Tour Galapagos Cruise - Discover Southeast, North & West Islands

Accommodation

10 cabins await for you aboard the Monserrat: 6 located on the Upper Deck and 4 on the Lower Deck.

Transport

Bus Transportation as well as Dinghy boat rides to access remote islands is included.

Others

Snorkeling equipment Kayak use Stand Up Paddleboards use

Guide

All excursions are included with a Galapagos National Park Guide (certified by the Galápagos National Park Authority). (Spanish/English, IF NEED IT IN OTHER LANGUAGE, PLEASE LET US KNOW)

Meals

All meals are included ( 10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners)

Not included:

Insurance

Passengers are expected to bring insurance

Optional

Wetsuit Rental Equipment is not included in cruise rate.

Flights

Mainland Ecuador / Galapagos airfare is not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Airport / Tijeretas Hill/Int.Center (Monday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Airport / Tijeretas Hill/Int.Center (Monday)

San Cristóbal

Catch an early flight to San Cristóbal Island. In the afternoon, visit Tijeretas, a

great viewpoint and our first wildlife encounter. Learn about the origins of the

Galapagos at the Interpretation Center.

Interpretation Center Visit (PM)

San Cristóbal Island (1h-2h)

Learn about the history of the Galápagos Islands from the very beginning of

their volcanic origins through to today’s conservation efforts. Tour the Human

History exhibit to learn about the islands’ discovery and colonization, and

discover the natural history and variety of flora and fauna that make the

Galápagos so fascinating.

Tijeretas Hill (PM)

This hill bears its name thanks to the frigate birds as “Tijeretas” is how people

locally call them. Here we will enjoy from a great view of beautiful landscapes

at the foot of a frigate bird nesting colony.
Day 2 Day 2: Bahía Gardner / Punta Suárez (Tuesday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Bahía Gardner / Punta Suárez (Tuesday)

Enjoy the day on Española Island, one of the oldest in the archipelago. Visit the white sandy beach of Gardner Bay’s and the bird colonies of Punta Suárez.

Arriving at Gardner Bay’s in the morning, spend the day exploring on shore and snorkelling at Gardner Island in the bay. After lunch, sail to the western side of the islands to Punta Suárez, known for its amazing bird colonies and home to the waved albatross (April and December).

Gardner Bay Visit (AM)

Bahía Gardner (1h-3h)

Visit Gardner Bay’s magnificent white sandy beach, home to sea lions and sea birds. Be sure to explore the beautiful turquoise water and its incredible sea life. Spot young sea lions and large schools of surprisingly big tropical fish, including yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrot fish.

Snorkelling (Gardner Bay) (AM)

Bahía Gardner45m-1h

Head to Tortuga Rock and Gardner Bay for a spectacular snorkelling experience. Spot playful young sea lions and large schools of tropical fish, including yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, and bump-head parrot fish. Look for white-tipped reef sharks napping on the bottom.

Punta Suárez Visit (PM)

Punta Suárez

Visit Punta Suárez, one of most rich wildlife landing sites in the Galápagos. Be greeted by surfing young sea lions on arrival. Head to the trail to find many species of nesting sea birds, and, if lucky, see the waved albatross. Follow the path up to a cliff for great views over the ocean, and watch sea birds gliding in the wind.
Day 3 Day 3: Cormorant Point/Floreana Island (Wednesday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Cormorant Point/Floreana Island (Wednesday)

Land at Punta Cormorant on Floreana. Guided walks to observe the bird and wildlife and learn about the natural history. Snorkelling excursion at Champion Islet. Visit Post Office Bay.

Punta Cormorant Visit (AM)

Floreana Island

Visit Punta Cormorant, the only landing site on Floreana Island, and discover two amazingly different beaches: one with green sand, coloured by olivine crystals, and another with white sand particles known as ’Flour Beach’. Spend the afternoon observing flamingos and other shore birds feeding in the lagoon. Spot penguins and marine iguanas at the water’s edge, and explore the lava tubes with the Galápagos CEO.

Snorkelling (Champion Islet) (AM)

Champion Islet

Jump on in and get up close and personal with the playful sea lion colony that reside in the waters off this tiny island. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays and colourful fish swimming by. There can be currents in this area, this activity should be done by strong swimmers only.

