Grand Queen Beatriz Itinerary D - 8 days

DAY 1: WEDNSDAY
AM: BALTRA ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
Welcome to the Galapagos!
You will be met in the arrival hall of the airport by a National Park Guide, and transferred to the catamaran ‘M.C Queen Beatriz’. Lunch will be served on the boat.

PM: SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS
This afternoon you will visit Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos, here you'll visit the highlands.
Included Activities
● Santa Cruz Highlands
Meals Included
● Lunch
● Dinner 

DAY 2: THURSDAY
AM: NORTH SEYMOUR
Today you will take a morning excursion to North Seymour. The trail on North Seymour crosses the inland through the island and then explores the rocky coast. Along the way the trail passes colonies of blue footed boobies and frigate birds.
The magnificent frigate bird, a large black bird with a long wingspan, and a hooked beak, is extremely fast and has excellent vision. Frigate birds are known for the large red pouch on their necks. During mating season the males throw back their heads, inflate the pouch (sometimes to the size of a soccer ball), and
shake trying to capture the attention of female frigates.
Boobies and frigates have an interesting relationship. Sharing the same nesting area on North Seymour, blue-footed boobies nest on the ground making their nests from the twigs of the palo santos trees, while the frigate birds nest just above them in the saltbushes.

PM: MOSQUERA ISLET
After lunch you will visit the small sandy island of Mosquera, it’s a relaxing, picturesque stop. Along the rocks and in the tide pool, sally lightfoot crabs (red lava crabs) scamper back and forth, skipping across small pools of water in search of food. These crabs with their bright red shell tops and blue under shells are stunning against the black lava.
Included Activities
● Isla Mosquera Beach
● Isla North Seymour Walk and Snorkel
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner

DAY 3: FRIDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: BLACK TURTLE COVE
Today you will take a morning excursion to Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) - a red mangrove wetland on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. You will paddle among the cove’s peaceful waters, for your first taste of the underwater riches of this region it’s a wonderful place to see green turtle and is a nursery for rays and Galapagos sharks.
There is also abundant birdlife, such as the yellow warbler and lava heron. This is also a breeding area for turtles, so it is not uncommon to see them mating.

PM: SANTA CRUZ: DRAGON HILL
Go for a walk on Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) this afternoon, this is one of the best places to see land iguanas in the islands. You’ll walk along the trail from the beach, and along with the land iguanas, other sightings include marine iguanas, flamingos and Sally Lightfoot crabs.
Included Activities
● Black Turtle Cove Visit
● Cerro Dragon
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinne

DAY 4: SATURDAY
AM: RABIDA
Rabida, also known as ‘Jervis’ is a tiny island sitting roughly five kilometers south of Santiago and is one of the most striking of the archipelago. Introduced species were eradicated in 1971, meaning that the indigenous wildlife has now been returned to a state of splendid isolation. Additionally, volcanic activity here has produced vivid, fantastical colors, not least the beaches of red sand and cliffs of scarlet.
From the shore, the trail leads through to what is one of the finest lagoons in the Galapagos for viewing flamingos. Rabida is also a wonderful place to spot nesting pelicans. Elsewhere, pintail ducks, marine iguanas and sea lions are all present.

PM: CHINESE HAT
Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago.
It's shaped like a Chinese hat (Sombrero Chino) when seen from afar, and is geologically fascinating, with many lava tubes leading from the cone to the coast.
Included Activities
● Isla Rabida Snorkeling
● Sombrero Chino
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner 

DAY 6: MONDAY
AM: ISABELA: TORTOISE BREEDING CENTER
Today you will wake up on the South Coast of Isabela Island, the largest of the Galapagos Archipelago. Isabela was formed by five giant volcanic craters, all of which are still considered active. The island is located in one of the youngest geological areas in the world, having been formed less than 1 million years ago.
This southern coast of turquoise blue waters has the largest area of beaches in the Galapagos.

PM: ISABELA: THE TINTORERAS VISIT
You will visit Las Tintoreras, where from the viewing walkway you can look down into this narrow channel to see a colony of white-tipped reef sharks swimming and sleeping, and the occasional playful sea lion among them! Blue-footed boobies and penguins, marine iguanas and crabs also make their home here, and the waters provide further opportunities to swim with turtles. Here you will also visit the Giant Tortoise breeding center and the Wall of Tears, constructed from lava by prisoners of the penal colony here between 1946 and 1959 as punishment. Please note there's a US$20 fee to be paid upon entering Isabela Island.
Included Activities
● Arnoldo Tupiza Tortoise breeding center
● Las Tintoreras visit
Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner