M/C EcoGalaxy Catamaran

AM: Gardner Bay / Islote Gardner / Osborn Islet

Gardner Beach is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and interesting beaches to visit in the Galapagos. Its fine coral sand and turquoise water give it a totally tropical appearance, which contrasts with the presence of sea lions basking on the beach. You will have the opportunity to walk along the beach and learn about the biology of sea lions and other endemic species, such as the Española mockingbird, marine iguanas, and Galapagos hawks.

PM: Suarez Point

This rocky trail is one of the most amazing nature walks you can do in the Galápagos Islands. From the moment you set foot on the island and all the way along the trail, the amount and diversity of fauna is truly amazing. Sea lions and marine iguanas will be the first ones welcoming us, followed by large colonies of sea birds, including Nazca and Blue-footed boobies, gulls, and tropicbirds. At the end of the trail, we will visit a colony of waved albatross (April to January), the largest bird in the islands and one of the most interesting because of its powerful flight and elaborate courtship. Waved albatross only nest at Española, so this is the only place where you will see them at close range.

• Activity:Hiking, Birdwatching, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: Floreana is famous for the tales of German settlers and the baroness during the late 1920’s and 30 ‘s. Assassinations, disappearances, and other mysteries are the ingredients of this fascinating story. Post office bay was often used by whalers to anchor their ships and go up to the highlands to get freshwater and tortoises. Most boats visiting the Galapagos had to come to this place sooner or later, so a system of mail was established more than 200 years ago: a barrel near the beach became the way to leave messages to other ships and also to the outside world. This mail system is still in use and will allow you to send postcards from the Galapagos to the outside world. Aside from a small, beautiful beach, the area is great for dinghy tours to look for sea lions, green sea turtles, shorebirds, small sharks, and, with some luck, Galapagos penguins.

PM: Punta Cormorant is located in the north of Floreana, and it is known for its large coastal lagoon with American flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, black-necked stilts, and other shorebirds. There is a beautiful white sand beach, which is an important nesting ground for green sea turtles, where we can also see rays and reef sharks. In recent years, a small group of blue-footed boobies has started to breed right by the trail. This is also a great trail day to look at endemic plants.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: Santa Fe Island, nestled in one of the most stunning bays in the Galapagos, boasts towering prickly-pear cacti and ancient lava formations. Its white-sand beach and turquoise waters are home to a large sea lion colony basking under the sun. As you follow the trail, look for the endemic Santa Fe land iguana and, if lucky, a Galapagos hawk perched atop a cactus scanning for prey. Along the way, Darwin’s finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, and lava lizards are commonly seen, making this hike a true wildlife experience.

PM: Of the two twin islands, only South Plazas is open to visitors, while North Plazas remains a scientific research site. Despite its small size, South Plazas is teeming with wildlife. Upon landing, you’ll find land iguanas lounging beneath Opuntia cacti, waiting for fallen fruit. A large sea lion colony dominates the shore, where playful pups explore tide pools while massive bulls defend their territory. The trail leads to a dramatic cliffside, offering breathtaking ocean views where frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, and swallow-tailed gulls soar. A blanket of reddish succulents covering the island adds to its striking beauty.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM/PM: The Charles Darwin Station is a nonprofit organization that has been working for decades together with the Galapagos National Park to preserve the biodiversity of these unique islands. During this visit, you will learn about the projects that both institutions carry out together to protect the native species and eradicate the invasive ones that are threatening the Galapagos environment. One of the most important and emblematic projects has been reproducing giant tortoises in captivity. The visit is mostly outdoors in a beautiful, dry native forest with giant cactus and many other interesting native plants. It is also a fantastic place to find several endemic Darwin finches, as well as flycatchers and mockingbirds.

Then, transfer to the airport to take your flight back to continental Ecuador.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.

AM: Moreno Point is a magical place with extensive lava fields that look lifeless at first sight. Once inland, scattered brackish lagoons form an oasis of life where you can find flamingoes, gallinules, ducks, and herons. Along the shore, we will look for penguins, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, oystercatchers, and other shore birds.

PM: Elizabeth Bay is a beautiful, sheltered bay surrounded by large mangroves and barren lava fields. There is no trail here, so you will take a dinghy tour to explore many channels, pools, and coves teeming with life. This is one of the best locations on the islands to see Galapagos penguins, but don’t expect to see thousands of them, as the entire population of the islands is only about 3.000 of them.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: Urbina Bay is known for the dramatic uplifting that happened here during the 1950s. A large portion of the coast was pushed up, exposing many hectares of previously submerged land. Look carefully along the trail, and you will find small shells and corals, proof that the area was underwater more than sixty years ago. The trail will allow seeing land iguanas and, during certain seasons, giant tortoises. Galapagos hawks nest in the area and are often seen flying or perched on the trees.

PM: Tagus Cove is one of the places Charles Darwin visited during his exploration of the Galapagos Islands. A trail will take you through dry Palo Santo forests where you can see Darwin finches and mockingbirds. You will get great views of Darwin’s Lake and the large volcanoes of northern Isabela.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: Located at the base of an imposing volcano (the most active in the Galapagos Islands) this site is one of the jewels of the Galapagos National Park. As soon as you disembark, you will be surrounded by hundreds of marine iguanas, as this is the largest colony for the species. Sea lions bask on the beaches while their pups play in tide pools.

