Day 1: Saturday
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning: 

Baltra Airport Arrival

Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra, Galapagos Islands. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Cormorant II staff member and brought into a private bus to start your adventure in Galapagos.

Please note: Your first excursion in the Galapagos will be after being picked up at the airport upon arrival to the islands, before boarding the cruise. It is essential for you to arrive in the Galapagos wearing comfortable clothes, good closed-toe shoes suitable for an excursion, a long-brimmed hat, sun lotion, sunglasses, and to ensure you have your camera handy.

In the afternoon: 

Highlands

Accessible by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green which contrast beautifully with the dry, lower part of the islands. The predominant vegetation in the highlands are Scalesia trees which create a lush green forest. The lava tunnels, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience. At this place you’ll have lunch.

Highlands, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:	Lava tunnels, Finches, wild tortoises, tortoise nesting site.
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking

Afterwards:  

Fausto Llerena Breeding Center

You will visit “Fausto Llerena” Tortoise Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora, where giant tortoises are bred in captivity. This is home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long adults. Subspecies of the giant tortoises interact with one another, and many of the older tortoises 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.

Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:	Giant tortoises, finches, Galapagos rails
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking

Day 2: Sunday
Isabela Island

In the morning: 

Tintoreras Islet

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 by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.

Tintoreras Islet, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:	White-tipreef sharks, penguins, marine turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

Afterwards: 

Sierra Negra Volcano

Visit to 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.

Sierra Negra Volcano, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:	Basaltic caldera, stunning views, finches
Difficulty:	Difficult
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking

In the afternoon: 

Wetlands

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.

Wetlands, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:	Giant mangroves, shore birds, flamingos
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking

Afterwards: 

Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center

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.

Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:	Two of the five species of the giant tortoise
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking

Day 3: Monday
Isabela Island

In the morning: 

Moreno Point

Moreno Point is located southwest of Elizabeth Bay. Here 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.

Moreno Point, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:	Flamingos, gallinules, pintail ducks, turtles, white-tip reef sharks.
Difficulty:	Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

In the afternoon: 

Elizabeth Bay

Elizabeth Bay is located on the east coast of Isabela Island. The bay contains many islets, which can be visited by dinghy. Penguins and blue-footed boobies can be spotted on the rocky islets. With an abundance of marine life and clear water, the area is perfect for snorkeling and viewing schools of colorful fish, sea lions, and perhaps even sharks.

Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:	Mangrove forest (unique in Galapagos), sea turtles, penguins, rays, herons and sea lions
Difficulty:	Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:	Wet Landing
Possible Activities:	Dinghy ride, kayaking, paddle board

Day 4: Tuesday
Fernandina and Isabela Islands

In the morning: 

Espinoza Point

Crossing the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina Islands, you will land at Espinoza Point, and after walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, you will reach the island’s highlight: the flightless cormorant nesting site. This area also provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos hawk.

Espinoza Point, Fernandina Island
Highlights & Animals:	Flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, ‘a‘ā lava, sea lions, penguins, active volcano “La Cumbre”.
Difficulty:	Moderate
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

In the afternoon: 

Vicente Roca Point

Comprised of two separate coves, Vicente Roca Point is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (or sun fish) while you snorkel.

Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:	Penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, Nazca boobies, two types of sea lions. Sea turtles, rays and puffer fish.
Difficulty:	Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:	No Landing
Possible Activities:	Snorkeling, dinghy ride

Day 5: Wednesday
Santiago Island

In the morning: 

Egas Port

Egas Port, 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.

Egas Port, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:	Furseals, Galapagos sea lions, tidal pools and grottos, Galapagos hawks, oyster catchers, marine iguanas, finches; snorkeling: reef sharks, turtles, rays, nice underwater formations.
Difficulty:	Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:	Wet Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling

In the afternoon: 

Espumilla Beach

In Espumilla Beach marine iguanas lounge and the Sally Lightfoot crabs attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkeling is highly recommended as you could come face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark and a variety of other species of tropical fish.

Espumilla Beach, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:	Snorkeling
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Wet Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking, paddle board

Afterwards: 

Buccaneer Cove

Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. These pirates would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent site.

Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:	Sea birds, historical site, snorkeling and rock formations
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	No Landing
Possible Activities:	Snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking, paddle board

Day 6: Thursday
Bartholomew and Santiago Islands

In the morning: 

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! A beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see and swim with Galapagos penguins.

Pinnacle Rock, Bartholomew Island
Highlights & Animals:	Pinnacle Rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus; snorkeling: penguins, reef sharks, rays, and great colorful fish.
Difficulty:	Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:	Dry & Wet Landings
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

In the afternoon: 

Sullivan Bay

You will visit 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 the form of small volcanoes formed by the lava flows.

Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:	Lava flows, small volcanoes
Difficulty:	Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

Day 7: Friday
Santiago and Santa Cruz Islands

In the morning: 

Chinese Hat Islet

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.

Chinese Hat Islet, Santiago Island
Highlights & Animals:	Lava formations, great site for snorkeling with an abundance of marine species such as sea lions, sharks, rays and penguins.
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Wet Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking, paddle board

In the afternoon: 

Dragon Hill

Situated on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.

Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:	Land iguana nesting spot, Galapagos flamingos, common stilts, palo santo trees and cacti forest
Difficulty:	Easy
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling

Day 8: Saturday
North Seymour Island

In the morning: 

North Seymour

In North Seymour you may see Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent 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.

North Seymour Island
Highlights & Animals:	Land & marine iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, sea lions; snorkeling: rays, reef sharks, fish, garden eels.
Difficulty:	Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:	Dry Landing
Possible Activities:	Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride

Afterwards: 

Baltra Airport Departure

After this final visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.