Aida Maria Itinerary B - 8 Days

DAY 1: SUNDAY
AM: SAN CRISTOBAL ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
The Galapagos Islands are completely unique and you are about to see why. Your bilingual naturalist guide will meet you at the airport and meet you after the respective check-in points. During lunch, he/she will introduce you to the islands, specifically the flora and fauna that you will find at our first destination, the Interpretation Center and Cerro Tijeretas.

PM: SAN CRISTOBAL: INTERPRETATION CENTER- CERRO TIJERETAS 
In the afternoon there will be a visit to the Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo, the local branch of the Galapagos National Park Service, where your guide will explain the formation of the islands, how the flora and fauna arrived. and they settled in Galapagos, in addition to visiting the corrals where there are several species of giant tortoises under the care of the National Park Service. For those of you arriving that day, you will go from the airport directly to the boat to show you your accommodation. Then you will continue the visit to Cerro Tijeretas, located 2 km from Puerto Ayora, it is the only place where you can see 2 different types of Frigates that live in the same colony.  Back to the boat, dinner.

DAY 2: MONDAY
AM: SANTA FE ISLAND
After breakfast on the yacht, you’ll continue to Santa Fe Island. Upon arrival to the island, you’ll be treated to a noisy welcome from the local Sea Lion colony. Following your naturalist guide on the island paths you’ll reach Santa Fe's main attraction, a towering forest of giant cacti. Scattered around the cacti trees you’ll see a number of the island's indigenous sun-seekers: marine and land iguanas, the rainbow-streaked lava lizards and, if you’re lucky, land tortoises - the namesakes of the islands. After the walk you’ll dive into the salty sea and snorkel in the company of Sea Lions, Lion Fish and Sea Turtles. Finally, you’ll return to the yacht for lunch.

PM: SOUTH PLAZAS ISLAND
After lunch we’ll navigate to Plazas Island, where a large colony of Sea Lions lounge daily in the equatorial sun. Plaza also boasts excellent examples of typical Galapagos native flora such as the towering cacti "trees" that form the principal diet for both the Land Iguanas and the Cactus Finch. Other birds that may flutter by include Lava Gulls, Yellow Warblers and Red-Billed Tropicbirds.

D AY 3: TUESDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ (DRY LANDING) - CHARLES DARWIN STATION
Charles Darwin Station. After breakfast you’ll sail to Santa Cruz Island, where you’ll visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises, including Lonesome George museum. Then you’ll visit the station’s Tortoise Rearing Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!). Galapagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need. Aside from the Station headquarters, Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. In this portside town you can buy souvenirs (postcards, t-shirts, books, etc.) of the islands. Check out the unique Galapagos ceramic shop near the entrance of the Charles Darwin Station.

PM: SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS
After shopping in Puerto Ayora and lunch on the boat (guests may dine in town if they desire), you’ll explore the highlands or “parte alta” of the island, which is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils. You’ll learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, often strikingly different than that found at lower elevations and our best opportunity to find the famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Darwin’s Finches, Yellow Warblers, and other land birds will fly in and out of the moss-covered trees. From this high vantage point you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the island.
In the late afternoon you’ll return to town. For those who wish to check out the nightlife, this is your chance; the boat will be docked in port most of the night.

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY
AM: ISABELA: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO
Your first visit in the morning will take place to Volcan Sierra Negra, will be a walk around 30 minutes to the lap of this famous volcano at Isabela Island. Volcan Sierra Negra is a large shield volcano at the South eastern end of Isabela Island in the Galapagos that rises to an altitude of 1124m. Also is considered one of the oldest Volcano at the Islands.

PM: ISABELA: WETLANDS  AND WALL OF TEARS
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go to visit the Wetlands, which is a mangrove area with small brackish water lagoons that create the perfect environment for a small type of shrimp that serves as the food for the island’s flamingos. The Wall of Tears is one of the remaining ruins of the penal colony that existed in Isabela between 1946 and 1958. The construction of this wall caused much suffering to the prisoners who were physically and psychologically tortured to carry the stones that make it up since long distance. The Wall of Tears is located at the end of the Wetlands route, on the way to the wall there is a viewpoint with a wonderful view of Puerto Villamil and you can also see giant tortoises in the wild along the way. 

DAY 5: THURSDAY
AM: ISABELA: MORENO POINT
After night navigation you’ll arrive to Punta Moreno on the west coast of Isabela, a dry landing on a lava field. The vegetation found in this area is sparse and concentrated mainly in the mangrove area and around the lakes. It should be noted that the three kinds of cacti are found here. The main attractions at Punta Moreno are the coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. Here you’ll have a panoramic view of three of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos, which are Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul of Isabela Island and La Cumbre of Fernandina Island.

PM: ISABELA : ELIZABETH BAY
After lunch on board you’ll continue on your way to Elizabeth bay, located on Isabela Island`s west shore, which is an excellent spot for observing marine life. You’ll motor past a few islands where you can usually see Galapagos Penguins; this is one of the best areas to take their photos. A colony of these magnificent birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay. We’ll let our boat drift through a small passage lined with mangroves and eventually emerge into an enclosed cove. We’ll turn the motor off and look in the sheltered waters for Marine Turtles, Rays, Flightless Cormorants, Sea Lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos Hawks.

DAY 6: FRIDAY
AM: FERNANDINA: ESPINOZA POINT
Punta Espinoza is a narrow ledge of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. There is a vivid description from Captain Benjamin Morrell who witnessed and recorded and eruption of Fernandina in the 1820’s that probably gave rise to the Point. In 1975, there was an uprising, about 90 cm, which is why the pier built for landing can only be used during high tide. Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of Marine Iguanas as well as being the habitat of unique species like the Flightless Cormorant, the Galapagos Penguin, the Galapagos Hawk, and the Galapagos Snake, among others. It’s an ideal place to observe the lava cactus (Brachycerus Nesioticus), which grow on young lava and survive with little water. Back on board for lunch and a short navigation to Punta Vicente Roca. 

PM: ISABELA: VICENTE ROCA POINT
During lunch time, we will start to navigate to Punta Vicente Roca on the northen tip of Isabela island, after a couple of hours we will arrive to this visitors place , the activity for the afternoon is snorkelling, Punta Vicente roca is home to sea lions, fur seals , penguins , turtles , flightless cormorants , so there is alway the opportunity to find any of this animals in the water. The snorkel takes place along a wall of volcanic ash called tuff stone featuring amazing underwater volcanic formations including a small cave where in season it is possible to see sea turtles. After snorkeling we will come back on board and continue on our way to James island. 

DAY 8: SUNDAY
AM: SEYMOUR NORTE - TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
After an early breakfast you’ll disembark at North Seymour Island. Here you will see Frigate Birds, the clownish Blue-Footed Booby, and of course the ubiquitous Sea Lions. With luck you’ll witness the striking courtship display of the male Frigate Bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females. Seymour North, Plaza Sur, Plaza Norte, Baltra, northeastern Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and part of Española, were all formed by uprisings of underwater volcanic lavas. They were part of a volcanic lava table deposited in sheet form along cracks located on the ocean floor. The uprisings occurred sporadically and lasted more than a million years to reach its current level. 

All marine fossils found in the archipelago are found in these islands and the best example is the North Channel side of Baltra. The fossils date from the Pleistocene, and specifically in the case of Baltra, one can say that these volcanic tables were close to the surface about a million years ago. Return to the boat & sail to Baltra Island to catch your plane back to the mainland.