Xavier 8 Days - Itinerary B

Arrival at San Cristobal Airport. Short bus ride to the harbor and settle aboard the yacht. After lunch you will visit Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center, to learn about the conservations efforts to preserve galapagos giant tortoises and see this species that reside here. End of the day and dinner onboard.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/xavier-8-days-b

Morning visit to Pitt Point, where you will see a group of eroded volcanic cones, and also spot different species, like boobies and frigate birds. Next we head to Kicker Rock (León Dormido), and take a dinghy ride to observe the narrow channel and the marine species that nest there. You may also practice snorkeling here. Lunch and dinner will be served onboard.

We disembark at Espumilla Beach, an important breeding site for sea turtles who return year after year to bury their eggs in the sand.  Next to Buccaneer Cove where you can practice snorkeling. The activities continue spotting species such as marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, and sea turtles. Then, head to Puerto Egas, and after a brief walk you will see some of the Galapagos Islands best tide pools, various species of fish, along with marine iguanas and sea lions.  End of the day and dinner onboard.

After breakfast, the yacht will dock at Puerto Ayora, and we head to the Charles Darwin Station, where you will learn about the protection and conservation of the enemic species at the island, and visit the Breeding and Rearing Centre for young tortoises and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity. After this activity you will go to Santa Cruz Highlands to see giant land tortoises roaming freely at this spot.

Early in the morning we visit Chinese Hat, a volcanic cone that forms an islet with this particular shape, and is located off the rocky coast of Santiago where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. You may also practice snorkeling here. After lunch, head to Black Turtle Cove by a panga ride to see the mangrove ecosystem inhabited by marine turtles, reef sharks and rays. End of the day and dinner onboard.

After breakfast, we head to Dragon Hill to visit a lagoon where flamingoes and other species of birds reside. During the afternoon we head to Daphne Minor Island, located between Santa Cruz and Baltra, where you can see a great number of finch species, masked boobies and Galapagos Martins. This is also a great place for snorkeling to observe the diversity of marine life like turtles, rays or sharks.

We disembark at South Plazas Island where you can find various species of land iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls. After lunch head to Santa Fe, a great place to watch and swim with sea lions. This place is also the home to endemic species such as the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake and a variety of finches. After this activity, dinner will be served onboard.

Early arrival to San Cristobal in the morning. After disembarking, we visit the Interpretation Center, where you will learn the history of the colonization of the island and its flora and fauna. After this activity you will be transferred to San Cristobal Airport to take your flight back to the continent.