Baltra Airport

We arrive at Baltra Airport and hope aboard an airport transfer bus to the Itabaca Channel. From here, we’ll take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride takes us to a restaurant in the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island to enjoy lunch.

Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)

After lunch, you will head down to the town of Puerto Ayora to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and get a chance to check out the breeding program for giant tortoises. The Station will also give you a good sense of the efforts and progress that the Foundation and National Park have made in terms of conservation. After this, we’ll take a transfer dinghy from the town’s port to board Yacht Isabela II. Once aboard, guests will check in, partake in the Captain’s welcome cocktail and then have dinner.

Post Office Bay

After breakfast, guests will disembark at Post Office Bay to visit the historic “Post Office Barrel” that has functioned as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries! There’s great swimming and snorkeling from the beach here as well.

Cormorant Point & Champion Islet

Later on, we will visit Cormorant Point, which has an olivine-crystal beach and a brackish-water lagoon where bird species like American flamingos can be spotted. A brief walk to the other side of the island rewards guests with a beautiful, white-sand beach that is often the spot for sea turtles to come and nest. Afterwards, at Champion Islet, guests can choose to snorkel, ride along the coast in dinghies or observe the underwater world from the comfort of Yacht Isabela II’s glass-bottom boat.

Punta Suarez

The morning outing at Punta Suarez provides an exciting walk across lava terrain to visit the unique seabird colonies that populate this area. Waved albatrosses (visible from April until January), boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and the famous “blowhole” geological formation await! Also, you will definitely want to keep an eye out for the red-green-black marine iguanas! Many regard this site as one of the best in all Galapagos. Afterwards, we will head back onboard for lunch.

Gardner Bay

In the afternoon, we will disembark at this beautiful, white coral beach for a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds and finches. You can also choose to simply enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area. Alternatively, you can opt to kayak or take a ride aboard our glass-bottom boat.

Punta Pitt

We land at the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island on this morning. The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline, allowing us to observe frigatebirds plus a colony of bachelor sea lions. After the walk, there is a chance to swim along the beach and snorkel or take a ride aboard the dinghy, weather permitting.

Cerro Brujo

After lunch, a dinghy ride along the shores will take us over to Cerro Brujo’s expansive, white coral beach. This is a great site for walking, with rewarding birdwatching opportunities that feature plenty of seabirds and shorebirds. Galapagos sea lions will also be present. History Fact: These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked along back in September of 1835.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

After breakfast, we will depart to the pier and then assist you with your transfer to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. Safe travels!