Grand Majestic 8 Days - Itinerary A

Upon arrival to the airport in San Cristobal Island, you will take a boat ride to be transferred to Grand Majestic Yacht. After settling in the yacht and lunch, your first visit will be to El Junco Lagoon, located at the Highlands of this island, it’s a lagoon that was formed in the caldera of an extinct volcano. After this visit, you will head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/grand-majestic-8-days-a

First activity of the day will be heading to Post Office Bay, a place that keeps the legendary post barrel in which whalers used to post their mail in, two centuries ago, and where tourists can do nowadays too. Then you will visit Baroness Viewing Point - is a fantastic place to absorb the environment of the Galapagos. Once inhabited by an indulgent baroness and her three lovers, the history of this island is intriguing. The legends about this baroness are associated with a fascinating murder mystery. There are easy trails in this area for exploring the flora and fauna of Floreana. Then you will go to Cormorant Point, where you will have the opportunity to visit two beaches, one with a green sand beach, composed of olivine crystals, and the other one white like flour, composed of coral. You can also practice snorkel at Devil ́s Crown, and spot a wide range of marine creatures while doing this activity.

In the morning, after breakfast, the first place to visit will be Suarez Point, a basaltic cliff which forms a blowhole where water sprays high into the air. A hike to the top makes a great opportunity to take spectacular pictures. This is also a nesting place for the waved albatross. After lunch, head to Gardner Bay, that provides an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling, where you will spot turtles and reef sharks, and also sea lions, which like to swim along the divers. End of the day and dinner onboard.

After breakfast, the first activity of this day will be landing at Santa Cruz Island, and your will head to Twin Craters, at Santa Cruz Highlands, these are two large sinkholes crater that were formed by collapsed lava tubes and are one of the most amazing landscapes in the entire Archipelago. After this activity, you go to Charles Darwin Research Station and Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center, where you will learn about the conservation efforts that have been made to preserve the Galapagos species, and is also home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long adults. End of the day and dinner onboard.

Early in the morning, you will head to Genovesa Island, and the first visiting site will be El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip ́s Steps. This place is formed by a rocky path that leads to a cliff, from where you can appreciate an amazing view of Genovesa Island. This place is also home of a Palo Santo Forest, where red footed boobies, and Galapagos swallows reside. During the afternoon you will visit Darwin Bay, through a dinghy ride, and then you will take a path that will lead you to tidal pools where sea lions swim and rest. After these activities head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.

First visit in the morning will be to Rabida island, one of the most colorful and varied volcanic island in the archipelago, due to its red sand beach, a product of the volcanic material that composes it. This is also a great snorkeling site. During the afternoon after lunch, you will visit Chinese Hat, a small islet off the south coast of Santiago, with the particular form of a Hat, hence its name. This place is a great location to view many geological formations such as lava tubes and lava flows, and you can also spot colonies of sea lions and marine iguanas here.

Early in the morning you will head to Witch Hill, named like this because of the bird that lives here called “Pajaro Brujo” Witch bird in english, also known as Vermillion Flycatcher. In this place, you will have a great opportunity to snorkel. In the afternoon you will head to Lobos Island, named like this because of the big sea lion colony that resides here. You can also snorkel at this place, along sea lions and spot blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas. End of the day and dinner onboard.

First activity of the last day will be landing at San Cristobal Island, and here you will visit the Galapagos National Park Visitor Center or San Cristobal Interpretation Center, place that presents a comprehensive exhibit of the islands’ natural history, human interaction, ecosystems, flora and fauna. After this activity you will be transferred to San Cristobal Airport to take your flight back to the continent.