Central South & Northern Islands

Complete the customs and immigration process, then join your guide for direct transfer to the M/Y Monserrat. In the afternoon, travel inland to explore the highlands of Santa Cruz.

Journey into the highlands to see Galapagos giant tortoises roaming freely. Navigate through volcanic landscapes and enter extensive lava tunnels—some reaching more than a kilometer in length. Look for barn owls that may be resting inside the tunnels.
Activities: Hike

Walk along a striking white-coral sand beach backed by lava formations. Explore the shoreline and take in the dramatic contrast between volcanic rock and clear blue waters. Enter the water directly from the beach for a close-up encounter with sea lions, tropical fish, and possibly Galápagos penguins and marine iguanas.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddleboard, Kayak

Follow a trail across a remarkable Pahoehoe lava field. Examine unique lava textures and spot hardy plant life, lava lizards, and small land birds thriving in this harsh environment. Along the coast, watch for penguins, pelicans, and oystercatchers. Snorkel from the beach to swim alongside sea turtles, sea lions, reef sharks, and rays in the surrounding shallow waters.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

The morning starts with a visit to North Seymour Island, a spectacular showcase of the Galapagos Islands' diverse wildlife. This fairly flat island is home to a thriving population of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. The trail will walk you through a forest of low, bushy vegetation, where you'll have the opportunity to witness the fascinating courtship dance of the blue-footed boobies. The island's coastline also lets you observe sea lions and marine iguanas basking in the sun. The large frigate bird colonies are a sight, especially when the males expand their bright red throat pouches to attract mates. This is an ideal spot for birdwatching and photography. Whitetip reef sharks, colorful fish, rays, sea lions, and sea turtles inhabit the waters of North Seymour, making it one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

This Island is known for its picturesque bay and turquoise waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The island hosts a large amount of land iguanas unique to Santa Fe. Watching these magnificent creatures as you walk through the giant prickly pear cactus forest will make a unique experience. The island's calm and clear waters are ideal for spotting marine life, including sea turtles, rays, and colorful schools of fish. Santa Fe also offers a chance to see the Galapagos hawk and various endemic finches. This day offers a combination of terrestrial and marine activities as you will also do kayaking and panga rides, showcasing the diverse landscapes and wildlife the Galapagos Islands are famous for.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddleboard, Kayak

Enjoy amazing wildlife watching and interesting geological formations on this fascinating expedition. Arrive at a quiet cove on the eastern tip of San Cristobal to explore Punta Pitt. Made up of volcanic tuff substrate, it's the only site in the Galápagos where it's possible to see three species of boobies and two species of frigatebirds. Snorkel around Punta Pitt Island and spot schools of fish swimming below. On the shore admire the nesting birds and sun-bathing sea lions.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Cerro Brujo is a breathtaking white sand beach on San Cristobal Island's northern coast. This beach was one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin. It's an attractive spot for walking and enjoying the landscape, with its powdery white sand and turquoise waters. The area is home to a large sea lion colony, and the nearby lagoon often hosts several bird species, including pelicans and blue-footed boobies. The clear waters also make it an ideal spot for snorkeling, where you can encounter rich marine life.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddleboard, Kayak

Tijeretas Hill is a tourist attraction on San Cristobal Island, offering visitors a spectacular panoramic view and the opportunity to enjoy the rich marine life that surrounds the area. The name “Tijeretas” refers to the frigate birds that inhabit the region, also known as earwigs. It is one of the only places where you can watch the two species of frigate birds nesting in the same colony. 
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

In the afternoon, travel by panga to Lobos Island, where sea lions swim and rest along the rocky shore. Walk along the island’s short trail and ride a panga along the coast. Watch for nesting sea birds and a small colony of blue-footed boobies. Spot both Galapagos sea lions and fur seals resting or moving through the shallows. Snorkel in clear waters with sea lions and sea turtles. Observe marine life up close in this shallow, protected channel.
Activities: Hiking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Arrive in the morning and spend time exploring Gardner Bay. Walk the beach and snorkel in turquoise waters filled with marine life. After lunch, continue to Punta Suarez, a top site for observing nesting seabirds, including the seasonal waved albatross.

