Santa Cruz II

Northern Route - 4 nights

Monday to Friday

DAY 1  Baltra airport, Las Bachas

Board the vessel on the island of Baltra and enjoy a welcome lunch, before disembarking at Las Bachas. Here we visit the beautiful beaches of the area, populated by marine iguanas and watch flamingos and stilts in the shallow lagoons. You'll then have the opportunity to practice a little snorkelling 

DAY 2 Buccaneer Cove, Puerto Egas

The day kicks off with the sea lions and sea birds of Buccaneer Cove on Santiago Island, as well as the dramatic steep cliffs and remarkable natural rock formations of the former pirate anchorage. The coastline around here and Puerto Egas provides a great place to snorkel and swim, often in the company of turtles. Heading in-land, we find more interesting bird life and can observe marine iguanas and fur seals.

DAY 3 Red Beach, Bartolomé

Visit the red sand beach at Rabida, frequented by sea lions, marine iguanas, finches, warblers and mockingbirds, as well as the occasional flamingos. Dolphin sightings are possible whilst travelling towards Bartolomé, a small island with a steep climb to the summit, from which magnificent views await. Further exploration around the impressive Pinnacle Rock follows, in a glass-bottom boat and then pangas, before you are invited to relax on the beach or swim in the waters, hoping to be joined by some friendly Galapagos penguins!

DAY 4 Prince Philip Steps, Darwin Bay

The next day focuses on Genovesa Island, disembarking from the panga boats to climb the steps to a flat plateau, from where we can observe Nazca and red-footed boobies, as well as frigate birds and storm petrels. Further snorkelling opportunities follow, in the company of various schools of fish, and the chance to spot fur seals on a longer panga ride (weather dependent).

We continue to Darwin Bay, starting with a swim and more snorkelling, before walking through the many species of birds that make their home here, including mockingbirds, herons, finches, gulls, frigate birds and red-footed and Nazca boobies. Later on will be the chance to walk over the lava flows to enjoy some fantastic panoramic views, relax on the beach or take a panga ride to further observe the sea life here.

DAY 5 Puerto Baquerizo Moreno , Tortoise Breeding Centre

The experience ends with a morning visit to the giant tortoise breeding programme at Cerro Colorado, offering the chance to see these majestic creatures at close quarters and understand about the ongoing efforts to boost the population. Guests are then returned back to the town and transferred to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.

Eastern Route - 6 nights

Friday to Thursday 

Day 1 - Baltra Island and Mosquera

Arrive by plane at Baltra Island and transfer to the dock and embark the Santa Cruz II for a 6 night cruise on a full board basis including all excursions. After lunch and introductory briefing, Santa Cruz II sails to Mosquera Islet, a small volcanic uplift between Baltra and North Seymour. The island is a long and narrow sand bank surrounded by lava reefs. We approach the island from its western shore, a long shallow reef, the perfect rookery for young sea lions. The guides will lead you past the sea lion colonies, where you will learn more about the fragile marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Galapagos. Opportunity for snorkelling.

Day 2 - San Cristobal Island

After breakfast, disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the San Cristobal island’s capital, and drive to Cerro Colorado, where we visit the breeding centre for highly endangered giant tortoises in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristobal mockingbird, and the San Cristobal lava lizard, both island endemics. In the afternoon, we disembark on the eastern tip of the island at Punta Pitt, an eroded tuff cone, whose trail provides spectacular views of the shoreline. This is the only site in the Galapagos where the three species of boobies can be found together. We can walk or enjoy a panga ride along the coast. Opportunity for snorkelling, swimming and kayaking.

Day 3 - Santa Fe and South Plaza Island

This morning we take the dinghy over to an idyllic sandy-white beach populated by many sea lions. The endemic land iguana, unique to Santa Fe Island, may be spotted during the morning walk amid the giant prickly pear cactus. Snorkelling, swimming or kayaking is available or if you prefer, the glass bottom boat is available for non-snorkelers. Continue to South Plaza Island, whose turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline. Beyond, a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serve as a backdrop for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-grey land iguanas sit beneath these, waiting patiently for pears to drop. On the coast observe sea lion colonies, white frigates, swallow-tailed gulls and shearwaters glide, playing with the thermals.

