DETAILED DAY-BY-DAY
ITINERARY:
TUESDAY
Baltra Island: Morning arrival to Baltra Island by TAME flight
and immediate transfer to the dock to board the ISABELA II. Welcome introductory briefing
and lunch.
North Seymour Island: Afternoon disembarkation (dry landing) for a walk along the
coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies,
frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. A shorter walk
is also available. Welcome Cocktail offered by the Captain. Naturalist's briefing on the
next day's activities and dinner.
WEDNESDAY
Gardner Bay (Hood Island): After breakfast, disembark (wet landing) at a white
coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches
or enjoy the beach.. There is great snorkeling in this area (snorkeling equipment is
available for passengers at no extra cost), or ride the glass-bottom boat around Gardner
or Tortuga islets.
Punta Suárez (Hood Island): Afternoon dry landing for an exciting walk on lava
terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses (May -
December) and the famous blowhole. A shorter walk is also available. For those not
planning to walk there will be panga (dinghy) ride along the coastline of Punta Suárez.
Naturalist's briefing and dinner.
THURSDAY
Point Cormorant (Floreana Island): After breakfast, disembark at Point
Cormorant (wet landing) for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a
brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. There is great
snorkeling from the beach or near by, at the Devil's Crown. Those who do not snorkel can
enjoy a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Lunch on board.
Post Office Bay (Floreana Island): Wet landing at the historical Post Office Bay to
learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of
pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea
lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galapagos penguin. Naturalist's
briefing and dinner.
FRIDAY
Santa Cruz Island: After breakfast, disembark (dry landing) to visit the
Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant
prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then a stroll along the main street of
Puerto Ayora before driving to the highlands for lunch at a farm.
Afternoon in the highlands, visiting the Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters
Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April a visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may
be included, if weather conditions are good. Naturalist's briefing and dinner.
SATURDAY
Darwin Bay (Tower Island): Morning wet landing for an easy stroll observing
thousands of bird life, mainly frigate birds, red footed and masked boobies, gulls,
herons, finches and mockingbirds. If you wish you can continue walking over sharp lava and
uneven terrain, or just go back to the beach to enjoy swimming and snorkeling at this
beautiful natural harbor. Those most adventurous can look for Hammerhead sharks,
snorkeling along the cliffs. Lunch on board.
Prince Philip's Steps (Tower Island) :The afternoon starts with a very
interesting panga ride along the cliffs and then disembark (dry landing) on rocks for a
steep climb (90 feet) and then a leveled walk for about a mile to the other side of this
small island observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and
the short-eared owl. Naturalist's briefing and dinner.
SUNDAY
The ship's Expedition Staff will decide this morning which visit to do today:
Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island):
A magnificent landscape shows the uniqueness of the western volcanoes of the
Galápagos. We are now looking at the youngest geological features of the
archipelago, at the northern tip of the Galápagos' largest island, Isabela. This
area is part of Ecuador Volcano, where a collapsed caldera floor is revealed after a major
sinking of half of the whole volcano structure. The anchoring place lies in front of
tuff-stone layers of a parasitic cone, next to the slopes of the host volcano. Lava
intrusions, called sills and dikes, reveal the relatively recent volcanic activity of this
area. Since there is no landing site at this location, our outing will include
coastal exploration where our Naturalists will commit to explaining the dramatic geology
of the area. Wildlife here will definitely surprise everyone; after just having
crossed the Equator, this tropical area holds surprises like dolphins, whales, sea lions,
sea birds, turtles, and more. Where is all this life coming from? The answer
is the Cromwell Current; a deep submarine current that upwells right at the volcanic
platform of the western islands. These cool nutrient-rich waters attract plenty of
sea-depending species which include brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, noddy terns,
shearwaters, and the only tropical penguin on Earth, the Galápagos penguin.
Depending on sea conditions (current and visibility), we will schedule a snorkeling
outing too.
Or
Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
On the northwest of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove was in past centuries a favorite anchor
for pirates and whalers. Old graffiti is still
found on its walls. The vegetation in the area
includes the unusual Palo Santo trees. An uphill hike through palo santo forest takes guests to
the back of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water. The
view at the end of the trail is worth the climb. Darwin is one
of Isabela’s six volcanoes, a remarkable contrast to the lower islands to the east of
the archipelago. Lunch on board.
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
The afternoon brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina.
Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk.
Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of
wildlife. Having no introduced mammals,
Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas,
sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the
flightless cormorant. Naturalist’s
briefing and dinner.
MONDAY
Puerto Egas (James Island): Wet landing for a mid-length walk. Most of the
landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and
marine birds. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony
of fur-sea lions. Good snorkeling and swimming from the beach after the walk. Lunch on
board.
Bartolome Island: Disembark at Bartolome Island (dry landing) for a hike to
the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase; the view from the top is
worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock to observe
penguins, to enjoy the beach (wet landing), snorkeling and swimming from the beach, or a
ride on the glass-bottom boat. Farewell cocktail and departure briefing.
TUESDAY
After breakfast, departure to the port and airport to take the flight back to the
continent.
