San Cristobal Island

AM: Flight to Galapagos from Quito/Guayaquil Airport
The flight is approximately 2 ½ hours on a Boeing 727. Upon arrival at San Cristobal travelers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid), and $10 for the INGALA card which is an identity card that you need . Guides will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbor.  Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you to the M/C Journey I and our crew will welcome you onboard.  After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.

PM: La Lobería
The beach is 10 minutes from the airport >of San Cristobal. It is a coral sand beach with sea lions.  La Loberia is a piece of coast that has been named for the large number of sea lions resting on the rocks and sand. Despite being outside the boundaries of the National Park area, due to its great importance, the park staff obliges for its care and maintenance.  The tour will find button mangrove, white mangrove, chala, palo santo, cotton, Tiquilia, morning glory and other species of the littoral zone as the cacho de chivo, whose seeds is the main source of food for several species of finches. Besides the sea lions, yellow warblers, frigates and various species of finches can be seen. On the rocks, large Galapagos marine iguanas can be found, unique in the world.

Highlands
The route from Puerto Baquerizo follows the signs marked for El Progresso. This small town was established as a penal colony in 1888 by Manuel Cobos. The prisoners were treated a slaves and developed a sugar cane and coffee plantation. The steep road narrows as it climbs the sides of the extinct volcano. At the summit visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the El Junco Lagoon. Rainwater and condensation have collected in the caldera for hundreds of years creating this haven for frigatebirds. The lake supplies water both for the people of the island and for many of the tourist boats. Hiking around the lake offers views of practically the entire island including San Joaquin Hill the island's highest point.
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Española Island

AM: Punta Suarez
This rocky land spot sustains one of themost impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow whole where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf.
 

PM: Gardner Bay
Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here we can also observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters.

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Floreana Island

AM: Cormorant Point
This site offers probablythe best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks, and other migratory birds. It is very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral.

Devil's Crown
The Devil's Crown, located just off Punta Cormorant, offers some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos. In fact, the only way to see the Crown is by water; it is termed a Marine Visitor Site, and no landings are allowed. Sometimes referred to as Onslow Island, this is an almost completely submerged volcano, and erosion has transformed the cone into a series of jagged peaks; as a result, this site really does look like a devil's crown.

PM: Post office bay & Baroness Lookout
Historically, this site is thelocation of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship.  It has been used since this time by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. We will continue to the north of the island and will ascent to an elevated slope to enjoy a beautiful vista at the Baroness lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the horizon. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as her house. From this lookout, the landscape covers the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and wide forest of Palo Santo.

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Santa Cruz Island 

AM: Charles Darwin Station
Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are carried out.  One of the main attractions are the National Park information center, the Van Straelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises, Lonesome George (turtle from Pinta), and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

PM: Twin Craters
The Gemelos are a pair of craters approximately 30 meters deep located on either side of the road to Baltra (island where the airport lies). The holes could be created because of a volcanic explosion or because of magma chambers inside earth.

A good place to see the Galapagos hawk and barn owl is on this island. The surrounding forest is full of birds such as the vermilion flycatcher or the yellow warbler.
The highlands and settlement area of Santa Cruz are worth seeing for the contrast of the vegetation with the arid coastal zones.

PM: Santa Cruz Highlands
Journeying across Santa Cruz into the highlands visitors are delighted by the island's variety of life and geology. Beginning at the coast and traveling across Santa Cruz the road departs from Puerto Ayora climbing through the agricultural lands and into the mist covered forests. Santa Cruz possesses all of the various life zones present in the archipelago. As you travel through these zones birders are enchanted. Whether it's the bright red feathers of a vermillion flycatcher or one of Darwin's Finch almost every bird present in the islands can be found here.
Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos Tortoises. Tracking tortoises is not the only exciting activity to be found in the highlands. There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes and craters to explore. Theses eerie formations offer a fascinating hike into the belly of the island to view its volcanic make-up.
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Isabela Island

AM : White Tipped Reef Shark Canal
A delightful place reached by a nice zodiac ride. "Tintoreras” are small islands in front of Puerto Villamil coast.
There is Heron lava on the lookout on mangrove branch, and Galapagos penguin and sea lion often pop out on shore. White-tipped reef sharks are fairly common in the archipelago. Their name in Spanish is Tintorera, thus the name of this site as they are always found here resting in the shallow waters.

 
Wall of Tears
The Wall of Tears is a historic site in Isabela. Between 1946 and 1959 Isabela was a penal colony, where prisoners build a wall with huge blocks of lava as punishment. The wall is 100 meters long and 7 meters high. Due to the arduous labor and harsh conditions in which the prisoners lived, this site is known as the wall of tears.
A set of stairs provides a bird's eye view of the wall and the surrounding landscape. You can still see the cement foundations of the USA base dating back to the Second World War.

 

PM: Sierra Negra Volcano.
Isabela Island is the largest andone of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We land in Puerto Villamil, which has the second smallest populated island in Galapagos with approximately 3,000 habitants. We head up to the highlands from Puerto Villamil to Sierra Negra slope, and later we will do some hiking on uneven terrain until we arrive to the Sierra Negra volcano rim. Sierra Negra is the second widest crater in the world. From this viewpoint, you have fantastic sights to the 6 x 5 mile wide crater, the rest of the volcanoes, and Perry Isthmus, a 12 Km wide lava field. From here we can hike to Chico Volcano to watch the striking lava formations, examples of the geological occurrences that have created the Galapagos Islands.

