DAY 1 : San Cristobal - Cerro Colorado (San Cristobal)
Upon arrival at the San Cristobal airport, you will go through a checkpoint to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee. You have an appointment at 1:00 pm, with a guide who will accompany you by bus to the Turtle Protection and Growth Center of Cerro Colorado. Thanks to its visitor access and interpretation trail you will be able to observe: indigenous plants, birds including the San Cristobal mockingbird and the yellow warbler. The bus will take you to the port of Chino where you will board the bus and take a seat in your cabin. Dinner on board and overnight at sea.
DAY 2 : Plaza Sud - Santa Fe
You disembark at Plaza Sud, a small island east of Santa Cruz. Once ashore, you will be surprised to find so many plant and animal species in such a small area. You will meet land iguanas and hybrid iguanas (a cross between a marine and a land iguana) recognizable by their black colour. If you scan the cliffs, you may see fork-tailed gulls or brown pelicans. You will spend your afternoon in Santa Fe, an island of 24 km², which according to some theories is the oldest island in the archipelago. Here again, the fauna is diversified (iguanas, falcons, snakes, rice rats...). Along the coast you will also see sea lions. Dinner on board and night at sea.
DAY 3 : Champion Island - Loberia & the Asylum of Peace (Floreana)
Keep your eyes open during your crossing to Champion Island. It is common to see dolphins escorting the boat, sea lions doing some acrobatics underwater and even Pacific green turtles. After anchoring, the crew will take you to the shore in an inflatable dinghy to watch seabirds (blue-footed crabs, frigatebirds, red beaked phaetons...) but also Galapagos penguins. You will disembark on Floreana Island in the afternoon. We propose you a hike to the volcanic peak of the Asylum of Peace (450 meters above sea level). You will pass by caves formed by ancient lava flows. At the end of the day, you will take advantage of the magnificent beach of Loberia for swimming and snorkeling. Dinner on board and overnight at sea.
DAY 4 : Charles Darwin Research Center - Highlands (Santa Cruz)
How would you like to learn more about the protection and conservation of Galapagos' biodiversity? In the morning, you have an appointment at the Charles Darwin Research Centre to discover the Van Straelen Exhibition Centre and the Turtle Breeding Centre. After lunch, you will head to the Highlands, located in the centre of Santa Cruz Island. You will pass through the Miconia agricultural area and then the Fern & Sedge area. Don't forget your camera to immortalize this landscape of volcanic hills. You will also visit the twin craters (Los Gemelos) and a local ranch to observe the Galapagos giant tortoise. Dinner on board and overnight at sea.
DAY 5 : Tintoreras Islands - Arnaldo Tupiza Turtle Breeding Center
Welcome to the small Tintoreras Islands. A true refuge for wildlife. On your way, you may come across herons, penguins and sea lions. It is not uncommon to see white-tip sharks along the shore. You head back to Isabella Island, where you will visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Turtle Breeding Centre, which has saved several species from extinction. Indeed, in the 16th century, the archipelago was home to no less than 250,000 turtles, this number having risen to 3,000 in the 1970s. Today, there are more than 32 000 of them. During your excursion, you will undoubtedly be captivated by the baby turtles and their small size. Your day will end with the native botanical garden and the observation of brightly coloured birds (yellow warblers, vermillons...). Dinner on board and night at sea.
DAY 6 : Moreno Point (Isabela) - Elizabeth Bay (Isabela)
You wake up in Moreno Point, a small and quiet place located between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. We take you on a walk along a path formed by a lava flow (called Pahohoe). During your excursion, you will be able to try to identify the birds present near the mangroves. Back on board, the crew sets course for Elizabeth Bay. Upon arrival, you board a dinghy and set off to discover the Marielas islets and their penguin colony, the largest in the archipelago. Your journey continues near the red mangroves, where brown pelicans, sea turtles, sea lions, spotted and golden stingrays seem to have taken up residence. Dinner on board and night at sea.
DAY 7 : Tagus Cove (Isabela) - Espinoza Point.
After setting foot on land in pretty Tagus Creek, you take a steep path to the cliff top and Lake Darwin. Formed inside a volcanic crater, the water of the lake is saltier than the sea. Don't forget your camera because, seen from above, the scenery is breathtaking! On the cliffs, you will discover graffiti left by whalers, bushwhalers and pirates ... In the afternoon, you will reach the Espinoza Point, located at the north-east of Fernandina Island. Marine iguanas are particularly numerous there. You can watch them swimming close to the coast. You will also see a species of cormorant that does not fly. Dinner on board and overnight at sea.
DAY 8 : Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)
This morning, you set foot on the beautiful Bachas beach. Its white and particularly soft sand is the result of the decomposition of the coral. For turtles, this environment is ideal for nesting. Behind the beach, you will find a small lagoon which serves as a refuge for pink flamingos and some migratory birds. The adjacent beach is home to two barges abandoned by the United States during the Second World War. You will be transferred to Baltra airport at around 8.45 pm.