Islands Circumnavigation I

Depart from Guayaquil to Galápagos (1½ hours of flight time).
Baltra Island was a strategic point during the Second World War. It is the main airport for the Galapagos Islands where tourists and colonists arrive and depart. Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, the naturalist English-speaking guide will assist you. Transfer by bus to the dock (5 mins.) to board the yacht. Welcome and briefing.

After lunch, disembark (wet landing) on Bachas Beach, located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, this is one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles and the crystal waters invite you to relax and swim. Return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

El Barranco or also known as Prince Phillip's Steps. El Barranco’s steep, rocky paths lead up to a high cliff face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to Palo Santo vegetation as well as Red-footed Boobies, Short-eared Lava Owls, Galapagos Swallows storm-petrels, and Galapagos Doves. Hiking: 2km., dry landing. Lunch on board.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Darwin Bay, an enormous bay dominates the island and like the Prince Philip’s Steps, this site is the home of large colonies of frigate birds and a wide variety of seabirds. Briefing and dinner on board.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling, Panga Ride

Lava formations and ash cones can be seen on Bartolome Island. A beautiful view of the nearest bays is waiting at the high part, after climbing a wood staircase for 30 to 40 minutes to the top (Walk up to the top of the volcano 114 meters, 375 wooden steps). This is one of the most visited Islands because of its unique and famous Pinnacle Rock which consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black, and even green volcanic formations. Time for snorkeling and possible sightings of the Galapagos Penguin. Hiking: 2kms. Dry and wet landings. 
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

You can swim and snorkel in Sullivan Bay with seals and penguins. The landing is on a beautiful white sand beach where you will see lava formations. Wet landing. Briefing and dinner on board.
Activities: Snorkeling, Swimming

Plazas Island is a small island with steep cliffs that was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. This Island is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. Many birds like the tropicbirds and fork-tailed seagulls rest on the cliffs. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium, during the rainy season, its color is greenish to a yellowish tone, and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red. Hike: 2 ½ km. Dry landing. Lunch on board.
Activities: Hiking

Colonies of sea lions, land iguanas, fork-tailed seagulls, terns, and petrels are observed. A trail leading into the heart of the island takes you to a forest of giant cactus and palo santo trees. After this visit on land, you can swim and snorkel. Wet landing. Briefing and dinner on board.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling, Swimming

Leon Dormido: After breakfast, visit Kicker Rock a giant rock formed by a volcanic eruption. A narrow canal cuts through it and allows the passage of small boats. This rock is the home of many sea birds and is considered a great snorkeling and diving site. No landing.

The Cerro Brujo site is located on the north shore of San Cristobal Island. This eroded hill and its surroundings present one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos with its main attraction that is the coral sand beach and its wildlife includes sea turtles, rays, and various types of Booby Birds. Lunch on board.
Activities: Hiking, Panga Ride, Swimming

Lobos Island is the most important colony of sea lions and blue-footed boobies on this Island. The scenery is beautiful and it is the perfect spot to snorkel. Briefing and dinner on board. Return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Snorkeling

After breakfast visit Suarez Point, a natural home for seeing blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, colonies of marine iguanas, fascinating albatross from April to June, sea lions, Galapagos doves, and Darwin finches. There is another natural attraction: the lava blowhole, spurting water high into the air. Hike: 3km. Dry landing. Lunch on board. 
Activities: Hiking

Gardner Bay: On the eastern side of the island, is the breeding site of nearly all of the world´s 12,000 pairs of Waved Albatrosses. It takes 45 minutes by boat to reach this site. The white sand beach is home to a group of sea lions. Swimming and snorkeling are excellent possibilities here. Wet landing

Gardner Islet: Sea lions, marine turtles, and finches can be seen here.

Osborn Islet is a small island to the southeast of Española is a marine visit for snorkeling and swimming. Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Snorkeling, Swimming

After breakfast, visit Cormorant Point a site that hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts, White-cheeked Pintails can also be seen. Olivine crystals on the beach make to name Green Beach. On the other side of the island, there is the very fine white sand beach where marine turtles nest from December to May. Hike: 2km. Wet landing.

Devil's Crown: This volcanic crater has been eroded by the waves leaving the northern and southern sides poking out of the water. The coral formations make the underwater scenery impressive for snorkelers where there are schools of multi-colored fish, sharks, and sea turtles. No Landing.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

The Darwin Station is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands, an international non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research in the Galápagos Islands since 1959. This visit offers an excellent introduction to the Islands, their origin, and their formation. Learn about the Galapagos giant turtles breeding.  Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Hiking

North Seymour Island is known for its large number of blue-footed boobies, colonies of magnificent frigate birds, fork-tailed seagulls, marine iguanas, and sea lions. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone, palo santo (holy wood) the most remarkable tree on this island. Wet landing.
Activities: Hiking

After lunch, disembarkation at Mosquera Island (wet landing) located between North Seymour and Baltra. The island consists is a long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks, and tide pools. Created by Geological uplift the island has a flat look to it rather than the conical shape of the volcanically formed islands. It is a great place for snorkeling, strolling on the beach, and enjoying the animal life without the tourist crowds common at many of the more popular islands. This islet is actually home to a huge population of sea lions and is also home to many shorebirds. Briefing and dinner on board.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

