meet Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds, and finches along the way of a palo santo trail. 
It will also be possible to see wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm and short-eared owls. 

Bartolomé Island Excursion (AM)
During this excursion you will hike to Bartolomé's summit to have a perspective of the islands' not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy a panoramic view,
You will be able to see other Galapagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark.
Take the opportunity to swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic volcanic rock formations on the islands. Home to Galapagos penguins, friendly sea lions, sea turtles, and a huge variety of fish, Bartolomé and its surrounding waters are a fantastic place to explore the natural wonders of the Galapagos.

Bowditch Point Excursion (PM)
This is a unique place where almost nobody visits, on this amazing spot you can relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals.
In the afternoon, you will visit one of the last off-the-beaten-path sites in the Galapagos Islands. This pristine site offers you a great snorkeling session with giant schools of black-striped salema, parrotfish, and Mexican hogfish, or you can enjoy kayaking or SUP if you prefer. Afterwards, you spend time on the beach relaxing or walking around it.

Bachas Beach Excursion (AM) 

Bachas Beach´s sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles.

Here, you can spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge, these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on!  Also, you will be able to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and sea lions.

Dragon Hill Excursion (PM)  
Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) is consider as a prime birdwatching site. You will take a short walk from the beach to a hypersaline (saltier than the ocean) lagoon frequented by pink flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds.
You will pass through a Scalesia tree forest; which is endemic to the area, a quick fact about this iconic specie there are only 400 specimens of Scalesia trees left in the world. 

Santiago Island has seen its share of human activity from whalers and pirates over the years, and despite the introduction of goats to the island many years ago, the wildlife of Santiago has otherwise flourished and provides outstanding viewing opportunities. The island boasts marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, land and sea turtles, among others. Enjoy great wildlife viewing both on land and in the water. 

Head to Buccaneer Cove to witness the towering cliff wall rock formations. Afternoon excursion to Egas Port to see the salt crater as well as a dark sand beach and tidal pools.

Buccaneer Cove Excursion (AM) 
Your adventure will star by jumping into the panga or zodiac and cruise along the high cliffs and rock formations, which was a favorite hideout for pirates looking to stock up their boats with food and water. You will be able to spot sea lions relaxing on the beach and sea birds nesting in the cove as you can snorkel and kayak around the shore.

(Puerto Egas) Snorkeling Excursion (PM) 
After an exquisite meal and a nap, you will be called for another snorkel session right off the beach to explore Puerto Egas' exciting underwater world. 
Keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles, and reef sharks while snorkeling. After this activity, you will visit the large tidal pool area – marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs are everywhere

Espinoza Point Excursion (AM) 
Espinosa Point is one of the most pristine islands in the world, with none of man’s introduced species to date. From here you will be able to see the island of Isabela across the Bolívar Channel. An area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Archipelago. 
Fernandina Island is the youngest of the Galapagos Islands and a visitor favorite. 
When landing, make sure to check out the tidal pools where there is abundance of sea life, including small fish and mollusks. A little further ahead you will pass through some marine iguana burrows and sea lion colonies. The trail continues in order to meet several flightless cormorants and their nests. This remarkable bird is only found in western Galapagos.

Urbina Bay Excursion (PM) 
Urbina Bay is a fascinating visitor site that came to be as the shallow sea bottom uplifted in 1954 showing a large coral reef sticking up above sea level. Because of this.
This visitor site is located at west of Isabela and provides spectacular views of the Alcedo volcano. The long trail starts on the beach where a wet landing is made. In this location, you will likely see wild Galapagos Giant Tortoises and Galapagos Land Iguanas. As the trail circles back towards the shore line you'll come across colonies of the unique Galapagos Flightless Cormorant which lost its ability to fly. 
This is also a great spot for snorkeling, as you can come close to a Galapagos Penguin Colony and see Galapagos Marine Iguanas feeding underwater. 

Tagus Cove Excursion (AM) 
Tagus Cove is located on the Northwestern coast of Isabela. It is a historical site visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, where graffiti has been carved into the rock walls by visitors over the past centuries. This spot has been frequented by whalers and pirates since the 1800s that used the area as anchorage. The name of the site dates back to 1814 when it was visited by a British ship, The Tagus, which had anchored there in search of giant tortoises to be used as food supply on the boat. 
Here, you will admire a variety of seabirds species, such as blue-footed booby, brown noddy, terns, flightless cormorant and Galapagos penguins depending on the season. Occasionally you might see woodpecker finches, the Galapagos hawk, the yellow warbler or a large-billed flycatcher. After a dry landing, you will hike a trail to visit Darwin 's Lake, which is located on the slopes of Darwin Volcano.

Vicente Roca Point Excursion (PM) 
Vicente Roca Point has great deep-water snorkeling at one of the richest marine havens on Earth (Bolivar Channel). The spot is known for its high concentration of green turtles, sharks and rays can also be observed when underwater visibility is good. You will take a zodiac ride along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and coastal birds.
A big amount of Nazca, Blue-footed Boobies, Noddies, Brown Pelicans, Penguins, Flightless Cormorants can be seeing. The upwelling of cold-water currents in this part of the Galapagos gives rise to an abundance of marine life. 
A snorkeling session will take you along the cliffs and offers the chance of exploring two shallow underwater caves with rich marine wildlife.

Black Turtle Cove Excursion (AM) 
You will explore the mangroves by a zodiac ride to find rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Make sure to witness for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem.

Baltra 
After 8 days of amazing experiences, you will be disembarking at Baltra in order to take your flight back to Ecuador mainland.

Itineraries are subject to change.