Main Info
Places to visit:
- Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, North Seymour
Day by Day
Welcome to Galapagos!
On the first day of your trip, you will land at Baltra’s ecological airport, where one of our experienced naturalist guides from the Galapagos National Park will be waiting to accompany you on the Galaxy Diver. As you embark on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, you will be enveloped in the unparalleled beauty and diversity of the Galapagos Islands, a truly unique and breathtaking destination.
Nestled in the stunning Galapagos Islands, Bachas gets its name from the mispronounced remains of two American barges from WWII that can still be seen at low tide, buried in the soft white sand. From November to May, this breathtaking location serves as a crucial nesting ground for sea turtles and is home to several small saltwater lagoons teeming with flamingos, herons, and other aquatic birds. After exploring Bachas on land, you’ll have the opportunity to snorkel into the crystal-clear waters and discover the underwater world of the Galapagos. The area is home to a wide variety of common fish species, as well as the majestic white-tipped reef sharks and graceful rays. Snorkel or swim in these pristine waters and connect with the abundant marine life of the Galapagos.
Highlights: American flamingos, white cheeked pintails, sandpipers, lava gulls, blue footed boobies.
Trail: 1,6 km / 1 mi
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty and geological history of the Galapagos Islands as you hike through a well-preserved flow of Pahoehoe lava. This journey offers endless opportunities to see the delicate textures of this type of lava found in only a few places around the world. Though the barren landscape may seem devoid of life at first glance, keep an eye out for pioneer plants, lava lizards, and small birds. Along the shore, you’ll also encounter penguins, pelicans, and oystercatchers.
After exploring the land, dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Galapagos and discover another world teeming with life. The sea is home to large schools of fish, Galapagos penguins, reef sharks, turtles, and rays. You can choose to swim or snorkel from the coral sand beach or from the dinghies.
Highlights: Pahoehoe lava, Galapagos penguins, oystercatchers, Galapagos hawks.
Trail: 2,2 km / 1,4 mi
Rabida is a small island known for its distinctive reddish lava rocks, which are rich in iron and give the island its unique appearance. The beach is also red and home to a small colony of sea lions. There is a small saltwater lagoon where you can spot ducks, stilts, and sometimes flamingoes. As you follow the trail inland, you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the beach and lagoon, and have the chance to see Darwin finches, flycatchers, and mockingbirds. Along the coast, you can find Nazca and blue-footed boobies, brown noddies, herons, and the two species of sea lions that call the Galapagos home: Galapagos and fur seals.
After exploring Rabida on land, take the opportunity to snorkel from the beach and explore a sheltered rocky area teeming with fish, sea lions, and reef sharks. Keep an eye out for the high diversity of small invertebrates attached to the vertical walls.
Trail: 2 km / 1,2 mi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nestled at the base of an imposing volcano, Punta Espinosa is a true gem of the Galapagos National Park. As soon as you disembark, you’ll be surrounded by hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest colony of this species in the region. The beaches are dotted with sea lions basking in the sun while their pups play in tide pools, and the shores are home to flightless cormorants, found only in the western areas of the archipelago. The cold, plankton-rich waters of Punta Espinosa attract an array of species, including herons, pelicans, oystercatchers, sea turtles, and shorebirds. Keep an eye out for Galapagos hawks perching in the mangroves as they search for prey.
After exploring the land, dive into the nutrient-rich waters and discover the diverse and abundant marine life that thrives in this region. The seaweeds are abundant, making this an excellent spot for seeing marine iguanas feeding underwater. As you snorkel through the reef, you may even have the opportunity to follow a cormorant as it chases fish through the water, one of the most amazing snorkeling experiences you’ll have on your trip.
Highlights: Galapagos hawks, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, penguins, sea turtles, sea lions, herons, oystercatchers, shorebirds, sally light-foot crabs.
