Darwin Discovery 8 Days - Itinerary B

Mosquera Islet: Upon your arrival to the airport in Baltra Island, you will be transferred to Darwin Yacht. After lunch, you will visit Mosquera Islet, consist of a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach, where a great colony of sea lions resides, and where you can also observe several species of shore birds. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/Darwin-disc-8DaysB

We disembark at South Plazas Island where you can find various species of land iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls. Weather permiting we may swim or snorkel here too. 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.

In the morning the yacht will take you to the beautiful white sand beach at Gardner Bay to see lazing sea lions, and an opportunity to snorkel or swim. In the afternoon head to Suarez Point, a basaltic cliff which forms a blowhole where water sprays high into the air. A hike to the top makes a great opportunity to take spectacular pictures, and spot sea lions, nesting sea birds (boobies & albatross), and Marine Iguanas. After this activity, dinner will be served onboard.

Early in the morning we land at Cormorant Point, where you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion colony, and can visit two beaches: one with green sand containing olivine crystal, and the other a white coral beach. After this activity, head to Devil´s Crown, a sub-marine crater that offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos. After lunch, we go to Post Office bay, established in 1793 by British whalers to send letters to and from England, and even today, visitors have the opportunity to send letters of their own.

After breakfast we land at Santa Cruz Island, where you will visit the famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos, and a great place to see land tortoises. After this activity, head to the Twin Craters, geological formations that were created as a result of the collapse or sinking of surface materials into cracks or manholes. You will also have the opportunity to observe land birds especially the woodpecker finch and the vermillion flycatcher. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner.

First visit of the day will be to Port Egas, a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island. This place was formed by deposits of volcanic tuff, and there is also a saltwater lagoon. After this visit, head to Espumilla Beach on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay, a nesting site for marine turtles, where a palo Santo Forest can be seen while you rest on the beach and enjoy the landscape.

We begin with a hike to enjoy the most amazing panoramic view at the Galapagos Islands. After, relax on the beach or take the opportunity to snorkel at the reef to see various fish, friendly sea lions, and sea turtles. In the afternoon, we visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, to see fascinating giant lava formations, due to the recent formation of the island, and where you can also swim and snorkel to see seals and penguins. Return to the yacht and dinner.

On the last morning, you will visit Bachas Beach. This beautiful beach is located in the north of Santa Cruz Island. The beach is one km long. The site was named during WWII (World War II) when the American army left two barges on the beach. The early colonists couldn’t pronounce barges correctly, so they called the area “Bachas”. After this, you will be transferred to the airport.