After breakfast, a panga ride visit to Vicente Roca Point. Comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life, observing seahorses, sea turtles, rays, puffer fish, the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola (or sunfish), see also penguins, blue-footed boobies and Nazca boobies. Lunch on board.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride

Espinoza Point: In the afternoon disembarkation (dry landing). Walk (600m. round trip, 1½h, flat, sandy, and rocky path) to see lava flows, a colony of marine iguanas (nesting time: January to June), penguins, pelicans, and colonies of cormorants, lava cactus. Time for snorkeling. Briefing and dinner on board.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

After breakfast, disembarkation at Urbina Bay (wet landing), located on the west of Isabela Island, at the foot of the Alcedo volcano. Walk on a sandy and rocky defined path (1 km. round trip. 2h, flat), observing calcareous organisms (shells, corals) exposed above water. In this area see a large colony of land iguanas, Darwin's finches, giant tortoises (between June – September), and flightless cormorants. After the hike, time for snorkeling along the shoreline where guests may observe penguins and flightless cormorants. 
Activities: Hiking

After lunch visit Tagus Cove which was a port where whaling ships arrived and left their ships’ names in a cave in 1800. In the high part is Darwin Lake, a round saltwater crater. Disembark (dry landing). The walk begins from the shore by a wooden stairway that rises to the dusty trail passing through Palo Santo Forest to reach Darwin Lake. Continue on the trail around the lake through the dry vegetation zone. Panoramic views of the Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. (2kms round trip, 2h / starts at 0m, ascending to 50mts). Later, panga rides through the cliffs to observe the historical graffiti, penguins, flightless cormorants, boobies, pelicans, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Snorkeling time in the cove. Briefing and dinner on board.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride

After breakfast visit Puerto Egas, which begins with a wet landing on the dark sand beach of James Bay. Walk along a rocky trail to the salt crater (1.7km. round trip, 1½ h, start at 0m, ascend 30m), observing Darwin Finches, the endemic Galapagos hawks, marine iguanas, sally light foot crabs and fur seals, and sea lions. Time for swimming and snorkeling.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling, Swimming

Sombrero Chino or Chinese Hat: After lunch, disembark (wet landing) for a short walk of 200m. (30 mins. round trip, flat and rocky), observing lava tunnels, lava cactus, and Galápagos Sesuvium. Time to swim and snorkel. Return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Hiking

After breakfast, walk for about 20 minutes to the Charles Darwin Station to observe Galapagos giant turtles breeding efforts. The Darwin Station is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, an international non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research in the Galapagos Islands since 1959.
Activities: Hiking

After lunch, visit Hacienda Primicias to see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around eating grass and leaves, and wallowing. Some highland birds, like cattle egrets, mockingbirds, finches, or flycatchers can be seen here. After the hike return to the yacht. Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Hiking

After breakfast, visit Tintoreras is located south of Puerto Villamil. It has a small bay of completely calm turquoise waters, where you can appreciate sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc. The bay is connected to a crevice of crystal clear water, that's shallow and when the tide is low, the entrance closes. In this crevice, you can see how reef sharks swim along with other small fish and sea lions. Lunch on board.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Breeding Center Arnaldo Tupiza has a captive breeding program for tortoises from the populations of southern Isabela. 

Humedales: Disembark (dry landing), walk for about 30 mins. This area is characterized by sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. The area has a number of trails where you can see all four species of mangroves found in the Galapagos and also migratory birds: whimbrel, short-billed dowitcher, Wilson’s phalarope, common tern, blue-winged teal, osprey, black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs to name a few. 

Travel by bus to Wall of Tears a sad reminder of the history of Isabela. The wall was constructed between 1946 and 1959 while Isabela was a penal colony. As punishment, the prisoners were forced to build the wall from huge blocks of lava. The wall is named for the many convicts that died while building the wall. Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Hiking, Swimming

After breakfast disembark (wet landing) in one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago as well as a great snorkeling site. Start on Rabida's famous maroon sandy beach and after an easy hike (1 km approx) will arrive at a stunning lookout to enjoy the amazing landscapes. The island is a birdwatcher's delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as nine varieties of finches, Large-billed Flycatchers, Galapagos Hawks, and Brown Pelicans. Lunch on board.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Cerro Dragon: After lunch, dry landing at a dock, the walk takes you to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon behind the beach, often frequented by flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. There is a short walk to the hill, which rewards a great view of the bay and a nesting site of land iguanas. Many of the Iguanas that nest here have been repatriated by the Charles Darwin Research Station. Dinner and briefing for the next day.
Activities: Hiking

After breakfast, ride a dinghy (panga) and visit Black Turtle Bay (Caleta Tortuga Negra). This is very close to Baltra. It is very special due to its lovely beach with sea lions and its clear, calm water. Black (Pacific Green) Turtles and many different types of birds can be seen feeding here as you are paddled around the beautiful lagoons hidden in the mangroves.
Activities: Hiking

After this visit transfer to Baltra Airport by bus for your return flight to Guayaquil/Quito.