Daphne 8 Days - Itinerary A 2020

Upon your arrival to Baltra Airport you will be transferred to Daphne Yacht at the bay. After you settle in the yacht and lunch, you will go to the first visiting point, Bachas Beach, located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, this is a nesting site for the pacific green turtle and is also one of the remnants of the US presence in the Galapagos during WWII. You can also snorkel offshore this place. End of the day and dinner onboard.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/daphne-8-itinerary-a

First activity of this day will be taking an excursion to North Seymour Island, home to great colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds which share the same nesting area, that you will have the opportunity to visit. You can also snorkel at this island and spot white-tipped reef sharks, rays and sea lions while doing this activity. In the afternoon, after lunch, you will be transferred to Bartolome Island, that consist of one of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes of the Galapagos. Once you land, you will climb to the summit, from which you will have the great view of Pinnacle Rock, one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos. You will also have the opportunity to go snorkeling and see plenty of marine species. End of the day and dinner onboard.

Early in the morning the yacht will take you to Egas Port, a black sand beach, located on the west side of James Bay. Here you will see amazing volcanic tuff formations and watch along the beach to encounter marine iguanas, pelicans, finches, Galapagos sea lions and fur seals. In the afternoon, after lunch you will head to Espumilla Beach, one of the most idyllic locations in the Galapagos Island due to its volcanic formation, and is also important nesting site for marine turtles. Then you will visit Buccaneer Cove, where you can spot objects used by pirates in past centuries. If the conditions are favorable you can snorkel at this spot. End of the day and dinner onboard.

After breakfast you will take a dinghy ride to Tagus Cove, which used to be an anchorage for pirates and whalers. You will have the opportunity to snorkel at this spot, or take a walk after landing to a fantastic view point, to have a panoramic view of Isabela Island. During the afternoon, you will head to Espinosa Point at Fernandina Island, place where you can see the lava formations due to the volcanic origin of this island, and the lava cacti, endemic flora of this island. After this visit return to the yacht for dinner and rest.

Full itinerary map here:

First visiting point of this day will be Moreno Point at Isabela Island. This place has some of the most beautiful blue lagoons and rocky terrain in the Galapagos. You will walk to the top pf the solidified black lava field, and once on top you will have an amazing view of Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. During the afternoon, you will visit Elizabeth Bay, and incredible biodiversity sanctuary, located on the west coast of Isabela Island, you will access to this place by a panga ride, and you will spot blue-footed boobies, see turtles, sea lions, and penguins from afar. After this activity dinner will be served onboard.

Early in the morning you will visit Tintoreras accessible by a panga ride, this is a little peninsula at the entrance of Isabela Island´s port, where you will have the opportunity to see blue-footed boobies, penguins, and marine iguanas. The highlight of this visit will be spotting tintoreras, which are white sharks native to this place, hence its name. In the afternoon, you will visit Humedales, the wetlands of Isabela, where you will find a variety of flora and fauna. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.

After breakfast, you will visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz north coast. Here you will visit a brackish lagoon, frequented by lagoon birds, like pintail ducks, sanderlings and occasionally flamingos. Further inland, you will visit a nesting site for iguanas and once you arrive to this place´s viewpoint you will have a spectacular view of the bay. In the afternoon you will visit Carrion Point, by a panga ride, this is a shallow protected cove, ideal for snorkeling and swimming. After these activities head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.

First activity of the day will be disembarking at Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island, where you will visit Charles Darwin Research Station, where you will learn about the conservation efforts to preserve the unique species and ecosystems of the Galapagos. After this activity you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight back to the continent.