Natural History and Evolution of Galápagos Fauna

Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met and escorted to your hotel.

After breakfast receive a brief orientation, then visit the town of Otavalo and the famous Otavalo market. The Otavaleños are a trader community by tradition, and are known worldwide for their wonderful work on textiles and tapestries. Visit Peguche, where textiles are still woven using shuttle looms. Taste the flavors of the Andean cuisine while enjoying lunch prepared with typical ingredients and products from the Ecuadorian highlands. After lunch, continue to Cotacachi, a multicultural city famous for producing high quality handmade leather goods that include wallets, purses, and jackets. In the afternoon, return to Quito.

Fly from mainland Ecuador to Baltra. After boarding M/C Tip Top II, attend your first orientation and have a light snack. After lunch, disembark on Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral and a white sand beach. Observe colonies of sea lions, Brown Pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Each night during the cruise there will be an orientation to discuss the events of the day and the next day's plans.

*Cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather) or at the discretion of the captain, guide, or the Galápagos National Park.

After breakfast, go ashore at Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, a perfect place to get a feel for the volcanic origin of the islands. Look for new plant growth among the two distinct types of lava, pahoehoe and a’a. Return to the boat for lunch, followed by an excursion on Rábida Island, distinguished by its red sand beaches. Here you can observe marine iguanas, sea lions, Blue-footed Boobies, Masked Boobies, and Brown Pelicans. Walk to a small saltwater lagoon where you can see Galápagos Flamingos.

Today visit Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island to observe a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, and clumps of lava cactus. In the afternoon, take a panga boat ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to look for marine iguanas, marine turtles, seabirds, shorebirds, herons, Galápagos Penguins, and Blue-footed Boobies. Tonight attend an orientation to learn about conservation efforts to protect the islands.

This morning disembark on Isabela Island at Urbina Bay, a coral area at the base of Alcedo Volcano with land iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, and giant tortoises. Return to the yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, take a panga ride around Tagus Cove, located between the shoulders of two volcanic craters, which protect it from the open sea. Observe marine iguanas, sea lions, and a variety of birds, including Galápagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, and Blue-footed Boobies.

After breakfast, land at James Bay (Puerto Egas) on Santiago Island to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles, the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Visit Bartolomé Island in the afternoon to hike to the summit. During the hike, it’s possible to observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards, and on the summit you’ll see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic sights in the archipelago.

After breakfast, land on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the coast of Santiago Island. Here you can observe Galápagos Penguins, eagle rays, sea lions, and marine iguanas from the rocky shoreline. This afternoon land at Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, where you can see land iguanas and walk to a hypersalinic lagoon (saltier than the ocean) to observe flamingos, Common Stilts, White-cheeked Pintails, and other bird species.

After breakfast, disembark and take the bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests and the Twin Craters, two formations that were created when surface material collapsed due to underground fissures. Then, visit a local farm where you can see giant tortoises in the wild and have lunch. Return to Puerto Ayora. Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center and Interpretation Center inside the Charles Darwin Research Station. Return to the yacht for dinner and nightly orientation.

After breakfast take an early morning 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. Observe Blue-footed Boobies, which nest from May to November, as well as marine iguanas, pelicans, frigatebirds, shore birds, sea lions, and the endemic palo santo trees. Return to the yacht and navigate to the pier, where you’ll disembark at 9 am. Your guide will accompany you on the bus ride directly to the airport. A small snack will be served on the flight. Enjoy the afternoon in Quito at leisure before gathering for a farewell dinner at the hotel this evening.

After breakfast explore the colonial city area. Lunch on own. After dinner at Rincon de Puembo transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.