Day 4 - Puerto Ayora and Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)

In the morning, we visit the famous Charles Darwin Research Station’s giant tortoise Breeding Centre within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Following our visit, we board our transport to enjoy lunch in the cooler highlands of Santa Cruz Island, a completely different ecosystem.
There are several options available for exploring Santa Cruz Island in the afternoon, which are agreed the night before with the expedition leader.

Day 5 - Española Island 

Enjoy an exciting walk awaits at Punta Suarez, where we observe unique sea bird colonies, including Galapagos albatross (April-December), Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls as well as a view of the Galapagos’ famous “blow-hole”. Also, look out for red-green-black marine iguanas. Back on board for lunch. In the afternoon, the picture-postcard white coral beach of Gardner Bay and the nearby islet of Osborn provides a beautiful setting for observing sea lions, mockingbirds and finches. Time to relax with great snorkelling, swimming and kayaking in this area.

Day 6 - Eden Islet and North Seymour Island

After breakfast, a panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, a small islet located off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we can observe blue-footed boobies diving into the water, reef sharks and frigates. There’s a chance to snorkel and, if weather condition permits, ride in the glass-bottom boat and kayak. Continue to 
North Seymour Island, that was lifted from the ocean floor by a volcanic event, and its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stands just above the landing waiting for the rains to burst into bloom. On the island we observe bird colonies of blue footed boobies, two species of frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas.

Day 7 - Baltra Island

Disembark at Baltra Island and transfer to the airport for flight back to the mainland.

Western Route - 4 nights

Thursdays to Mondays 

Day 1 - Baltra Island and Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island

Arrive by plane at Baltra Island and embark Santa Cruz II. Welcome introductory briefing and lunch. Set sail to the north shore of Santa Cruz Island where we explore the fascinating landscapes of Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). The first part of our walk passes a brackish-water lagoon frequented by shorebirds, ducks and flamingos, while further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western islands of the archipelago, as well as the chance of observing land iguanas.

Day 2 – Punta Vicente (Isabela Island) and Fernandina Island

After breakfast, we explore the coast by panga boat, while our naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area and a nesting place for several Galapagos highlights: flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, fur seals and boobies. Depending on weather conditions, we can snorkel along the cliffs of this area rich in marine life, seasonally-visited by green sea turtles and oceanic sun fish (Mola mola). The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina, which, having no introduced mammals, boasts a very unique environment with a very high density of marine iguanas, who share their space with sea lions, sally light-foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorants.

Day 3 – Charles Darwin Research Centre and Santa Cruz Island

In the morning, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station’s giant tortoise Breeding Centre within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest, home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Following our visit, we board our transport to enjoy lunch in the cooler highlands of Santa Cruz Island, a completely different ecosystem. There are several options available for exploring Santa Cruz Island further in the afternoon including beach walks, kayaks and walks along the tortoise reserve.  

Day 4 – Post Office Bay and Champion Islet, Floreana Island

After breakfast, we enjoy take a panga ride along the maze of channels on Floreana’s north shore passing Baroness Cove with its breathtaking views of Floreana. We land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries and where postcards are traditionally left for guests from other vessels to hand-deliver to their destinations. Snorkelling off the beach. After lunch, we take the pangas and glass-bottom boat to explore the underwater wonders around Champion Islet, an extinct shield volcano, regarded as one of the best snorkelling spots in the archipelago. From there, it’s on to Punta Cormorant, beginning with a wet landing on the olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk that includes a brackish-water lagoon where bird species such as American flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers and others gather. We continue our walk over to a white-sand beach, where sea turtles emerge from the sea at night to nest (from December to May).

Day 5 - Baltra Island

Disembark at Baltra Island and transfer to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.