Cormorant II Galapagos Cruise

We’ll be at the airport to welcome you this morning and to transfer you to the Cormorant II catamaran where your Galapagos adventure kicks off! On arrival we will have time to eat lunch and settle in.

After lunch we’ll take a trip on Santa Cruz Island up to the highlands. Here, well observe the breathtaking scenery at the twin craters. We’ll also visit a giant tortoise reserve for a chance to observe these mighty beasts in their natural habitat.

Galapagos Wildlife: Giant tortoise, sea lion, Darwin’s finches.

This morning you’ll wake in the Western Islands off Isabela. There may be a chance to visit either Tintoreras Islet for some snorkeling or to take a hike at the Sierra Negra volcano.

Later there is an opportunity to visit the wetlands or the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center. The former is a birdwatcher’s delight, and at the latter you may see baby giant tortoises.

Galapagos Wildlife: Common stilt, whimbrels, white cheeked pintail, gallinules, giant tortoise.

Moreno Point off Isabela Island is an excellent spot for a dinghy ride around the rocky shore to explore tidal pools and spot the fascinating birdlife here. There is a chance to hike and snorkel too

Later, at Elizabeth Bay, we can take a dinghy ride to explore the multitude of islets by boat.

Galapagos Wildlife you might see today: Flamingos, pintail duck, turtles, white tipped reef shark, gallinule, sea lion, Galapagos penguin, rays, herons, blue footed booby.

Remaining in the western archipelago, our first visit today is to Mangle Point at Fernandina Island. Here we take a dinghy ride around this inlet, and can snorkel, perhaps spotting penguins diving for food.

Returning to Elizabeth Bay on Isabela, we can learn about the unique mangrove forest here and take a dinghy ride to look for marine life.

The Galapagos species you can see today include: Sea lion, Galapagos penguin, flightless cormorant, sea turtles, blue footed booby, colorful fish.

This morning we visit Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island, a superb spot for seeing the flightless cormorant in its natural habitat, and with an opportunity for some hiking.

This afternoon we have our final visit near Isabela Island where we take a dinghy ride and snorkel off the northwestern coast at Vicente Roca Point.

Our first visit on Santiago Island this morning is to Egas Port for a pretty walk along the coast around some tidal rock pools. We can learn about the history of the island too.

This afternoon we visit Espumilla Beach or Buccaneer Cove. The former provides super snorkeling opportunities, while the latter is of great historical interest as pirates holed up here in the past, surviving on tortoise meat.

Wildlife you might see today: Fur sea lions, Galapagos hawk, lava lizard, marine iguana, Darwin’s finches, oyster catchers, reef sharks, rays, herons, eels.

First on Genovesa Island is Prince Phillip’s Steps for some hiking up a steep rocky path with a view of a cliff face and some fabulous bird watching opportunities.

Later, at Darwin Bay, after a short hike we can relax on the white sand, enjoy the stunning views, and do snorkeling or kayaking to observe the marine life.

Galapagos Wildlife you might see today: Galapagos dove, Galapagos swallow, Red footed booby, storm petrel, short eared owl, Nazca booby, swallow tailed gull, rays, hammerhead shark, reef fish.

We head to our final visitor site today, at North Seymour Island. A flat trail across the island allows us to see the fascinating birdlife here and photograph the arid vegetation.

From here we’ll make our way to the airport on Baltra Island. From here you can connect with your flight back to Ecuador and your onward journey.

Galapagos Wildlife: Land iguana, marine iguana, frigate birds, blue footed booby, sea lion.

Today you’ll arrive in the Galapagos Islands at Baltra Airport and we will transfer you to the Cormorant II, where you can get settled in.

After a delicious lunch and some time to relax we will first be Bachas Beach-bound to enjoy this delightful stretch of white sand and learn about the US military history here in World War II.

Galapagos Wildlife you might see today: Sally Lightfoot crab, black necked stilt, whimbrels, sea turtles, flamingos, hermit crabs.

You may recognize Pinnacle Rock at Bartholomew Island this morning, as it is one of the most scenic views in the islands. We will hike to the top of the island along a trail that  includes stairs to see the stunning panorama. Later we can snorkel off the island.

This afternoon at Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island we’ll relax and snorkel off a spectacular coral sand beach. There is also hiking here with a backdrop of lava scenery.

Galapagos species: Galapagos penguin, reef sharks, rays, tropical fish.

Hiking at South Plaza Island takes us past the unusual Opuntia cacti vegetation that grows here. We can photograph the large sea lion colony and watch birds that reside on the steep cliffs on this island.

Later, at Santa Fe Island, there are hiking opportunities along two trails – one along the pretty beach and the other atop the cliffs, to spot wildlife along the way.

Wildlife for this visitor site: Sea lions, Audubon’s shearwater, Nazca booby, swallow-tailed gull, land iguana.

This morning we head to San Cristobal Island for some hiking at Witch Hill. Activities abound here and we can do kayaking around the coast, snorkel or sit back on a dinghy ride, spotting wildlife.

At Pitt Point this afternoon, hiking takes us up a steep trail on the cliffs, but it is worth it for the bird watching opportunities here. After this, kayaking is one option, or snorkeling, or alternatively another informative dinghy ride.

Galapagos Wildlife you might see today: Sea lion, Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds, shore birds, sea turtles, rays, Nazca booby, blue footed booby, red footed booby, tropical fish.

This morning we have a final visit to the David Rodriguez Breeding Center for a chance to admire the giant tortoise breeding program here and see baby tortoises.

After this visit this morning, we’ll transfer you onward to San Cristobal Airport. From here you can take your flight back to Ecuador to resume your onward journey, with a lifetime of happy Galapagos memories.

Galapagos species: Giant tortoise, sea lion, blue footed booby, turtles.

Today on your arrival at San Cristobal Airport, our representative will collect you and transfer you to the Cormorant II catamaran for the start of your Galapagos journey.

After some time to settle in, and a tasty lunch we sail to Kicker Rock, your first Galapagos visitor site. The snorkeling here is excellent and there may be a chance for kayaking too at this interesting rock formation.

Galapagos Wildlife Turtles, hammerhead sharks, boobies, frigate birds, sea birds, manta rays.

Suarez Point is one of the highlights of the Galapagos Island, with its range of birdlife, the waved albatross in the right season (April through December) and its fascinating blow hole atop the cliff.

Relaxation is in order this afternoon at the spectacular white sand beach of Gardner Bay. For the more active you can also hike, snorkel, take a dinghy ride or do some kayaking here too.

The wildlife you will see on this day of your Galapagos cruise trip includes: Mockingbirds, Nazca booby, blue footed booby, Galapagos hawk, red billed tropicbird, sea lions, tropical fish.

This morning we head to Cormorant Point, and land on a green-ish tinged beach. From here a short walk allows us to see pink flamingos in the lagoon behind the beach, and another beach too, where turtles nest.

In the afternoon we visit Post Office Bay. As indicated by its name, there is an old postal system here where post is placed in a barrel and distributed onward by visitors. After seeing this there is a chance to snorkel as well.

Wildlife you might see today: Flamingos, turtles.

We just have time this morning before your flight to squeeze in one last Galapagos visitor site – to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This place is very informative about conservation in the archipelago, and there is a chance to see the giant tortoise breeding program at the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center too.

Later we will escort you to Baltra Airport, from where you can take your flight back to Ecuador and your onward journey.

Galapagos Wildlife you might see today: Seabirds, giant tortoise, land iguana.