Grand Queen Beatriz 8 Days - Itinerary D

Upon your arrival to Santa Cruz Airport you will be transferred to the harbor to get onboard Grand Queen Beatriz Catamaran. After lunch, we will visit the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will see Galapagos Giant Tortoises in its natural habitat at a private reserve. After this activity, return to the catamaran for dinner and rest.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/grand-queen-beatriz-d-8-days

After breakfast, the yacht will take you to North Seymour, an important spot to see frigate birds and bluefooted boobies courting the females. In the afternoon, after lunch, the yacht will take you to Mosquera Islet, home to a group of sea lions, and that is also a place to observe shorebirds like herons, lava gulls and boobies.  After this activity you will head back to the yacht for dinner.

Early breakfast, and the day begins with a dinghy ride through Black Turtle Cove, where you can find 4 species of mangrove, and where you will spot turtles, herons, sharks and rays. After lunch, you will go to Dragon Hill at Santa Cruz, and walk through a trail that leads to a hyper-saline lagoon, and is frequently visited by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. Return to the catamaran and dinner.

Early start after landing at Rabida Island, where a red sand beach waits for you. You will take an excursion through a short trail to a water lagoon, home to waging flamingos. You will also visit a Palo Santo Forest. After lunch, head to Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino in Spanish), that is a small islet that has the shape of a hat, and is a geological lava formation. Various marine species can be seen in this spot.

Early in the morning, head to Punta Carrion, a shallow and protected cove, ideal for your first snorkel and swim in the Galapagos. After this activity head back to the catamaran for dinner and rest.

First activity of the day will be heading to the South Coast of Isabela Island, then you will go to las Tintoreras, a narrow sea channel where you will see a colony of white-tipped reef sharks, and the occasional playful sea lion among them. After this activity, you will be transferred to Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise breeding Center, where you will see young tortoises and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity, and also learn about the conservation efforts done to preserve this species. You will also visit the Wall of Tears, constructed from lava by prisoners of the penal colony here between 1946 and 1959 as punishment. After this activity head back to the catamaran for dinner.

Early in the morning, head to Floreana Island, your first stop will be Cormorant Point, where you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion colony. You will also see a green sand beach that contains olivine crystal, and a flour sand beach made up of finer white coral sand. You will also spot stingrays beneath the shore. You can also snorkel at Devil´s Crwon. After lunch, you will go to Post Office bay, that was established in the 18th century by British whalers to send letters to and from England, and even today, visitors have the opportunity to post etters of their own. End of the day and dinner onboard.

Begin with an early visit to Charles Darwin Station to learn about the protection and conservation of the island, you will see the Breeding and Rearing Centre for young tortoises and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity. After this activity, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight back to the continent.