Natural Paradise Galapagos Cruise

Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigatebirds are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. In the morning, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies, as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Rabida Island (Jervis) is one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago and a great snorkeling site. Its famous maroon sandy beach and stunning lookouts provide wonderful landscapes. Home of the famous Pinnacle Rock, Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black, and even green volcanic formations.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

A coral beach landing leads you towards a lava field as far as the eye can see. Hunt and peck over the two distinguished types of lava, pahoehoe and ‘a’a, for signs of plant life that have managed to emerge over the past 100 years since the most recent volcanic explosion. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Reached by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green contrasting beautifully with much of the dry, lower islands. The dominant vegetation in the highlands is the forest of Scalesia trees, creating the lush green color. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, El Barranco’s steep, rocky paths lead up to a high cliff-face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This white-sand coral beach heads a half-mile trail (0.75km) that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Espumilla Beach is a popular place for marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. Also known as James Bay, Egas Port is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to a coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Las Bachas is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest off the beach. Transfer to Baltra Airport

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

Located on the northwestern coast of the island and comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (sunfish) may be spotted here. No foreign species have ever invaded Fernandina Island, and therefore it is one of the world’s most pristine island ecosystems. The volcano “La Cumbre” dominates the landscape with lava fields reaching the ocean.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954, causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The plethora of birds seen during a dinghy ride along the striking rocky shores or a hike along the path through lava rock leading to tide pools and mangroves creates a birdwatcher’s delight. In the tide pools, green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can be spotted.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

The Sierra Negra Volcano boasts the largest basaltic caldera in the Galapagos at 9 x 10 km. The site offers impressive views and the opportunity to observe up to 7 species of finch and a rich display of vegetation. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. This center was created to protect animals in their first years of life from the threats of foreign species such as pigs and donkeys.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet’s summit. This small islet is a great location to view many geological formations, such as lava tubes and lava flows. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions and is home to many shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of orcas feeding on sea lions.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

In the 18th century, whalers passing through the islands placed a wooden barrel on Floreana Island for use as an unofficial mailbox. The beaches on this island are distinct: The “Green Beach,” named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the “Four Sand Beach” composed of white coral. The Champion Island, named after the whaler Andrew Champion, is a small island located just offshore Floreana Island in the southern part of the Archipelago.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

A beautiful sight on the oceanfront, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air. This site presents wonderful photographic opportunities. Gardner Bay, on the eastern side of the island, is the breeding site of nearly all of the world´s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. It has an ample white sandy beach with a myriad of sea lions, perfect for relaxing. Its rocky shores make this site a great place for diving and snorkeling.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

The name of this island means “Sea Lion Island.” This appropriately named island is ripe with noisy, frolicking, jolly sea lions who will welcome you to their home with open, well, fins. This island also offers great snorkeling opportunities as well as the chance to see blue-footed and Nazca boobies. Transfer to San Cristobal Airport

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

Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigatebirds are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. In the morning, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas.

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

Rabida Island (Jervis) is one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago and a great snorkeling site. Its famous maroon sandy beach and stunning lookouts provide wonderful landscapes. A trail of stairs leads to the summit of the volcano, boasting one of the best views of the islands. The beach is perfect for snorkeling and possible sightings of the Galapagos penguin.

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

Hunt and peck over the two distinguished types of lava, pahoehoe and ‘a’a, for signs of plant life that have managed to emerge over the past 100 years since the most recent volcanic explosion. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.

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

Los Gemelos, or the Twin Craters, are located opposite each other on both sides of the road leading from Puerto Ayora to Baltra. The name is only figurative; not real craters, these formations were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers. The view is breathtaking.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling
• Meal:Breakfast
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, El Barranco’s steep, rocky paths lead up to a high cliff-face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to palo santo vegetation as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path are tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Espumilla Beach is a popular place for marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The crabs attract the hunting herons dancing predator and prey. Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. The trail leads to a coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos fur sea lions bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkeling site.

• Activity:Walking, Wildlife watching, Dinghy Ride, Short Hike, Snorkeling, Swim
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins

Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Las Bachas is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest off the beach.

• Activity:Wildlife watching. Dinghy Ride. Short Hike. Snorkeling. Swim.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins