Tip Top II - Galapagos Naturalist Cruise (non-diving)

Transfer to the boat A guide meets us and accompanies us as we ride the bus to the Itabaca Channel, we cross the channel by barge and then we continue to Puerto Ayora by bus. We aboard the Yacht and the crew greets us and offers us a light snack and we have our first orientation. In the afternoon, we land at the pier for a visit to the Charles Darwin Station and its Interpretive Center. Return to the Port for a walk through the little town to appreciate various handicrafts. We have a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Santa Fe Island to visit the cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas native from Santa Fe. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch and sail to South Plaza, where we make a dry landing on the pier of the island, there we can enjoy the antics of the sea lions. A walk through a cactus forest allows us to observe land iguanas and many species of tropical birds. At the end of the afternoon, we return to the Yacht for a delicious dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the Coast of Santiago Island, we can observe on the rocky shoreline: Galapagos penguins, eagle rays, sea lions and marine iguanas. This is an excellent snorkeling site. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch. After lunch, we make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and brown pelicans. We walk and we arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where we can see pink flamingos. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or Kayak. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast we make a panga ride on Black Turtle Cove, series of mangrove-surrounded coves and islets; where we can observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Dragon Hill, where we can see land iguanas; we walk to a hypersalinic lagoon (saltier than the ocean), where we can observe flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Post Office Bay, a historic site that recalls the days of the whalers, who presumably placed a wooden barrel in the 18th century to use it as a post office. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Then, we make a panga ride on La Lobería of Post Office, where we can observe sea lion rookeries (the main attraction) on the beach and in the bay of the Lobería, sea turtles and marine iguanas. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the Devil’s Crown, a submerged volcano, for snorkelling for those who wish it (this is one of the best snorkelling sites in the Islands), then we make a wet landing on Point Cormorant for a short walk to the Flamingo Lagoon of this island. We then continue the walk until we reach the beach called "La Picona" to see marine turtles and their spawning grounds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez to walk along lava beds where we will observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December). Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing in Gardner Bay for a walk on the beach and observe a colony of sea lions, which inhabit the beach in great quantity during the breeding season; this is also an important nesting area for sea turtles. Then we make a panga ride around the Osborn Islet and the islets of Gardner. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make a dry landing on San Cristobal port, after a short drive we arrive at Jacinto Gordillo Turtle Breeding Center where we learn about its reproductive process and the programs to maintain the species. We take the bus back to the port to visit the Interpretation Center of Human History of the Islands; this tour takes us through the geological and human history of the islands and its conservation. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, our experienced Captain sails easily around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a massive tuff-rock that juts abruptly almost 500 feet straight from the ocean. Kicker Rock serves as nesting place for many sea birds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/ or snorkel. Then we make a wet landing on Cerro Brujo to walk on a white sand beach and observe sea lions, brown pelicans, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or Kayak. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast we make an early dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island, a low, flat island that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. We observe blue footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shore birds, sea lions and endemic Palo Santo. We return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.

Transfer to the boat Your guide conducts you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; we board the Yacht without delay. As the crew weighs anchor, we greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack. After navigating, we disembark on Playa Las Bachas, a place where we can appreciate a Flamingos lagoon. During all walks, your guide will be explaining details about the lives of the birds and animals. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel, in the evening we have an orientation about the Galapagos Islands in general: their origin and evolution. Welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

After breakfast we make a wet landing on Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Bartholomew Island, to hike to the summit; during the hike we observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit we see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. We return to the yacht for a delicious dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we take a panga ride and we make a dry landing on Prince Phillips’s Steps (Barranco), we walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Darwin Bay to walk and observe frigatebirds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, etc. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Dinner on the Yacht, and then our orientation about conservation efforts made to protect the Islands.

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on James Bay (Puerto Egas), to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas and sea lions. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we navigate around Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero), an area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. The cliffs and pinnacle are used as nesting areas by several species of seabirds. This was a popular place for 17th & 18th century buccaneers to careen their vessels. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Then we make a wet landing to walk along a coastal trail to visit an abandoned Salt Mines. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make a panga ride on Punta Vicente Roca to observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies, and flightless cormorants. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Punta Espinoza to observe and see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas and the flightless cormorants and clumps of lava cactus. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Urbina Bay to take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants and giant tortoises. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a panga ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to see marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make an expedition to Sierra Negra Volcano, considered the oldest of the volcanoes on Isabela, the crater of Sierra Negra has a 10 km diameter and it’s the second largest in the world; its last eruption occurred in 2005. The Sulfur, iron and the cooled magma make up a colorful landscape. Our adventure begins with a 45 minutes ride on a bus to the highlands of Isabela, we arrive at “Paradero Sierra Negra”, from here we walk through slopes of the Volcano. The trail conducts us to Volcan Chico (on the northeast of Sierra Negra Volcano), a fissure composed of scum and lava. This fissure had its last eruption on 1979 and the volcanic activity lasted for a week. From here we have an amazing view of the north of the island and if the day is clear we have a majestic view of the Perry Isthmus, a surrounding island. This expedition allows us to step through volcanic features and over lava flows formed in very recent years. We also see the formations of petrified lava of many different colors and textures and fumaroles scattered throughout this area. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon we visit Humedales, where we can see series of lagoons, mangrove species, flamingos and numerous migratory birds. After that, we visit Breeding Center “Arnaldo Tupiza”, where we can observe tortoises of different ages and sizes (In total there are 330 between juvenile and adult tortoises) and where we can learn about the reproduction of the giant tortoises, in the Breeding Center we can also see different native plants. Return to the Yacht for a delicious dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast we make an early disembark in the pier for a visit to the Charles Darwin Station and its interpretive Center. Then the bus takes us directly to the airport (Baltra). Your guide accompanies you on this ride.

Transfer to the boat Your guide conducts you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; we board the Yacht without delay. We greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack. In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Dragon Hill, where we can see land iguanas; we walk to a hypersalinic lagoon (saltier than the ocean), where we can observe flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We board the Yacht for dinner and the first of our nightly orientations.

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Post Office Bay, a historic site that recalls the days of the whalers, who presumably placed a wooden barrel in the 18th century to use it as a post office. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Then, we make a panga ride on La Lobería of Post Office, where we can observe sea lion rookeries (the main attraction) on the beach and in the bay of the Lobería, sea turtles and marine iguanas. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the Devil’s Crown, a submerged volcano, for snorkelling for those who wish it (this is one of the best snorkelling sites in the Islands), then we make a wet landing on Point Cormorant for a short walk to the Flamingo Lagoon of this island. We then continue the walk until we reach the beach called "La Picona" to see marine turtles and their spawning grounds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez to walk along lava beds where we will observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December). Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing in Gardner Bay for a walk on the beach and observe a colony of sea lions, which inhabit the beach in great quantity during the breeding season; this is also an important nesting area for sea turtles. Then we make a panga ride around the islet of Gardner. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast, we make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez to walk along lava beds where we will observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December). Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing in Gardner Bay for a walk on the beach and observe a colony of sea lions, which inhabit the beach in great quantity during the breeding season; this is also an important nesting area for sea turtles. Then we make a panga ride around the islet of Gardner. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast we make an early dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island, a low, flat island that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. We observe blue footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shore birds, sea lions and endemic Palo Santo. We return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.