Post Office Bay Visit (PM)

Floreana Island

Visit Post Office Bay and learn about its unique history. In the late 18th century, English whaling vessels placed a barrel here to be used as a post office. Today, the box is used mainly by tourists, who may drop off and pick up unstamped letters to be carried to far destinations. Continue the tradition – leave a letter and take one to deliver (be sure it makes it to the correct location
Day 4 Day 4: Darwin Station / Highlands (Thursday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Darwin Station / Highlands (Thursday)

Spend the day exploring the island of Santa Cruz. Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre and take an afternoon excursion to the highlands to see giant tortoises in the wild and learn about the volcanic formations of the islands.

Charles Darwin Research Station Visit (AM)

Puerto Ayora (45m)

Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened.

This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos’ ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.

Free Time

Puerto Ayora

Spend some time walking around the small town of Puerto Ayora. Visit a local fish market or buy some souvenirs and discover how people live in the Galapagos.

Santa Cruz Highlands Excursion (PM)

Santa Cruz Island (2h-3h)

Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz and see the Galápagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. Explore the area and its incredible underground lava tunnels – some are more than 1km (.6 mi) long! Wander along the volcanic tubes and keep an eye out for the (mainly) nocturnal barn owls that sometimes roost here.
Day 5 Day 5: Dragon Hill / Chinese Hat (Friday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Dragon Hill / Chinese Hat (Friday)

This morning we visit Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz to see land

Iguanas and a saltwater lagoon frequented by flamingos and other species of

birds. In the afternoon, the boat arrives at a small uniquely shaped island off the

southern tip of santiago called Chinese Hat. Here it is often possible to see

galápagos penguins, and the marine life is fantastic for snorkelling. There is

also a large sea lion colony as well as many marine iguanas that can be seen

while walking amongst the volcanic scenery. Trek to see good views of the

island’s volcano.

Dragon Hill (AM) (1h-3h)

Visit Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) for some prime birdwatching. Take a short walk

from the beach to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon frequented by

pink flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. Pass

through a Scalesia tree forest; endemic to the area, there are only 400

specimens of Scalesia trees left in the world.

Chinese Hat Visit (PM) (1h-2h)

Explore Chinese Hat’s beautiful landscape and spectacular white-coral sand

beach followed by snorkeling with sea lions and penguins and swimming

opportunities in the cove.

Snorkelling (Chinese Hat) (PM)

Chinese Hat (45m-1h)

Snorkel right from the white-coral sand beach and come face to face with

playful sea lions and large schools of tropical fish. Keep an eye out for marine

iguanas and penguins too!
Day 6 Day 6: El Barranco / Darwin Bay (Saturday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: El Barranco / Darwin Bay (Saturday)

Today we will be visiting the beautiful and remote Genovesa Island. This

northern island, famous for its red-footed colony, is a paradise for bird lovers. It

is estimated that about 200,00 Red-footed boobies live on this island.

Prince Phillips’s Steps (AM) (2h)

El Barranco or Prince Phillips’s Steps as otherwise known, was named after a

visit by the British Monarch in 1964. El Barranco’s steep 81-foot stairway leads

up to a high cliff-face that opens out onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay.

Here an amazing view can be appreciated. Once at the top of the stairway we

will meet Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds, and finches along

the way of a palo santo trail. It will also be possible to see wedge-rumped storm

petrels swarm and short-eared owls.

Darwin Bay (PM) (1 1⁄2h)

Darwin bay was formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island,

another name used for Genovesa. After landing at a small sand and coral

beach, it easy to realize why this island is a bird lover paradise. Among the bird

species found here, the most common are swallow-tailed and lava gulls,

mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos doves and

yellow warblers. We will continue on a short and flat trail to encounter red-

footed booby and great frigatebird nests. We will visit a tidal lagoon where sea

lions swim playfully ending our path on a cliff with magnificent views of this

remote part of the Galapagos.
Day 7 Day 7: Black Turtle Cove / Bachas Beach (Sunday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Black Turtle Cove / Bachas Beach (Sunday)

Take a morning panga ride and look for marine life in Black Turtle Cove. In the

afternoon visit Bachas Beach. Here you can relax and swim on its crystalline

waters. This site also gives visitors the opportunity to see frigatebirds, blue-

footed boobies, and sea lions.

