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DAY 1 - THURSDAY: BALTRA AIRPORT – BLACK TURTLE COVE

Baltra airport. Reception at the airport. Transfer in. Welcome on board Alya Catamaran. After lunch our first visit is to Black Turtle Cove which is situated in the northern region of Santa Cruz. This bay is surrounded by mangroves and is accessible only by dinghy only. The shallow cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here. Return to Alya, dinner.  (-/L/D)

DAY 2 - FRIDAY: GENOVESA ISLAND: DARWIN BAY & BARRANCO

AM - DARWIN BAY: wet landing, coral beach, activities for this day: short walks, photography, swimming, snorkeling. Genovesa is a small island in the north of the Galapagos.  Our unloading in Darwin Bay  will be wet.  Near the beach is a mangrove swamp where we will find a colony of frigates, marine iguanas, red-footed boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, seagulls, herons, and cactus finch.  Following the land visit, our passengers can enjoy a swim in the bay.  Snacks and  refreshments are available. PM - BARRANCO: dry landing, activities: hiking. Also known as Prince Phillip’s stairs.  Here, we will go for a walk on the Barranco path. On our journey we will observe tropical birds, petrels, common  frigate, red-foot boobies, mask boobies, doves, and finches. Dinner. (B/L/D)

DAY 3 - SATURDAY: SANTIAGO ISLAND: SULLVAN BAY & BARTOLOME ISLAND

AM - SANTIAGO ISLAND - SULLIVAN BAY: wet landing and hiking. Description:  Virtually uneroded  lava flows cover an extensive area of this island.  Lava pahoehoe (basaltic lava that has a smooth,  billowy, undulating or ropy surface), hornitos, and mollugo (a lava colonizer) can be seen.  Snacks  and refreshing beverages await you on board the ship. PM - BARTOLOME ISLAND: dry landing, wet landing for the beach.  Activities on this island include:   walking, swimming, snorkeling, and photography.  We will follow a path to the top (114m) where we  can see pioneering plants such as tiquilia, chamaesyce, and scalesia.  The island has been formed by  cones, lava pipes where lava once flowed.  Following the wet landing at the beach, we will follow a  path through mangrove swamps and sand dune vegetation, to the south beach.  At the north beach,  guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling.  From the top of Bartolome, we will be able to see the  islands of Santiago, Rabida, and Isabela. We will see penguins in the Rock Pinnacle.  Dinner. (B/L/D)

DAY 4 - SUNDAY: DRAGON HILL – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: CHINESE HAT

AM - CHINESE HAT: A small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It’s shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from afar. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter”  (lava ejected as drops which fall close to where they came from, which form an inclined cone)  that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast. On the west side you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava.  This visit provides an excellent opportunity for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows.  The trail is 700 m (round trip) and the minimum time it takes for this trek is 30 minutes.Return to Alya and lunch PM - MOSQUERA: This islet is located between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the  biggest sea lion colony; it is also possible to observe several species of birds.  Enjoy the white sand  beach. Return to Alya and dinner (B/L/D)

DAY 5 - MONDAY: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: CHARLES DARWIN STATION – AIRPORT

AM - After breakfast, we will visit Charles Darwin Station which is located in the main port on Santa  Cruz Island; we will take a private bus to the entrance of the breeding center where we will see  tortoises and land iguanas in captivity.  This center is the main breeding site on the islands.  Animals  that were in danger of extinction on the various islands are maintained in captivity.  Thanks to the dedicated work of several institutions, some species are being saved. Here lived Lonesome George, the famous last survivor of the giant tortoise species found on Pinta Island.  Transfer to the airport. (B/-/-)

** This itinerary is subject to change without notice; due to seasonal changes, weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations. **

DAY 1 - THURSDAY: BALTRA ISLAND - SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: BACHAS BEACH

Arrive to Baltra airport. Reception at airport and Transfer In. Welcome on board EcoGalaxy Cruise; welcome drink and lunch. PM - BACHAS BEACH: This beautiful beach is located in the northern part of Santa Cruz Island; the beach is one km long. The site was named during WWII (World War II) when the American army left two barges on the beach. The early colonists couldn’t pronounce barges correctly, so they called the area “Bachas”. (-/L/D)

