Solaris

AM: Flight to Baltra Airport (GPS)

Arrival at Baltra Airport and transfer in. You will have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage will be inspected

PM:  Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)

Strolling along its coastline, the blinding white Bachas Beach appears full of natural life. It is one of the most important breeding sites for Pacific green turtles.

AM: Tintoreras

This group of jagged rocky islets is just off the coast of Puerto Villamil forms one of most stereotypical sites of the Galapagos.

PM: Wetlands, Tortoise breeding centre (Isabela)

The wetlands and brackish lagoons of Isabela are among the best places to spot aquatic, wading and shore birds.

In the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes (the vulnerable hatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand)!

AM: Moreno Point

Fresh, promising greens of pioneer vegetation contrast strongly with the dead, pitch-black lava flow that once reached the ocean at Moreno Point.

PM: Mangle Point / Tagus Cove

Tagus Cove is a historical anchorage at the northern entrance of Bolivar Channel (between Isabela and Fernandina).

AM: Espinoza Point

Westernmost Fernandina harbours one of the world’s most virgin, untouched ecosystems, and is another crown jewel of Galapagos.

PM: Vicente Roca Point

The impressive cliffs and coves of Vicente Roca Point are an excellent backdrop for a thrilling dinghy ride. Just three minutes of a degree south of the equator you can encounter a family of endemic Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants along the shoreline.

AM: Espumilla Beach & Buccaneer Cove

Espumilla Beach is a visitor’s site at the northern end of James Bay. This beach has been revived as an important breeding site for turtles, as it is no longer suffering from digging wild pigs.

PM: Puerto Egas

Puerto Egas is historical, and the favourite site on Santiago for wildlife lovers; and it’s even the best place in the archipelago to observe Galapagos fur seals.

AM: Rabida

Upon landing at this remarkable red beach a large bachelor colony of Galapagos sea lions will usually welcome you.

PM: Chinese Hat

Though recently born out of fire, the volcanic islet Chinese Hat does not appear to be any more inhospitable than Bartolomé and lunatic Sullivan Bay. This tiny, rusty-coloured islet is just beginning to sprout.

AM: Charles Darwin Research Station

The most memorable part of the Charles Darwin Research Station will probably be the successful breeding centre and its celebrity ‘Lonesome George’.

Transfer to Baltra Airport

Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we will take the airport shuttle. Your guide will accompany you to the check-in counters in the departure hall.

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport

Arrival at Baltra Airport and transfer in. You will have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage will be inspected.

PM: Highlands

Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through pastures in the agricultural zone and in the transition zone of adjacent El Chato Tortoise Reserve.

AM: North Seymour

North Seymour is another highlight of your cruise. In the archipelago’s most extensive seabird breeding colony you can walk at a very short distance from frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies.

PM: Mosquera

Mosquera stands out for having one of the largest concentrations of Galapagos sea lions in the entire archipelago.

AM: Darwin Bay

As one of the outer islands and most exclusive places on the Galapagos, Genovesa is well worth last night’s longer navigation. This compact site in the heart of its flooded crater shows the extremely varied coastal ecosystems of the Galapagos in miniature; nearly too much for a single day.

PM: Prince Phillip’s Steps

Not only because of its historical English name (Tower) Genovesa has a royal touch. Follow in the footsteps of Prince Philip – Galapagos lover for many years – and visit this favourite birding spot with the largest breeding colonies of red-footed and Nazca boobies, and look for the remarkable short-eared owl that hunts on foot!

AM: South Plaza

Popular South Plaza is not to be missed! This bizarre ‘Jurassic islet’ is the best place to see the emblematic ‘Galapagos dragons’, which crawl across it.

PM: Barrington Bay

Practically every animal on Santa Fe is unique; endemic to the Galapagos, or even to this island alone and extremely vulnerable! This extraordinary island is a remnant of probably the most ancient volcano of the Galapagos.

AM: Witch Hill

Enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the lovely setting of Witch Hill’s crescent-shaped natural beach of soft powdery sand.

Transfer to San Cristobal Airport

Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we take the airport shuttle. Your guide will accompany you until the check-in counters in the departure hall

AM: Arrival at San Cristobal Airport

Arrival at San Cristobal  Airport and transfer in. You have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage will be inspected

PM: Colorado Hill

One thing becomes clear on your visit to the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding centre on Colorado Hill: it’s hard work to save the last local giants of San Cristobal

AM: Gardner Bay

Being one of the crown jewels of the Galapagos, Española gives you the exclusive opportunity to become an eyewitness of evolution.

PM: Suarez Point

Española’s western tip is a true birdwatcher’s and photographer’s dream. Feel as though you’re within an exciting nature documentary, and take a short hike past colourful marine iguanas.

AM: Cormorant Point

Please don’t expect flightless cormorants at Cormorant Point (they live exclusively in West Galapagos). Instead, you may have the only opportunity in the East to spot Galapagos penguins from the dinghy, or a flamingo lagoon against the pockmarked backdrop of extinct tuff cones and scented palo santo bushes.

PM: Post Office Bay & Baroness Lookout

Bring your postcards and post them in the peculiar traditional barrel on this historic site that seems to be located at the end of the world.

AM: Sullivan Bay

Sullivan Bay is incomparable to any other visitor’s site; setting foot at the recently solidified lava flow is like landing on the moon!

PM: Bartholomew

This tiny volcano islet is just recently born out of fire. Enter its wild romantic setting of spatter cones and craters, and see the most famous panorama of the Galapagos.

AM: Black Turtle Cove

This beautiful and tranquil bay is actually not a landing site, but is the ideal spot for a dinghy (panga) exploration.

Transfer to Baltra Airport

Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we take the airport shuttle. Your guide will accompany you until the check-in counters in the departure hall