AM: Suarez Point (Española Island)

This is one of the highlights of our cruise. At the moment of arrival at the pier we will be received by a welcome committee
of marine iguanas and sea lions. We will meet the biggest bird of the archipelago, the large Waved albatross, which use the
edge of the cliff to start the fly. Suarez Point seems to have everything: Nazca boobies, endemic lizards, gulls, Darwin finches,
Galapagos hawks, endemic mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and even a dramatic blow hole.

PM: Gardner Bay (Española Island)
One of the most beautiful beaches in all of Galapagos, is located on the
north-eastern coast of Española, Gardner Bay has a white sandy coral
beach giving us the chance to observe one of the biggest colonies of
Galapagos sea lions. We will see Española mockingbirds, they enjoy
flying around the visitors. After our excursion we can also snorkel from
the beach, in the shallow waters of the bay or relax and enjoy the
landscape.

AM: Punta Cormorant, Devil’s Crown (Floreana Island)

 After a wet landing, we will walk on an olivine green
sanded beach. Our walk is going from the beach through
the vegetation (white and black mangrove, holly stick,
endemic Scalesia villosa), to get the first viewpoint to look
for the famous flamingos, common stilts, white-checked
pintail ducks and other migratory birds. The other trail
goes to another beautiful white sandy beach, where the
Green Pacific Sea Turtles are come for nesting during the
breeding season. It is not permitted to walk in the water
due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand. Occa-
sionally we observe small reef sharks along the shoreline.
Deep water snorkel is another optional activity around the
Devil’s Crown which is a volcanic natural formation where
we have the chance to see white-tipped reef sharks, reef
fish such as parrot, trumped, puffer, king angel, surgeon
fish and occasionally Galapagos sea lions.

 PM: Post office bay & Baroness Lookout (Floreana Island)
 

Located on the north side of Floreana, the Post Office Bay
was named because in 1973 Captain James Colnett
installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post
office for sailors passing through, who would take letters
with them back to their destinations. Today, visitors
continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards
inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to
the letter destination, will take it back for free.
We will have a wet landing on a greenish beach for a short
walk to visit the Post Office Barrel, we will walk back to the
beach for snorkeling in the shallow waters, good opportu-
nity to observe marine turtles and sting rays.
Our next optional activity will be in the Baroness Bay,
where we can kayak and see a great scenery with mangrove
trees and volcanic natural formations.

AM: Santa Fe Island

We will have a wet landing on one of the two white sand beaches where a big colony of sea lions are in the area with alfa males fighting to get a harem, there is an interior path through the island with an endemic
cactus forest (Barringtonensis). Santa Fe land iguanas (Conolophus pallidus), Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snakes, rice rats (one of the few endemic Galapagos
rodents), a variety of finches and one of the four mockingbird species of the archipelago. Two more additional activities kayak or snorkeling off the zodiac in the turquoise water, good view for sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, sea lions and white-tipped reef sharks and colorful fish.

PM: South Plazas

There are two Plaza Islets (north and south) located east of Santa Cruz Island. After a dry landing, the path is going along an impressive cactus forest where colorful yellow land iguanas live, it is estimated a population around 300 individuals; during the dry season they survive on fruits and flowers of the opuntia cacti.
South Plaza Island is the only place on Galapagos where we find hybrid iguanas (sea and land), with very sharp claws making easy to climb up to reach the fruits of the cacti. During the cool dry season walking along the edge of the cliff we observe
red-billed tropicbirds, blue footed and Nazca boobies, brown pelicans, swallow tailed gulls and frigates flying around. At the end of this path, we find a bachelor sea lion colony area; at the same time the greenish and yellowish vegetation (sesuvium edmonstonei plant) changes color creating a bright red landscape.

AM: North Seymour Island

One of the uplifted islands of Galapagos: North Seymour, is a small flat island has the perfect conditions for a nesting site for the two species of frigate birds (great and magnificent) that coexist in the Islands. Frigate birds are the only marine sea birds in Galapagos that they lost the capability to plunge in the wáter because they don’t produce enough oil to cover all of their plumage and that enables them to float; for this reason they need to steel the food from the others seabirds, getting the “pirates of the air” nickname. Here is the only place all year around the courting dance, especially males displaying the bright red gular sack to get a female attention.  Blue footed boobies, land iguanas, sea lions, swallow tailed gulls, Darwin finches and lava lizards we will encounter along the trail of our excursion, and on
a lucky day, you might even come across a Galapagos Snake.

PM: Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island)

After a wet landing on a white coral sandy beach which is one of the most important nesting areas for Green Sea Turtles they arrive usually after 6 pm, the trail is about 500 meters long divided in two sections, at the end of the trail
we can find a small brackish lagoon where usually flamingos and shore birds such as whimbrels, black necked stilts, plovers, herons, white cheeked pintail, sandpipers, sander-lings, are feeding. Also Darwin finches, yellow warblers and
marine iguanas. After we come back to our landing spot, we will have an outstanding chance to submerge in tropical waters.

 

AM: Mosquera Islet
Wet Landing, Mosquera Islet is located between North Seymour and Baltra Island. This flat, sandy island is formed by a geologi-
cal uplift. A colony of sea lions are present here. It is also an excellent site to observe shorebirds such as herons and lava gulls.
There is no trail on the islet, however the visitor can enjoy the open area. Most of the islet is covered with sand and barren lava
rock. Very little Sesuvium portulacastrum plants grow on the sand.
After the visit we will sail to Baltra Island for your return flight to mainland.

** This itinerary is subject to change without notice; due to seasonal changes,
weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations. **