Day 1
Monday
Today we will take flight from Ecuador's mainland to Baltra. Upon arrival we will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the Sagitta to begin our Galapagos adventure.
Charles Darwin Research Center, Santa Cruz Island
We make a dry landing to visit the Charles Darwin Station and its interpretive center. Here we witness the efforts and results of the ongoing field work conducted in the name of science. While on the island we have the chance to stroll the main street of Puerto Ayora and browse the many local handicraft shops.
Day 2
Tuesday
Punta Moreno, Isabela
Located on the southwestern side of Isabela, Punta Moreno has a pristine and isolated landscape covered with black lava flows and brackish lagoons. There are a number of birds including frigates, flamingos, and pelicans.
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 3
Wednesday
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.
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.
Day 4
Thursday
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.
Punta Albemrarle
Punta Albemrarle is one of the more remote regions in the archipelago and home to the flightless cormorant and some of the largest marine iguanas.
Day 5
Friday
Espumilla Beach and Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island
Today we will visit the main attractions of Santiago Island including the holy stick forest, beautiful Espumilla beach, and the amazing landscape over Buccaneer Cove. Espumilla is an important beach for nesting marine turtles; here you can also see the white-checked pintail, finches, and mockingbirds.
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.
Day 6
Saturday
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.
Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
Enjoy a peaceful dingy ride through Black Turtle Cove, a tidal lagoon where you will see three different species of mangrove plants: red, white, and black. While passing through the cove we will be on the lookout for golden rays, sea turtles, white-tipped sharks, spotted rays, mustard rays, Pacific marine turtles, and possibly even seahorses clinging to the roots of the mangroves.
Day 7
Sunday
Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Genovesa is a collapsed volcano that ships are able to sail into through its large breached caldera and anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. Genovesa is commonly referred to as ‘bird island’ because it is home to thousands of great frigate birds, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels, and Darwin’s finches. After a wet landing we follow a trail that leads from a coral beach past tidal lagoons to a cliff’s edge for amazing views. After the walk you can enjoy snorkeling and swimming along the cliffs.
Prince Philip’s Steps, Genovesa Island
We take a dingy ride to make a dry landing on Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps. Here we follow a trail through a Palo Santo forest to an open area full of nesting birds that include masked boobies, frigates, and red-footed boobies. At the end of this trail are thousands of band-rumbed storm petrels nesting in the crevices at the cliff’s edge. We will also be able to see the short-eared owls as they hunt the storm petrels during the daylight hours.
Day 8
Monday
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.
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.
Day 9
Tuesday
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.
Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island
Cerro Dragon is on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. Here we make a dry landing and walk past a brackish water lagoon frequented by tropical birds. Further inland the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western region of the archipelago. This area is a natural nesting site for land iguanas and the arid-zone vegetation allows for regular sightings of Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galapagos flycatcher, and yellow warblers.
Day 10
Wednesday
Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island
We make a wet landing on Play de las Bachas located on the northern coastline of Santa Cruz. Here we visit a flamingo lagoon, encounter marine iguanas, various sea birds, and sea turtles. After our exploration we have the opportunity to swim and snorkel from the white sandy beach.
Today we will transfer to Baltra airport for our flight back to Ecuador's mainland to connect with another Yampu add-on of your choice.
Ecuador
Sagitta Deck
Library
Kayak
