Horizon


5-day Cruise "C"

(Santiago, Isabela, Fernandina, Isabela, Santa Cruz)

 

Day 1: Saturday
Santiago 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 Horizon 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: 

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 2: Sunday
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

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

Day 3: Monday
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: 

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

Day 4: Tuesday
Isabela Island

In the morning: 

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

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: Wednesday
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning: 

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

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.


5-day Galapagos Cruise Itinerary "C"

Itinerary Map