Day 1 Arrive Quito
Arrive in Quito at any time.
Day 2 Santa Cruz (B,L,D)
Early flight to Baltra, in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, transfer by ferry and bus to the Island of Santa Cruz where we meet our naturalist guide. Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz after embarking our boat, the G.A.P Adventurer V.
Day 3 Santa Fé/South Plaza (B,L,D)
Set sail for the island of Santa Fé. Also called Barrington, Santa Fé Island is well-known as a great place for watching (and swimming with) sea lions. Spend the afternoon in South Plaza Island. One of the smallest islands in the Galapagos, South Plaza has one of the largest populations of land iguanas. Walk along a path through a cactus forest and view a combination of both arid land and coastal vegetation.
Day 4 Cerro Dragon/Bartolomé (B,L,D)
Today we visit Cerro Dragon, located on the Northeast Corner of Isla Santa Cruz. Arrive at Bartolomé Island in the afternoon. Learn the geological history of Bartolomé as our naturalist explains its dramatic volcanic features, including unusual splatter cones. We may spot rare Galapagos Penguins, of which only 800 pairs exist.
Day 5 Rabida/Puerto Egas (B,L,D)
Cruise to Rabida Island in the morning and visit a salt water lagoon rich in wildlife and vegetation. A large sea lion colony provides great photo opportunities. Spend the afternoon visiting the lava rock beaches for which Puerto Egas is known.
Day 6 Black Turtle Cove/North Seymour (B, L, D)
Located on the second-largest island in the archipelago of Isla Santa Cruz, we venture to the picturesque Black Turtle Cove by panga ride to experience the full splendor of the diverse marine life and birds. In the afternoon we continue on to North Seymour, home to abundant animal life including the magnificent frigate bird.
Day 7 Española (B,L,D)
Head to Gardner bay, an excellent swimming and snorkeling site in the afternoon head to Punta Suarez, on Española Island. The southernmost island in the Galapagos is home to several wildlife species, including masked and blue-footed boobies.
Day 8 Floreana (B,L,D)
Reach Floreana Island and stop at Post Office Bay. Still in use, this historic site is where mariners from around the world would deposit and collect letters from a “post office barrel,” to be brought home by returning sailors. Visitors place unstamped letters and cards in the barrel, and deliver, free of charge, any addressed to their own hometowns. Later in the afternoon we make our way towards Punta Cormorant on the northern part of Floreana and head to Flour Beach, an important nesting site for turtles. We may also see flamingos and occasionally penguins!
Day 9 Santa Cruz/Quito (B)
The morning finds us in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station before transferring to the airport for our flight to Quito. Enjoy one last night on the town.
If your tour starts on a Monday in Quito please follow this itinerary
Day 1 Arrival Day into Quito
Day 2 Baltra/North Seymour (B,L,D)
Early flight to Baltra, in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival meet our naturalist guide who will assist with the transfer to our boat, the G.A.P Adventurer V. Set sail and reach Seymour Island in the late afternoon. Our first landing shows us the great bird life of the island, including magnificent frigate birds, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. We may also catch a glimpse of sea lions and several species of endemic plants.
Day 3 Española (B,L,D)
In the morning visit Gardner Bay an excellent swimming and snorkeling site, in the afternoon head to Punta Suarez, on Española Island. The southernmost island in the Galapagos is home to several wildlife species, including masked and blue-footed boobies.
Day 4 Floreana (B,L,D)
Reach Floreana Island and stop at Post Office Bay. Still in use, this historic site is where mariners from around the world would deposit and collect letters from a “post office barrel,” to be brought home by returning sailors. Visitors place unstamped letters and cards in the barrel, and deliver, free of charge, any addressed to their own hometowns. Later in the afternoon we make our way towards Punta Cormorant on the northern part of Floreana and head to “Flour Beach”, an important nesting site for turtles. We may also see flamingos and occasionally penguins!
Day 5 Santa Cruz (B,L,D)
We sail to Puerto Ayora on the Island of Santa Cruz. From here we visit the world-renowned Charles Darwin Research Station to visit Galapagos Tortoises and get the chance to learn more about them. Visit this highlands of Santa Cruz in the afternoon.
Day 6 Santa Fé/South Plaza (B,L,D)
Set sail for the island of Santa Fé. Also called Barrington, Santa Fé Island is well-known as a great place for watching (and swimming with) sea lions. Spend the afternoon in South Plaza Island. One of the smallest islands in the Galapagos, South Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas. Walk along a path through a cactus forest and view a combination of dry and coastal vegetation.
Day 7 Cerro Dragon/Bartolomé (B,L,D)
Today we visit Cerro Dragon, located on the Northeast Corner of Isla Santa Cruz. Arrive at Bartolomé Island in the afternoon. Learn the geological history of Bartolomé as our naturalist explains its dramatic volcanic features, including unusual splatter cones. We may spot rare Galapagos penguins, of which only 800 pairs exist.
Day 8 Rabida/Puerto Egas (B,L,D)
Cruise to Rabida Island in the morning and visit a salt water lagoon rich in wildlife and vegetation. A large sea lions colony provides great photo opportunities. Spend the afternoon visiting the lava rock beaches Puerto Egas is known for.
Day 9 Black Turtle Cove/Quito (B)
Located on the second-largest island in the archipelago of Isla Santa Cruz, we venture to the picturesque Black Turtle Cove by panga ride to experience the full splendour of the diverse marine life and birds. We then transfer to the airport and fly to Quito. Enjoy one last night on the town.
United States
