 7 - NIGHT EXPEDITION ITINERARY
TUESDAY TO TUESDAY 8 days / 7 nights
TUESDAY /  Baltra Island
Morning arrival to Baltra Island by TAME flight where you will be greeted by the yacht's staff. Immediate transfer to the dock to board the ISABELA II. Welcome introductory briefing and lunch. Official boat drill before our first outing.
 North Seymour Island
Afternoon disembarkation (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. A shorter walk is also available. This flat island is evidence of what the bottom of the ocean was some thousands of years ago. Welcome Cocktail offered by the Captain. ECO moment and naturalist's briefing on the next day's activities. Dinner.
WEDNESDAY / Gardner Bay (Hood Island)
After breakfast, disembark (wet landing) at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch a sea lion colony, mockingbirds, finches or just enjoy the incredibly white beach. There is great snorkeling in this area (snorkeling equipment is complimentary), or ride the glass-bottom boat around Gardner or Tortuga islets. Lunch on board, while navigating to Punta Suarez.
 Punta Suarez (Hood Island)
Afternoon dry landing for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses ( April- December) , as well as blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, red-billed tropic birds, swallow-tail gulls, hawks, and the famous blowhole. A shorter walk can be also arranged, depending on the number of participants. For those not planning to walk there will be panga (dinghy) ride along the coastline of Punta Suarez. ECO moment and naturalist's briefing. Dinner.
THURSDAY / Punta Cormorant (Floreana Island)
Wet landing for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. There is great snorkeling from the beach or near by, at Champion or the Devil's Crown. A great alternative for non-snorkelers can be a discovery ride on the glass-bottom boat. Lunch while an avigating to Post Office Bay. Our expedition may give us today the first rewarding lecture of the voyage.
Post Office Bay (Floreana Island)
 Wet landing at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly our first contact with the Galapagos penguin. Also, a short hike up to El Mirador for great sunset views. ECO moment and naturalist's briefing. Dinner.
  FRIDAY / Santa Cruz Island
After breakfast, disembark (dry landing) to visit the Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April a visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may be included, if weather permitting. Lunch at Finch Bay Eco Hotel, the only beach front access facility on the island. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora. ECO moment and naturalist's briefing. Dinner.
  SATURDAY / Darwin Bay (Tower Island)
This is an impressive anchorage site, right at the collapsed caldera of Tower Island's volcano. Morning wet landing for an easy stroll observing thousands of bird life, mainly frigate birds, red footed and Nazca boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. If you wish you can continue walking over sharp lava and uneven terrain, or just go back to the beach to enjoy swimming and snorkeling at this beautiful natural harbor. Those most adventurous can  look for Hammerhead sharks while snorkeling along the cliffs. You can also snorkel from the beach. Lunch on board. This is a great location for another lecture from our Naturalists.
Prince Philip's Steps (Tower Island)
The afternoon starts with an amazing panga ride along the cliffs and then disembark (dry landing) on rocks for a steep climb (90 feet) and then a leveled walk for about a mile to the other side of this small island observing large colonies of Nazca  boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and the well-camouflaged short-eared owl. Darwin's finches on Tower Island are quite interesting, as their beak variation is highly notorious. ECO moment and naturalist's briefing. Dinner.
 SUNDAY
Early risers will enjoy cruising right in front of the most dramatic volcanic landscape found in the islands.
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
The morning brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing  combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Our Naturalists will announce if a snorkeling outing can be arranged after our hike. Lunch on board.
Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
Located along Isabela's western coast, this site holds a lot of history, including that of whalers and pirate ships. The rugged coastline is the result of very explosive past eruptions that gave rise to tuff-stone layers. This same coastline is an attractive nesting area for brown pelicans, noddy  terns, and penguins. The always highly productive waters of the west are also great feeding grounds for sea turtles. Dry landing. A small wooden staircase takes us some 150 meters (300 feet) to the rim of Darwin's Lake. Here we walk along an easy, but long path some 3 Kilometers (2.2 miles). This outing's main highlight is the impressive scenery. and it includes seeing a beautiful palo santo tree forest, and plenty of plant representatives from the arid zone. So amazing, that up to three endemic genera can be seen! Great chance for Darwin's finches, mockingbirds, flycatchers, and with luck, the Galápagos hawk. At the end of the walk, the most rewarding view of the northern volcano's of this island will let us see how large this island really is. ECO Moment and Naturalist's briefing. Dinner.
  MONDAY / Puerto Egas (James Island)
Wet landing for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds , but maybe the best location for migrants. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of fur-sea lions. This walk offers a chance to see the two species of sea lions that inhabit Galapagos' shores. Outstanding snorkeling and swimming from the beach after the walk. Lunch on board.
Bartolome Island
Upon arrival, we go straight to the wonderful golden beach of Bartolome. Great adventure awaits as we snorkel amidst schools of tropical fish, and most exciting our underwater contact with Galapagos penguins. A ride on the glass-bottom boat can reveal, once again, the remarkable beauty of the Marine Reserve. Afterwards, disembark at Bartolome Island (dry landing) for a hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase; the view from the top is worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock to observe penguins, as well as the great formations of this volcanic wonderland. Farewell cocktail and departure details before dinner.
TUESDAY / Baltra Island
After breakfast, departure to the airport's terminal to take the flight back to the continent.
- OUR EXPEDITION APPROACH:
The Yacht Isabela II ensures the most in-depth Galapagos Experience by providing only 7-night expeditions. Please read this Expedition Itinerary as a guide only. The route and program vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters. Our crew is trained to deal with all the elements of the nature of this expedition. Safety will always be part of the daily programming of activities. Kindly follow all suggestions. It is compulsory to wear a life vest during the rides in the dinghies between the ship and the shore. Flexibility is essential in order to cope with nature's outstanding features. Given the islands’ volcanic origin, and the fact that most walking is done over pristine and irregular volcanic terrain, guests must be in suitable physical conditions for these kind of outings. The ship also organizes activities like shorter walks, boat rides, glass-bottom boat trips, snorkeling, swimming, lectures, all complimenting everyone’s experience.
The Expedition Staff will provide you with snorkeling gear (mask and snorkel, fins, floating vest and net bag). Please note that the operation does not carry prescription masks. For snorkelers a shortie wet suit is highly recommended from June to December. Cooperation of guests is a key point when complying with the rules of the National Park. This alone can guarantee a major success in the expedition.
For island visits, two types of landings are planned:
Dry landing: guests step from the dinghy onto rocks or a dock.
Wet landing: as the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.
- ECO MOMENT - Isabela II Yacht- Every evening, our Expedition Staff will present in laymen terms, subjects related to Geology, Evolution, Oceanography, and many more. The prefix ECO comes from the key words Explore, Conserve, Observe.
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