Elite 8 Days - Itinerary B

Upon your arrival to San Cristobal Airport, you will be transferred to the first visiting site, David Rodriguez Breeding Center, place that provides information about the origin and evolution of the giant tortoise and explain the importance of this place to safeguard the future of these creatures. You can also see baby tortoises being reared in semi-natural conditions. After this activity you will be transferred to the yacht for dinner and rest.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/elite_8-days-b1

Early in the morning, you will head to Suarez Point at Española Island. This place is packed with wildlife and is best explored by following a circular trail, here you will observe nesting sites of large colonies of Nazca and blue/footed boobies and mocking birds. Red and marine iguanas are also present. There is also a geological highlight: several blowholes capable of shooting water 25, onto the air, which makes this place an amazing landscape. In the afternoon, you will visit Gardner Bay, place with a pristine sand beach, dotted with sea lions. This is a perfect spot to relax, kayak or paddle board. A short panga ride from here will take you to Gardner and Osborn Islets, superb locations for snorkeling with young sea lions and a variety of colorful tropical fish and corals.

First activity of the day will be heading to Cormorant Point at Floreana Island, where you can find two contrasting beaches, one with green tinted sand due to the high content of olivine crystals, and another with pure white sand, derived from pulverized coral (known as “flour beach”) There is also a saltwater lagoon frequented by one of the largest population of Galapagos flamingos, as well as other shorebirds like stilts, white cheeked pintails and large billed flycatchers. You can also take a panga ride to Champion Islet, an extinct shield volcano which provides a nice opportunity to snorkel. In the afternoon you will visit Post Office Bay, a place established by British whalers in the 18th century that was used by them to post their letters, and visitors can still take part in today. Then you will head to Baroness’ Lookout, a volcanic formation named after an Australian baroness, who visited the island in the 1930s. From here you have a panoramic view of the coastline.

Early in the morning, you will head to Mosquera Islet, a flat small islet located between Baltra and North Seymour Islands, place where you will encounter a large population of sea lions, shorebirds and the striking sally light foot crabs that cling to the dark rocks. In the afternoon you will disembark at Santa Cruz Island to visit Charles Darwin Research Station, a place that provides the opportunity to find out about the vital work that is being done to preserve the archipelago's ecosystems. There is also a significant breeding program for Galapagos tortoises, to preserve them. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.

First activity of the day will be heading to Genovesa Island, specifically Prince Philip’s Steps also known as El Barranco, a rocky stairway that leads past a colony of Nazca and red-footed boobies and up to a plateau of dried lava. You continue through a Palo Santo Forest, and often spot storm petrels too. A panga ride or kayaking along the edge of the cliffs of this place provides a chance to see the Galapagos fur seals nestled on the rocks. In the afternoon you will visit Darwin Bay, that has a small sand and coral beach, that provides a perfect spot for snorkeling, kayaking or paddle boarding. You can also spot hammerhead sharks, rays and a plethora of colorful reef fish. You can also visit a tidal lagoon and mangroves and see Nazca and red footed boobies and swallow tailed gulls.

Early in the morning, you will head to Espumilla Beach at Santiago Island, an exquisite white sand beach, whose name refers to meringue-like trails of foam. You can fight sally light foot crabs, hawks, herons and pelicans. This place is also perfect for snorkeling, kayaking or paddle boarding. Then you will visit Buccaneer Cove, which was a place used by sailors, buccaneers, and whalers to anchor their vessels in search for food and water. This is now a nesting site for turtles, and also a place where sea lions swim by. In the afternoon you will visit Egas port, once a salt mine, now is an impressive black sand beach, which provides an excellent location for snorkeling and observing shorebirds.

After breakfast you will visit Bachas beach, a nice white sand beach, where the remnants of a rusted barge, thought to have been abandoned by the Americans during WWII can be seen. This is also a popular nesting site for turtles, and you can also practice snorkel here. In the afternoon you will disembark at Santa Cruz Island and visit the Highlands of Santa Cruz, and abundance of scalesia trees, along with bird species as vermilion flycatchers, Darwin’s finches and short ear owl with a bit of luck. Then you will visit twin craters, two almost identical craters like holes, caused by the collapse of empty lava chambers.

Lobos Island, off San Cristobal
Isla Lobos, or “Sea Lion Island,” is a long, thin island not far off the coast of San Cristobal Island. As the name implies, it is home to a healthy colony of sea lions. There is a trail on the island, and visitors can see different species of birds, including Boobys of both the Blue-footed and Nazca varieties.
There are marina iguanas and lava lizards on the island as well. In addition to the hike on the islet, the calm channel between Lobos Island and San Cristobal is one of the better snorkeling spots in the islands, as it is usually calm and the sea lions often frolic with visitors.

After our early morning visit, passengers will get ready and then be taken to San Cristobal Airport. Our airport personnel will assist passengers with the check in process. Farwell and boarding the flight back to mainland Ecuador.