Western and Central Galapagos Cruise

After arriving at Baltra Airport, receive assistance and transfer directly to the M/C Monique for embarkation.

In the afternoon, set out to Las Bachas on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Walk the long stretch of white sand or snorkel in calm waters. The beach serves as an important nesting ground for sea turtles, and you may notice a rusted World War II pontoon near the shore. The site’s name comes from a mispronunciation of “barges,” referring to the remains of two sunken vessels.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling
Difficulty: Easy

After visiting Las Bachas, the vessel will circumnavigate Daphne Major Islet, a treeless volcanic cone formed from compacted ash. This small but significant islet serves as an important nesting site for Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, and blue-footed boobies. As you navigate its rugged perimeter, you’ll encounter a landscape that has inspired groundbreaking studies on natural selection and evolution.
Activities and Excursions: Circumnavigation
Difficulty: Easy

Begin the day at Rabida Island, known for its deep red sand shoreline. Walk past cactus stands and rugged volcanic terrain covered with dry-zone plants. As you explore, look for brown pelican nests along the coast and flamingos feeding in a nearby saltwater lagoon.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling
Difficulty: Moderate

Continue to Chinese Hat, a small islet off the south coast of Santiago, with a maximum elevation of 160 feet (52 meters). Although it is within easy reach of Santa Cruz, Chinese Hat is typically visited only by those on a Galapagos cruise.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding, Dinghy ride.
Difficulty: Easy

Accessible only by dinghy, this expansive bay on Isabela’s northwest coast features two coves that attract a variety of nesting birds, including blue-footed and Nazca boobies, storm petrels, and brown noddies. The nutrient-rich waters make it a premier snorkeling spot, where whales, dolphins, sea lions, and marine birds are often seen feeding.
Activities and Excursions: Snorkeling, Dinghy ride 
Difficulty: Moderate 

As one of the most pristine islands in the archipelago, Fernandina has never been invaded by foreign species. It is also the most active island and the farthest west. Espinoza Point is the only visitor site on the entire island, where you can observe marine iguanas, Galapagos hawks, and enjoy walking and snorkeling in one of the most natural and unspoiled locations in the world.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Moreno Point is located on the west coast of Isabela Island, and although it may appear to be a barren lava flow at first, a walk along its trails soon reveals a series of beautiful green lagoons and mangroves. It’s a fantastic place to spot penguins, blue herons, and flamingos. Meanwhile, a dinghy ride or snorkeling along the rocky shoreline offers an excellent opportunity to see green sea turtles and white-tip reef sharks.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy Ride
Difficulty: Moderate


In the afternoon, explore Elizabeth Bay. This visitor site is accessed by dinghy only, as park authorities do not allow landings in order to protect the island. While in the dinghy, you can observe an abundance of marine life in the clear waters.
Activities and Excursions: Dinghy Ride
Difficulty: Easy

Millions of years ago, Urbina Bay lay on the ocean floor. Volcanic uplifts caused it to rise, and today it is home to sea lions, land iguanas, and flightless cormorants. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy some free time on the beach, or your guide may suggest taking a walk.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

If you like historic remnants, then you will enjoy discovering what pirates and sailors from the 1800s left behind. This site was one of their preferred pit stops while traveling the seas. The walk here offers incredible views of the cove, and on the other side, the mangrove forest where the last 35 pairs of mangrove finches thrive.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding, Dinghy ride
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Espumilla Beach, located on the northern coast of Santiago Island, is a stunning white sand beach named for the meringue-like trails of foam left by the lapping waves. It is a popular spot for marine iguanas, while Sally Lightfoot crabs abound, attracting predatory birds such as hawks, herons, and pelicans. With an abundance of marine life, including octopuses, moray eels, and sharks, snorkeling is both recommended and available.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding, Dinghy ride
Difficulty: Moderate

Located just north of James Bay, Buccaneer Cove was once a safe haven for sailors, buccaneers, and whalers during the 17th and 18th centuries, who anchored their vessels here to stash loot, collect fresh water, and capture giant tortoises for food.

Today, this dramatic site of red cliffs and eroded rock formations attracts wildlife rather than ships. The cove’s steep walls provide nesting ledges for blue-footed and Nazca boobies, pelicans, and gulls, while sea lions and fur seals rest along the shore. It is also an important nesting site for sea turtles. A dinghy ride offers close-up views of the impressive coastline and abundant birdlife, while snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding reveals a rich variety of marine species beneath the surface.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy Ride, Kayaking/paddleboarding
Difficulty: Moderate

Named after British naval officer Lord Hugh Seymour, this small island is covered in low-lying vegetation and teems with birdlife.
You’ll encounter blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and a substantial colony of magnificent frigatebirds, with males displaying their vibrant red throat pouches to attract mates.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy ride
Difficulty: Easy

Positioned between Baltra and North Seymour, Mosquera is a flat, sandy islet without a designated trail, allowing for free exploration. It’s known for its thriving sea lion colony, shorebirds, and colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs. The surrounding reefs make for excellent snorkeling, with chances to spot rays, turtles, and reef sharks.
Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling  
Difficulty: Moderate 

Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, also known as the Charles Darwin Research Station. The center hosts an interpretation center, museum, library, and tortoise breeding facility, home to various tortoise subspecies being prepared for reintroduction.
Activities and Excursions: Walking
Difficulty: Easy

After your last visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.  Assistance and farewell at the airport.