Your Travel Experience with chilepro
Day 1
Arrival at Baltra Airport
We land at Baltra Island by plane in the morning and transfer to the nearby dock to board the Isabela II, where we take part in an introductory briefing, boat drill, and lunch.
Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island
Afternoon: This beautiful visitor site is located on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island, a beautiful white beach with a few brackish water lagoons just a few steps from the sea. These lagoons are the feeding grounds for various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. You can also swim at this beach. Back on the ship, there is a welcome cocktail, a briefing on the expedition plan for the next day and a delicious dinner.
Day 2
Cerro Brujo on San Cristóbal
Afternoon: Wet landing. Cerro Brujo is an eroding tuff cone that at several locations is composed of AA lava formations, and a beautiful white sand beach, great for snorkeling and sunbathing. You visit a lagoon where migratory bird species can be seen: black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, other sandpiper species and white-cheeked pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal and the adjacent coast.
Cerro Colorado, San Cristobal Island
Afternoon: We disembark in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and drive 40 minutes to the south coast of the island. In Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding centre for highly endangered giant tortoises in the middle of a fantastic deciduous forest that is home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristobal mockingbird, as well as the endemic San Cristobal lava lizard.
Day 3
Gardner Bay, Española Island
Morning: In the morning we enter this beautiful white coral beach and take a short walk to observe sea lions, mockingbirds and finches or just enjoy the beach. The area is great for snorkelling. Kayaking, an inflatable boat ride or a glass-bottom boat ride are also available.
Punta Suarez, Española Island
Afternoon: After lunch on board, our afternoon excursion in Punta Suarez takes us on an exciting trail over lava and scree terrain. Along the way we can observe unique seabird colonies, including the beautiful waved albatrosses, boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and the famous "blowhole". This island is also known for its colourful and large marine iguanas. All in all, a fantastic visit.
Day 4
Cormorant Point, Floreana Island
Morning: We disembark in the morning at the strangely green-coloured, olive-green beach, which offers an easy walk to a brackish water lagoon where bird species such as American flamingos can be seen. Crossing over to the other side of the island brings you to a white sand beach where sea turtles emerge at night to nest. On Champion Islet, guests can choose between snorkelling, a panga ride or a ride in our glass-bottom boat.
Post Office Bay, Floreana Island
Afternoon: After lunch we land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic buoy that has served as an informal post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Afterwards, snorkelling is offered off the beach.
Day 5
Punta Moreno, Isabela Island
Morning: After a hike through the mangroves in search of sea turtles, we go ashore in the morning amidst a landscape dominated by the huge volcanoes in the south of Isabela Island, some of which are still active. The rugged trail winds inland from the coast, giving us ample opportunity to observe unique lava formations, pioneer lava cacti and interesting scale trees, as well as plenty of wildlife: Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, brown pelicans, herons, sea lions, marine iguanas and dozens of Sally Lightfoot crabs. The inland lagoons are home to Bahama Sharp-tailed Ducks, Black-winged Stilts, Galapagos Flamingos and even Galapagos Hawks and Mockingbirds. After our walk, we can go to our glass-bottom boats or snorkel in the deep water.
Punta Mangle, Fernandina Island
Afternoon: On the other side of Fernandina Island, we board our pangas (inflatable boats) in the afternoon to explore the coastline of the archipelago's youngest ecosystem, a pristine, untouched world of tiny bays, tall mangroves (mangle is the Spanish word for mangrove) and quiet coves, home to tiny Galapagos penguins and green-eyed flightless cormorants lolling on the black rocks of the coast. Below the waves, rays and sea turtles may glide by. The nutrient-rich waters of the Bolivar Channel, which separates the islands of Fernandina and Isabela, attract dolphins and whales. With a bit of luck, we may see them. Depending on the sea conditions, we end our visit with a glass-bottom boat ride or a deep-water snorkelling tour.
Day 6
Islet of Eden
Morning: A panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we can see blue-footed boobies, reef sharks and frigate birds. There is the opportunity to snorkel and, weather permitting, take a glass-bottom boat ride. The volcanic scenery of this area is simply breathtaking.
North Seymour Island
Afternoon: North Seymour was formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which deposited layers of lava on the ocean floor. An approximately two-hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles and sea lions. You will also encounter land iguanas, and on a lucky day, you might even come across the endemic Galapagos Snake.
Day 7
Departure from Baltra Island
After breakfast you will be transferred to Baltra airport or continue your journey in the Galapagos Islands.