Ultimate Galápagos Islands Experience aboard M/Y Tip Top IV

Arrive in Quito and transfer to the hotel. *Hotel check-in time is 3 pm.

Enjoy a leisurely morning, then later just relax or attend a photography session with Krisztina to photograph the birds and wildlife in the nine acres of gardens around the hotel. We have a very early start the next morning, so this day we will take it easy. Group orientation after dinner this evening.

BALTRA - ISLE OF NORTH SEYMOUR. We get a very early morning start as we fly to Galápagos. Head to the airport for the flight from Quito to Baltra. On arrival in Baltra, we will board the yacht and have a light snack. This afternoon, we will begin our program of shore excursions with a visit to the island of North Seymour. This island is a major nesting area for the Blue-footed Booby and also home to the largest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds in the Galápagos. Both marine and land iguanas are found in good numbers here, and sea lions often surf the rocky shore break.

ISLE OF GENOVESA - Located in the northeast portion of the archipelago, Genovesa Island is filled with many seabirds. After breakfast, visit Darwin Bay to walk and observe frigatebirds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, and more. Later in the afternoon, disembark on a rocky ledge and climb the natural stone staircase at Prince Philip's Steps (El Barranco) to walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. There may also be an option to snorkel in Darwin Bay. Have dinner on the yacht, and then attend our orientation about conservation efforts to protect the islands.

ISLE OF SANTIAGO - After breakfast, explore James Bay (Puerto Egas) to walk and observe the endemic fur seals. Tide-pooling gives a great opportunity to see shorebirds and seabirds, sponges, snails, hermit crabs, the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas, sea lions, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, and American Oystercatchers. As we walk inland, we may see painted locusts, grasshoppers, and possibly even the Galápagos snake. Galápagos Flycatchers and Galápagos Hawks are also common. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel, getting closer to the smaller sea life. Return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Espumilla Beach, a brown sand beach that is an important site for nesting sea turtles. Here we also observe a lot of land birds like Yellow Warblers, Galápagos Flycatchers, and several species of Darwin's finches. A trail takes us through a palo santo forest; we walk behind the beach and arrive to a saltwater lagoon, where flamingos occasionally are seen. Navigate around Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero), an area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. This was a popular place for 17th and 18th century buccaneers to careen their vessels, and the cliffs and pinnacle are used as nesting areas by several species of seabirds.

ISLE OF ISABELA - After breakfast, take a panga ride at Punta Vicente Roca to observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, and Flightless Cormorants. In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island to observe a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, and clumps of lava cactus. Return to the boat for dinner and our nightly orientation.

ISLE OF ISABELA - After breakfast, we take a panga ride around Tagus Cove, a cove between the shoulders of two volcanic craters which protect it from the open sea; we observe penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and a variety of birds, including the Flightless Cormorant and Blue-footed Boobies. In the afternoon, take a panga ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to see marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons, and Blue-footed Boobies.

ISLE OF ISABELA - This morning, disembark on the island at Urbina Bay, a coral area at the base of Alcedo Volcano with land iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, and giant tortoises. After lunch, sail to Punta Moreno, where we walk along shore lagoons located among petrified lava flows where different type of birds can be seen. On top we have a panoramic view of the famous volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, as well as the highest part of Fernandina Island. Return to the yacht for dinner.

ISLE OF FLOREANA - After breakfast, visit Cormorant Point for a short walk to the flamingo lagoon on this island. Then we continue the walk until we reach "La Picona" beach to see sea turtles and their spawning grounds. Later, take a panga ride around Champion Islet, a small island off the coast of Floreana Island. The principal attraction of Champion Islet is the nearly-extinct Charles (Floreana) Mockingbird. Visitors can also observe bird species such as Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, or Brown Noddies. It is a great place for snorkeling; we will likely find sea turtles, reef fishes, Galápagos Penguins, and whitetip reef sharks. In the afternoon, we visit Post Office Bay, a historic site that recalls the days of the whalers, who in the 18th century placed a wooden barrel here to exchange letters for passing ships to carry to their destinations.

ISLE OF SANTA CRUZ - After breakfast, we disembark and a bus takes us to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the lush, green Scalesia forests and the collapsed twin sinkholes known as Los Gemelos. This afternoon, we land at the pier for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and its Interpretive Center. Return to the port for a walk through the little town of Puerto Ayora to appreciate various handicrafts.

ISLE OF ESPAÑOLA - After breakfast, visit Punta Suárez on Española Island to hike along the lava beds and scenic cliffs and observe green-and-red marine iguanas, sea lions, lava lizards, and unique colonies of marine birds. From mid-March to December, this is one of the best places in the world to see the Waved Albatross, which breeds primarily on this island. Española is the oldest island in the archipelago, geologically speaking, and is also rich in plant life, with an interesting mix of flora representative of littoral, arid, and transitional zones. In the afternoon, disembark at 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. Later visit Osborn and Gardner Islets.

ISLE OF SAN CRISTÓBAL - After breakfast, we go ashore at Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island. The site includes an olivine beach and a trail that ascends to the top of a volcanic tuff hill, passing through several natural viewpoints. Punta Pitt is composed of volcanic tuff substrate; high winds here have led to natural erosion. This is the only site in the Galápagos where you can watch the three species of boobies and two species of frigatebirds nesting in the same area. Optional time for swimming and snorkeling at Punta Pitt Islet. Later in the afternoon, sail around Kicker Rock (León Dormido), a massive tuff rock that juts up abruptly almost 500 feet from the ocean surface. Kicker Rock serves as a nesting place for many sea birds. Then visit Cerro Brujo to walk on a white sand beach and observe sea lions, Brown Pelicans, marine iguanas, and Blue-footed Boobies.

ISLE OF MOSQUERA - After breakfast, visit Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of a volcanic uprising) and a great white sand beach and tide pools. We observe colonies of sea lions, Brown Pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Disembark for the mid-morning flight from Baltra to Quito. Lunch is on your own at the airport. Once in Quito, settle into the hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure before attending a farewell dinner at the hotel. Those departing this evening will travel to the airport after dinner.

Travel to the airport for flights home. *Hotel check-out time is 1 pm.