Sea Star 10 Days - Itinerary B + C

Santa Cruz Island and Dragon Hill: Upon arrival to the airport in Baltra Island, you will be transferred to Galapagos Sea Star Journey Ship. After settling in the yacht and lunch, you will head to the first visiting site, Dragon Hill, is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island, it consists of a trail that leads to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach, frequented by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. This site is also populated with land iguanas that were introduced here to reestablish this species. End of the day and dinner onboard.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/sea-star-10-days-bc1

Early in the morning, you will head to Black Turtle Cove, located at the northern side of Santa Cruz Island, this place is a red mangrove lagoon where sharks and rays reside. You can access this place by a panga ride. During the afternoon, you will head to Chinese Hat, a small islet located at the southeastern tip of Santiago, this place is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat, hence its name. This is an excellent place to see the formation of lava tubes and lava flows and you can also see marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins and sea lions that inhabit here.

Early in the morning, you will visit l Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip ́s Steps, it ́s a step rocky path that leads to a cliff, from where you can appreciate an amazing view of Genovesa Island. After this activity, head to Darwin Bay at Genovesa Island, a white sand coral beach, where you will take a trail that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. Further down the path you will find tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully.

After breakfast onboard, the first visit of the day will be to Bartolome Island, and its main visiting site, the Pinnacle Rock. You will hike to a viewing spot from where you can observe one of the most beautiful scenarios in the archipelago. Then you will head to the beaches at the base of the pinnacle, home to marine turtles and a small colony of Galapagos penguins. During the afternoon, you will visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, the fourth largest island in the archipelago, this is a volcano active island, with many young lava flows and cones to be seen, and where land and marine iguanas reside.

At the beginning of the last day, you will land at Santa Cruz Island, and you will take a bus ride to the last visiting point, Santa Cruz Highlands, where you will see the agricultural island zone and spot giant tortoises in their natural habitat. After lunch, you will head to the next visiting site, Charles Darwin Research Station at Ayora Port, where you will learn about the conservation efforts that have been made to preserve species like the Galapagos Giant tortoises at the archipelago, and where you will also visit the breeding and rearing center for young tortoises and adult Galapagos Tortoises. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.

First activity of the day will be heading to Isabela Island and taking a zodiac ride to a place called Tintoreras Islets, where you will be able to see, a mangrove ecosystem and the white-tipped reef sharks that inhabit this place, called Tintoreras, hence the name of this visiting point. Then, you will land at Isabela Island, and after a brief bus ride, you will arrive to Sierra Negra Volcano and take a hike to its crater, which is one of the most fantastic views of the entire archipelago. In the afternoon, you will visit the Wetlands and the Tortoise Breeding Center.  After this activity end of the day and dinner onboard.

Early in the morning, you will visit Moreno Point on the north side of Isabela, this place is characteristic because of the lava flow that formed a trail of solidified lava, which is very interesting to see. There is also a system of complex lagoons where several unique species of birds can be found. In the afternoon, you will take a zodiac ride to Elizabeth Bay, and you begin with a visit to Marielas Islets, where the largest colony of sea penguins resides, and continue to a cove surrounded by mangroves, where you will spot eagle rays and sea lions.

After breakfast, the cruise will head to Fernandina Island ́s single visitor point, Espinoza Point, where you will see one of the largest group of marine iguanas in the entire archipelago, and where you can also find species like the flightless cormorant. In the afternoon, you will visit Tagus Cove. The tour will take place along the cliffs, where you will have the chance to see Galapagos penguins. You will also go to a hike to Darwin Lake, a saline lake, where you can also see the graffiti that buccaneers and pirates left here in past centuries. End of the day and dinner onboard.

The day begins with a visit to Santiago Island, then you will disembark at Espumilla Beach. This island main attraction is a Palo Santo Forest and the white sand beach, a nesting site for marine turtles. You can also visit two coastal lagoons and have the chance to spot flamingos. In the afternoon, you will head to Egas Port, a black sand beach formed of volcanic tuff deposits. This place used to be a salt mine that was left abandoned in the 50s. End of the day and dinner onboard.

Early in the morning, you will take a panga ride to Lobos Island. Once you land you will see a great colony of Sea Lions, hence the name of this place along with blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. After this activity, you will be transferred to San Cristobal Airport to take your flight back to the continent.