ERIC / LETTY / FLAMINGO

10 DAY PROGRAM: Sat - Mon

D1 Sat ARRIVE QUITO

Airport pickup and transfer to hotel. We highly recommend adding an extra day in Quito before your cruise to accommodate potential flight delays and to enjoy historic Quito and its surroundings. Overnight Quito.

D2 Sun QUITO – SAN CRISTOBAL (Playa Ochoa, Leon Dormido)

AM: Hotel pickup and transfer to airport for flight to Galapagos. Meet your guide at San Cristobal airport and transfer to boat.

San Cristóbal is the easternmost island in Galapagos; on its southwestern side is the town of Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the province of Galapagos. Located here is the other airport in the Galapagos. Guides and transport will be waiting for passengers at the airport in order to begin the selected Galapagos cruises.

PM: Playa Ochoa - A small island just an hour from San Cristobal Island. A subtle introduction to the Galapagos Islands. It is an easy wet landing with a short trail leading to a sandy beach good for swimming. Pelicans and other Galapagos sea birds fly overhead. There is a small tidal lagoon behind the beach where sea birds can be observed as well as the rare Chatham mockingbird. (Wet Landing)

Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock - Rising 500 feet straight from the ocean, this giant rock has the shape of a sleeping lion (Leon Dormido). It has a split with towering vertical walls on either side forming a narrow channel through which small vessels can navigate. (View from boat) (B,L,D)

D3 Mon GENOVESA (Darwin Bay, Prince Philip’s Steps)

Genovesa Island is formed by the remaining edges of a large crater that is now mostly submerged. Genovesa is known as "the bird island". On this island we can find frigate birds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, red footed boobies, masked boobies, great frigate birds, storm petrels, red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, short eared owls, Darwin finches, turtles, marine iguanas, sea lions, pioneer plants and lava fields.

AM: Darwin Bay - Darwin Bay is filled with frigate birds and their bustling activity. Along the trail are pairs of swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gulls in the world and red-footed boobies, with their contrasting red feet and blue bills. Lava and yellow crowned herons, whimbrels and other birds feed near the shores of a tidal lagoon just beyond the rocky edge that faces the bay. (Wet landing)

PM: Prince Philip's Steps (El Barranco) - At Prince Philip's steps, you climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. Here you will come upon an incredible number of masked boobies and red-footed boobies. (Dry landing) (B,L,D)

D4 Tue FERNANDINA (Punta Espinoza) – ISABELA (Tagus Cove)

AM: Fernandina is the youngest island in Galapagos. The most recent volcanic eruption in Fernandina happened in 2009. Volcano La Cumbre dominates the landscape, and from its base, lava fields extend towards the ocean.

Punta Espinoza is a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen, including flightless cormorants, snakes, Galapagos penguins and Galapagos hawks. It is also one of the sites with the largest colonies of marine iguanas, and an excellent place to observe the behavior of the sea lions. Following the trail inland, two different types of lava flows can be seen and compared: an A’a (Hawaiian names for lava) lava flow and a Pahoehoe lava flow. Lava cacti also can be seen here. (Dry landing)

PM: Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago with a total area of 1,771 sq. miles (4,588 sq. Km). Composed by six shield volcanoes that have merged into a single land mass, it also has the highest point in the islands, Wolf Volcano.

Tagus Cove - Tagus Cove was historically used as an anchoring site for pirates and whalers. You will see the names of hundreds of ships sculpted and painted on the high ridge (this practice is now prohibited). The trail will show the dry vegetation zone, the volcanic landscapes of Darwin volcano and Darwin Lake. At the top of the trail you will enjoy an incredible view of the whole area. On the dinghy ride along the coast, it is possible to see marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, pelicans, flightless cormorants, migratory birds and some marine invertebrates. (Wet landing) (B,L,D)

D5 Wed SANTIAGO (Puerto Egas, Sombrero Chino)

AM: Santiago is also known as James and/or San Salvador. Its central location and numerous landing sites make Santiago a part of almost every Galapagos itinerary. A favorite island for pirates and whalers, Santiago has a long human history as well as some outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing. Highlights of a visit include the Fur Seal grotto, Pink Flamingo lagoon as well as the chance to see Galapagos Hawks and Vermilion Fly Catchers.