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Isabela Island

AM: Punta Moreno
Punta Moreno is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcano Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcano. The trail runs along a lava flow Pahohoe (solidified lava in the form of corrugated or an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons, its main attraction are several species of birds which can be found around this lakes and mangroves

 

PM: Elizabeth Bay
This is a marine visitor site, the excursion is carried out in a zodiac and so there is no landing point. Your zodiac ride starts with a visit to the Marielas islets where there is the largest and most important penguin colony in the Galapagos Islands. The excursion continues into the cove that is surrounded by red mangroves where you can admire their red roots and green leafs. It is here that you are able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans, and sea lions. Frequently visitors have been able to see Galapagos hawks soaring overhead while schools of Pompano and Dorado fish swim below

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Isabela Island

AM: Urbina Bay
South from Tagus Cove and still on the West coast is Urvina Bay. It is an easy wet landing on a gentle sloping beach.  This area is very interesting in that it is a perfect example of the geological activity of the islands. The waters of the bay are a good place to see turtles and rays and ashore is a short trail leading to a coral reef, which is evidence of an uplift from the sea which occurred in 1954.

From here it is easy to reach the Alcedo and Darwin volcanoes. You can see large colored land iguanas here and the possibility of seeing giant Galapagos turtles, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins, pelicans, and marine iguanas is excellent.

PM: Tagus Cove
Tagus Cove, a tour along the cliffs in a zodiac will give the visitors a good chance to see the Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant and other sea birds. From the landing dock it is about a 30 minute hike along the trail up to the top of the cliff from where you can view Darwin Lake, an uplifted ultra saline lake saltier than the sea. You can also see several volcanoes from this location. Look carefully at the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs of the cove, it has been written by pirates, whalers and bucaneers in past centuries.

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Fernandina – Isabela Islands

AM: Espinoza Point
Fernandina is the third largest island in thearchipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza located at the northeastern tip of the island. Just across Tagus Cove, is a visitor site where some of the unique species of Galapagos can be seen. Marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than in any other island. They bask around in the sand, swim near the shore, and some time block the way at the landing dock. Among the unique species found here, is the flightless comorant. A bird that do to the lack of predators had to adjust their way of survival and perfectionate their skills of finding food in the ocean. Their wings, tails, and feet progressively adapted for swimming. To see these birds, is to witness evolution happening right in front of you.

PM: Vicente Roca Point
Located at the ‘mouth’ of the head of the sea horse, which forms the northern part of the Galapagos islands, is Punta Vicente Roca. Here the remnants of an ancient volcano form two turquoise coves with a bay well protected from the ocean swells.
The spot is a popular anchorage from which to take panga rides along the cliff that are the remains of the volcano or explore a partially sunken cave at the water’s edge. Masked and blue-footed boobies sit perched along the point and the sheer cliffs, while flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline.
The upwelling of coldwater currents in this part of the Galapagos, give rise to an abundance of marine life which, in combination with the protection of the coves, make Punta Vicente Roca one of the archipelago’s sough after dive spots.
One cove is only accessible from the sea by way of an underwater passage. The passage opens to calm waters of the hidden cove where sea lions like to laze on the beach having traveled along the underwater route. The entire area of Punta Vicente Roca lies on the flank of 2,600 foot Volcano Ecuador. This is the Galapagos Island’s sixth largest volcano.
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Santiago Island

AM: Puerto Egas.
The excursion to Puerto Egas with its black sand beaches leads to one of the more rewarding visits of the Galapagos.  The island was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s, one of several unsuccessful attempts to commercialize the Galapagos. A hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to see land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. A walk along the rugged shoreline, especially at low tide, will allow us to observe many marine species as Iguanas bask on the rocks and sea lions laze in the tide pools. At the end of the trail there is a series of grottoes or sea caves where fur seals and night herons are regularly found resting on the shady ledges.  For many, this is the only opportunity to see the Galapagos fur seal, once thought to be on the verge of extinction.

PM: Rábida
Rábida Island is unique because the red color of the rocks and sand.  The volcanic material in this island is very porous and external factors as rain, salt water, and sea breeze have acted as an oxidizing agent.
A short walk along a trail lead you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach which permits you to observe the land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mocking birds. At the lagoon there is a colony of flamingos.
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Santiago Island - Bartolome

AM: Chinese hat
This is a small islet (1 sq km) located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from north side. On the west you can see lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upward, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lions colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.

PM: Bartolome Island
A small barren island that is located across from Sullivan Bay off James Island, Bartolome has two main visitors’ sites.  The first site offers the possibility to climb to the summit of the island, from where visitors can observe a variety of volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones, lava flows, and lava tubes.  The moon like landscape provides one of the most scenic panoramas in the archipelago.  At the second site, visitors have the chance to relax on a beautiful beach, which offers great snorkelling opportunities.  Multi –coloured fish and occasionally penguins and sea turtles have been seen at the base of the tall pinnacle rock, which dominates Bartolome’s landscape.  A short walk across to Bartolome´s second beach, which swimming is strictly prohibited visitors can see white-tipped reef sharks, at a safe distance swimming along the shoreline

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Seymour – Santa Cruz

AM: North Seymour
Is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges.
Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing.

After the morning excursion you will be taken to the airport for your flight to the mainland.

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