Cachalote Itinerary Fernandina - 8 days
ITINERARY FERNANDINA - 8 DAYS
WEDNESDAY
AM: Baltra: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: Santa Cruz – Tortoise Reserve - Twin Craters & Charles Darwin Station (HK)
THURSDAY
AM: Chinese Hat (HK/SN/KY/PR)
PM: Rabida (HK/SN/PR/KY)
FRIDAY
AM: Isabela: Villamil Port / Sierra Negra Volcano (HK/KY/PR/SN)
PM: Isabela: Tortoise breeding center(HK)
SATURDAY
AM: Isabela: Moreno Point (HK/PR/SN)
PM: Isabela: Elizabeth Bay (PR/KY)
SUNDAY
AM: Isabela: Urbina Bay (HK)
PM: Isabela: Tagus Cove (HK/SN/PR/KY)
MONDAY
AM: Fernandina: Espinosa Point (HK/SN)
PM: Isabela: Vicente Roca Point (PR/SN)
TUESDAY
AM: Santiago: Eggas port (HK/SN/PR/KY)
PM: Bartolome (HK/SN/PR)
WEDNESDAY
AM: North Seymour (HK)
Baltra: Transfer to the Airport
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY
AM: BALTRA ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
Highlands of Santa Cruz: Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz
PM: SANTA CRUZ: TORTOISE RESERVE - TWIN CRATERS & CHARLES DARWIN STATION
You will board our bus and enjoy a scenic drive to Los Gemelos (sunken craters) for breathtaking views. Next, you’ll visit a Tortoise Reserve to observe these incredible creatures in their natural environment and enjoy a delicious lunch.
Afterwards, explore the Charles Darwin Station to learn about the tortoise breeding program and see tortoises at various stages of life. If time allows, take a leisurely stroll through the charming streets of Puerto Ayora. Then board a dinghy to your yacht, where the friendly crew will welcome you onboard. Enjoy a delightful dinner and settle into your cabin for the night, as the yacht begins motoring to its first destination.
DAY 2: THURSDAY
AM: CHINESE HAT
Start your day with breathtaking views of Sombrero Chino (“Chinese Hat”), a small volcanic island near the southeastern tip of Santiago. After a wet landing on its pristine white sand beach, you’ll encounter the island’s unique wildlife on a guided 1.5-hour walk. Back on Cachalote Explorer, prepare for your first snorkeling adventure in the canal, where you may encounter sea lions, reef sharks, penguins, rays, and a vibrant array of tropical fish
PM: RABIDA
Savor a delightful lunch onboard as Cachalote Explorer cruises to Rábida Island, renowned for its striking red beaches. Here, embark on a 1.5-hour guided walk to spot flamingos, nesting pelicans, marine iguanas, and a bachelor colony of sea lions. Cap off the afternoon with an invigorating snorkeling session along Rábida’s colorful coast.
Return to the yacht to unwind with a delicious dinner while your guide recaps the day’s highlights and shares plans for the next adventure. Motor overnight to your next destination.
DAY 3: FRIDAY
AM: ISABELA:
VILLAMIL PORT & VOLACAN SIERRA NEGRA
Awake to the stunning vistas of Isabela Island’s southern tip, where the charming town of Puerto Villamil awaits. After breakfast, a dinghy ride takes you to Isabela’s main dock, followed by a scenic bus journey to the trailhead of Sierra Negra. Here, set out on a rewarding four-hour round-trip hike (apx.) to witness the vast caldera of this volcano, one of the largest in the world, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the island’s rugged landscapes.
After your hike, return on board for a well-earned lunch before heading back to Villamil.
PM: ISABELA: TORTOISE BREENDING CENTER
Spend the afternoon visiting the tortoise breeding center, strolling around the picturesque flamingo lagoon, and enjoying free time to explore the quaint streets of this coastal town at your leisure. As the day winds down, savor a delicious dinner onboard while your guide recaps the day’s highlights and previews the adventures to come. Relax as Cachalote Explorer sails toward your next destination, ending another remarkable day in the Galápagos
DAY 4: SATURDAY
AM: ISABELA: MORENO POINT
Start your morning with a hearty breakfast before embarking on a scenic dinghy ride around rocks and islets of Western Isabela, home to an array of wildlife including cormorants, playful sea lions, and Galápagos penguins. Next, explore Punta Moreno with a 1.5-hour guided walk across striking black lava fields, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanoes and unique geological features. Return to Cachalote Explorer to gear up for your first snorkel of the day, where you might encounter sea turtles, seahorses, rays, sharks, and colorful tropical fish.