Trail: 1,6 km / 1 mi
Tagus Cove on the Galapagos Islands is a breathtaking destination, offering a chance to see a variety of unique and endangered species, both on land and in the water. On a guided hike through the dry Palo Santo forests, you may spot Darwin finches and mockingbirds, as well as breathtaking views of Darwin’s lake and the volcanoes of northern Isabela. A boat tour along the shore offers the opportunity to see penguins, cormorants, marine iguanas, and the rare Galapagos martin, a small endemic bird.
For those who love to snorkel, the nutrient-rich waters around Tagus Cove are home to a diverse array of fish, including anchovies, as well as sea turtles and penguins. Cormorants can also often be seen diving through the reef in pursuit of fish.
Highlights: Galapagos hawks, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, herons, penguins, sea turtles, sea stars.
Trail: 2,6 km / 1,6 mi
This unique destination is known for its history of dramatic uplifting, which occurred in the 1950s and resulted in the exposure of a large portion of previously submerged land. Along the trail, you can spot evidence of this transformation in the form of small shells and corals. The trail also offers the chance to see land iguanas and, during certain seasons, giant tortoises. Galapagos hawks can often be seen flying or perched in the trees. Snorkeling from the beach provides the opportunity to see a variety of marine life, including sea turtles, cormorants, penguins, and an abundance of fish.
Highlights: Galapagos hawks, land iguanas, Galapagos hawks, Galapagos mockingbirds, Darwin finches, flycatchers.
Trail: Short trail: 1,2 km / 0,7 mi. Long Trail: 3,0 km / 1,8 mi
Elizabeth Bay is a stunning and secluded location, featuring a sheltered bay surrounded by sprawling mangroves and barren lava fields. This is a prime spot to see a variety of wildlife, including Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, rays, and sea turtles. A dinghy tour is the best way to explore the many channels, pools, and coves that are teeming with life in this area. Though the population of Galapagos penguins is relatively small, numbering around 3,000 across the islands, Elizabeth Bay is known to be one of the best places to spot these unique birds. The shallow and nutrient-rich waters here also attract a variety of other marine life, including fish, which are commonly hunted by pelicans and boobies.
Highlights: Galapagos hawks, sea turtles, rays, Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, herons.
Located just a short distance from the main town of Isabela, this small islet is home to a diverse array of wildlife. You’ll find extensive colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions, as well as rays and sea turtles in the shallow channels. The waters around the islet are known for their populations of reef sharks, locally known as “Tintoreras,” and it is also common to see herons and gulls. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a Galapagos penguin, as a few individuals are known to inhabit the area. Overall, this is a great place to see a variety of unique and interesting marine and bird species.
Highlights: Reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, Galapagos mockingbirds, Darwin finches, herons, gulls.
The wetlands of Villamil are a breathtaking destination, featuring a network of lagoons, channels, and coves nestled near the town. The saltwater lagoons are surrounded by mangroves and are home to a wealth of bird species, including American flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, gallinules, stilts, herons, and many other types of shorebirds. The main trail in this area starts in the town and leads to the Tortoise Breeding Center, offering a chance to see even more of the region’s diverse and abundant wildlife.
Highlights: American flamingoes, gallinules, ducks, stilts, herons.
Trail: 1,2 km / 0,8 mi
Floreana is a fascinating destination with a rich and tumultuous history dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. The island is known for its tales of German settlers, including the infamous Baroness, and the many unsolved mysteries surrounding assassinations and disappearances that have occurred here.
Post Office Bay, located on Floreana, was once a popular anchorage for whalers, who would come to the island to collect freshwater and tortoises from the highlands. As a result, a mail system was established at Post Office Bay more than 200 years ago, allowing sailors to leave messages for one another and communicate with the outside world. This tradition is still in place today, allowing visitors to send postcards from the Galapagos to the rest of the world. In addition to its beautiful beach and lava tunnel, Post Office Bay is a great place for dinghy tours, where you can spot sea lions, green sea turtles, shorebirds, small sharks, and, with a bit of luck, Galapagos penguins. The beach is also a great place for snorkeling, offering the chance to see a variety of marine life, including sea turtles, rays, and an array of fish, as well as the occasional Galapagos penguin.
