Private Charter - Western Islands

Arrive at Baltra Airport, where your guide welcomes you and escorts you to a bus heading to the canal. Take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island, then continue by bus on a scenic drive to Los Gemelos (sunken craters) and admire breathtaking highland views. Visit a Tortoise Reserve to observe these incredible creatures in their natural environment before enjoying a delicious lunch.

Explore the Charles Darwin Station and learn about the tortoise breeding program while seeing tortoises at different stages of life. If time allows, stroll through the charming streets of Puerto Ayora and soak in the local atmosphere. Then board a dinghy to your yacht, where the friendly crew welcomes you onboard. Enjoy a delightful dinner and settle into your cabin as the yacht begins motoring toward its first destination.

Sights: Los Gemelos, Tortoise Reserve, town of Puerto Ayora, Charles Darwin Station, beautiful landscape of the highlands
Activity level: Easy
Activities: Walking at the Tortoise Reserve & Charles Darwin Station
Wildlife you may see: Tortoises, endemic birds, sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, various marine life off docks

Start your day with breathtaking views of Sombrero Chino (“Chinese Hat”), a small volcanic island near the southeastern tip of Santiago. After a wet landing on its pristine white sand beach, take a guided 1.5-hour walk and encounter the island’s unique wildlife. Return to Beluga and prepare for your first snorkeling adventure in the canal, where you spot sea lions, reef sharks, penguins, rays, and a vibrant array of tropical fish. Enjoy a delightful lunch onboard as the yacht cruises toward Rábida Island, known for its striking red beaches.

Upon arrival, set out on a 1.5-hour guided walk to observe flamingos, nesting pelicans, marine iguanas, and a bachelor colony of sea lions. Continue with an invigorating snorkeling session along Rábida’s colorful coast. Return to the yacht, unwind over a delicious dinner, and listen as your guide recaps the day’s highlights and outlines the next adventure. Motor overnight to your next destination.

Sights: Beautiful landscapes of Sombrero Chino and Rabida, various wildlife and viewpoint
Activity level: Easy - moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas, lava lizards, sharks, rays, sea turtles, penguins, flamingos

Awake to the stunning vistas of Isabela Island’s southern tip, where the charming town of Puerto Villamil awaits. After breakfast, a dinghy ride takes you to Isabela’s main dock, followed by a scenic bus journey to a trailhead where you will begin your hike to the sulphur mines, which are a part of a network of Sierra Negra, one of Galapagos’s most active volcanoes. The landscape gradually transforms, where steaming fumaroles release sulphur-rich gases from deep
within the Earth, offering a fascinating glimpse into the island’s volcanic heart.

After, return to the yacht for lunch before heading back to Villamil. Spend the afternoon visiting the tortoise breeding center, strolling around the flamingo lagoon, and enjoying free time to explore this coastal town at your leisure. After, savor a delicious dinner onboard while your guide recaps the day’s highlights and previews tomorrow’s adventures.

Sights: Amazing sights of the sulphur mines, the quaint town of Puerto Villamil, tortoises at breeding center, flamingo lagoon
Activity level: Moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking (opt.)
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, various endemic birds, marine iguanas, vermilion fly catcher, flamingos, penguins, rays, reef sharks, tropic fish
 

Start your morning with a hearty breakfast before embarking on a scenic dinghy ride around rocks and islets of Western Isabela, home to an array of wildlife
including cormorants, playful sea lions, and Galápagos penguins. Next, explore Punta Moreno with a 1.5-hour guided walk across striking black lava fields, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanoes and unique geological features. Return to Beluga to gear up for your first snorkel of the day, where you might encounter sea turtles, seahorses, rays, sharks, and colorful tropical fish.

After a refreshing lunch onboard, continue to Elizabeth Bay. A peaceful dinghy ride takes you through a lush lagoon, where mangroves create a serene sanctuary for sea turtles, rays, penguins, and other marine life. Conclude your day with a delicious dinner and a recap on the day’s highlights. Motor through the night to your next destination.