PM: Surrounded by some of the tallest cliffs in the Galapagos, Vicente Roca Point is a great location to observe spectacular landscapes and interesting volcanic features. There is no trail here but you will take a dinghy tour along the shore to get a closer view of pelicans, flightless cormorants, sea turtles, boobies, Galapagos fur seal and marine iguanas. The area is also known to be a good location for whales and dolphins

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: Despite its name, there is no “port” at Puerto Egas, but you might see a few remains of the last attempts to colonize the island during the 60s. The trail goes along the coastline, which is rich in wildlife, with marine iguanas basking in the sun everywhere, Galapagos sea lions, herons, oystercatchers, and many shorebirds. At the end of the trail, an area called “the grottos” is home to a small colony of the endemic Galapagos fur seal, much more difficult to see at close range than its cousin.

PM: Rabida is a small island famous for its reddish lava rocks (rich in iron), which give it a unique look. The beach is also red and hosts a small colony of sea lions. There is a small saltwater lagoon where we will see ducks and stilts, and sometimes flamingoes. The trail will take you inland to get beautiful views of the beach and the lagoon. Look for Darwin finches, flycatchers, and mockingbirds.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM/PM: Black Turtle Cove gets its name from the abundance of green sea turtles, locally known as: “Tortugas negras”. There is no landing here so you will be doing a boat tour on the dinghies, exploring shallow channels and small coves surrounded by beautiful mangrove forests. Reef sharks, sea turtles, and several species of rays inhabit this beautiful area, which is considered an important mating area for turtles and a nursery for several species of sharks. Herons, pelicans, and boobies are also common here as they prey on schools of anchovies.

Then, transfer to the airport to take your flight back to continental Ecuador.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.

AM: Named for its distinctive cone shape, Chinese Hat is a small islet separated from Santiago by a narrow channel, forming one of Galápagos’ most picturesque bays. Its turquoise waters, coral-sand beaches, and volcanic rocks create a stunning landscape. A coastal trail leads you through a sea lion colony, while on the lava rocks, you may spot penguins resting. This site perfectly blends breathtaking scenery with the Galápagos’ remarkable wildlife, making for an unforgettable experience.

PM: Rabida is a small island famous for its reddish lava rocks (rich in iron), which give it a unique look. The beach is also red and hosts a small colony of sea lions. There is a small saltwater lagoon where we will see ducks, stilts, and sometimes flamingoes. The trail will take you inland to get beautiful views of the beach and the lagoon. Look for Darwin finches, flycatchers, and mockingbirds. In the cliffs along the coast, you can find Nazca and blue-footed boobies, brown noddy, herons, and the two species of sea lions: Galapagos and fur seals.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: This island is home to large colonies of both magnificent and great frigatebirds, and you can see them displaying their red balloons to attract a female. Blue-footed boobies nest in the ground and perform their famous dance in the open areas, while swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Land iguanas are common inland, while their marine cousins bask in the rocks by the sea, close to sea lions, which often like to body surf in the waves.

PM: Embark on a pleasant journey into the verdant highlands, where a bus ride leads you through lush forested landscapes home to Galapagos Giant Tortoises. These impressive creatures, reaching up to 300 kg/600 lbs, can often be seen peacefully grazing or resting in freshwater ponds. The highlands are also home to a variety of bird species rarely found in the lowlands. Depending on your itinerary, you may have the opportunity to visit a lava tunnel and learn about the volcanic forces that shaped these remarkable islands.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay at Genovesa Island. The cliffs facing the sea are made of very fragile, fractured lava, making it the ideal place for storm petrels to build their colonies, which attracts an important population of short-eared owls preying on the nesting birds. Red-footed and Nazca boobies are abundant along the trail. At the base of the cliffs, you can see Galapagos fur seals resting in shaded areas, as well as several species of seabirds.

PM: Genovesa is a favorite island for birdwatchers as it is home to very large colonies of seabirds. From the minute you set foot on the beach, you will be amazed by the noise of hundreds of boobies, gulls, and frigatebirds flying over your heads, perched in the bushes, or nesting on the sandy terrain. The trail is an ultimate wildlife experience as there are animals everywhere: sea lions and marine iguanas near the sea; night herons, lava and swallow-tailed gulls, Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, and many more species inland.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: This hike is a journey into understanding the birth of these volcanic islands. You will walk in a very well-preserved flow of Pahoehoe lava, which will give you endless opportunities to see the delicate textures of these types of lavas which only appear in a few places throughout the world. At first sight, the barren landscape looks completely deprived of life, but look carefully for pioneer plants, lava lizards, and small birds. By the shore, you can find penguins, pelicans, and oystercatchers.

PM: Bartolome is one of the most iconic islands in Galapagos, renowned for its dramatic volcanic landscape and the famous Pinnacle Rock. Nestled beside a peach-colored sand beach, this island is one of the few places where you can spot penguins without traveling to remote Isabela and Fernandina. The hike to the summit offers breathtaking views of a lunar-like terrain dotted with volcanic cones, with stunning panoramas of Sullivan Bay and Pinnacle Rock. From the top, the vast beauty of the archipelago unfolds before you, creating a truly unforgettable experience.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM/PM: Located on the outskirts of Puerto Baquerizo, this center is dedicated to the history of human presence in the Galapagos. From the times of the early Spanish explorers to the present times, including illustrious visitors such as Charles Darwin, this permanent exhibition will take you through the dangers and struggles of the first settlers trying to survive the harsh Galapagos environment.

Then, transfer to the airport to take your flight back to continental Ecuador.

• Activity:Hiking, Exploring.
• Meal:Breakfast.