Highlights: Sea Lions, sea turtles, finches, shorebirds, marine iguanas, penguins.
Trail: 0,7 m / 0,4 mi
Punta Cormorant is a stunning location located in the north of Floreana, known for its large coastal lagoon, white sand beach, and diverse array of wildlife. The lagoon is home to a variety of shorebirds, including American flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, and black-necked stilts. The beach is an important nesting ground for green sea turtles and is also a great place to see rays and reef sharks. In recent years, a small group of blue-footed boobies has also started to breed in the area, and the trail through Punta Cormorant is a great place to observe these and other endemic plants. Overall, this is a beautiful and unique destination, offering a chance to see a range of interesting and diverse species.
Highlights: American flamingo, blue-footed booby, frigatebirds, tropicbirds, Galapagos shearwaters, sea lions, sea turtle nesting site, finches, shorebirds, coral-sand beach.
The Santa Cruz highlands are a must-see destination for any visitor to the Galapagos, offering the opportunity to see the iconic Galapagos Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. These gentle giants, which can weigh over 300 kilograms (600 pounds), can be found grazing and resting in freshwater ponds throughout the highlands. The highlands are also home to a diverse array of birds, including finches, flycatchers, and waterbirds, many of which are rarely found in the lowlands. A visit to the highlands may also include a stop at one of the reserves to explore the lush highland forests and learn about the fascinating geological history of the islands through a visit to a lava tunnel. Whether you start your journey from Baltra or Puerto Ayora, a bus will take you to the highlands, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and biodiversity of this special place.
Highlights: Giant tortoises, Darwin finches, barn owls, white-cheeked pintails, Galapagos flycatchers, Lava tunnels.
Trail: 1-1,5 km / 0,6-0,9 mi
The Charles Darwin Station is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands through its collaboration with the Galapagos National Park. During a visit to the station, you’ll learn about the various projects undertaken by these organizations to protect native species and eradicate invasive ones that threaten the Galapagos environment. One of the most well-known and important projects at the Charles Darwin Station is the captive breeding of Galapagos Giant Tortoises. The station is located in a beautiful dry native forest, featuring giant cacti and many other interesting native plants, and is a great place to spot a variety of endemic birds, including Darwin finches, flycatchers, and mockingbirds. A visit to the Charles Darwin Station offers a unique opportunity to learn about the ongoing efforts to conserve and protect this extraordinary and fragile ecosystem.
As you conclude your journey through this island paradise, take a moment to appreciate the incredible wildlife that calls this place home. Large colonies of magnificent and great frigatebirds can be found here, performing their elaborate courtship rituals and displaying their vibrant red balloons. Blue-footed boobies nest on the ground and put on their famous dance displays, while swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliffs. Land iguanas are a common sight inland, and their marine counterparts can be found basking in the rocks by the sea, near sea lions that playfully body surf in the waves. As you prepare to transfer to the airport and return to the mainland, take with you the memories of this magical place and the incredible creatures that inhabit it.
Included:
- All meals and excursions
- Transfers in the islands
- Bilingual National Park Guide
- Use of underwater camera
- Free airport Assistance*
- Hotel night in Quito or Guayaquil (the day before the cruise)*
- 1 Free Transfer Out for the Galapagos Flight (applicable on regular cruise departure day only)*
Not Included:
- Roundtrip Airfare to / from Galapagos
- Alcoholic drinks
- $100 Galapagos National Park fee
- $20 Transit Control Card
- Travel / medical insurance
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
Important Notes:
- Discount for groups from 4 to 14 pax* 10%
- Discount for children under 12 years* 20%
- Single supplement 70%
- Christmas and New Year: special conditions apply. Contact us for details
- Penalty fee applies for Galapagos air tickets not issued by Royal Galapagos
- All prices in United States Dollars
- All rates are commissionable
Maps
