5-Day West Galapagos Islands Cruise

Description

Day 1: Baltra Island - Santa Cruz Island

At 9:08 am, you're scheduled arrival at the Baltra airport, where we'll be waiting to take you by bus to the ship where we'll spend the next few days. Are you eager to start exploring the Galapagos National Park? We sure are!

We'll have lunch on board, and then in the afternoon, we'll go to the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, located on Santa Cruz Island. Here, we'll have our first glimpse of the famous Galapagos giant tortoises, a species endemic to this archipelago that can live up to 400 years. We'll also encounter land iguanas and learn about the history of Lonesome George.

Finally, we'll end the day by returning to the ship for dinner and rest.

Day 2: Isabela Island

The second day of our Galapagos cruise will be spent exploring Isabela, the largest island in the national park. After breakfast, we'll visit its western coast, starting at Punta Moreno, from where we'll admire the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. We'll hike along a path of solidified lava that will lead us to admire lakes and mangroves.

We'll return to the boat for lunch and, in the afternoon, we'll visit Urbina Bay. Here we'll see corals, shells, and sediments that have been left out of the sea due to the island's volcanic processes. We'll explain all the details while we try to spot giant tortoises, Darwin's finches, and the iguanas that inhabit the slopes of the Alcedo volcano.

Finally, we'll have dinner on the boat and rest for the next day.

Day 3: Fernandina Island - Isabela Island

We'll have breakfast on the boat and go directly to Punta Espinosa, one of the best places in Galapagos to see marine iguanas. Welcome to Fernandina Island! Another species we'll be able to see here is the flightless cormorant, considered one of the rarest birds on the planet. Seeing these species will allow us to understand the constant evolution of the animal kingdom.

In the afternoon, we'll cross the Bolivar Channel while enjoying lunch on our way to Punta Vicente Roca, on the northwestern tip of Isabela. We'll spot the silhouette of the Ecuador Volcano, admire sea caves, and have time for a dip and snorkeling. With a little luck, you might see seahorses, puffer fish, and even Galapagos penguins. The biodiversity of this area won't cease to amaze you!

Finally, we'll head back to the boat, where you'll have dinner and rest until the next day.

Day 4: Santiago Island - Rábida Islet

Rise and shine! After breakfast, we'll go into the central area of the Galapagos National Park. We'll arrive at Puerto Egas, where we'll learn about the past of Santiago Island and how it was linked to the exploitation of salt. We'll admire the volcanic landscape before returning to the ship for lunch.

After lunch, we'll visit Rábida Island, which stands out for the striking reddish colors of its rocks in total contrast with the blackish landscapes of the rest of the Galapagos Islands. We'll explain the reason for this curious landscape as we approach a lagoon where we'll see flamingos in their natural habitat. Mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and finches will also be present during the route.

We'll conclude the day by returning to the boat and having dinner.

Day 5: Santa Cruz Island - Baltra Island

On the last day of the cruise, we'll have breakfast and take a panoramic tour of the Tortuga Negra Cove aboard a zodiac boat. This will be a brief but intense experience that will allow us to admire the mangroves of Santa Cruz Island and the emerald waters of this bay. We might even see sea turtles and sharks!

Finally, we'll finish this 5-day cruise by dropping you off at the Baltra airport so you can catch your flight in time.

Accommodation

This 5-day tour includes 4 nights of accommodation on the Archipel I boat with full board. When booking, you can opt for a double room with a double bed or twin beds.

Flights

To participate in this cruise, you need to book your roundtrip flights at the following times:

If you're traveling from Quito

• Departure flight: AVIANCA - AV1632. Departure at 6:25 am from Quito. Arrival at 9:08 am in Baltra.
• Return flight: AVIANCA - AV1633. Departure at 10:03 am from Baltra. Arrival at 2:37 pm in Quito.
   

If you're traveling from Guayaquil

• Departure flight: AVIANCA - AV1632. Departure at 8:10 am from Guayaquil. Arrival at 9:08 am in Baltra.
• Return flight: AVIANCA - AV1633. Departure at 10:03 am from Baltra. Arrival at 12:56 pm in Guayaquil.