AM: Arrival at San Cristobal & Welcome Aboard
Your Galapagos adventure begins as you land at San Cristobal Airport, where a guide from Oniric Cruises will greet you and assist with entry formalities, including the Galapagos National Park fee (unless already arranged). After a short transfer to the harbor, you’ll step aboard the Galapagos Tribute—your elegant home for the days ahead.
You’ll receive a warm welcome from the captain and crew as you settle into your suite. Then, enjoy a delicious lunch on board while taking in your first breathtaking views of the islands—setting the stage for the incredible journey to come.
PM: Lobos Islet (San Cristobal)
In the afternoon, you’ll visit Lobos Islet, a small sanctuary alive with wildlife. As you explore the island, you may witness sea lion pups nuzzling their mothers or observe the charming courtship displays of blue-footed boobies and great frigatebirds—especially vivid during breeding season.
After your walk, dive into your first snorkeling experience in the calm waters between San Cristobal and Lobos Islet. Here, you might encounter colorful reef fish, gliding marine iguanas, and curious young sea lions zipping through the water. It’s a perfect introduction to the wonders beneath the surface of the Galapagos.
Lunch
Dinner
AM: Santa Fe Island
This morning, you’ll arrive at Santa Fe Island, a hidden gem in the heart of the archipelago. As you step ashore, you’ll find yourself surrounded by towering prickly pear cacti—giant sentinels that create a surreal and dramatic landscape. As you walk the short trail through this cactus forest, keep your eyes open for land iguanas basking in the sun, Galapagos hawks perched above, and curious sea lions lounging along the rocky shore.
Back at Barrington Bay, you can snorkel in clear, vibrant waters filled with reef fish, graceful stingrays, sea turtles, and white-tipped reef sharks. Alternatively, take to a kayak and glide along the shoreline, where lava cliffs, hidden coves, and submerged rock formations offer a unique look at the marine life thriving just below the surface.
PM: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz)
In the afternoon, you’ll explore the peaceful sanctuary of Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island. Boarding a dinghy, you’ll drift silently through a maze of red, white, and black mangroves. Keep your camera ready as Pacific green turtles surface between the roots, spotted eagle rays glide in formation beneath you, and baby reef sharks navigate the shallow, protected inlets.
This calm, secluded lagoon is a haven for marine life and a vital nursery for many species—a place where nature reveals itself quietly and intimately, offering perfect moments for reflection and photography.
AM: Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
After an overnight voyage, you’ll awaken to the dramatic setting of Genovesa Island—one of the most remote and wildlife-rich islands in the Galapagos. As you step ashore at Darwin Bay, you’ll find yourself inside a partially submerged volcanic caldera, a stunning natural amphitheater teeming with life. Wander along the beach trail where red-footed boobies nest in mangroves, sea lions rest at the shoreline, and yellow warblers and Darwin’s finches flit through the brush.
After your nature walk, you’ll have the option to snorkel in the calm, protected waters of the bay. Keep an eye out for hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and schools of jacks cruising beneath you. Or, choose to kayak along the dramatic cliffs of the inner caldera for a striking perspective on this geological wonder.
PM: Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa Island)
In the afternoon, you’ll ascend Prince Philip’s Steps—a steep lava stairway carved into the cliffside—to reach a plateau brimming with birdlife. This is one of the best places to see both red-footed and Nazca boobies up close, and with some luck, you may even spot a short-eared owl silently hunting its prey among the lava rocks.
As you walk along the path, the surrounding cliffs come alive with a cacophony of seabirds in flight—creating a breathtaking spectacle of sound and color in this isolated and untouched paradise.
AM: Chinese Hat Islet
This morning, you’ll land on Chinese Hat Islet, a small volcanic cone that rises sharply from the sea—its shape giving the island its name. As you explore the young lava fields, you’ll see how life is reclaiming the land, with pioneer plants beginning to grow among the rocks. Keep your eyes out for sea lions lounging on the shore, marine iguanas warming in the sun, and Galapagos hawks soaring overhead, all playing a part in this ecosystem’s slow transformation.
After your walk, slip into the calm, clear waters for a world-class snorkeling experience. Swim alongside playful sea lions, Galapagos penguins, and green sea turtles as you explore lava tunnels and coral formations bursting with marine life in this shallow, protected bay.
PM: Rabida Island
In the afternoon, you’ll arrive at the striking red sands of Rabida Island—an unforgettable landscape of crimson beaches, rocky cliffs, and mangrove-fringed shores. As you follow a trail inland, look for songbirds flitting through the vegetation and watch for brown pelicans nesting nearby. With luck, you may also spot American flamingos feeding in a brackish lagoon.
Following your hike, snorkel straight from the beach into waters rich with marine life. Parrotfish, rays, and reef sharks are common here, gliding through the shallows. If you prefer, you can kayak along Rabida’s colorful coastline, paddling past sea caves and dramatic rock formations carved by centuries of ocean swells.
AM: Chinese Hat Islet
This morning, you’ll land on Chinese Hat Islet, a small volcanic cone that rises sharply from the sea—its shape giving the island its name. As you explore the young lava fields, you’ll see how life is reclaiming the land, with pioneer plants beginning to grow among the rocks. Keep your eyes out for sea lions lounging on the shore, marine iguanas warming in the sun, and Galapagos hawks soaring overhead, all playing a part in this ecosystem’s slow transformation.
After your walk, slip into the calm, clear waters for a world-class snorkeling experience. Swim alongside playful sea lions, Galapagos penguins, and green sea turtles as you explore lava tunnels and coral formations bursting with marine life in this shallow, protected bay.
PM: Rabida Island
In the afternoon, you’ll arrive at the striking red sands of Rabida Island—an unforgettable landscape of crimson beaches, rocky cliffs, and mangrove-fringed shores. As you follow a trail inland, look for songbirds flitting through the vegetation and watch for brown pelicans nesting nearby. With luck, you may also spot American flamingos feeding in a brackish lagoon.
Following your hike, snorkel straight from the beach into waters rich with marine life. Parrotfish, rays, and reef sharks are common here, gliding through the shallows. If you prefer, you can kayak along Rabida’s colorful coastline, paddling past sea caves and dramatic rock formations carved by centuries of ocean swells.
Breakfast
