Luxury expedition - itineraries - Galapagos

SUNDAY I

When you land at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (SCY) on SAN CRISTOBAL Island, our guides will be there to greet you and escort you to your yacht by bus and Zodiac. Once you’ve boarded, you’ll have a welcome briefing and a short safety drill. As the yacht sets sail, climb to the top deck and enjoy a drink from our sun deck bar to get ready for a circumnavigation at sunset around “Kicker Rock”. Named “Leon Dormido” in spanish (Sleeping Lion), it is a geological formation; an off shore tuff volcanic cone to be precise. Its highest peak reaches about 500 feet, and so is its deepest point surrounding the rock. We find here an array of birds nesting and resting on this rock. Furthermore, we find sea lions on the rock’s flatter side basking under the sun. As we interpret things differently depending on the language we speak, we have given two names to the rock. “Leon Dormido” in Spanish, as it resembles a sleeping lion, and “Kicker Rock” in English as it also looks like a boot. An elegant multi-course dinner, prepared by our accomplished chefs and accompanied by wine, will be served, and you’ll set sail for Genovesa Island.

MONDAY II

In the morning, you’ll land at Prince Philip’s Steps, Genovesa (Tower) Island is one of the most spectacular places in Galápagos for birdwatching because of its diversity of species. Throughout the day, you’ll want to have your camera ready. Your guides will point out red-footed boobies nesting in palo santo trees, Nazca boobies nesting near the trail, and storm petrels gathering in large numbers in an open lava field. With luck, you may even get to see the elusive short-eared owl. After a BBQ lunch on the yacht’s sun deck and a demonstration on how to make Ecuadorian ceviche, you’ll have the option to explore the cliffs up close, either by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or on a deep-water snorkeling excursion from the Zodiac. Look for the red-billed tropic bird hiding in the crevices of the rock.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll land at Darwin Bay, a gorgeous coral sand beach. Here, you’ll see both swallow-tailed gulls and lava gulls gathered near the tide pools. A forest of Opuntia cactus and mangroves provide shelter for Great frigate birds. Males looking to attract a mate inflate a red pouch on their chests. Round out the afternoon by relaxing on the beach, or choose to swim with friendly, playful sea lions in these warmer northern waters. When you return to the yacht, you’ll have a short briefing followed by a delicious dinner. If the night is clear, take a stroll on the deck and enjoy the sky full of bright stars

TUESDAY III

This morning you’ll visit Las Bachas, (Spanish for barges) on the northern side of Santa Cruz. Dozens of bright pink flamingos feed on the interior lagoons, and a long white sand beach is a beautiful site for a stroll. Before returning to the yacht for lunch, you’ll have time to snorkel from the beach.

In the afternoon, when you step ashore on Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill), you’ll have a magnificent panoramic view of the bay and island landscape. You may see flamingos in the brackish lagoon, along with a variety of plants, including opuntia cactus, Palo Santo and Muyuyo trees (Cordia letea). As you walk the trail, look for Darwin’s finches, Galápagos flycatchers, yellow warblers, and Audubon shearwaters. The guides will also pause to point out birds such as stilts, pintail ducks and sandpipers. Scan the path for yellow Land iguanas, strikingly different from their marine cousins, resting in the sun. These iguanas, which are endemic to the Galapagos, were once part of the Station’s breeding program. After walking the trail, you’ll return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

WEDNESDAY IV

Begin your morning with a Zodiac ride at Punta Vicente Roca. Your skilled driver will navigate you through the wave-sculpted caves and bring you up close to the tuff walls covered in colorful Sally light-foot crabs. Don’t miss the opportunity to snorkel here, with penguins diving playfully in the water or grooming themselves on rock formations. Look for sea turtles poking their heads above water before swimming gracefully beneath the surface. After lunch, take a seat on the sun deck to enjoy the scenery as we sail through the Bolivar Channel. In addition to the dramatic scenery, you might get to see whales riding the bow wave or dolphins jumping in graceful arcs. You may even spot the Mola-Mola, an odd-looking giant sun fish with triangular fins on the top and bottom and a short, stubbly tail fin. In the afternoon, you’ll disembark at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island and see some surprising evidence of volcanic activity.

Four files of coastal seabed were exposed due to a dramatic uplift during an eruption in 1954, and some of the remaining coral skeletons still stand several feet high. A diverse collection of animal species await on the island as well, including Galápagos land iguanas, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, and the occasional giant Galápagos tortoise. When you’re finished exploring, you’ll return to the vessel for your nightly briefing and dinner. After dessert, step outside and observe the pale glow of the Milky Way. As we cross the Equator, you may get a visit from King Neptune himself! Guests of all ages will enjoy this fun filled evening and maritime ritual, our crew dress as pirates and guest participation is optional.

