Day 1: Puerto Bacquerizo Moreno & Cerro Tijeretas (located in San Cristobal)
Fly to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and transfer by bus to the main dock. Here you will be transported by zodiac to the Letty anchored in the bay. After the welcome briefing and a safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch is served on board.
In the afternoon, travel by bus to Cerro Tijeretas or 'Frigatebird Hill' one of two sites where you can see nesting colonies of two species of frigate birds, as well as lava lizards, the medium ground finch and Chatham mockingbird. Walk along the trail to Punta Carola for scenic views, then return to the yacht for a briefing followed by our Captain’s welcome cocktail party and dinner prepared by culinary trained chefs.
Day 2: Cerro Brujo & Punta Pitt (located in San Cristobal)
We spend the morning at Cerro Brujo, a breathtaking white coral beach, with expansive views and great bird-watching opportunities. Take a peaceful walk along the beach, or swim with sea lions from the beach. Row in kayaks or paddle boards to gaze at surrounding marine life. Enjoy a scenic zodiac ride that takes us through a cave called 'The Cathedral'. Return to the yacht for lunch whilst you sail to the next destination.
By the afternoon, arrive at the shores of Punta Pitt, a volcanic tuff formation that serves as a nesting site for many sea birds including blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, both frigatebird species, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels, shearwaters, and brown pelicans. Punta Pitt is considered one of the best sites for birds in the archipelago, and is also home to a colony of sea lions. At Pitt Rock, we snorkel with sea lions and colorful fish such as the King Angel and Surgeon fish. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.
Day 3: Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay (Espanola)
Disembark at Punta Suarez on Espanola Island, home to the greatest number of endemic species found in Galapagos. Sea lions bark noisily as curious hood mockingbirds peck at our shoelaces. From April to December, the waved albatross, found only on Espanola, perform their mating ritual. Meet colonies of blue-footed boobies, nazca boobies, the nocturnal swallow-tailed gulls, and red-billed tropicbirds taking shelter under the cliffs. We also get the opportunity to see the famous Darwin’s Finches, Galapagos Doves and Galapagos Hawks, as well as the marine iguana. Follow the trail to a dramatic ocean blow hole, and watch for vibrant sally light-foot crabs crawling along the shoreline.
Return to the yacht for lunch on board and then disembark at Gardner Bay, where large colonies of sea lions dot the white sandy beach. Take a leisurely stroll on the beach, looking out for the Galapagos hawk, Darwin’s finches or Espanola mockingbird. You can swim with playful sea lions or explore the bay and islets by kayak. Finally enjoy a zodiac ride to explore the caves covered with invertebrates. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.
Day 4: Punta Cormorant & Champion Islet & Post Office Bay (located in Floreana Island)
Step ashore at Punta Cormorant where the olive coloured sand beach is alive with the sounds of sea lions, lava herons, yellow-crowned night herons, blue-footed boobies, and penguins. Follow a trail to a brackish lagoon, home to Bahama ducks, common stilts, Galapagos flycatchers, yellow warblers and the greater flamingos. Trek past a variety of plants including the morning glory, cut leaf daisies, mangroves, paldo verde and scalesia. The trail leads to a beach where sea turtles lay their eggs in the powdery sand dunes and sting rays swim in the shallow water.
After the walk, there is an opportunity to snorkel at Champion Islet, a shallow sunken crater colonised by a brilliant array of colorful fish and coral, white-tipped sharks, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and sea stars. Later lunch is served on whilst the vessel heads to a famous site.
Post office Bay is historic because during the late18th century English whaling vessels placed a large barrel to used as a post box. You are invited to leave a post card and pick up any mail your able to deliver back home. There is a chance to swim from the beach with sea lions. Late afternoon, take a zodiac ride near Baroness Point to look for sea turtles and rays. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner.
Day 5: The Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station (located in Santa Cruz)
Disembark at Puerto Ayora, on Santa cruz Island, the social heart of the Galapagos, with a population of 24,000. Travel by bus to the highlands, passing through all seven vegetation zones found in the Galapagos. Visit the tortoise reserve at one of the private farms that protects giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Walk up to the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos, and visit Los Gemelos or 'The Twins', a pair of large craters. Return to the yacht for lunch on board and a briefing.
By the afternoon, you will visit 'Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena' also known as Charles Darwin Research Station, and witness tortoise hatchlings in the breeding centre, land iguana, and coral. Visit a new exhibit honoring Lonesome George, a worldwide icon of conservation as the last surviving tortoise from Pinta Island that sadly died of natural causes. Head back to the town of Puerto Ayora to buy souvenirs or visit an internet cafe. Return to the yacht for dinner when you have finished exploring.
Day 6: Las Bachas beach & Bartolome (located in Santa Cruz)
This morning guests reach the northern side of Santa Cruz to explore Las Bachas which is a long stretch of a soft white sands and interior lagoons populated by greater flamingos. There is also a chance to snorkel and explore the underwater marine life. After this enjoy a zodiac ride at Caleta Tortuga Negra or 'Black Turtle Cove' through a series of coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves.
Return to the yacht for lunch and then disembark at Bartolome, a young Island that is inhospitable to most plants and animals and has a moon-like surface. Climb the long wooden staircase to the summit of a dormant volcano, pausing along the way to marvel at lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones. The panoramic view from the top encompasses the entire island, including the distinctive eroded volcanic tuff cone known as Pinnacle Rock. Enjoy a snorkeling session in the crystal clear waters below with schools of tropical fish, and Galapagos penguins. Return to the yacht for the evening briefing followed by dinner.
Day 7: South Plaza Island & North Seymour Island
Today’s visit South Plaza which was formed by a small geological uplift. Gaza towards the tall cliffs where swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters and red-billed tropicbirds build their nests. The trail leads us through 'Opuntia' or a prickly pear cactus forest to meet land iguanas feeding on the cacti pads. The island is home to a colony of bachelor sea lions, with dominant bulls in various stages of recovery from battles over prime beach territory. Return to the yacht for lunch.
Later, snorkel in the deeper waters between North and South Seymour. At North Seymour, observe swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies and endemic land iguanas. Return to the vessel foe a farewell cocktail party and dinner, followed by a slide show presentation by your guides.
Day 8: Interpretation Centre
After breakfast, travel by bus to the Interpretation Center to gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the Islands.
Afterwards, spend time in port before heading to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.
