Celebrity Xpedition

Southern Loop - 7 nights

Saturday to Saturday

Day 1 - Baltra and North Seymour Island

Arrive in Baltra by plane and embark the Celebrity Xpedition for your 7 night cruise on a full board basis. During World War II, Baltra was a military base, protecting the Panama Canal from attack. Set sail after lunch and an introductory briefing to North Seymour Island. Here, layers of lava that originally erupted underwater have created a low-lying island packed with wildlife. A hike along the shore and into the island’s interior reveals mystery upon mystery.

Day 2 - South Plaza and Sante Fe Islands

We explore the small island of South Plaza this morning, located off the coast of Santa Cruz. Observe seal pups up close. South Plaza has one of the biggest colonies of sea lions in the Galapagos. After lunch, we continue to Santa Fe, southeast of Santa Cruz Island and one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos. Sea lions are again the main attraction here, as well as multiple dive sites and walking trails brought to life by the excellent naturalist guides.

Day 3 - San Cristobal Island and Puerto Baquerizo

This morning we explore Punta Pitt, San Cristobal. It's a  truly unique destination, the only place in the Galapagos where you are able to witness all three species of boobies in one place. After lunch, we sail to Puerto Baquerizo, the administrative capital of the Galapagos Islands. Here you can opt for a tour of the local interpretation centre or take some time out for shopping in the town.

Day 4 - Bahia Post Office and Cormorant Point, Floreana Island

This morning we arrive at Post Office Bay, Floreana. This site is home to the Bahia Post Office barrel where whalers and others could leave their mail to be picked up by outbound ships. Continue the tradition and post your own letter. In the afternoon, we explore Cormorant Point, Floreana, the first capital of the Galapagos and where Charles Darwin met the islands' Governor. Its small brackish lagoon is often home to flamingos and stilts.

Day 5 - Isabela Island

After breakfast, we go ashore at Elizabeth Bay on Isabela Island. The beach is a sheltered inlet and one of the westernmost points in the Galapagos. Enjoy a scenic boat ride offering excellent wildlife viewing and access to a rich mangrove ecosystem. In the afternoon, we explore Punta Moreno. This place will make you feel like you’ve travelled back into a prehistoric era. Located on the extreme north coast of Isabela Island, you may see huge marine iguanas and Galapagos Penguins.

Day 6 - Charles Darwin Research Centre, Santa Cruz

We spend today on the island of Santa Cruz. Arriving at Punta Ayora, you have the opportunity to visit the famous Charles Darwin Research Centre, the giant tortoise reserve in the lushly vegetated highlands. There is also time to wander through the lovely streets of Puerto Ayora for some shopping.

Day 7 - Espanola Island

This morning we visit Gardner Bay, Española, home to one of the longest beaches in the Galapagos. You’ll visit a sea lion colony and search for more wildlife, such as the startlingly red Sally Lightfoot crabs. After lunch, explore Punta Suarez, Española. Here, you can observe Nazca and blue-footed boobies and waved albatrosses. It may be possible to see them performing spectacular mating dances around April and May time. A hike from the beach also reveals a blowhole where water gushes 50 feet into the air.

Day 8 - Baltra Island

Arrive in Baltra Island, where you disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.

Northern Loop - 7 nights

Departing Saturdays 

Day 1 - Baltra Island & Black Turtle Cove

During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Now the cactus-strewn landscapes of Baltra are home to the region's main airport. A zodiac ride into Black Turtle Cove brings you up close to the quiet wonders of the Galapagos. Once inside the cove, we’ll quietly explore the area looking for sea turtles, several species of rays, and sharks.

Day 2 - Sullivan Bay and Bartolome Island

During a volcanic eruption in the early 1900’s, this area of Santiago was covered with flowing lava. Today, the hardened fields of black rock create a geologic wonderland. We will take advantage of the cool of early morning for a walk to view strange twisting hardened lava flows, collapse craters, and everyone’s favourite, the hornitos orlava ovens. Tall red scoria cones and pioneer plants also dot this unusual and very young landscape.

