Day 1
Friday
Today we will take flight from Ecuador's mainland to Baltra. Upon arrival we will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the Journey I to begin our Galapagos adventure.
Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz
Today we will visit los Gemelos (or twins) a pair of craters approximately 30 meters deep located on either side of the road to Baltra. The holes could be created because of a volcanic explosion or because of magma chambers inside earth.
Highlands, Santa Cruz Island
We disembark to board a bus taking us to the Highlands of Santa Cruz. Here we visit the native forest and the twin craters. The island is a good place to view the giant tortoise in their natural habitat and we have the opportunity to visit one of the island’s lava tunnels.
Day 2
Saturday
White Tipped Reef Shark Canal, Isabela Island
Today we will visit the "tintoreras”, or small islands in front of Puerto Villamil coast. Here we will be able to see herons, Galapagos penguins, and sea lions as they play along the shore. The White-tipped reef sharks are fairly common in the archipelago. Their name in Spanish is Tintorera, thus the name of this site as they are always found here resting in the shallow waters.
Wetlands & Muro de las Lagrimas (the Wall of Tears), Isabela Island
The wetlands adjacent to Puerto Villamil contain a series of nine trails that allow visitors to enjoy its natural beauty. Play del Amour (Lovers’ Beach) is a popular site where marine iguanas, pelicans, and blue-footed boobies can all be spotted.
Sierra Negra, Isabela Island
Today we visit the active Sierra Negra Volcano.
Day 3
Sunday
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island
Today we drop anchor in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here we will visit the islands’ Interpretation Center that opened in 1999 for a more complete understanding of their history.
Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island
We explore this beautiful bay by dingy while Galapagos hawks soar overhead and schools of pompanos and dorados can be seen swimming underneath the boat. The ride continues to a red mangrove cove passing through red root and green leaf breeding grounds for fish and sea turtles. Here we can also see brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, and sea lions.
Day 4
Monday
Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
Urbina Bay is located on the central-west coast of Isabela Island at the foothills of Volcanoes Alcedo and Darwin. After a wet landing on the dark, volcanic sand beach we will walk further inland with a good possibility of seeing giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The inland is also an excellent nesting ground for the large and colorful land iguanas while flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, and penguins can all be seen along the rocky shoreline. Afterward we have the opportunity to swim or snorkel.
Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
On the northwest of Isabela is the secluded Tagus Cove that was in past centuries a preferred anchor for pirates and whalers. Old graffiti is still found on its walls as evidence of its earlier visitors. Here the uphill trail leads to a high point with an impressive view of Darwin Crater Lake and the lava flows of Darwin Volcano. The vegetation in the area includes the Palo Santo trees which remain leafless until the short wet season occurring in March or April.
Day 5
Tuesday
Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island
Today we visit the archipelago’s youngest island, Fernandina. This island has the most active volcano in the Galapagos with eruptions occurring every few years. Punta Espinoza has a fascinating combination of barrenness and abundance of wildlife that we will observe during a brief one-mile walk. The island has no introduced animals and therefore has a very unique environment with a high density of marine iguanas, sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, and Galapagos hawks. The lava terrain on the island calls for good walking shoes.
Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
Vicente Roca Point is made up of two separate coves and located on the north-western coast of Isabela. Today we will be able to explore the large bay that is home to seahorses, sea turtles, and the Mola-mola (sunfish). There will be an opportunity to snorkel and swim.
Day 6
Wednesday
Puerto Egas (James Bay), Santiago Island
We make a wet landing on the black sand beach of Puerto Egas which was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s. A walk down the shoreline takes us to grottos where we can see several colonies of fur seals. This location is ideal for watching shorebirds, while land birds are better observed inland. Before returning to our vessel we have the opportunity to swim and snorkel from the beach in search of octopuses, sea horses, star fish, and other marine life.
Rabida Island
We make a wet landing on the dark, red sand beach of Rabida Island; the color of the sand comes from the unusually high iron content in the volcanic material. This island is often considered the geographic center of the Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of the islands. Located near the beach is a salt pond that often attracts greater flamingos looking to feed on the brine shrimp in the waters. Here we can enjoy a 2-mile walk along the island’s beach to see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. There is time for an optional swim or snorkel before returning to the boat.
Day 7
Thursday
Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat)
This scenic little island gets its name from its appearance. Here we have a dry landing on a beach that is home to a small colony of sea lions. We will be on the lookout for a glimpse of then American oyster-catchers in action, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and sally light-foot crabs. This is an ideal location to enjoy snorkeling or swimming.
Bartolome Island
This island is perhaps the most photographed location in the entire archipelago. As we arrive on the island we see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. We make a dry landing and walk to the top of the island in order to see the most famous Galapagos vista: Pinnacle Rock & Santiago Island. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, but the view from the top is well worth the effort. After returning to the dingy we ride around Pinnacle Rock for our first chance to see the small Galapagos penguins. Before returning to our boat there is time for an optional swim or snorkel.
Day 8
Friday
North Seymour Island
After a dry landing enjoy a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island. This island was not formed by volcanic activity but rather uplifted boulders that can be seen across the primarily flat terrain. The site is a well known nesting site for colonies of blue-footed boobies that perform a fascinating courtship dance in more open areas. North Seymour is also home to the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird, a member of the frigate family that is known for the male’s vibrant display of red pouches in hopes of attracting a mate. On the island we will also see both endemic species of iguanas, the marine and land iguanas.
This afternoon we return to Baltra airport for our flight back to Ecuador's mainland to connect with another Yampu add-on of your choice.
Ecuador
Journey I Catamaran
Sun Deck
Top Deck
