Morning:
Spend the entire day on Genovesa (TOWER) Island, one of the most spectacular places in Galapagos for bird species. Land at Prince Philip’s Steps, where red-footed boobies nest in palo santo trees, Nazca boobies nest near the trail, and storm petrels gather in large numbers in an open lava field. With luck, you may see the elusive short-eared owl.
BBQ lunch on the sun deck.
Afternoon:
Chose to paddle from a kayak or stand-up paddle board and explore the cliffs. Look for the red-billed tropic bird hiding in the crevices or snorkel in deeper water from the Zodiac. Land at Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tide pools. Enter a forest of Optuntia cactus and mangroves where colonies of great frigatebirds nest, the males inflating their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead. Chose to relax on the beach or swim with sea lions in these northern warmer waters.
Evening:
Briefing followed by our dinner.
TUESDAY
Morning
Today we visit Las
Bachas, (Spanish for barges) on
the northern side of Santa Cruz.
Explore the long stretch of a white sand
beach and the interior lagoons populated
by greater flamingo, then take the
opportunity for some wonderful
snorkeling from the beach.
Lunch aboard ship.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, step shore on
Cerro Dragon (Dragon
Hill) for a majestic view of the bay and
the island landscape covered in opuntia
cactus, palo santo and muyuyo (Cordia
letea). The trail also offers excellent
opportunities to see Darwin’s finches,
Galapagos flycatchers, yellow warblers,
Audubon shearwater, as well as the
endemic land iguanas, that were once
part of the Station’s breeding program.
In the saltwater lagoon, pink flamingos
feed alongside other birds such as
stilts, pintail ducks and sandpipers.
Evening:
Briefing and dinner, and sail toward
the western islands and cross the
equator for the second time.
WEDNESDAY
Morning:
This morning we visit
Punta Vicente Roca on a Zodiac
ride offering an incredible view of the
tuff walls, where we can enter the
wave-sculpted cave. There is an
excellent chance to snorkel here and
find penguins and sea turtles that
frequent this area.
Lunch on board as we sail through the
Bolivar Channel.
Afternoon:
Then take a seat on deck to view the
dramatic scenery and watch for whales
and dolphins riding the bow wave, and
occasionally the Mola Mola, an odd
looking giant sun fish. Disembark at
Urbina Bay on ISABELA
Island, where four miles of coastal
seabed were exposed due to a dramatic
uplift during a volcanic eruption in
1954. See the remnants of coral
skeletons, some of them waist-high, and
keep an eye out for the very large and
colorful Galapagos land iguanas, as well
as marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches,
brown pelicans, flightless cormorants,
and the occasional giant tortoise.
Evening:
Briefing and dinner. A sky full of
stars beckons to go on deck and observe
the galaxy.
THURSDAY
Morning:
This morning’s stop is at
Punta Espinoza on FERNANDINA,
the youngest and most pristine Island in
Galapagos, with no introduced animals.
Recent lava flows formed by an active
volcano stretch their way around the
coast. Observe sea lion harems with
resident bulls carefully guarding their
territory, and hundreds of marine
Iguanas, the largest colony in
Galapagos, basking in the sun along the
rugged shoreline. Out on the point, the
Flightless Cormorants build their nests
close to shore since they lost their
ability to fly. There is a chance to
snorkel here with large sea turtles that
frequent this area before returning to
the ORIGIN.
Lunch aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Go ashore on Tagus Cove,
a favorite anchorage for
pirates and whalers over the centuries.
Sections of the rocky cliffs are
covered with graffiti dating back to the
1800s. An uphill hike leads to a
saltwater lagoon and a scenic overlook
with a spectacular view of the ocean,
lava fields and volcanic formations.
Take advantage of the secluded cove and
explore the shoreline by kayak or stand
up paddle board in search of Galapagos
penguins, boobies, pelicans and other
seabirds.
Evening:
Biefing and dinner as we cross the
Equator for the last time.
FRIDAY
Morning:
This morning, disembark on
RABIDA (Jervis), a
small Island considered the geographic
center of Galapagos because its volcanic
rocks are the most diversified in the
archipelago. The dark red color of the
beach comes from the high iron content
in the volcanic stones. Follow the
trail to a saltwater lagoon where
greater flamingos migrate, keeping an
eye out for marine iguanas,
mockingbirds, yellow warblers and
Darwin’s finches. Afterwards, do not
miss the opportunity to snorkel with a
colony of sea lions and rays.
Lunch on board.
Afternoon:
Enjoy a Zodiac ride at
Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove)
through a series of coves and inlets
surrounded by mangroves. View pairs of
mating sea turtles (Sept to Feb),
white-tipped reef sharks and golden
cow-nosed rays.
Evening:
Captain’s Farwell cocktail party and
dinner as well as a special slide show
presentation by your guides.
SATURDAY
Morning:
Disembark at Puerto Ayora,
SANTA CRUZ Island, the social
hear of the Galapagos, with a population
of 24,000. Travel by bus to the
highlands, passing through all seven
vegetation zones found in Galapagos.
Visit Rancho El Manzanillo, a
privately-owned hacienda where giant
tortoises roam in their natural
habitat. Stop at the lava tunnels at El
Mirador, the largest in the archipelago,
and visit Los Gemelos, (The
Twins), a pair of large craters.
Lunch on board.
Afternoon:
Visit the Centro de
Crianza Fausto Llerena
(formerly known as the Charles Darwin
Research Station). Visit the tortoise
corals and the breeding center with
hatchlings and miniature tortoises that
will be repatriated when grown. Visit
the new exhibit honoring Lonesome
George, a worldwide icon of conservation
as the last surviving tortoise from
Pinta Island that tragically died of
natural causes. We stop at a local
chocolate shop to learn how high-quality
Arriba cacao is produced in Ecuador.
Stroll through town to shop for
souvenirs or stop at an internet café or
museum.
Or, if you prefer an more active afternoon, we can
arrange for kayaking at Punta Estrada or
a bicycle ride (additional charges
apply).
Evening:
Dinner on board or, if you wish,
remain ashore for dinner on your own.
Zodiac shuttles from ORIGIN to the main
dock will be offered throughout the
evening.
SUNDAY
Morning:
Travel by bus to the
Interpretation Center on San Cristobal
to gain a more complete understanding of
the natural and human history of the
Islands. Afterwards, spend time in port
before heading to the airport for your
flight back to the mainland.