Galápagos Islands | Birding and Natural History aboard Tip Top II

Upon arrival at the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, after clearing customs and immigration, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Most flights arrive in the late evening.

Today visit Cerro Blanco, a private, 15,000-acre reserve just west of the city. Located within the Chongón-Colonche Range, the reserve is the largest and best-preserved remnant of tropical dry forest in Guayaquil, and more than 240 bird species have been recorded here. According to BirdLife International, Cerro Blanco has been identified as one of 30 priority sites for bird conservation in the Tumbesian Region. It is also an Important Bird Area and one of four protected areas nationwide that is home to seven or more globally threatened bird species (Cerro Blanco has nine). Continue to
Parque Lago which has over 6,000 acres of water, and is the ideal habitat for wetland and migratory birds that are sighted in the area in large flocks, the main attraction being the observation of their movements. The National Recreation Area is one of the most visited sites by national and foreign birdwatchers, being here the 2 coastal species of grebes (Podilymbus podiceps and Tachybaptus dominicus), as well as a large resident colony of Neotropical Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) Later, return to Guayaquil and have dinner.

Today take the route to Puerto Inca to visit the Manglares Churute Reserve, where you'll find Ecuador’s largest protected mangrove area along the banks of the Guayas River estuary. The reserve also protects arid and cloud forest ecosystems in the hills of the Cordillera Churute. Due to the diversity of its habitats, in 1990 it was declared a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Look for birds like the Horned Screamer (known locally as the canclón), Roseate Spoonbill, herons, ibises, ducks, and woodpeckers. Other wildlife known to occur here includes crocodiles, armadillos, tigrillos, white-fronted capuchins and mantled howler monkeys.

Fly from mainland Ecuador to Baltra Island. Transfer to the dock and board M/C Tip Top II, attend your first orientation, and have a light snack. Navigate by panga boat to Santa Cruz Island and prepare for a wet landing. Then proceed on foot to the flamingo lagoons located behind Playa Las Bachas, a beach that was used by the U.S. Army during World War II. (The name "Bachas" refers to two U.S. barges that were left here.) Before returning to the yacht, enjoy some free time to swim or snorkel from the beach. Attend an evening presentation on the origin and evolution of the Galápagos Islands, and enjoy a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, followed by dinner. Each day there will be a briefing about the next day's activities, and daily opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, and/or kayaking.
*Cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, and the Galapagos National Park.

Today, explore Marchena Island the largest of the northern islands. Marchena has no land visitor sites, and it's even rare for scientists or National Park wardens to visit, so it's one of the islands least touched by humans at present. The first snorkel site is Punta Espejo which is on the southeast edge of Marchena is an excellent site for sharks, with Hammerhead and Galapagos Sharks particularly abundant. Dolphins and sea lions are also present. Other species include sea turtles, rays, Moray Eels, and Garden Eels, among others. Bats can also sometimes be observed on the sand. Later enjoy a panga ride along Playa Negra. It's name originates from the black sand found in the area due to volcanic debree & lava flows in the surroundings. Black beach boosts amazing sea life as most of Marchena's surroundings waters, Bottle-Nosed Dolphins, Marine iguanas, Galapagos Sharks among others. This evening, attend a presentation by your Galápagos naturalist guide.

After breakfast, disembark at a dock on South Plaza Island, which is characterized by unique and colorful vegetation. Sesuvium is a bright red succulent plant that carpets the rocks here, and creates vivid photo opportunities against the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. The taller Opuntia cacti provide food and shade for the numerous land iguanas that dig nesting burrows all over the island. Continue walking toward the sea cliffs to view many sea birds such as Red-billed Tropicbirds, Galápagos Shearwaters, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies. Return to the yacht for lunch, and then sail to Santa Fé Island for the chance to see a different species of land iguana, endemic only to this island and recognizable by its paler yellow coloration. After landing on a small beach, walk by scenic cliffs and a forest of Santa Fé opuntia cactus to observe Santa Fé land iguanas, Galápagos Hawks, Darwin's finches, Galápagos Mockingbird, Galápagos racer snakes, and more. Before going back to the boat, spend time at the beach swimming and snorkeling among sea lions.

After breakfast, disembark at a pier at Puerto Ayora and take a bus to the misty highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the lush, green Scalesia forests surrounding Los Gemelos (The Twins) pit craters. Visit a local farm to have lunch and search for giant tortoises in the wild. Galápagos tortoises are one of the animals that contributed to Charles Darwin's understanding of natural history, and the archipelago was referred to in Spanish as the Islands of the Tortoises on early maps. Next, return to the town of Puerto Ayora and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Learn about the station's important conservation and education work, and see some of the tortoises that are being raised for reintroduction into the wild. Return to the yacht for a naturalist presentation.

Today, explore Floreana Island, one of the few inhabited islands of the Galápagos, with a rich history of human settlement and hardship. Disembark on the beach at Post Office Bay and follow a short trail to its historic mail barrel site. In the 18th century, British whalers placed a wooden barrel here to use as an informal post office, and today, visitors continue the tradition by leaving their own postcards in the barrel. Continue to Baroness Viewpoint, named after the Baroness Eloise von Wagner, who once lived here. Enjoy the beautiful landscape and observe the ruins of her house. Return to the yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, go snorkeling at Champion Islet, considered one of the best snorkeling sites in the islands, and look for tropical fish, moray eels, starfish, sharks, sea turtles, and sea lions. Next, make a wet landing on the green beach at Floreana's Cormorant Point, then walk inland to a brackish lagoon to see American Flamingoes and shorebirds. Continue walking to La Picona, a beautiful white-sand beach that is an important nesting site for Galápagos green turtles. At the start of the year, pregnant turtles come ashore at night to dig nests and lay their eggs; by April and May the hatchlings begin to emerge from the sand and make their perilous journey to sea. Head back to the green beach to enjoy swimming and snorkeling among reef fish and sea lions.

After breakfast, visit Punta Suárez, at the southeastern tip of Galapagos. Española is the Archipelago’s oldest island, and a sanctuary of birds. Today we will enjoy a panga ride around the point and scenic cliffs to 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 nests primarily on this island. These large and graceful flyers start to perform intricate courtship rituals in April, and by May begin nesting. Enjoy snorkeling before heading back to the boat.

After breakfast, we disembark 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 or Kayak. Then, sail around iconic 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. In the afternoon, explore Isla Lobos, where we can enjoy of blue footed boobies, frigates, sea birds, rays, and sea lions. Optional: time for those who would like to snorkel or panga ride. After this we will make a dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to visit to the Interpretation Center Gianni Arismendy at Port, where you learn about the origin and evolution of the Galapagos Islands, regarding the human, natural and conservation aspects. Time in town to do your last shopping or to go to the ATM. You return to the Yacht for dinner, and our nightly orientation.

Take one last boat ride this morning around Black Turtle Cove, a series of coves and islets surrounded by mangroves, where you can observe white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays. Return to the boat and disembark at the pier to take the bus directly to the airport in Baltra for your flight to Guayaquil. Lunch is on your own at the airport; food options will be available for purchase after passing security. Once in Guayaquil, settle into the hotel then enjoy an afternoon at leisure before attending a farewell dinner at the hotel. If your international flight departs very late this evening/before dawn next morning, please be ready to check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport after the farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.