DAY 2 - FRIDAY: SANTIAGO ISLAND & BARTOLOME ISLANDS

AM - SULLIVAN BAY: wet landing and hiking. Description of the place: all roads and the island are composed of lava flows that are still virtually without erosion, covering an extensive area, including lava pahoehoe or cords, hornitos, and mollugo, which grows in the lava. Lava Colonizers. Snacks and refreshing beverages await you. Lunch PM - BARTOLOME ISLAND: Dry landing, wet landing for the beach. Activities on this island include: walking, swimming, snorkeling and photography. We will follow a path to the top (114m) where we can observe pioneering plants, such as tiquilia, chamaesyce, and scalesia. The island has been formed by cones, and lava pipes where lava once flowed. Following the wet landing at the beach, we will take a path through mangrove swamps and sand dune vegetation, to the south beach. At the north beach, guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. From the top of Bartolome, we will be able to see the islands of Santiago, Rabida and Isabela. We will see penguins in the Rock Pinnacle. Dinner (B/L/D)

DAY 3 - SATURDAY: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: HIGHLANDS & CHARLES DARWIN STATION

AM - HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ: our first visit is to the HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ, where we go trekking and we will see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat; this is a natural spectacle. For this visit, we recommend using athletic shoes, long pants, raincoat, hat and sun block. Lunch. PM - Charles Darwin Station: located in the main port on Santa Cruz Island; we will take a private bus to the entrance of the breeding center where we will see tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. This center is the main breeding site on the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction on various islands are maintained here in captivity. Thanks to the dedicated work of several institutions, some species are being saved. This is where Lonesome George lived, the famous last survivor of the species of giant tortoise found on Pinta Island. Dinner. (B/L/D)

DAY 4 - SUNDAY: FLOREANA ISLAND

AM - PUNTA CORMORANT: wet landing, snorkeling and short trek. This point is located on western Floreana Island, and it is famous for its dark green beach (due to the large quantity of olivine crystals).You can see many marine invertebrates here, as well as sea lions, sea iguanas, frigate birds and pelicans. PM - DEVIL´S CROWN: Activities here include: panga ride and optional swimming. Enjoy a panga ride around a small island, a satellite islet of Floreana Island. Here, we will find a group of rocks that resemble a crown due to the constant erosion caused by the sea. It is one of the better places to snorkel (shallow diving) in and around the crown. Excellent visibility allows guests to admire a great variety of fish and sea animals. Lunch. POST OFFICE (Mail Bay): Wet landing. Activities: short walk, swimming, snorkeling, explanation of the mail system. Description: Mail Bay is located on the north side of Floreana Island. Captain James Colnett installed an empty barrel to be used as a post office for the whaling fleets that stopped at the Galapagos Islands. You can leave postcards to your friends and relatives here and/or pick up mail to deliver. Back at the ship, delicious snacks and beverages await (B/L/D)

DAY 5 - MONDAY: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

AM - SUAREZ POINT: Dry landing. Activities: Walking, sight-seeing. We recommend athletic shoes, hat or cap, and sunscreen. There is no color more amazing and outstanding in this tropical desert island than that of the blue-foot boobies. These birds have an impressive form of “greeting,” and it is a real thrill to see their mating dance. The blue-footed booby can be seen on several islands, as nesting grounds and food are located along several coastal locations. The albatross, an aristocratic bird weighing up to four kilograms, can be observed here. This is one of the largest birds of the islands, with approximately 12,000 couples nesting on Espanola Island and a smaller number nesting on Silver Island, near mainland Ecuador. This species is considered endemic to this island. During our walk, we will observe these fantastic birds while taking in the beautiful landscapes offered by this island. It is important to note that albatrosses will not be seen between January and March (non-breeding season). We will also see colonies of marine iguanas, zayapas, masked boobies, finches, Espanola mockingbirds, and seagulls endemic to the islands. Our walk will be along lava rock, where we will be able to see lava tubes. Red mangroves are found here. Delicious snacks and fresh beverages are waiting for you on the ship. Lunch. PM - GARDNER BAY: wet landing, activities during this visit: short walk, swimming, snorkeling and observation of seal colony. The sea lion is one of the animals that receives a lot of attention from visitors in the Galapagos: they are curious and playful, but at times aggressive; they are nice and loving, but also lazy. We are going to find many of them relaxing on the beach enjoying the sun in Gardner Bay. In addition to observing these fascinating animals, we will be able to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, a diversity of tropical fish, marine iguanas, etc. while snorkeling. We will return to the ship and sail to Gardner and Osborn Islets. Dinner. (B/L/D)

DAY 6 - TUESDAY: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: INTERPRETATION CENTER – TRANSFER OUT

AM - INTERPRETATION CENTER: Dry landing. This center is located in the main port. After breakfast, our first visit is to the Interpretation Center of San Cristobal. This modern and sophisticated architectural space was designed for the natural interpretation of the Galapagos. You will learn about the volcanic formation of the islands, evolution of species, the history of human settlement, and complex systems and management models. Transfer out. (B/-/-)

** This itinerary is subject to change without notice; due to seasonal changes, weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations. **