NATural history TOURS
13 day ADVENTURE - what makes this trip special?
2 nights in Quito - with a Quito World Heritage city day tour
domestic flights included, as are airport transfers to Galapagos and back
10 nights on board following an itinerary designed to expose you to a very wide range of Galapagos ecosystems and wildlife
Early starts and late afternoon excursions for best wildlife viewing
2 naturalist guides on the ship - for a rare 8:1 guest-to-guide ratio, ensuring versatility and greater personal attention
16 guests maximum on a ship built for 20
Evening presentations on diverse natural history topics relevant to the adventures you’ve had that day
Uninterrupted itinerary - no picking up / dropping guests on a shorter trip, no repeat lectures by the naturalist guides
Complimentary US$200,000 emergency medical evacuation insurance for all our guests
Carbon Offsets purchased on your behalf - mitigation carbon emission impacts
Itinerary
Day 1: On arrival at Quito's airport (typically in the evening). You can either arrange your transport independently to the hotel (there is a very efficient taxi service at the airport) or we can arrange for a private transfer (not included). You will be staying at the lovely Mama Cuchara boutique hotel for the next 2 nights.
Your comfortable lodgings in Quito
Day 2: We’ve arranged for a Quito City day tour today. This UNESCO World Heritage city is the loveliest of all South American capital cities. You’ll appreciate having this time to recuperate from your trip to Ecuador - and as buffer against any travel issues on the way.
Day 3 AM: We transfer early to the aiprort, taking you from the High Andes, to another world; the Galapagos Islands.
Our Classic 11-Day cruise routing
Day 3 PM: On arrival in Galapagos we will immediately transfer to the ship waiting at the nearby harbor. This afternoon we will begin our program of shore excursions with a visit to Isla Lobos.
Day 4: ESPANOLA - Punta Suarez is a paradise for birders, with waved albatross, Nazca Boobies, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos Hawks, Galápagos Doves, and also marine iguanas (the most colorful in the islands) all vying for center stage. • Gardner Bay is a tranquil white sandy beach known for sea lions (often numbering in the hundreds), lava lizards, finches, yellow warblers, & Hood Mockingbirds, to name just a few. • Gardner or Tortuga Rocks offer great snorkeling, as well as the occasional chance to kayak.
Day 5: FLOREANA – Punta Cormorant is one of the most interesting landings in Galápagos, on an olivine beach, with an emphasis on unique plant life and shore birds. A large brackish lagoon is home to flamingos, pintail ducks, and commons stilts. Flour Sand Beach here is a favorite nesting beach for the Green Sea Turtle. Offshore Champion Islet offers great snorkeling as well as a chance to spot the endemic Charles Mockingbird from the zodiacs. • Post Office Bay is one of the most historically famous sites - be sure to bring a postcard or two ashore with you to "mail" from the barrel that has been in use by passing sailors for decades. • Black Beach & the Highlands are outside the national park lands, yet quite rewarding. Much of the early human history of the Galápagos, and especially the Wittmer family, played out in the highlands of Floreana. A visit to the highlands is also your only opportunity in the archipelago to search for the endemic medium tree finch. The village here is home to about 60 people, with the seaside Wittmer hotel featuring an exhibit of early photographs from sailing expeditions and explorers to call on the island.
Day 6: SANTA CRUZ - A trip to the Highlands (by mini-bus) traverses all 7 vegetation zones of the Galápagos. In addition to two enormous pit craters, other volcanic formations include some of the largest known lava tunnels in the Galápagos. Not surprisingly, the lush highland vegetation is home to a variety of land birds, including vermillion flycatchers, Galápagos Flycatchers, woodpecker finches, dark-billed cuckoos, and Barn Owls. Tortoises are often seen in the wild here. • Puerto Ayora is the scientific heart of Galápagos, including the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) and Galápagos National Park tortiose center, as well as the primary population center. This will be the only opportunity to see the rare Galapagos saddleback tortoises.
Day 7: GENOVESA – Located in the northeast portion of the Galápagos, Genovesa island is an outpost for many sea birds (as is Española to the south - perhaps this is why they are our two favorite islands). Depending on conditions we often will have a chance to snorkel and kayak within the bay. • Darwin Bay is an anchorage within a caldera, with surrounding cliffs forming the inner portion of the rim. Along the small beach there is a forest of salt bush where adjacent colonies of great frigatebirds and red-footed boobies nest. There are two endemic gull species found in Galápagos; lava gulls and swallow-tailed gulls – both frequently nest here. Tidepools are a favorite haunt of herons. • A visit to Prince Philip’s Steps begins with a panga ride along the cliffs, watching for red-billed tropicbirds and the occasional fur seal, while squadrons of frigatebirds fly overhead in their endless piratical pursuits. On shore dwarf palo santo trees are home to a colony of red-footed boobies, while Nazca Boobies nest below on the ground. Along the lava fields storm petrels fly overhead in great numbers, while short-eared owls hunt for them among the lava cracks.
