Galapagos Angel


7-day Cruise "D"

(Bartholomew, Isabela, Fernandina, Isabela, Floreana, Mosquera)

Day 1: Monday
Bartholomew Island

In the morning: 

Baltra Airport Arrival

Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra, Galapagos Islands.

You will arrive at Baltra Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Galapagos Angel staff member and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.


In the afternoon: 

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

Day 2: Tuesday
Isabela and Fernandina Islands

In the morning: 

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

In the afternoon: 

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

Day 3: Wednesday
Isabela Island

In the morning: 

Tagus Cove

You will visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island which is located across from Fernandina Island, near the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s, using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views.


Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:
Penguins, flightless cormorants, Darwin Volcano & Lake
Difficulty:
Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

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

Day 4: Thursday
Isabela Island

In the morning: 

Urbina Bay

Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954 causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkeling.


Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
Highlights & Animals:
Land iguanas (the biggest in the Galapagos), hawks, coral reef, giant tortoises; snorkeling: turtles, rays, tropical fish
Difficulty:
Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

In the afternoon: 

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

Day 5: Friday
Isabela Island

In the morning: 

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: 

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 6: Saturday
Floreana Island

In the morning: 

Devil’s Crown

You will have a chance to snorkel around Devil’s Crown which is the rocky remains of an offshore volcano sticking out of the water. This is a great location to spot a wide range of marine creatures.


Devil’s Crown, Floreana Island
Highlights & Animals:
Large array or marine species
Difficulty:
Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing:
No Landing
Possible Activities:
Snorkeling, dinghy ride

Afterwards: 

Cormorant Point

Cormorant Point hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and white-cheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The Green Beach is named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the Flour Sand Beach is composed of white coral.


Cormorant Point, Floreana Island
Highlights & Animals:
Flamingoes, green-colored beach
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

In the afternoon: 

Post Office Bay

You will land on a beach and head to a spot where 18th century whalers placed a wooden barrel used as an unofficial mail box. The custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So, don’t forget your postcards, and don’t be surprised if the post card arrives to its destination before you even get home!


Post Office Bay, Floreana Island
Highlights & Animals:
Post office barrel, nice sandy beach
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

Day 7: Sunday
Mosquera Island

In the morning: 

Mosquera Islet

Mosquera Islet is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. This reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) is only 160 meters across at its narrowest width. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions and is home to many shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of orcas feeding on sea lions.


Mosquera Islet, Mosquera Island
Highlights & Animals:
Orcas, sea lions, shore birds
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

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.