Cormorant II Catamaran

Today you'll fly out to the Galapagos Islands from mainland Ecuador (either Quito or Guayaquil). On arrival you will be met by your ship's guide and you'll make your way to the vessel to begin your activities in the islands. On board, the crew will welcome you and you'll be briefed on your adventure for the upcoming days.
 

Afternoon Activities

Reached by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green contrasting beautifully with much of the dry, lower islands. The dominant vegetation in the highlands is the forest of Scalesia trees creating the lush green color. The lava tubes, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience. Back in Puerto Ayora, you will make a visit the the Darwin Research Station. The Charles Darwin Research Station is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) 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 four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.

Morning Activities | Tintoreras & Sierra Negra Volcano - Isabela Island

Tintoreras Islet, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil, is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches surrounded bymangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.

 

Visit the Sierra Negra Volcano, which is the largest basaltic caldera in the Galapagos with a diameter of 6.2 miles (10 km). The site offers impressive views and the opportunity to observe up to seven species of finches and a rich display of vegetation. The north side of the caldera provides evidence of its most recent volcanic activity in 2005.

Afternoon Activities | Wetlands & Tupiza Breeding Center - Isabela Island

The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. They consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path through the swamps.

 

Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center is located about one mile (1.5 km) from Puerto Villamil. Here, tortoise populations from South Isabela, Sierra Negra Volcano, Cerro Azul, Cazuela, Cinco Cerros, Roca Union, San Pedro, Tables and Cerro Paloma have been bred in captivity. In total there are 330 juvenile and adult tortoises.

Morning Activities | Moreno Point - Isabela Island

Moreno Point is located southwest of Elizabeth Bay. A dry landing onto what was once flowing lava is possible. The lava has left craters in its wake which formed crystal tide pools. By looking into the pools, you can peer into another world as the marine life drifts by your window. In the brackish pools of this area, you may see pink flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, and common gallinules. If you look carefully into the pools, you may see white-tip reef sharks and some sea turtles.

Afternoon Activities | Elizabeth Bay - Isabela Island

This is a marine visitor site, so the excursion has no landing point. Your zodiac ride starts with a visit to the Marielas islets where the largest and most important penguin colony reside in the Galapagos Islands. The excursion continues into the cove that is surrounded by red mangroves where you can admire their red roots and green leafs. Here, you are able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. Frequent visitors have been able to see Galapagos Hawks soaring overhead whilst schools of Pompano and Dorado fish swimming down below.

Morning Activities | Epinoza Point - Fernandina Island

Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza, located at the northeastern tip of the island. Fernandina is know for being the most "untouched" island in the Galapagos. Here, marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than in any other island. They bask around in the sand, swim near the shore and sometimes block the way at the landing dock. Among the unique species found here, we can find the flightless cormorant.

Afternoon Activities | Punta Vicente Roca - Isabela Island

At Punta Vicente Roca you will get to explore the coast by dinghy, all while your naturalist guides explain the dramatic geology of the surrounding area. This site is also a nesting place for numerous, iconic Galapagos species, such as: flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, fur seals, and boobies. Weather permitting, you will get the chance to snorkel alongside the cliffs of this area that are rich in marine life, oftentimes visited by green sea turtles and oceanic sun fish (Mola mola).

Morning Activities | Puerto Egas & Espumilla Beach - Santiago Island

Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay, on Santiago Island is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to the coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos furseals bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkeling site.

Afternoon Activities | Buccaneer Cove - Santiago Island

After lunch, we explore the coastline along the impressive cliffs of Buccaneer Cove, learning about the area’s distant and recent history. The cove is home to a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. Enjoy fantastic natural formations such as the “Elephant Rock”, “The Bishop” and an impressive natural cave. Espumilla Beach is a popular place for marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The crabs attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey. With an abundance of marine life including octopi, moray eels, and sharks, snorkeling is highly recommended.

Morning Activities | Pinnacle Rock - Bartolome Island

Today’s activities begin with a wet landing on the golden beach of this famous island, dominated by the imposing Pinnacle Rock. You will head to Bartholomew Island where the famous Pinnacle Rock is found. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. We will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! You will also visit a small, beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see and swim with Galapagos penguins.

Afternoon Activities | Sullivan Bay - Santiago Island

Located at the south-east side of the Santiago Island, the landing here can be made both in the rocky shore (dry landing) and in the white sand beach (wet landing). There's a wonderful path here leading through a variety of wildlife like Sally Lightfoot Crabs and geological features like wave shaped lava floes. Sullivan Bay’s famous lava is known as Panoehoe, which is Hawaiian for string. It gets this name due to the fact that when the lava cools down after an eruption over the surfaces materials, it causes them to join creating the shape of a string or a rope.

Morning Activities | Chinese Hat Island

This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet’s summit. Chinese Islet is a great location to view many geological formations such as lava tunnels and lava flows. Some of the lava flows were formed underwater and subsequently raised above sea level. The presence of coral heads on the lava flow indicates this phenomenon. This is an excellent place to learn more about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels.

Afternoon Activities | Dragon Hill - Santa Cruz Island

Going to the northwest of the island of Santa Cruz, you'll find Dragon hill. The reason for its interesting name comes from way back in 1975, because it was one of the only places on Santa Cruz where Land iguanas were in healthy condition. The preservation of these lands iguanas has been going for decades, in fact, there are no dogs in this area in an attempt to protect the iguanas from being attacked. In the lagoons in this site, there are shrimp (Artemia salina) which serve as food for flamingos. After your land visit, you'll visit a rocky beach which is a good place to snorkel at high tide as you'll be able to see the reef.

Morning Activities | North Seymour Island

This islet is one of most visited sites, and it is teeming with birdlife. An easy circular path takes you through the archipelago’s most extensive colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. At the beginning of the breeding season, adult frigatebird-males blow up their vivid red pouches to impressive football-sized balloons. This is one of the few spots where you can compare the magnificent and the great frigatebird breeding next to each other.

After your visit, you'll depart and head back to the mainland to travel home or continue your trip.