Sights: Stunning landscapes of Western Isabela, rock and islets teaming with life, Punta Moreno and Elizabeth Bay.
Activity level: Easy - moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Tortoises, sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas, lava lizards, sea turtles, penguins, rays, reef sharks

Awaken to the sights of Urbina Bay, a fascinating location that emerged from the ocean floor in 1954, leaving remnants of the seabed visible to this day. Embark
on a guided walk along the trail, where you’ll encounter giant tortoises and vibrant land iguanas in their natural habitat. Afterward, enjoy a snorkel directly from the beach. Return to Beluga for a delicious lunch before continuing your journey.

In the afternoon, arrive at Tagus Cove, a historic harbor once favored by whalers and pirates, who left their marks by carving names into the cliffs and rocks. Here, take a hike to Darwin’s Crater, a striking saltwater lake surrounded by breathtaking views of the island's volcanic landscapes (approximately a 1- hour walk). Afterward, prepare for an exhilarating dinghy ride or snorkeling session in the cove’s tranquil waters, teeming with marine life. Conclude the day with a satisfying dinner aboard the yacht, followed by a debrief on the day's discoveries.

Sights: Unique sights and remnants of the seabed on Urbina Bay, the historic harbor of Tagus Cove
Activity level: Easy - moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, tortoises, land and marine iguanas, various endemic birds, various marine life

During the night, motor to Fernandina Island, the youngest and most westerly of the Galapagos Islands, renowned for its active volcanoes. After breakfast, take a dinghy to Punta Espinoza, home to large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galapagos hawks, and the non-venomous Galapagos snake. Enjoy a leisurely guided walk along flat trails. Return to the yacht to gear up for an exciting snorkel in the bay.

After lunch onboard, the journey continues back to Isabela Island, arriving at Punta Vincente Roca. Known for its towering cliffs, breathtaking vistas, and a hidden cave, this location offers an unforgettable snorkeling experience. Glide along the cliffs and mouth of the cave towards a calm bay where you may encounter resting sea turtles, flightless cormorants, and a variety of marine life. Back on board, change for a scenic circumnavigation of the cliffs, providing up-close views of the dramatic coastline. End the day with a special celebration of crossing the Equator, followed by a delightful dinner.

Sights: Fernandina and its beautiful landscape and marine iguana colonies, Punta Vincente Roca, crossing the equator
Activity level: Easy - moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, Galapagos Hawk, marine iguanas, Galapagos Snake, Sea turtles, flightless cormorant, penguins

Wake up to the stunning views of Santiago Island. After breakfast, take a dinghy to Puerto Egas, which offers a stunning coastal walk along rugged lava formations, leading you to some of the Galápagos' most vibrant tide pools. This site is home to a variety of wildlife, including playful fur seals lounging in grottos, oystercatchers foraging along the shore, and marine iguanas basking on the volcanic rock. Along the way, you'll see the Sugar Loaf Volcano in the distance and the remnants of an old salt mine, a glimpse into the island's past.

Return to the boat for lunch, then journey to Bartolome Island, renowned for its iconic Pinnacle Rock and breathtaking views. Ascend the stairs to marvel at the panorama, and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where you might encounter penguins, rays, sharks, and vibrant tropical fish. End your day with dinner and a debrief on board, enjoying the spectacular scenery as you sail overnight to North Seymour.

Sights: Beautiful landscapes, Pinnacle Rock and 360 views
Activity level: Moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, stairs, snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Penguins, sea lions, fur seals, endemic birds: pintail ducks, swallow-tailed gulls, tropical fish, rays, sea turtles

On your final day, before breakfast, take a dinghy ride to North Seymour, a flat island uplifted thousands of years ago that offers a fascinating glimpse into the Galápagos’ geological history. Set out on a 1.5-hour guided walk among thriving wildlife, including colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, magnificent and great frigatebirds, and playful sea lions, with the chance to spot reef sharks along the shoreline.

Return to the yacht for breakfast as you cruise toward Baltra Island, where your itinerary comes to an end. Upon arrival, you and your luggage will be transferred to the airport for your departing flight or onward travels.

Sights: Endemic bird colonies, and sea life
Activity level: Easy
Activities: dinghy ride
Wildlife you may see: Sea turtles, rays, sharks, endemic birds, great and magnificent frigate birds, blue footed boobies, various marine life