Cruising the Galápagos on board the Coral - 7 Night cruise (ISZ)

Welcome to Quito. Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Your included PRIVATE CITY TOUR showcases Independence Square, the cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows.

Fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, where the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding program helps preserve the fragile Galápagos environment. Learn how eggs are brought from the nearby Galápagos Islands, incubated artificially until the galápaguitos (little turtles) are born and then at the age of 5 are returned to their native areas. Board your ship for your 7-night cruise.

At DRAGON HILL on Santa Cruz Island, walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingoes can occasionally be found. The trail leads to an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, and offers lovely views of the neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and Galápagos doves. After lunch, visit BARTOLOMÉ to discover a fascinating moonscape formed by volcanic parasitic cones. Hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands, including Pinnacle Rock. Bartolomé offers some of the best snorkeling, thanks to clear waters and abundant sea life, including sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and perchance Galápagos penguins.

On RÁBIDA ISLAND, see its red-colored beach, formed from the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Here, your Naturalist points out large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a wonderful place to snorkel from the beach, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. Later, explore Buccaneer Cove on SANTIAGO ISLAND and see the dramatic coastline inhabited by a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. At Espumilla Beach, walk through the mangroves and see salt-water lagoons that are home to wading birds like flamingos.

Arrive at BLACK TURTLE COVE on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, accessible only by sea, where turtles enjoy swimming in the calm waters along with colorful fish, rays, and small sharks. This cove has been declared a “Turtle Sanctuary,” and is home to sea birds, including pelicans, herons, and egrets. EDEN ISLET offers opportunities to see Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and reef sharks. Disembark at WHALE BAY on Santa Cruz in search of marine iguanas and seabirds, followed by time for snorkeling.

Off the coast of ISABELA ISLAND, admire impressive geological formations, including a sheer cliff that is home to a diverse sea and coastal birds such as pelicans, Galápagos penguins, and flightless cormorants. There are whale-watching opportunities between May and December. Your afternoon visit of ESPINOSA POINT on Fernandina Island reveals the largest, most primitive-looking of marine iguanas, mingling with sea lions, flightless cormorants, and Galápagos penguins.

At Urbina Bay, walk on a volcanic black beach in search of giant tortoises, land iguanas, and the flightless cormorant. At TAGUS COVE, learn about the eruption of the five volcanoes that formed Isabela Island. Take a trail to a saltwater crater lake for excellent views of lava fields and volcanic formations. A dinghy ride reveals marine wildlife, blue-footed boobies, brown noddies, and maybe Galápagos penguins.

Walk along a trail comprised of volcanic ash and basaltic rock at PUERTO EGAS to tidal pools populated by fur seals and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Snorkeling is a highlight, and marine wildlife includes lobster, starfish, marine iguanas, and octopus. A walk at SULLIVAN BAY features extensive Pahoehoe lava flows.

Disembark on Santa Cruz Island and visit BACHAS BEACH, where you will find two flamingo ponds, sunbathing iguanas, and many coastal birds. This beach is also a main nesting site for sea turtles. You will find remains of barges that sank long ago, once the property of the U.S. Navy air base operating on Baltra Island during World War II. Later, fly to Guayaquil.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.