The Galápagos Islands are renowned for their unique wildlife and are a mecca for divers. Swim with sealions, float eye-to-eye with penguins or stand beside a blue-footed booby as it feeds its young - all within a beautiful barren, volcanic landscape.

 

Day 1 Galapagos
AM: Fly from Quito to the Galapagos and board the Galapagos Journey I. After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.
PM: Plaza Island - The main attractions of Plaza is the land iguanas, sea lions and swallow tailed gulls.

Day 2 Galapagos
AM: San Cristobal - The interpretation centre gives a very good introduction to the Galapagos islands, its marine and land life, fauna and flora. It is located on the outskirts of the small city of Pto. Baquerizo Moreno, which is the capital of the Galapagos Province. Enjoy a spectacular view of the white beaches on one side and the roofs of Puerto Baquerizo on the other.
PM: Isla Lobos (Sea Lion Islet) - Upon the rocky shores blue-footed boobies nest and sea lions rest. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and primitive beauty. This depicts a very typical Galapagos environment.

Day 3 Galapagos
AM: Española Island & Gardner Bay - Located on the northeastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming and an opportunity to observe sea lions and sharks in the crystalline waters.
PM: Española Island & Punta Suarez - This rocky point of land sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos.

Day 4 Galapagos
AM: Floreana Island & Cormorant Point - This site offers one of the largest and the best flamingo lagoons in the Galapagos and also very interesting distinct beaches; the green beach and the flour sand beach.
PM: Post Office Bay - Historically, this is the site of the wooden barrel placed by the crew of a whaling ship in the 18th century, and has since been used as a post office. It was also the landing area for some of the first colonists.

Day 5 Galapagos
AM: Santa Cruz Island & Charles Darwin Station - Learn about the protection and conservation of the islands at the National Park information centre, Van Staelen Exhibition Hall and the Breeding and Rearing Centre for young tortoises.
PM: Santa Cruz Island Highlands - With clear weather this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round.

Day 6: Galapagos
AM: Chinese Hat - A tiny, fairly recent volcanic cone, Marine iguanas cover the landscape and there is the opportunity for swimming and snorkeling in the cove.
PM: Santiago Island & Puerto Egas- Puerto Egas with its black sand beaches was the site of small salt mining industry in the 1960s. A hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to sight land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. A walk down the rugged shoreline, especially at low tide, will turn up many marine species. Iguanas bask on the rocks and sea lions laze in the tide pools. At the end of the trail there is a series of grottoes or sea caves where fur seals and night herons are found resting on shady ledges. For many, this is the only opportunity to see the Galapagos fur seal, once thought to be on the verge of extinction.

Day 7 Galapagos
AM: Santiago Island & Bahia Sullivan - This visitor site provides a unique opportunity to view a recent lava flow approximately 100 years old.
PM: Bartolome Island - A small barren island, located across Sullivan Bay off James Island. Climb to the summit of the island from where you can observe a variety of volcanic formations. Swim and snorkel from the beautiful beach and witness multi-coloured fish and occasionally penguins at the base of the tall pinnacle rock.

Day 8 Galapagos
AM: Santa Cruz Island & Bachas Beach - These two small beaches are found to the West of Turtle Cove. Their soft, white sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it a favourite nesting site for sea turtles along with being the resting place for two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War. After your visit to Bachas, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.