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Itinerary

Day 1 Quito
Arrive in Quito where you will be met & transferred to your central hotel.

Day 2 Quito– Baltra – North Seymour
We join a morning flight to the Galápagos and transfer to our vessel. In the afternoon, visit North Seymour for your first Galapagos wildlife experience, In addition to being a major nesting area for the blue-footed booby, the island is home to the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galápagos. Both marine and land iguanas are found in good numbers, and sea lions often surf the rocky shore break.

Day 3 Genovesa – Tower: Prince Phillip Steps & Darwin Bay
Located in the northeast portion of the Galápagos, Tower is an outpost for many sea birds (as Española is to the south - perhaps this is why they are our two favourite islands). Depending on conditions we often will have a
chance to snorkel and kayak within the bay.
A visit to Prince Philip’s Steps begins with a panga ride along the cliffs, watching for red-billed tropicbirds and the occasional fur seal, while squadrons of frigate birds fly overhead in their endless piratical pursuits. On shore a forest of dwarf palo santo trees is home to a colony of redfooted boobies, while Nazca Boobies nest below on the ground. Along the lava fields storm petrels fly overhead in great numbers, while short-eared
owls hunt for them among the lava cracks. In the afternoon visit Darwin Bay, an anchorage within a caldera, with surrounding cliffs forming the inner portion of the rim. Along the small beach there is a forest of salt bush where adjacent colonies of great frigate birds and red-footed boobies are seen nesting. Frequently the endemic
lava gull is also seen nesting here.

Day 4 Isabela: Punta Vincente Roca /Fernandina
Isabela island is comprised of 6 volcanoes, this is by far the largest island in the archipelago. Along the south and eastern coasts you will find some of the best whale watching opportunities in Galápagos. The cold waters
approaching Punta Vicente Roca offer some of the best opportunities for whales and dolphins, and maybe the chance to kayak or snorkel with a mola mola.
Fernandina is the youngest of the Galápagos Islands, with the largest colony of marine iguanas in the islands, in addition to flightless cormorants, Galápagos Penguins, herons and Galápagos Hawks. This is often the best place to see marine iguanas in the water as they feed on the barely submerged rocks along the shore.

Day 5 Isabela: Urvina Bay & Elizabeth Bay 
Urvina Bay is the site of a dramatic volcanic uplift in 1954, where 4 miles of coastline suddenly raised nearly 15 feet, with the coastline driven three quarters of a mile farther out to sea. The marine remnants and giant coral heads are a stark reminder. Inland land iguanas, and an occasional tortoise, are found here. Along the shore flightless cormorants and brown pelicans typically nest.
Elizabeth Bay is a mangrove inlet explored by zodiac, with an amazing concentration of green sea turtles and rays. The neighboring Marielas Islets are home to the largest colony of Galápagos Penguins.

Day 6 Floreana: Punta Cormoran & Post Office Bay
Punta Cormorant is one of the most interesting landings (on an olivine beach), with an emphasis on plant life and shore birds. A brackish lagoon is home to flamingos, pintail ducks and commons stilts. Favourite
snorkelling areas are the offshore islets of Devil’s Crown and Champion (where you might also get a glimpse of the endemic Charles Mockingbird on shore).
Post Office Bay, while possibly not the most scenic visitor site, is one the most historically famous - be sure to bring a postcard or two ashore with you to “mail.” • Black Beach & the Highlands - while not official park visitor sites, both are rewarding. Much of the early human history of the Galápagos, and especially the Wittmer family played out in the highlands of Floreana. A visit to the highlands is also your only opportunity in the islands to search for the medium tree finch. The seaside Wittmer hotel features an exhibit of early photographs of sailing exibitions and explorers to call on the island.

Day 7 Española: Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez
Punta Suarez is a paradise for birders, with waved albatross, Nazca Boobies, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos Hawks, Galápagos Doves, and also marine iguanas (the most colourful in the islands) all vying for centre stage.
Gardner Bay is a tranquil white sandy beach known for sea lions, lava lizards, finches, yellow warblers & Hood Mockingbirds, to name just a few. Gardner or Tortuga Rocks offer great snorkelling, as well as the occasional chance to kayak.

Day 8 Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands
Puerto Ayora is the scientific heart of Galápagos, including the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), as well as the primary population centre. A trip to the highlands (by van) traverses all 7 vegetation zones of the
Galápagos. In addition to two enormous pit craters, other volcanic formations include some of the largest known lava tunnels in the Galápagos. Not surprisingly, the lush highland vegetation is home to a variety of land birds, including vermillion flycatchers, Galápagos Flycatchers, woodpecker finches & dark-billed cuckoos. Tortoises are often seen in the wild here.

Day 9 Santa Cruz: Jacqueline’s & Puerto Ayora / Santa Fe
An early morning visit to longtime resident Jacqueline De Roy’s house allows us a glimpse of local life, plus an opportunity to see and compare dozens of finches at very close range!
Santa Fe - this island is home to a unique species of land iguana; some of these iguanas can be 5 feet long! The stands of giant prickly pear cactus here are specially adapted to a larger size as a form of protection against the iguanas. Santa Fe is also likely your best chance at seeing the endemic rice rat. Snorkelling and kayaking complete your visit.

Day 10  San Cristobal: Cerro Brujo & Kicker Rock
This is the easternmost island in the archipelago (and also the provincial capital). Cerro Brujo is a very striking, eroded tuff cone. One of the first places visited by Charles Darwin, the beautiful white coraline sand beach and lagoon are home to brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, plus a variety of shore birds. Stroll the beach and you will soon realize that you are being watched by hundreds of shy ghost crabs. San Cristóbal is also home to the endemic Chatham Mockingbird. Kicker Roack is a similarly eroded tuff cone, this time rising almost 500 feet from the ocean. The yacht will cruise around Kicker Rock as the sunlight plays off the contours of the cliffs and formation (complete with blue-footed boobies, Nazca Boobies, and frigatebirds).

Day 11 South Plaza/ Bartolome
South Plaza - This geologically uplifted island is vegetated with the distinctive red mats of sesuvium, along with prickly pear cactus - both being the food base for the land iguanas. A walk along the sea cliffs is wonderful, with swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, and red-billed tropicbirds in flight.
Bartolome is one of the most popular visitor sites for the panoramic views (gained by climbing 360-plus wooden stairs). The view is educational as well as inspiring; the volcanic features include lava formations such as spatter cones, cinder cones, and tuff cones. There are also wonderful examples of pioneering plants and some beautiful stands of endemic lava cactus. The shoreline around Pinnacle Rock might be your best chance to snorkel with penguins.

Day 12 Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove
Black Turtle Cove is a mangrove-surrounded series of coves and inlets. Exploring by panga (zodiac) we often see mating green sea turtles, plus rays and white-tipped reef sharks. Return to Baltra and fly to Quito where we will spend the night.

Day 13 Quito
Full day tour outside the Quito area.
We will enjoy our farewell dinner tonight.

Day 14 Quito
Enjoy a guided city tour of the historic old town of Quito. Declared a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO, this area has a wealth of colonial architecture as well as tremendous colour and ambience.