Eastern Islands

Arrive at Baltra Airport, where your naturalist guide warmly welcomes you and escorts you to your floating home for the next eight days, M/Y Passion. Board the yacht, settle into your cabin, and enjoy a delicious lunch as you begin your journey toward your first destination, Black Turtle Cove, a peaceful estuary on Santa Cruz Island.

Embark on a scenic dinghy ride through a tranquil red mangrove lagoon, where calm waters shelter an abundance of marine life, including sea turtles, rays, juvenile sharks, and a variety of coastal birds.

After exploring this thriving ecosystem, return to the yacht for a beautifully prepared dinner. End your day with a recap of highlights and a briefing on the adventures ahead.

Sights: Black Turtle Cove and marine life
Activity level: Easy
Activities: Dinghy ride
Wildlife you may see: Endemic birds, sea lions, reef sharks, sea turtles, rays, tropical fish

Awake inside the stunning caldera of Genovesa Island and enjoy breakfast before heading to Darwin Bay by dinghy. Take a short beach walk into a vibrant nesting ground for red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels, and yellow-crowned night herons, and marvel at the fascinating diversity of avian life.

Return to the yacht and prepare for a snorkel or kayak in the caldera’s deep waters, teeming with marine life. After lunch, snorkel again, keeping an eye out for the shy scalloped hammerhead sharks. Prepare for a hike at Prince Philip’s Steps. Arrive to be greeted by fur seals at the landing site, then ascend the steps along trails lined with fragrant palo santo trees, watching for short-eared owls and nesting boobies along the island’s outer edge.

End the day with a delicious dinner on board and a debrief to reflect on the day’s sights as you cruise toward your next destination.

Sights: Beautiful beach with up close bird watching along the path, Palo Santo forest, and the possibility of seeing hammerhead sharks
Activity level: Easy - moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling, stairs
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, endemic birds, scalloped hammerhead sharks, short-eared owls

Wake up to the striking landscapes of Bartolomé Island, renowned for its iconic Pinnacle Rock and sweeping panoramic views. After breakfast, a dinghy ride brings you ashore, where a wooden staircase leads you to one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the Galápagos. Return to the yacht to prepare for a snorkel around Pinnacle Rock. Here, you may encounter Galápagos penguins darting through the water, along with rays, reef sharks, and schools of vibrant tropical fish.

Following lunch onboard, the yacht continues to Sombrero Chino (China Hat), a small islet named for its hat-like shape. Enjoy a casual walk where your guide will share insights into the island’s fascinating volcanic geology. Later, set out for a second snorkel in the nearby bay, with another opportunity to observe penguins and a variety of marine life up close. Return to the yacht in the evening for dinner and a recap on the day and tomorrow’s adventures.

Sights: Pinnacle Rock, viewpoint, amazing snorkeling with an opportunity to see penguins, pristine beach on Sombrero Chino
Activity level: Moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling, stairs to the viewpoint
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, penguins, sharks, rays, tropical fish, various endemic birds, sea turtles

Savor a delightful breakfast before boarding the dinghy to Rábida Island, renowned for its striking red-sand beaches. Here, set out on a 1.5-hour guided walk in search of flamingos, nesting pelicans, marine iguanas, and a bachelor colony of sea lions. Cap off the morning with an invigorating snorkel along Rábida’s vibrant coastline.

Return to the yacht to relax over a delicious lunch as you cruise toward your next destination, Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill). Upon arrival, head ashore for a dry landing and begin a 1.5-hour walk along cactus-lined trails, passing a lagoon where flamingos and pintail ducks are often seen. Continue inland to discover a unique habitat for land iguanas, then ascend the hill for sweeping panoramic views. Return to the yacht to prepare for another snorkel nearby in the surrounding waters before coming back to the yacht for a delicious, nourishing dinner and an evening recap of the day’s adventures as well as what tomorrow will bring.

Sights: Striking red beach of Rabida, beautiful viewpoints, lagoons with flamingos, pristine beaches, Cerro Dragon Hill
Activity level: Easy - moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Endemic birds, flamingos, pintail ducks, land and marine iguanas, sea lions

Return to Santa Cruz Island, where you will moor in the turquoise waters of Academy Bay. After breakfast, head ashore to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, you’ll encounter Galápagos giant tortoises at various stages of life and learn about the vital conservation work being carried out to protect the islands’ unique ecosystems. After your visit, enjoy some free time to explore the local shops and charm of Puerto Ayora before returning to the yacht for lunch.

In the afternoon, journey into the lush highlands of Santa Cruz, where you’ll visit a tortoise reserve and observe these majestic creatures roaming in their natural habitat. Later, return to the yacht for a delicious dinner, followed by a recap of the day’s experiences and a preview of tomorrow’s highlights.

Sights: Beautiful landscapes, Academy Bay, Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Station, tortoise reserve
Activity level: Easy
Activities: Walking
Wildlife you may see: Endemic birds, marine iguanas, sea lions, giant galapagos tortoises, lava lizards

After breakfast, journey to Punta Suárez, where you will board a dinghy to the landing site and set out on a scenic hike along dramatic coastal cliffs. Marvel at the powerful blowhole and observe an abundance of wildlife, including Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and striking marine iguanas. From April to December, you may also witness the graceful courtship displays the Waved Albatross.

Return to the yacht for lunch before heading to Gardner Bay, where a wet landing brings you to pristine white-sand beaches. Here, sea lions lounge along the shore, hawks glide overhead, and curious mockingbirds may join your walk. Following this tranquil visit, enjoy a snorkel in the clear waters, where you may encounter colorful fish, sea turtles, and playful sea lions. Return to the yacht for dinner and an evening debrief.

Sights: Beautiful landscapes of Española Island, Gardner Bay, and Punta Suarez
Activity level: Moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking (rugged terrain), snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas, boobies, Waved Albatross (April - Dec), mockingbird, Glp. Hawk, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and various marine life

Awake to the stunning views of Santa Fe Island. After breakfast, take a dinghy ashore and step onto a pristine beach dotted with sea lions before beginning an uphill walk through a landscape of towering opuntia cacti, where vibrant yellow land iguanas thrive. Return to the yacht for lunch, followed by a refreshing snorkel in the surrounding waters.

In the afternoon, continue to South Plazas, where a dinghy ride brings you ashore to an island bustling with sea lions. Set out on an approximately 1.5-hour walk along a scenic trail, where you may spot red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and land iguanas. The trail leads to a dramatic cliffside lookout, offering breathtaking views of the rugged coastline and bachelor sea lion colonies below. Later, return to the yacht to enjoy a satisfying dinner, followed by a recap of the day’s highlights and a preview of tomorrow’s plans.

Sights: Beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna of South Plazas and Santa Fe Island
Activity level: Easy - moderate
Activities: Walking, hiking, snorkeling
Wildlife you may see: Sea lions, endemic birds, land & marine iguanas, lava lizards, sharks, rays, sea turtles
 

Return to Santa Cruz Island for your final day. After breakfast, take time to pack before being transferred to the canal dock, where you will board a bus to visit Los Gemelos, a natural wonder featuring two twin sunken craters filled with lush vegetation.

Afterwards, return to the canal where you and your luggage will board the ferry to Baltra, to catch your flight home or continue on to your next adventure.