Black Turtle Cove Excursion (AM)

Black Turtle Cove

Explore the mangroves by panga to find rich marine wildlife between the fresh

and salt waters. Keep any eye out for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil

ecosystem. Whitetip reef sharks can also be seen gliding by.

Bachas Beach Landing (PM)

Bachas Beach (2h)

Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it

soft and white, and a favourite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally

Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water’s edge -- these crabs will eat

anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife,

including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and sea lions.

Snorkelling (AM)

Bachas Beach (45m-1h)

Go snorkelling or swimming right off the white sand beach of Las Bachas. Spot

all sorts of marine wildlife in its shallow waters and tidal pools. Bachas is also

one of the most important beaches for the green turtle as a nesting site.
Day 8 Tag 8: Us Cove / Urbina Bay (Monday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Tag 8: Us Cove / Urbina Bay (Monday)

After a long journey from the central part of the Galapagos, we will arrive to the

pristine and remote West of the archipelago. Our visits today are Tagus Cove

and Urbina Bay on the west of Isabela Island, where we will have our first

encounters with flightless cormorants, penguins, giant tortoises and beautiful

landscapes and amazing snorkeling opportunities.

Tagus Cove (AM)

Tagus Cove is located on the Northwestern coast of Isabela. It is a historical

site visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, where graffiti has been carved into the

rock walls by visitors over the past centuries. This spot has been frequented by

whalers and pirates since the 1800s that used the area as anchorage. The

name of the site dates back to 1814 when it was visited by a British ship, The

Tagus, which had anchored there in search of giant tortoises to be used as

food supply on the boat.

Here, we will admire a variety of seabirds, such as blue-footed booby, brown

noddy, terns, flightless cormorant and Galapagos penguins depending on the

season. Occasionally you might see woodpecker finches, the Galapagos hawk,

the yellow warbler or a large-billed flycatcher. After a dry landing one, we can

climb up the trail to visit Darwin ’s Lake. The lake is located on the slopes of

Darwin Volcano and is, surprisingly, a salt water lake above sea level. Our

naturalist guide will tell you what are the different scientific theories for this

occurrence. Meanwhile, in our snorkeling there are chances to see

sharks, turtles and sea stars. You may also see various different types of

colorful fish.

Urbina Bay (PM)

Urbina Bay is a fascinating visitor site that came to be as the shallow sea

bottom uplifted in 1954 showing a large coral reef sticking up above sea level.

Because of this, Urbina Bay is one of the newest features in the Galapagos.

This visitor site is located at west of Isabela and provides spectacular views of

the Alcedo volcano. The long trail starts on the beach where a wet landing is

made. In this location, you will likely see wild Galapagos Giant

Tortoises and Galapagos Land Iguanas. As the trail circles back towards the

shore line you’ll come across colonies of the unique Galapagos Flightless

Cormorant which lost its ability to fly. This is also a great spot for snorkeling, as

you can come close to a Galapagos Penguin Colony and see Galapagos

Marine Iguanas feeding underwater.
Day 9 Day 9: Espinoza Point / Vicente Roca Point (Tuesday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Espinoza Point / Vicente Roca Point (Tuesday)

Today we visit the most western visitor site of the Galapagos, Espinoza Point

in Fernandina Island. This island is also one the most pristine on the

archipelago as no foreign species have been introduced. On the afternoon, we

will visit Vicente Roca Point, on Isabela Island, famous for its rich underwater

sea life thanks to its location on the Bolivar Channel.

Espinoza Point (AM)

Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island is one of the most pristine islands in the

world, with none of man’s introduced species to date. From here we can see

the island of Isabela across the Bolívar Channel, an area that boasts some of

the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. Fernandina is the

youngest of the Galapagos Islands and a visitor favorite.

When landing, check out the tidal pools where there is abundance of sea life,

including small fish and mollusks. If we are lucky, a sea turtle or ray may be

trapped in the pools. A little further ahead we will pass through some marine

iguana burrows and sea lion colonies. The trail continues to where several

flightless cormorants have their nests. This remarkable bird is only found in

western Galapagos, and experts estimate that they may only be a few hundred

individuals in total.