Day 8: BARTOLOME / SANTA CRUZ - One of the most popular visitor sites for the panoramic views (gained by climbing 360-plus wooden stairs). The view is educational as well as inspiring; the volcanic features include lava formations such as spatter cones, cinder cones, tuff cones, hornitos, and more. There are also wonderful examples of pioneering plants and some beautiful stands of endemic lava cactus. The shoreline around Pinnacle Rock might be your best chance to snorkel with penguins, while the underwater ledges frequently shelter sleeping reef sharks. • Feel the indescribable feeling of being where no one else has Punta Bowditch is a new visitor site. Relax on a powdery beach. Snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals.
Day 9: SANTA CRUZ - Bachas Beach is known for its pristine white sand and serene turquoise waters. The name "Bachas" comes from the word "barges," referring to two abandoned World War II barges that were left there by the U.S. military. Marine iguanas, sea turtles, and a variety of birds, such as flamingos and herons, are commonly seen here. The beach's calm, shallow waters make it an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling, where you can observe colorful fish and other marine life. • Cerro Dragón, or "Dragon Hill," is named after the land iguanas, often referred to as "dragons," that inhabit the region. The landscape around Cerro Dragón is diverse, featuring dry forests, rocky terrain, and a series of saltwater lagoons. The hike up the hill provides panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the nearby coastline and the islands beyond. The terrain is rugged, with volcanic rock formations and sparse vegetation, including cacti and palo santo trees.
Day 10: SANTIAGO – James Bay/Puerto Egas is home to Fur Seal Grotto - not only a beautiful site, but this is your only chance to get close to the endemic fur seals. Some of the best tide-pooling is also here, drawing a wonderful variety of shorebirds and seabirds, with yellow-crowned night herons and American Oystercatchers being the most commonly seen. Inland you might have a chance to see painted locusts, grasshoppers, and possibly even the Galápagos snake. Galápagos flycatchers and Galápagos hawks are also common on the inland trail. The snorkeling here is in shallower water, getting you closer to the smaller sea life. • Playa Espumilla is a golden sandy beach where sea turtles nest, and ghost crabs and wading birds abound. Beyond the mangroves that frame the beach lie saline lagoons; further in you can find some of the 10 finches that inhabit Santiago, along with the vermillion and broad-billed flycatchers. • Following our hike we will explore Buccaneer Cove from the yacht. This is one of the places where Charles Darwin went ashore - a site historically used by sailers to cleans ships, hunt meat, and collect firewood and water. Impressive tuff cliffs frame the southern cove, while eroded cinder to the north has been carved by time into fanciful shapes.
Day 11: ISABELA / FERNANDINA – The cold waters approaching Punta Vicente Roca offer some of the best opportunities for whales and dolphins. Zodiac cruise and snorkel here and you may be rewarded with mola mola, penguins and turtles. • FERNANDINA - This is the youngest of the Galápagos Islands. Punta Espinosa is a wonderful visitor site, with the largest colony of marine iguanas in the islands, in addition to flightless cormorants, Galápagos Penguins, herons and Galápagos Hawks. For endemic flora the island is home to some of the best stands of Lava Cactus. This is often the best place to see marine iguanas in the water as they feed on the barely submerged rocks along the shore.
Day 12: ISABELA - Urbina Bay was the site of a dramatic volcanic uplift in 1954, where 4 miles of coastline suddenly rose nearly 15 feet, with the coastline driven three quarters of a mile farther out to sea. The marine remnants and giant coral heads are a stark reminder. Inland land iguanas, and an occasional tortoise, are often found here. Along the shore flightless cormorants and brown pelicans typically nest. We might have a chance to snorkel along the rocky bay. • Tagus Cove is a natural harbor featuring steep cliffs replete with graffiti from ship’s crews dating as far back as 1836 carved into the face. The cliffs are populated by marine iguanas, penguins, crabs, sea lions, and in the crevices outside the bay, brown noddy terns and the occasional Galápagos Martin. Ground and tree finches, hawks, yellow warblers, large-billed flycatchers and perhaps the woodpecker finch can be viewed along the way
Day 13 (AM): SANTA CRUZ - Black Turtle Cove, or "Caleta Tortuga Negra," is a tranquil and pristine mangrove estuary. It serves as a vital nursery for a variety of marine species. The water in Black Turtle Cove is remarkably clear, providing excellent visibility for observing the rich underwater life. One of the main highlights of Black Turtle Cove is its thriving population of green sea turtles, which can often be seen swimming gracefully through the water. The cove is a crucial breeding and nesting area for these turtles. In addition to sea turtles, visitors might also spot golden rays, spotted eagle rays, white-tip reef sharks, and a variety of colorful fish. . • BALTRA airport - A mid-morning departure will have us back in Quito later in the afternoon.
Day 13 (PM): Most international connecting flights leave late at night - giving you plenty of time for a connection. If you’d like to, or if you need to spend another night in Quito to catch a flight the next day, let us know and we can help booking a hotel for you.
CARE TO UNWIND IN PUERTO AYORA AFTER YOUR CRUISE? Ask us about our “leisure” option - transfer to Puerto Ayora after your cruise for 2 nights in a very comfortable hotel. Spend time in town, seeing how the locals live; enjoy local restaurants, do some shopping or just relax by the hotel pool.
Chatham mockingbird