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Our Northern Galapagos Yacht Itinerary sets off with a tour of Santa Cruz Island’s gorgeously green highlands, home to giant tortoises. Following that, we’re off to Santiago Island and Chinese Hat Islet, each of which provides Guests with mesmerizing insights into the beauty and life that exists in the archipelago.
The next day, we’ll awaken to the gorgeous Genovesa Island — with its massive crater that we sail into — and its plethora of bird species, with exciting moments on land and in the sea. Lastly, we visit Santa Fe and South Plaza Islands, both of which provide a unique look into several unique species and beautiful landscapes.
This Galapagos itinerary has been designed to guarantee the best wildlife-viewing opportunities at several of the most gorgeous landscapes in the archipelago.
After landing, we drive to the Itabaca Channel to take a ferry to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride takes us to the Highlands.
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
After lunch, we drive to a reserve to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Then a bus ride takes us to Puerto Ayora to board Yacht Isabela II.
Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
Following a wet landing on a black, sandy beach, our trail takes us to enjoy close-up encounters with land iguanas, land and marine birds, and fur seals.
Chinese Hat Islet
This islet makes for a beautiful visit as we explore the wildlife along its 1,312 ft-long (400 m-long) trail. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins.
Prince Philip’s Steps
After a panga (dinghy) ride along the cliffs of “Bird Island,” we land at a steep staircase. Walking along the trail, we can spot Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, and storm petrels. Snorkeling and kayaking activities are available.
Darwin Bay
We land after lunch at the beautiful white beach of Darwin Bay. Here we walk amid hundreds of birds- frigatebirds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, and plenty more.
Santa Fe Island
We visit a white sandy beach with sea lion colonies, with potential sightings of the Santa Fe land iguana. Options include snorkeling, swimming, or a glass-bottom boat ride.
South Plaza Island
After lunch and rest, we land (dry landing) at this channel, encountering sea lion colonies and observing frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, and shearwaters.
Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
Visited on day one.
Home of one of the largest giant tortoise populations in the entire archipelago. This island provides a captivating sense of the ongoing conservation efforts underway, as well as the care and responsibility native islanders take with respect to wildlife and the environment. As part of the visit here, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat while experiencing the lush and verdant highlands.
Visited on day two.
Beautifully rugged, with a well-eroded coastline consisting of tuff stone layers and lava flows, Santiago delights not only with its vistas but a substantial bit of human history, too. Here you’ll learn about the salt mine that once existed on the island, followed by the chance to take a dip in the waters and swim alongside sea lions, sea turtles, and reef sharks!
Visited on day two.
This islet makes for a beautiful afternoon visit as we explore the wildlife along its trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped, white sand beach. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amongst white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins.
Visited on day three.
One of the most remote yet by no means less beautiful islands in the Galapagos. Genovesa enchants with its reputation as being known as “bird island”, with thousands of feathery creatures to be seen. Additionally, we’ll anchor inside a sunken crater that gives us the benefit of being surrounded by a stunning cliffline. Numerous exciting aquatic activities are available here.
Visited on day four.
Disembark and venture out across the towering cacti (which you can actually touch and even hug thanks to its very soft thorns) and enigmatic scenery that adorns this unique island. Not only that, but the island is the only home to an endemic species of land iguana. Aquatic activities are offered at this island that put you in touch with the native sea life, such as sea lions and fish.
Visited on day four.
Enjoy the mesmerizing terrain of this tiny little island that you’ll loop the entirety of in one go. Along the way, you’ll get to enjoy the carpets of scarlet succulents that cover the land, in which a multitude of land iguanas can often be seen eating. As we circle the coastline, you’ll get the chance to spot colonies of sea lions and a plethora of marine birds flying overhead.
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