Baltra Airport (Baltra Island)

You arrive at Baltra Airport and are shuttled down to the Itabaca Channel where we’ll assist you in taking a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride will then take us up to a restaurant in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to enjoy lunch. Afterwards, we will continue down to the town of Puerto Ayora.

Puerto Ayora & the Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)

After driving down from the highlands, we will get the chance to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the numerous giant tortoises that reside there. The Station also serves as the headquarters for scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Afterwards, we will take a stroll down the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking Yacht Isabela II. After checking in, you’ll be invited to the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and then dinner.

Santa Fe Island

We’ll hop aboard the dinghy and shuttle on over to the idyllic white-sand beach of Santa Fe Island, which itself is populated by colonies of sea lions. Galapagos hawks are often easily observed here, typically found sitting perched atop the salt bushes. The brilliantly yellow Santa Fe land iguana, which is exclusive to just this island (in the whole world!), might also be spotted during the walk. Following the walk, you’ll have the choice of swimming and snorkeling along a natural wave barrier. Alternatively, you can choose to take a ride aboard Yacht Isabela II’s glass-bottom boat.

South Plaza Island

The turquoise waters of the channel here contrast brilliantly with the white sand beach and volcanic rocks that make up the shoreline. A carpet of scarlet-colored sesuvium succulents sits at the base of a large cluster of luminescent-green prickly-pear cacti. Crawling around this entire scene are the yellow-greyish land iguanas. Along the coastline, we’ll walk right by sea lion colonies while seabirds play along the cliffs of this small but spectacular island.

North Seymour Island

After breakfast, the morning excursion begins with our disembarking and enjoying a walk along the coast and inner area of this beautiful and relatively flat island. Throughout the excursion, you will get to observe numerous bird colonies as well as sea lions and land iguanas. There are opportunities for snorkeling, dinghy coastal exploration or a glass-bottom boat ride for great views of the underwater world.

Las Bachas (Santa Cruz Island)

After WWII, US military barges were beached and simply abandoned here. Today it is an important nesting area for the east Pacific green sea turtles. Las Bachas, located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, comes complete with a glorious white-sand beach, with several brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea. These lagoons are the feeding grounds for various wading birds, from stilts all the way to flamingos. You are welcome to swim or snorkel from the beach here.

Bartolome Island

On this morning, an iconic and postcard-worthy Galapagos feature awaits: Bartolome Island. We will disembark from our dinghy shuttle boat and begin a steep climb up a wooden staircase where the view from the top makes it well worth the effort! Following the walk, we will once again hop aboard the dinghies for a ride around the colossal Pinnacle Rock. After this, there will be time for you to enjoy the beach as well as do some snorkeling. You can also choose to ride aboard the glass-bottom boat for great views of the underwater world without getting wet.

Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island)

After lunch, we will board the dinghy to disembark at Sullivan Bay over on the east coast of Santiago Island. This visitor site comes complete with a white coral-sand beach, which is great for swimming and snorkeling. Additionally, there’s a trail that goes over a lava field that once flowed here less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos while observing its wildlife.

Baltra Island

After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport to hop on your flight back to the mainland. Safe travels!