Galapagos Wildlife Cruise (Archipel I)

The adventure starts in Quito, aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening. Free transfers are available for all clients – check the Joining Instructions for more information. A local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days. Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)

Today is free to relax, recover from the flight and explore the fascinating city of Quito, the second-highest capital in the world, standing at 9,350ft (2,850m) on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and more attractive of the colonial capitals in South America. Visitors to Quito are advised to take it easy at first because of the altitude. Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)

Morning: Fly to Galapagos Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you pass through the airport inspection point to make sure no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the island, and to pay the national park entrance fee. Your guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour where a dinghy will take you to the yacht. Afternoon: Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz) This is a lovely bay with soft, white coral sand frequently visited by egg-laying sea turtles – watch your step! After enjoying leisure time at the beach, you could explore a small lagoon hidden behind bushes, where occasionally it is possible to observe flamingos, black-necked stilts and whimbrels. You might also see rusty barges, which were abandoned here after the Second World War when the USA rented this island as a strategic point to protect the Panama Channel from Japan. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Prince Philip's Steps Genovesa has a royal touch. Follow in the footsteps of Prince Philip – who admired the Galapagos for many years – and visit this favourite birding spot, home to the largest breeding colonies of red-footed and nazca boobies and short-eared owls, which hunt on foot. Afternoon: Darwin Bay One of the outer islands and among the most exclusive spots on the Galapagos, Genovesa is well worth last night's longer navigation. This compact site displays the varied coastal ecosystems of the Galapagos in miniature – nearly too much for a single day. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Bartolomé This tiny volcano islet is just recently born out of fire. Enter its wild setting of spatter cones and craters and admire beautiful panoramas of the Galapagos. Afternoon: Sullivan Bay (Santiago) Sullivan Bay is incomparable to any other site; setting foot on the recently solidified lava flow is like walking on the moon. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: El Chato Reserve – Twin Craters El Chato Reserve is a protected area and part of the Galapagos National Park, extending from Cerro El Chato as far down as the southwestern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Afternoon: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center On a tour of the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, you can see the tortoises of Española Island, ending in the tortoise exhibit corral. Tortoises of this corral are accustomed to humans – an excellent chance to capture a photo for your wall back home. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Cormorant Point and Devil’s Crown The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the extreme north cape of Floreana, which exists out of smaller volcanic cones, covered by a tropical dry forest of palo santo. At the landing beach, you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion colony. The green sand on this beach contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals, which have been blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The flour-sand beach on the southern side of the peninsula is made of even finer white-coral sand, which feels very smooth on the feet. Parrotfish have pulverised it, grinding the calcareous skeletons of living coral. You can spot schools of stingrays who love the sandy bottom to hide. During the first months of the year, Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs. Devil’s Crown is one of the best snorkelling spots in the Galapagos due to the coral reef in its centre, which attracts a lot of marine life. Here you can spot Galapagos penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, many different colourful fish and even dolphins. The current can be a bit strong sometimes, so it should not be attempted by novice swimmers. Afternoon: Post Office Bay and Baroness Lookout Historically, this site was the location of a wooden barrel placed by an 18th-century whaling ship crew; letters placed inside were collected and delivered by sailors returning home. Tourists still leave thousands of letters here today and many still reach their destination. You can also relax on the beach at Post Office Bay, where you may see Galapagos sea lions, Pacific green turtles, golden rays and Galapagos penguins (this is the only place in the southeastern archipelago where penguins reside). You can also climb Baroness Lookout, a small basaltic cone, and enjoy paradisiacal views of the coastline. This viewpoint was the favourite spot the eccentric baroness and self-proclaimed Empress of Galapagos, Eloisa von Wagner, who was one of the first settlers on Floreana. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Osborn Islet and Gardner Bay The striking white beach at Gardner Bay is an important breeding site for Pacific green turtles. However, without a doubt, its main attraction is the Galapagos sea lion colony. Females stay year-round in this nursery, suckling their pups until they are three years' old, although they start to fish at five months. During the breeding and mating season, the colony becomes even bigger. Afternoon: Suarez Point The west tip of Española is a dream for birdwatchers and photographers. Feel as though you're within an exciting nature documentary and hike a short distance from colourful marine iguanas. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Pitt Point Two wind-sculpted tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute the easternmost end of the Galapagos and were the first sight of land for the crew of Darwin’s HMS Beagle. Afternoon: Witch Hill Enjoy a leisurely afternoon in Witch Hill's crescent-shaped beach of soft powdery sand. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Lobos Islet (San Cristobal) The Lobos Islet’s beach harbours a colony of Galapagos sea lions. As in other colonies in the archipelago, you can approach nurturing females within a few metres. In the breeding season, this colony is also visited by territorial males, defending and mating the harem on their part of the beach. This low islet is home to more than just Galapagos sea lions, two other emblematic species breed here: male blue-footed boobies and great frigate birds who try to impress the females (and tourists) with clumsy dances, heaving their striking blue feet or blowing up their balloon-sized scarlet pouches. Afternoon: Interpretation Centre The Interpretation Centre provides a perfect explanation of this unique archipelago – the exhibition reveals what makes it so unique. Information panels, pictures, documents, maquettes and dioramas delve into the background and conservation stories of the islands. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Sante Fe Sante Fe is a jewel of the Galapagos, where the pale Barrington land iguana and practically every other creature is unique to the archipelago or this island alone. Afternoon: South Plaza Popular South Plaza is not to be missed! This Jurassic islet is the best place to see the emblematic Galapagos dragons, which crawl across it. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: North Seymour North Seymour is another cruise highlight. It’s home to the most extensive seabird breeding colony in the archipelago and you can walk just a short distance from frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. Afternoon: Chinese Hat Chinese Hat is a 170ft (52m) high volcanic cone, forming another islet right off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. Approaching Chinese Hat from the north, you will understand the meaning of the name. This is an excellent place to learn more about volcanoes, lava bombs and lava tunnels. You arrive just in time to see how this barren islet is being colonised by pioneer plant species! Beautiful beaches of white coral sand and holes in the eroding lava fields are filled with lava sand, which enables rooting. Galapagos sea lions and countless marine iguanas contribute to fertilisation and thus create many favourable options for newcomers, such as saltbush and the sesuvium carpet. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: El Chato Reserve – Twin Craters The native scalesia forest of El Chato Tortoise Reserve is the best place to search for Galapagos giant tortoises in their most authentic setting! Despite the interesting breeding centres – where you are guaranteed to find tortoises in their corrals – there is nothing better than to observe them in their wild environment. Though it can be quite moist and muddy, your visit may turn into an adventurous quest when they have left their favourite pond silently. The Twin Craters are found on either side of the road leading to Puerto Ayora. These impressive formations are not really volcanic craters but were formed by magma domes, which hardened on the outside while the lava flowed inside, leaving huge, empty magma chambers that eventually collapsed and left two large holes. The craters lie within a lush scalesia cloud forest, a high-altitude plant species that are endemic to the Galapagos. This area is also home to the carpenter finch, which uses tools to search for food. There may also be opportunities to see the vermillion flycatcher, a small red-breasted bird. Afternoon: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center On a tour of the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, you can see the tortoises of Española Island, ending in the tortoise exhibit corral. Tortoises of this corral are accustomed to humans – an excellent chance to photograph them. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Moreno Point Moreno Point is on the north coast of Isabela Island, between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. The trail runs along a solidified pahoehoe lava flow into a complex of coastal lagoons. The main attractions here are several bird species, which are found around the lakes and mangroves. Afternoon: Urbina Bay Urbina Bay runs along the west coast of Isabela, between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove and close to Alcedo Volcano. It's home to large, colourful land iguanas, giant tortoises, and lots of Darwin finches. Additionally, the coastline here underwent a major uplift in 1954, which caused the shore to expand 0.75mi (1.2km) out. As a result, you can now find corals, shells, and many other calcareous organisms exposed above the water. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Espinoza Point (Fernandina) Fernandina is the third-largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza, at the northeastern tip. Here, marine iguanas gather in larger groups than on any other island. They bask in the sand, swim near the shore and sometimes block the way at the landing dock. Fernandina is also home to the flightless cormorant, which can longer fly but has wings, tails and feet perfectly adapted for finding food in the ocean. Afternoon: Vicente Roca Point (Isabela) While having lunch, we cross the Bolivar Channel for the last time to Vicente Roca Point, just at the mouth of Isabela’s seahorse-shape. While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, the roar of waves accompanies you and, just around the corner, the collapsed amphitheatre of Volcan Ecuador offers an impressive view. The calmer cove waters are well-protected against the ocean swell and are fairly cold, but a great place for snorkelling among various species of shark, penguin, puffer fish and even seahorses. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Puerto Egas (Santiago) Puerto Egas is historic and the favourite site on Santiago for wildlife lovers; it’s even the best place in the archipelago to observe Galapagos fur seals. Afternoon: Rabida Upon landing at this remarkable red beach, you will usually be greeted by a large bachelor colony of Galapagos sea lions. Accommodation: Archipel I

Morning: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz) and transfer to Baltra Airport Our last adventure is brief but enchanting and takes place en route to the airport. Explore by dinghy the green landscape of Black Turtle Cove, which is mostly comprised of mangrove trees that host innumerable aerial and aquatic species. The quiet emerald lagoon and surrounding shallow bays enable the easy observation of sea turtles and groups of sharks. Then, assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we take the airport shuttle. From here, we fly to Guayaquil where it's possible to connect with international flights from 6pm onwards.