Vicente Roca Point (PM)

Vicente Roca Point has great deep-water snorkeling at one of the richest

marine havens on Earth (Bolivar Channel). Vicente Roca Point is renowned for

its Galápagos green turtles, which are very numerous on the bay. Although the

spot is known for its high concentration of green turtles, sharks and rays can

also be observed when underwater visibility is good. We take a dinghy ride

along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and coastal birds; Nazca

and blue-footed boobies, noddies, brown pelicans, penguins, flightless

cormorants. The upwelling of coldwater currents in this part of the Galapagos

gives rise to an abundance of marine life. Our snorkeling will takes us along

the cliffs and offers the chance of exploring two shallow underwater caves with

rich marine wildlife.
Day 10 Day 10: Puerto Egas / Buccaneer Cove (Wednesday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Puerto Egas / Buccaneer Cove (Wednesday)

Morning excursion to Puerto Egas to see the salt crater as well as a dark sand

beach and tidal pools. Continue to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic

beaches in the Galápagos Islands, which boasts thick mangroves and flamingo

and sea turtle nesting sites. Head to Buccaneer Cove to witness the towering

cliff wall rock formations.

Santiago Island has seen its share of human activity from whalers and pirates

over the years, and despite the introduction of goats to the island many years

ago, the wildlife of Santiago has otherwise flourished and provides outstanding

viewing opportunities. The island boasts marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals,

land and sea turtles, among others. Enjoy great wildlife viewing both on land

and in the water.

Puerto Egas Visit (AM)

Puerto Egas

Explore the spectacular shoreline of Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay.

Spot a great number of shore birds and reptiles – the beach area is home to a

plethora of wildlife.

Snorkelling (Puerto Egas) (AM)

Puerto Egas (45m-1h)

Grab a snorkel and jump into the water right off the beach to explore Puerto

Egas’ interesting underwater world. Keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles, and

reefsharks while snorkelling. After, visit the large tidal pool area – marine

iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs are everywhere.

Playa Espumilla Excursion (PM)

Playa Espumilla

Head to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic beaches in the Galápagos

Islands, which has thick mangroves and sea turtle nesting sites.

Buccaneer Cove Visit (PM)

Jump into the panga and cruise alongside high cliffs and rock formations on this

visit to Buccaneer Cove, which was a favourite hideout for pirates looking to

stock up their boats with food and water. Spot sea lions relaxing on the beach

and sea birds nesting in the cove – there’s lots to see at this site.
Day 11 Day 11: North Seymour / Baltra Airport (Thursday)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: North Seymour / Baltra Airport (Thursday)

Baltra

Visit North Seymour for guided walks to observe birds and wildlife, including

vast sea lion colonies. Disembark at Baltra for flight back to Ecuador mainland.

North Seymour Island Visit (AM)

Have an amazing wildlife experience visiting North Seymour Island – this island

is teeming with life! Follow trails to see all the action (you may need to give way

to a passing sea lion or marine iguana while walking). See blue-footed booby

nests where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Head to a rocky shore

to see flocks of pelicans having lunch in a dive bomb feeding frenzy, then turn

inland to a large nesting site of magnificent frigate birds. These huge, dark

acrobats have two-metre (6.5 ft) wingspans, and males, with their puffed-up

scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their

equally large chicks. Top off the excursion with a snorkel among sea lions and

rays.

11 days tour

Galapagos Cruise - Discover Southeast, North & West Islands

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Galapagos Cruise - Discover Southeast, North & West Islands

Day 1: Airport / Tijeretas Hill/Int.Center (Monday)

Day 2: Bahía Gardner / Punta Suárez (Tuesday)

Day 3: Cormorant Point/Floreana Island (Wednesday)

Day 4: Darwin Station / Highlands (Thursday)

Day 5: Dragon Hill / Chinese Hat (Friday)

Day 6: El Barranco / Darwin Bay (Saturday)

Day 7: Black Turtle Cove / Bachas Beach (Sunday)

Tag 8: Us Cove / Urbina Bay (Monday)

Day 9: Espinoza Point / Vicente Roca Point (Tuesday)

Day 10: Puerto Egas / Buccaneer Cove (Wednesday)

Day 11: North Seymour / Baltra Airport (Thursday)

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