THURSDAY V

This morning you’re in for another geological wonder. Stop at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, the youngest and most pristine Island in Galápagos, formed by active volcanoes that stretch around the coast. With no introduced animals on this island, you can observe the ecosystem at its most pristine. Sea lion harems lie on the beach, with resident bulls carefully guarding their territory and keeping a lookout for sharks that threaten the colony’s pups. Hundreds of marine iguanas, forming the largest colony in Galapagos, warm themselves along the rugged shoreline, blending in with the dark rocks. Out on the point, your guide will show you the nests of flightless cormorants, which stay close to shore since they lost their ability to fly. You’ll have an opportunity to snorkel here, in the company of the large sea turtles that frequent the area. Return to the yacht for a BBQ lunch served on the sundeck where you’ll have a prime view for whale watching.

Your guide will offer an enrichment lecture about Charles Darwin and his Theory of evolution as well as social/environmental projects that benefit the Galápagos. After lunch, you’ll get to see some of the human history of the Galapagos when you go ashore on Tagus Cove. This was a favorite stopping point for pirates and whalers for centuries, and sections of the rocky cliffs are covered in graffiti from as far back as the 1800s. Hike at a faster pace to a saltwater lagoon and scenic overview, and take in the ocean, lava fields, and volcanic formations. You may choose to explore the shoreline of the secluded cove by kayak or paddleboard. There are many animals to see, including Galápagos penguins, boobies, pelicans and other seabirds.
Tonight, as we sail toward the geographic center of the archipelago, we’ll cross the equator for the third and final time.

FRIDAY VI

This morning, you’ll disembark on the dark red beach of Rabida (Jervis) Island. This small island is considered the geographic center of the Galápagos because its volcanic rocks are the most diversified in the archipelago. A short trail will lead you to a saltwater lagoon filled with greater flamingos. Along the way, look for marine iguanas, mockingbirds and yellow warblers. You may also see Darwin’s finches. Over a dozen species of finches
live on the islands and observing them contributed to Charles Darwin’s ideas that formed the basis for his theory of evolution. If you choose to snorkel this morning, you may be able to see a colony of sea lions or rays. Several species of rays live on the Galápagos, but golden rays and spotted eagle rays are the most common.

Guests on the Theory and Letty visit Puerto Egas on Santiago (James) Island, where you’ll stroll along the shoreline looking for octopus, starfish and other sea life caught in the tide pools. Watch out for great blue herons, lava herons, American oystercatchers and yellow-crowned night herons. At low tide, catch a glimpse of marine iguanas as they feed on exposed green algae. During mating season, green and red algae give the usually black marine iguanas beautiful coloration. The walk ends at the grottos, deep pools of clear water where you’ll encounter fur sea lions once on the verge of extinction. Before returning to the yacht, take the pportunity to snorkel from the beach. As you sail after lunch, take a seat on deck to view the dramatic landscape and dolphins that are often spotted here. Guests on the Origin have a Zodiac excursion at Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) through a series of peaceful coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves whose large roots rise out of the water. View pairs of mating sea turtles (Sept to Feb), white-tipped reef sharks and golden cow-nosed rays. We return to the vessel for the Captain’s Farewell cocktail with the crew, and dinner as well as a special presentation by your guides.

SATURDAY VII

When you wake up this morning, your yacht will be anchored in the lively harbor of Academy Bay. You’ll disembark at Puerto Ayora, SANTA CRUZ (2) Island, the social heart of the Galapagos, with a population of 24,000 residents. This morning, we’ll visit the breeding center Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena (2) and the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learn about ongoing conservation efforts from exhibits set up along the wooden trail. You’ll see hatchlings and miniature tortoises that will be repatriated by the National Park once grown. The newest exhibit honors Lonesome George, the last surviving tortoise from Pinta Island that tragically died of natural causes. With his species now extinct, Lonesome George has become a worldwide icon, emphasizing the importance of efforts to preserve and protect endangered wildlife. A more hopeful story is Diego, a saddleback tortoise whose species was reduced to 14 individuals before he was transported from the San Diego Zoo and who has since fathered hundreds of descendants.

Return to the yacht for lunch and later board a private bus for a scenic ride to the highlands of Santa Cruz passing through all seven vegetation zones with vibrant plant life at a higher elevation. Our destination is Montemar, privately-owned land devoted to the restoration of habitat for giant tortoises where they roam freely in their natural habitat. Learn about coffee growing and harvesting organic and biodynamic coffee during our exclusive visit and hike. Stroll the grounds and take in raw nature, enjoy the view and local art and handcraftsmanship on display. Return to the yacht for a delicious multi-course Captain’s farewell dinner and a presentation with highlights from your week in paradise.

SUNDAY VIII

On your last morning in the Galapagos we disembark after breakfast. As a perfect way to sum up the trip, you’ll visit the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal (1) to discover more about the human history of the Galapagos Islands. There’s also a paved trail where you can enjoy a brief walk before a bus ride to town. Guests on the Letty will have an early morning visit to Isla Lobos (5). Before your flight back to the mainland, you’ll have time for any last-minute photos or shopping. A short bus ride will get you to the airport with plenty of time for check in.

Volcanic WondersNorthern & Western RouteItinerary B8 nights, 7 days