Tip top IV Itinerary 1 - 8 days

This program takes you on a journey to the most remote corners of the archipelago. We visit the islands of the far west, these are the youngest, lava fields are common, sparse vegetation has led wildlife to adapt more. Fernandina Island is the youngest island and perhaps the most unique.

DAY 1: FRIDAY 

AM: FLIGHT TO GALAPAGOS

Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, with LATAM Airlines.  Your guide conducts you to the bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; we board the Yacht without delay.  As the crew weighs anchor, we greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack.

PM: NORTH SEYMOUR

In the afternoon, we make a dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island, a low, flat island that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. We observe blue footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shore birds, sea lions and endemic Palo Santo. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. We return to the Yacht for a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

DAY 2: SATURDAY

AM: DARWIN BAY

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Darwin Bay to walk and observe frigatebirds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, etc. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. We come aboard for a delicious lunch.

PM: Prince Phillip´s Steps

Later in the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Prince Phillips’s Steps (Barranco), we walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. Dinner on the Yacht, and then our orientation about conservation efforts made to protect the Islands.

DAY 3: SUNDAY

AM: JAMES BAY

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on James Bay (Puerto Egas), to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas and sea lions. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch.

PM: BUCANEER'S COVE

In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Espumilla Beach, a brown sand beach. This beach is an important site for nesting marine turtles. Here we also observe a lot of land birds like yellow warblers, darwin’s finches an Galapagos flycatchers. A trail takes us through a Palo Santo forest. We walk behind the beach and we arrive to a salt-water lagoon, occasionally flamingos are seen. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We navigate around Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero), an area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. The cliffs and pinnacle are used as nesting areas by several species of seabirds. This was a popular place for 17th & 18th century buccaneers to careen their vessels. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Dinner and our nightly orientation.

DAY 4: MONDAY

AM: PUNTA VICENTE ROCA

After breakfast, we make a panga ride on Punta Vicente Roca to observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies, and flightless cormorants. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel.We come aboard for a delicious lunch

PM: ESPINOZA POINT

In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Punta Espinoza to observe and see a large colony of sea lions,marine iguanas and the flightless cormorants and clumps of lava cactus. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

DAY 5: TUESDAY

AM: TAGUS COVE

After breakfast, we make a panga ride on Tagus Cove, a protected cove between the shoulders of two volcanic craters which protect it from the open sea; we observe penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and a variety of birds including flightless cormorant and blue footed boobies. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch.

PM: ELIZABETH BAY 

In the afternoon, we make a panga ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to see marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, sea birds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

DAY 6: WEDNESDAY

AM: URBINA BAY 

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Urbina Bay to take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants and giant tortoises. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak.

PM: PUNTA MORENO

In the afternoon, we sail to Punta Moreno, again we make a wet landing. We make a walk along shore lagoons located among petrified lava flows where different type of birds can be seeing. On top we have a panoramic view of the famous volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, as well as the highest part of Fernandina Island. Return to the yacht for dinner and our night orientation.

DAY 7: THURSDAY

AM: CORMORANT POINT 

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Point Cormorant for a short walk to the Flamingos Lagoon of this island. Then we continue the walk until we reach the beach called "La Picona" to see marine turtles and their spawning grounds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Later, we make a panga ride onChampion Islet, a small island off the Coast of Floreana Island. The principal attraction ofChampion Islet is the nearly-extinct Charles (Floreana) Mockingbird. Visitors can also observe bird species such asSwallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies or Brown Noddies. It is a great place for snorkeling; we will see sea turtles, reef fishes, Galapagos Penguins and white-tipped reef sharks. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel.  Return to the Yacht for lunch.

PM: BARONESSE VIEW POINT / POST OFFICE BAY 

In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Post Office Bay, a historic site that recalls the days of the whalers, who presumably placed a wooden barrel in the 18th century to use it as a post office. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel, then, you make a wet landing, you will continue to the Baroness Point view, named due to the presence of a particular character who lived on Floreana Island, it is the Baroness Eloisa von Wagner, you will enjoy of the beautiful landscape and the ruins of her house. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

DAY 8: THURSDAY

AM: TWIN CRATERS

After breakfast, we disembark and a bus takes us to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests and twin craters. Then the bus takes us directly to the airport (Baltra). Your guide accompanies you on this ride