Day 1: San Cristobal Airport - Breeding Center Jacinto Gordillo
In the morning you will arrive at San Cristobal Airport. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by the Majestic staff and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.
In the afternoon, you will visit the David Rodriguez Breeding Centre. It is a new visitor site in the southest part of San Cristobal Island and can now be reached in roughly one hour by road from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. On the trees and shrubs surrounding the site, you may see land birds like warblers, finches and mockingbirds. Giant tortoises can be observed on the trails. They live there wild but in a protected area to ensure their survival by sealing them off from introduced predators like pigs and goats.
Day 2: North Seymour - Black Turtle Cove
In North Seymour you will be able to see Galapagos sea lions, land iguanas, blue-footed boobies,magnificent and great frigate birds which are abundant on this island. North Seymour was formed by a series of submarine lava flows containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.
In the afternoon you will visit Black Turtle Cove in the northern part of Santa Cruz. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a haven for young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.
Day 3: Bartolome Island - Santiago: Egas Port
Your first visit today is to Bartolome Island. Home to the famous Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome consits of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. A trail of stairs leads to the summit of the volcano, boasting one of the best views of the islands. The beach is perfect for snorkelling and possible sightings of the Galapagos penguin.
The afternoon will take you to Egas Port. Also known as James, Bay, Egas Port is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to a coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos fur sea lions bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkelling site.
Day 4: Isabela: Tagus Cove - Isabela: Urbina Bay
In the morning, you will visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island which is located across from Fernandina Island, near the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s, using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views.
In the afternoon, you will go to Urbina Bay which is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954 causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkelling.
Day 5: Isabela: Espinosa Point - Fernandina: Vicente Roca Point
In the morning, you will cross the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina Islands, landing at Espinosa Point. You will disembark and head off an a walk, passing a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, to reach the island's highlight: a flightless cormorant nesting site. This area is also a great spot to see the famous Galapagos hawk.
In the afternoon, your visit is to Vicente Roca Point comprised of two separate coves. This site is a large bay full of spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola Mola (or sunfish).
Day 6: Santiago: Espumilla Beach or Buccaneer Cove - Sullivan Bay
In the morning, visit is to Espumilla Beach where marine iguanas lounge and the Sally Lightfoot crab attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkelling is highly recommended as you could find yourself face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark and a variety of other species of tropical fish.
The afternoon visit takes you to Sullivan Bay located on the southeast part of Santiago. This place is interesting for its geology because the area is covered by lava flows. This place has elevations in form of small volcanoes, formed by the lava flows.
Day 7: Santa Cruz: Bachas Beach - Santa Cruz: Giant Land Tortoises Breeding Centre
In the morning, you will visit Bachas Beach,located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest on the beach.
Your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Centre takes place this afternoon. The centre is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches to 4-feet long. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept until they are about 4 years old and strong enough to survive on their own.
Day 8: San Cristobal: Kicker Rock - Transfer to San Cristobal Airport
In the morning, you will visit Kicker Rock. This striking rock formation is located a couple hours off the western shore of San Cristobal. Jutting out of the water, the rocks stand vertically at hundreds of feet above the ocean divided by a small channel.
After visiting Kicker Rock, you will transfer to the San Cristobal airport to catch your flight to Guayaquil or Quito on mainland Ecuador.