Puerto Egas - On the western side of the island is Puerto Egas (James Bay). The landing is on a black beach with eroded rock formations in the background. The trail crosses the dry interior, where the remains of salt-mining enterprise still can be seen and then continues along the coast. Intertidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms, including sea urchins, octopi and sea stars. The trail then leads to the fur seal grottos, one of the only places in the islands where fur seals can be seen. (Wet landing)

PM: Sombrero Chino - A tiny island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. Its name (Chinese Hat) describes the island's shape. Those visitors who travel to the island will find its special landscape worth the visit. Though centrally located it is one of the least visited sites in the area. National Park Service restrictions have limited the number of visitors to Sombrero Chino. Multi-day cruises with 12 passengers or less are the only ones permitted at this site. The landing is on a beautiful crescent-shaped white sand beach, home to Sea Lions and Sally Lightfoot Crabs. The trail on Sombrero Chino explores its volcanic origin, one of the most evident in the islands. (B,L,D)

D6 Thu BARTOLOME – NORTH SEYMOUR

AM: Bartolome is a small island located east of Santiago Island. Bartolome is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the distinctive characteristic of this island. It has two visitor sites. At the first one, you may swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where penguins are usually seen, or walk to the other side of the island to see sea turtles nesting (from January to March) and sharks swimming close to shore. (Dry landing)

At the other site, you can climb to the highest point of the island. On your way up, you will encounter different formations of volcanic origin including spatter and tuff cones, lava flows and lava tubes. Once on the summit, there is a spectacular view of the surroundings. On this island we also can see sea lions, Galapagos penguins, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, turtles, sharks, pioneer plants and landscape. (Dry landing)

PM: North Seymour is a low, flat island located north of Baltra that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. On North Seymour we will see the following fauna: sea lions, pelicans, blues footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, great frigate birds, shorebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, indigenous Palo Santo. (Dry landing) (B,L,D)

D7 Fri SANTA CRUZ (Highlands, Darwin Station)

Santa Cruz Island is the second largest island in the Galapagos. Puerto Ayora is a charming town on the southeast shore of Santa Cruz and is the economic center of this archipelago. On this island you will have the opportunity to visit the Charles Darwin Station and see how the conservation of the islands is conducted. Here the visitor will see the famous Galapagos or Giant Tortoises that give the name to the archipelago. The station is a tortoise breeding and rearing center, providing good opportunities to photograph tortoises of all sizes.

AM: Highlands - The green landscape of the Highlands is a welcome contrast with the more arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. Depending on time, one can see the famous Giant Galapagos Tortoises in the wild while they roam through the green plains. You may also visit the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. Another Highlands site is the Twin Craters, which are two volcanic craters located one in front of the other. The vegetation of this area is dominated by Scalesia trees, which make the site a beautiful green landscape.

PM: Charles Darwin Research Station (Puerto Ayora) - The Darwin Station is located near the south shore town of Puerto Ayora. Scientists, park rangers and park managers make huge efforts to preserve and protect the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing center, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. (B,L,D)

D8 Sat ESPANOLA (Gardner Bay, Punta Suárez)

Espanola is one of the most popular and attractive islands because it is one of the most isolated islands in the archipelago. The quantity and variety of wildlife here is remarkable, and it has a high proportion of natural fauna. On this island we will find waved albatrosses (April to December), blue footed bobbies, masked boobies, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, swallow-tailed gulls, Espanola mockingbirds, shorebirds sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards and an impressive blowhole.

AM: Gardner Bay - Offers a great possibility for the visitor to enjoy some beach time in the Galapagos. At the beach you can walk and watch sea lions, or just lie down and relax. Or you can go swimming and snorkeling. The rocks in front of the beach are excellent snorkeling sites. (Wet landing)

PM: Punta Suarez - When landing, young sea lions surf the breaking waves, while a few steps inland groups of the Española variety of iguanas bask in the sun. Farther inland, Masked and Blue-foot Boobies nest almost right on the trail, Galapagos Doves peck around unaware of visitors and finches go about their business in the bushes. The trail continues toward the cliffs and the blowhole, a fissure in the lava where water spurts high in the air like a geyser. (Wet landing) (B,L,D)

D9 Sun SAN CRISTOBAL (Interpretation Center) – QUITO

AM: Interpretation Center - Opened to the public in 1998 by the Galapagos National Park, the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about the natural and human history of the islands. (Dry landing)

Transfer to San Cristobal airport for flight to Quito.

PM: Arrive Quito, airport pickup and transfer to hotel. Overnight Quito. (B)

D10 Mon QUITO – HOME (or begin Extension Program)

Hotel pickup and transfer to airport for flight home. (B)