Bartolome Island hosts one of the region's most often-photographed views and a spectacular geologic setting. Its barren moon-like volcanic landscapes, spatter cones, and pinnacle rock make for a unique stop. It is also home to the endemic Galapagos penguin and provides an excellent opportunity for snorkelling.

Day 3 - Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove (Isabela)

Composed of five coalesced volcanoes, Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos and the most recently active, the latest eruption having occurred in 2015. Here we will see large land iguanas, finches, and if lucky, a giant tortoise or two. In 1954, the intrusion of magma below one of the island’s volcanoes caused part of the bay to be uplifted some 6 meters, and today we can walk through the remains of what was once a thriving underwater reef.

Historically an anchorage for pirates and whalers, this site offers a breathtaking view of Isabela, its volcanoes and spectacular Darwin Lake. Along the shore, seabirds, penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, and nesting flightless cormorants can often be found.

Day 4 - Fernandina Island and Vicente Roca Point (Isabela)

Fernandina is the youngest island in the Galapagos and, as Darwin wrote, it is “covered with immense deluges of black naked lava”. Along with its extraordinary black lava rocks, this point of land hosts the largest colony of marine iguanas in the Archipelago, along with sea lions and a nesting site for flightless cormorants.

The half-collapsed remains of an ancient volcano make for a spectacular setting at this site. Awe-inspiring cliffs, blue waters, and wildlife create a zodiac ride to remember as we search for sea turtles, penguins, fur seals, the flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, marine mammals, and the oddly shaped form of the elusive sunfish.

Day 5 - Egas Point and James’s Bay (Santiago Island)

With its black sand beach, coastal tide pools, and blue-water grottoes, this stop offers a wonderful taste of the Galapagos and the opportunity to see shore birds, Galapagos Hawks, sea lions, marine iguanas, and Galapagos fur seals. Sea lions, colorful tropical fish, and sea turtles are often seen while snorkeling.

Located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay, this beach is a sea turtle nesting site. The favoured attractions here are the Palo Santo forest, beach, and the lovely landscape. The trail passes a small seasonal lagoon where flamingos and white-cheeked pintail ducks are sometimes seen. Continuing on, the trail loops through the arid zone, where some of the tallest Palo Santo trees of the entire archipelago are found.

Day 6 - Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

This is the main population centre of the islands, and home to the National Park Service tortoise-breeding center and the Charles Darwin Research Station. You will be able to visit the tortoise-breeding center and walk through the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Day 7 - El Barranco and Darwin Bay (Genovesa)

El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip's Steps after the prince who visited in 1965 and again in 1981, is a steep stairway that leads up through a seabird colony full of Nazca and red-footed boobies. Once visitors reach the plateau, the trail continues inland and passes more nesting booby colonies in the thin Palo Santo forest.

Darwin Bay's soft white sand is only the beginning of a spectacular excursion. A trail from the beach takes you into lush mangroves where red-footed boobies nest. Other local wildlife includes sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, frigate birds, and more. Snorkelling is a must here, as the nutrient-rich water attracts all types of marine life, including sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, and the occasional manta ray. Excursion options: Walk, swim, snorkel and kayak.

Day 8 - North Seymour Island & return to the mainland

North Seymour is a small island just north of Baltra. It is home to the largest colony of frigate birds in the Galapagos. While keeping an eye out for male frigates trying to impress potential mates with an inflated red neck pouch, you may also see blue-footed boobies dancing in a timeless courtship ritual. Sea lions and large land iguanas also roam about this rocky terrain. Excursion options include a guided long, rocky walk, zodiac ride and short easy walk, or simply just a scenic zodiac tour along the coast to view wildlife and the geology of the area.

Afterwards, transfer to Baltra Airport for your onward flight.