Floreana (Punta Cormorant)
We will have a wet landing on a green beach formed by olivine crystal. We will go along a well-signaled path, right passing the mangrove swamp of different species, and will take us to a lagoon where is one of the biggest flamingo rookeries of Galapagos. Floreana Island is famous for its endemic fauna; for example, lecocarpus, lignum vitae and scalecia villosa.

At the end of the path, there is a white-sanded beach where we can find turtles, which come every year to lay their eggs; we can see that by the footprints on the sand, and their nests. At the green beach, we can do snorkeling accompanied by sea lions. Here is one of the most visited places to do this activity: The Devil’s Crown.

Floreana (Post Office)
Floreana is one of the most interesting islands due to its history. In 1793, North American and European whalers came here with the aim of obtaining water and turtle meat. To contact their relatives, they put their letters into a barrel which was carried by the ships that sailed back to their country of origin.

This is still a custom nowadays; the travelers write letters that are taken by others. We will find a tunnel, formed by streams of lava, where we have to be very careful when descending. In this path, we will see the hood mockingbird, Darwin's finch, Marias canary and lava lizard. After sailing on a motor boat, we will have a dry landing to visit the viewpoint and enjoy a beautiful landscape surrounded by sea birds.

Seymour Norte
After the dry landing on North Seymour Island, we will have the opportunity to see seagulls and sea lions which are plentiful around the island. This island is famous for the breeding of blue-footed boobies that takes place here, and for having the biggest rookery of magnificent frigate birds.

Then we will watch sea animals and endemic iguana species.We will disembark at Baltra Island to go by bus to the airport and fly to Quito or Guayaquil. We will set out from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra airport in Galapagos. Then we will head for the quay to get on the M/V Galapagos Coral

Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill)
We will visit Dragon Hill. After a dry landing, we will visit the salt-water lagoon, situated near the beach which is often visited by pink flamingoes. We will cross a lignum vitae forest to walk along a path to the top of Dragon Hill, where we can appreciate the unique view of the whole bay. In this area, the land iguanas are bred; this species was introduced by Charles Darwin Scientific Station.

Santa Cruz (Venecia)
We will sail on boat along the coast of Santa Cruz Island. The land iguanas that live in Venecia have been protected against wild dogs which live in Santa Cruz Island. On Santa Cruz, we will have the opportunity to see the vegetation and sea animals such as the red mullet, eagle ray, gold ray, white pointer shark and turtle that live in the calm waters of coves and channels.

Rábida (Jarvis)
We will have a wet landing on a red-sanded beach; this color is due to the oxidation of iron, element that is plentiful in the island. Rabida Beach is visited by sea lions and blue-footed boobies. We will go through a path that will take us to a salt-water lagoon with mangrove swamps, and where we will see flamingoes very occasionally.

From July to September, the brown pelican nest in the salt mountains. During the trekking, we will have the opportunity to see Darwin's finches; when we get back to the beach, we can do some snorkeling activities.

Santiago (Puerto Egas)
Puerto Egas is situated in the north of Santiago Island; there we will have a wet landing on a black beach formed by the erosion of volcanic lava. At the end of 1950s and beginning of 1960s, Hector Egas, who was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, lived in this place to extract salt from a mine located at 3km from the beach. Today we can see the remains of Egas' old factory; they had to leave the island because they went bankrupt.

Fernandina (Punta Espinoza)
After disembarking at Punta Espinoza, we will go to see the rookeries of the biggest marine iguanas of the archipelago, besides watching red crabs or zayapas (Grapsus grapsus), which are colorful crabs.

We will watch not flying cormorants, Galapagos penguins and sparrow hawks, and sea lions. Here we can see volcanic formations such as Brachycereus cactus and lava formations such as pa-hoe-hoe and AA lava. And finally, we will see the mangrove swamps.

Isabela (Tagus Cove)
We will have a dry landing on the biggest island in Galapagos. We will learn about the 5 volcanoes that formed this island. We will go along the path that will take us to the Darwin salt-water lagoon, where we will enjoy a spectacular view of the volcanic formations. Here we can watch Galapagos penguins.

Bartolome
We will have a dry landing. On the island, we will watch volcanic lava bombs and volcanic ash cones. At the top, we can enjoy a wonderful view of the neighboring islands; we can also see the eroded rock Pinaculo.

When descending, we will find lava lizards and autochthonous plants such as tiquilla and local cactus. We will have the opportunity to swim under water (snorkeling) and watch Galapagos penguins, turtles and white pointer sharks.

Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Station)
Charles Darwin Station is formed by scientists from around the world that do biological research and projects on species preservation. An example of this is the program on the breeding in captivity of giant turtles and their offspring.

On the island, we can see giant cactus and land birds. After visiting the station, we will stroll around the town.We will disembark at Baltra Island to go by bus to the airport and fly to Quito or Guayaquil.


NOTE: This cruise through Galapagos Island can depart from Santa Cruz Island on Sunday and arrive at Darwin Station the following Sunday or depart from North Seymour Island on Wednesday to Floreana Island. Departures on Sundays and Wednesdays.