Start at a long white-sand beach where sea lions rest and seabirds circle overhead. Watch for young sea lions playing in the surf. Scan the shallows for tropical fish such as yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrotfish. Snorkel at Tortuga Rock to see large schools of colorful fish. Search for white-tipped reef sharks along the sandy bottom, and swim with curious sea lions in clear, calm water.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling, Standup Paddleboard, Kayak

Step onto a rocky landing filled with sea lions. Hike inland to observe a variety of nesting seabirds. During nesting season, spot the waved albatross. Follow the path to ocean cliffs where birds ride the wind and marine iguanas warm on black lava rocks.
Activities: Hike

Land at Punta Cormorant on Floreana. Guided walks to observe the bird and wildlife and learn about the natural history. Snorkeling excursion at Champion Islet. Visit Post Office Bay.

Visit Punta Cormorant, the only landing site on Floreana Island, and discover two amazingly different beaches: one with green sand, colored by olivine crystals, and another with white sand particles known as 'Flour Beach'. Spend the afternoon observing flamingos and other shore birds feeding in the lagoon. Spot penguins and marine iguanas at the water’s edge, and explore the lava tubes with the Galapagos CEO.

Champion Islet: Jump on in and get up close and personal with the playful sea lion colony that resides in the waters off this tiny island. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays, and colorful fish swimming by. There can be currents in this area, this activity should be done by strong swimmers only.
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Visit Post Office Bay and learn about its unique history. In the late 18th century, English whaling vessels placed a barrel here to be used as a post office. Today, the box is used mainly by tourists, who may drop off and pick up unstamped letters to be carried to far destinations. Continue the tradition – leave a letter and take one to deliver (be sure it makes it to the correct location).
Activities: Hike, Panga Ride, Standup Paddleboard, Snorkeling

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant Galapagos tortoises. Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened. This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.
Activities: Hike

In the afternoon, travel to the highlands of Santa Cruz. Visit a giant tortoise reserve and walk through volcanic landscapes. See Galapagos giant tortoises in the wild. Follow trails through the highlands and enter underground lava tunnels, some stretching over 1 km (0.6 mi). Walk the tunnels and watch for barn owls, which sometimes rest in the dark crevices.
Activities: Hike

Today, travel to the remote and wildlife-rich Genovesa Island, a key nesting site for red-footed boobies. An estimated 200,000 of these seabirds inhabit the island, making it a prime destination for birdwatching.

Land on a sandy coral beach at Darwin Bay, the result of a collapsed volcanic caldera. Watch for birdlife such as swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galápagos doves, and yellow warblers. Follow a flat trail through nesting areas of red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds. Continue to a tidal lagoon where sea lions swim and play, ending the walk at a cliff with panoramic views of the coastline. If time allows, snorkel straight from the beach. Swim with sea lions and look for sea turtles in the shallows.
Activities: Hiking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddleboard, Kayak

Climb the steep 81-foot staircase known as Prince Philip’s Steps, named after the British royal's 1964 visit. At the top, walk along a palo santo trail across a plateau. Spot Nazca and red-footed boobies, mockingbirds, and finches. Watch wedge-rumped storm petrels fly in large numbers, and search for short-eared owls hunting among the rocks. Join a deep-water snorkel session. This site offers the chance to see a variety of marine life, possibly including hammerhead sharks.
Activities: Hiking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddleboard, Kayak

Hike to Bartolome's summit for a stronger perspective of the islands' not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy a panoramic view – it’s one of the best among the islands! See other Galapagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark.

Take the opportunity to swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic volcanic rock formations on the islands. Home to Galapagos penguins, friendly sea lions, sea turtles, and a huge variety of fish, Bartolomé and its surrounding waters are a fantastic place to explore the natural wonders of the Galapagos.
Activities: Hiking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

In the afternoon, you will visit one of the last off-the-beaten-path sites in the Galapagos Islands. Only a couple of cruises visit Bowditch Point. This pristine site offers you a great snorkeling session with giant schools of black-striped salema, parrotfish, and Mexican hogfish, or you can enjoy kayaking or SUP if you prefer. Afterward, you can spend time on the beach relaxing or walking around it.
Activities: Hiking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddleboard, Kayak

Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge -- these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and sea lions.
Activities: Hiking

Disembark at Baltra for a flight back to Ecuador's mainland.