The Galapagos

Galapagos Islands
8 Day / 7 Night Cruise aboard La Pinta From £2,929pp
Make the Galapagos Expedition the trip of a lifetime. Enjoy yacht La Pinta relaxed yet lavish expedition atmosphere; the highest service standards and an international and Ecuadorian cuisine you will never forget. Explore the wonders that Galapagos Islands offer in its amazing past volcanic activity area.

Summary Itinerary
Friday – Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Isla Lobos and Playa Ochoa (San Cristobal (Chatham Island)
Saturday – North Seymour Island and Cerro Dragon (Santa Cruz Island)
Sunday – Post Office Bay, Champion Islet (Floreana (Charles) Island)
Monday – Punta Moreno (Isabela (Albemarle) Island)
Tuesday – Highlands of Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Island, Puerto Ayora and Charles Darwin Research Station
Wednesday – Bartolome Island and Rabida Island
Thursday – Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez (Espanola (Hood) Island)
Friday – Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal (Chatham Island)

Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal [Chatham] Island)
A morning arrival at the attractive port of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of Galapagos. Transfer to board Yacht La Pinta for a welcome introductory briefing.
Isla Lobos and Playa Ochoa (San Cristobal [Chatham] Island)
These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835. Enjoy a zodiac ride along the rocky shoreline of Isla Lobos, home of Galapagos sea lions, brown pelicans and marine iguanas. Witness a small colony of frigate birds and stunning vistas of nearby Kicker Rock. A wet landing on a coralline beach (Playa Ochoa) will offer the first opportunity to swim or snorkel. Highlights ashore include the Chatham (San Cristobal) mockingbird and the Chatham lava lizard; both species are endemic to this island, and seen nowhere else in Galapagos. Back on board, enjoy the expedition plan for the next day followed by dinner.

Day 2
North Seymour Island
Today starts with a walk on North Seymour Island, one of the few uplifted islands in Galápagos Archipelago. The trail leads guests to explore colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, and swallowtail gulls. The sandy shore teems with Galápagos sea lions and marine iguanas. Vegetation is made up of cacti, Palo Santo trees and Salt Bushes.
Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) (Santa Cruz Island)
The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill). Enjoy a walk that includes a brackish water lagoon frequented by lagoon birds including stilts, pintail ducks, sandpipers and sanderlings. Further inland, take in the beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a natural nesting site for land iguanas and Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galápagos flycatcher and yellow warblers are regular sightings. In the evening the following days expedition plan will be revealed.

Day 3
Post Office Bay, Champion Islet (Floreana [Charles] Island)
Wet landing at the historic barrel that served as a post office to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. There is a possibility to snorkel or a ride on the glass-bottom boat. A zodiac ride along Champion islet may reveal the rarest land bird in Galápagos, the Charles Mockingbird.
Punta Cormorant (Floreana [Charles] Island)
Disembark at Punta Cormorant for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon and other birds like stilts and sandpipers. Return to the beach and where you can either swim or kayak, there is great snorkelling at this site. 

Day 4
Punta Moreno (Isabela [Albemarle] Island)
Witness the dramatic scenery of pahoe-hoe lava that stretches to the foot of some of the most active volcanoes in Galápagos (Cerro Azul and Santo Tomás a.k.a. Sierra Negra). Lush vegetation and brightly coloured birds are a striking contrast with the surrounding jet black lava. A dinghy ride along the shore will reveal mangrove tenants like rays, young sharks, nesting pelicans and flightless birds like penguins and the endemic cormorant.
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina [Narborough] Island)
The afternoon brings the jewel of the Galapagos National Park, and youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark for a one-mile walk and enjoy an amazing combination of barrenness with much wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant.

Day 5
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
A morning bus ride will take you to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a special opportunity to view the islands’ most famous reptile, the giant tortoises in their wild habitat.  The vegetation of the area includes the Scalesia Forest (an endemic giant daisy tree) and birds such as the vermilion flycatcher, which will delight everyone with its scarlet feathers against an emerald green forest. Look out for Darwin’s finches, particularly the famous Woodpecker Finch. Lunch is at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel in Puerto Ayora.
Charles Darwin Research Station
Witness the efforts and results of all the fieldwork undertaken at the Charles Darwin Research Station. See the rearing in captivity program for the giant tortoises, the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then take a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora, which will allow you to see how Galapagueños live in this magical paradise.

Day 6
Bartolomé Island
Disembark at Bartolomé Island for a steep hike to the summit and the effort is worth it for the view from the top. Take a dinghy ride around colossal Pinnacle Rock with time to enjoy the beach and snorkelling. There is also the possibility to ride on the glass bottom boat for great views of the underwater world.
Rabida Island (Jervis)
Disembark at Rabida Islandon, a red-coloured beach due to the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Enjoy a gratifying stroll along the beach observing a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s Finches. Very close to the beach is a salt pond where at times Greater Flamingos can be found. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. Weather permitting, enjoy stargazing from the outer deck at night.

Day 7
Gardner Bay (Española [Hood] Island)
Disembark at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch the sea lions, hood mockingbirds and finches or simply enjoy the beach, there is great snorkelling in this area.
Punta Suárez (Española [Hood] Island)
Afternoon dry landing for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (May - December), colonies of Nazca and blue-footed boobies, swallow tailed gulls and the famous blowhole. 

Day 8
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island) 
Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and take a bus ride to see the emblematic reptile of Galápagos at la Galapaguera. Enjoy the deciduous forest, land birds and endemic plants before returning to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and transferring to the airport for your flight back to the continent.

Included: accommodation, all meals, island sightseeing, naturalists and lecture services, snorkelling gear and transfers.
Not Included: air transportation to/from Galapagos, Galapagos National Park entrance fees (US$100 subject to change), migration control card (US$10 subject to change), gratuities, bar, gifts and additional items.