PM: ISABELA: ELIZABETH BAY
After a refreshing lunch onboard, continue to Elizabeth Bay. A peaceful dinghy ride takes you through a lush lagoon, where mangroves create a serene sanctuary for sea turtles, rays, penguins, and other marine life.
Conclude your day with a delicious dinner and a recap on the day’s highlights. Motor through the night to your next destination
DAY 5: SUNDAY
AM: ISABELA: URBINA BAY
Awaken to the sights of Urbina Bay, a fascinating location that emerged from the ocean floor in 1954, leaving remnants of the seabed visible to this day. Embark on a guided walk along the trail, where you’ll encounter giant tortoises and vibrant land iguanas in their natural habitat. Afterward, enjoy a snorkel directly from the beach. Return to Cachalote Explorer for a delicious lunch before continuing your journey.
PM: ISABELA: TAGUS COVE
In the afternoon, arrive at Tagus Cove, a historic harbor once favored by whalers and pirates, who left their marks by carving names into the cliffs and rocks. Here, take a hike to Darwin’s Crater, a striking saltwater lake surrounded by breathtaking views of the island's volcanic landscapes (approximately a 1-hour walk). Afterward, prepare for an exhilarating dinghy ride or snorkeling session in the cove’s tranquil waters, teeming with marine life.
Conclude the day with a satisfying dinner aboard the yacht, followed by a debrief on the day's discoveries
DAY 6: MONDAY
AM: FERNANDINA: ESPINOZA POINT
During the night, motor to Fernandina Island, the youngest and most westerly of the Galapagos Islands, renowned for its active volcanoes. After breakfast, take a dinghy to Punta Espinoza, home to large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galapagos hawks, and the non-venomous Galapagos snake. Enjoy a leisurely guided walk along flat trails. Return to the yacht to gear up for an exciting snorkel in the bay.
PM: ISABELA: VICENTE ROCA POINT
After lunch onboard, the journey continues back to Isabela Island, arriving at Punta Vincente Roca. Known for its towering cliffs, breathtaking vistas, and a hidden cave, this location offers an unforgettable snorkeling experience. Glide along the cliffs and mouth of the cave towards a calm bay where you may encounter resting sea turtles, flightless cormorants, and a variety of marine life. Back on board, change for a scenic circumnavigation of the cliffs, providing up-close views of the dramatic coastline. End the day with a special celebration of crossing the Equator, followed by a delightful dinner.
DAY 7: TUESDAY
AM: SANTIAGO: EGGAS PORT
Wake up to the stunning views of Santiago Island. After breakfast, take a dinghy to Puerto Egas which offers a stunning coastal walk along rugged lava formations, leading you to some of the Galápagos' most vibrant tide pools. This site is home to a variety of wildlife, including playful fur seals lounging in grottos, oystercatchers foraging along the shore, and marine iguanas basking on the volcanic rock. Along the way, you'll see the Sugar Loaf Volcano in the distance and the remnants of an old salt mine, a glimpse into the island's past.
PM: BARTOLOME
Return to the boat for lunch, then journey to Bartolome Island, renowned for its iconic Pinnacle Rock and breathtaking views. Ascend the stairs to marvel at the panorama, and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where you might encounter penguins, rays, sharks, and vibrant tropical fish. End your day with dinner and a debrief on board, enjoying the spectacular scenery as you sail overnight to North Seymour
DAY 8: WEDNESDAY
AM: NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND / BALTRA FOR RETURN FLIGHT TO QUITO
On your final day, before breakfast, take a dinghy ride to North Seymour, a flat island uplifted thousands of years ago, offering a fascinating glimpse into the Galapagos' geological history. Enjoy a 1.5-hour guided walk through the island’s incredible wildlife, including colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, magnificent and great frigate birds, playful sea lions, and perhaps even a glimpse of reef sharks along the shoreline.
Return to the boat for breakfast as you motor for Baltra Island, where your itinerary comes to an end. Upon arrival, you and your luggage will be transferred by bus to the airport, or you can choose to extend your Galapagos adventure by exploring the islands by land. For those continuing the two-week itinerary, remain aboard to embark on your next unforgettable journey.
Baltra: Return flight to Quito
