Beagle North Western Islands 8 Days - Itinerary B

Early arrival to the airport in Baltra. Then, you will be transferred to the Beagle Yacht at the Bay. After lunch, head to Bachas Beach, where a delightful swimming beach waits for you, with a lagoon behind where you can watch native wildlife. This is also a nesting area for green sea turtle form November to February. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/beagle-8-days-north--western

Early in the morning, you begin with a hike up the steep stairs from the landing dock to a bush of palo santo forest on the top; upon arriving at the edge of the rim you can enjoy a panoramic view of Genovesa Island. After lunch, head to Darwin Bay, formed from a collapsed cauldron, and home to frigate birds, red footed boobies and Darwin finches. After this activity, dinner onboard and rest.

First activity of the day will be wet landing at James Bay, where an easy walk will take you to observe iguanas and sea lions along the coast. The trail ends at a grotto where fur sea lions sleep during the day. You can also swim or snorkel here. After lunch, the Beagle will start navigating to Isabela Island.

Early in the morning, you start with a dinghy ride at Punta Vicente Roca, excellent for marine life observation and to practice snorkelling. Next we head to Tagus Cove on Isabela Island, for a hike to the top of a cliff to view the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Darwin Volcano and Darwin Lake. You can also look at the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs of the cove, written by pirates, whalers and buccaneers in past centuries.

The day begins when you disembark at Espinoza Point, a site rich for its wildlife, like sea lions, penguins, crabs, herons and more, living alongside the mangrove forest, native to this place. In the afternoon, we navigate to Urbina Bay, one of the recent examples of geological uplift in the Galapagos which is a seasonal nesting area for many tortoises, Galapagos Penguins, flightless cormorants and brown pelicans. End of the day and dinner.

Early in the morning go for a dinghy ride to the Mariela Rocks, where an important colony of penguins is located. You will also visit a cove surrounded by red mangroves and species like sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and small sharks. In the afternoon, visit Moreno Point on the north coast of Isabela, between volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, through a trail of solidified lava until a coastal lagoon to see several species of birds.

After breakfast, we head to Sierra Negra volcano, the second largest volcano crater in the world. You may visit the caldera if you wish, after a 45 minute trek. next you will visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center, where rescued tortoises native to Isabela Island live in captivity for the recovery of thrie species. At the end of the day, return to the Beagle to eat dinner and rest.

Early in the morning, you will disembark at Puerto Ayora to visit the Twin Craters (Los Gemelos), located in the Highlands of Santa Cruz, and then be transferred to the airport to take your flight back to the continent.