La Pinta Galapagos Cruise

After landing at Baltra Airport, we drive to the Itabaca Channel to take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. After lunch, we drive to a nearby reserve that is one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, munching on grass and leaves, and wallowing in small pools.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching
• Meal:Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

After breakfast, a panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, located off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we can observe blue-footed boobies diving into the water, reef sharks, and frigates. The tiny island of Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance, reminiscent of a Chinese hat. This islet, formed only fairly recently, makes a beautiful visit as one explores the wildlife along its 400-meter long trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped white sandy beach.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Panga Ride
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

This morning, a Galapagos icon awaits Bartolome Island. A great way to start the day, with a steep climb up a wooden staircase: the view from the top is worth the effort! After lunch, we board the pangas to land at Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago, a white coral sand beach great for swimming and snorkeling, and with a trail over a lava field that flowed here less than 100 years ago.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

In the morning, we begin our exploration of this island with an easy stroll to observe marine and land birds. There is an optional walk over sharp lava and uneven terrain for dramatic views. The afternoon starts with a very interesting panga ride along the cliffs before we disembark for a short but steep climb up a wooden staircase.

• Activity:Walking. Wildlife watching. Snorkeling. Kayaking. Panga Ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland. Baltra’s flat substrate (due to its uplifted origin) is the reason why the island was chosen back in the 1940s as the location to build an airport. Baltra is one of the gateways to the Galapagos Islands where Seymour Airport is located, also known as Baltra Airport. This small island is also known by the local name of South Seymour.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching
• Meal:Breakfast
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Our adventure begins with a morning flight to Baltra Island and an immediate transfer to the dock to board Yacht La Pinta. The turquoise waters of the channel here contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline, while a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus beyond, populated by yellow-grey land iguanas.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching
• Meal:Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

We take the dinghy over to this idyllic sandy-white beach populated by colonies of sea lions. Galapagos hawks are often easily observed, perched atop salt bushes. At Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding center for highly endangered giant tortoises in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristobal mockingbird, and the San Cristobal lava lizard, both island

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling, Panga Ride
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

We land at the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island this morning. The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline; we can observe frigates, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions. In the afternoon following lunch on board, a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes us to Cerro Brujo’s expansive, white coral beach, great for walking, with rewarding bird-watching featuring seabirds and shorebirds.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Panga Ride
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Our morning outing at Punta Suárez provides an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April – January), boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous “blowhole” lava formation. In the afternoon, we set down at this beautiful, white coral beach for a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, or enjoy the beach.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Disembarking in the morning, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the captive rearing program for the giant tortoises. Here we witness the efforts and results of Galapagos fieldwork and study done in the name of science. We transfer via bus across Santa Cruz Island and a short ferry ride to Baltra. Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching
• Meal:Breakfast
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Our adventure begins with a morning flight to Baltra Island and an immediate transfer to the dock to board Yacht La Pinta. Following an afternoon disembarkation, we enjoy a walk along the coast and the interior of this beautiful flat island, observing numerous bird colonies as well as sea lions and land iguanas.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling
• Meal:Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Since there is no landing site at this location, the coastal exploration is by panga, while the naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area, with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. In the afternoon, we visit the youngest and most pristine island of the archipelago, Fernandina, one of many visitors’ all-time favorites. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness and abundant wildlife.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Panga Ride
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

After breakfast, we disembark at Urbina Bay, on the western side of Isabela Island, the result of an uplifting of the ocean floor. Here you can see corals, shells, and large and very colorful Galapagos land iguanas, as well as (occasionally) giant tortoises. On the northwest of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove provided a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries, and today makes a great visitor site.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Panga Ride
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

In the morning, we disembark at Rabida Island’s red-colored beach. A stroll along the beach allows us to observe marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach. The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts the fascinating landscapes of Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill).

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Panga Ride
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

The morning visit heads to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest. After lunch, we head up to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island by vehicle. This is a great place to look for the emblematic Darwin’s Finches and the endemic Scalesia trees.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Panga Ride
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

After breakfast, we land at Post Office Bay (Floreana Island) to visit the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Panga rides along the maze of channels on Floreana’s north shore can also be enjoyed. Before disembarking at Punta Cormorant we can snorkel or ride our glass-bottom boat along the coast of an extinct cone called “Champion Islet”.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Snorkeling
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland. Baltra’s flat substrate (due to its uplifted origin) is the reason why the island was chosen back in the 1940s as the location to build an airport. Baltra is one of the gateways to the Galapagos Islands where Seymour Airport is located, also known as Baltra Airport. This small island is also known by the local name of South Seymour.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching
• Meal:Breakfast
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins