Grand Queen Beatriz 8 Days - Itinerary B

Early in the morning, you will arrive at San Cristobal Island´s Airport and be transferred to the harbor to get onboard Grand Queen Beatriz Catamaran. In the early afternoon, you will be transferred to the Highlands of San Cristobal Island, where you will visit Cerro Colorado Turtle Breeding Center, where you will learn about the work developed by scientists to preserve he Giant Galapagos Turtles. End of the day and dinner onboard.

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

Bartolomé is a relatively new island in the archipelago and traces of its volcanic past can be seen everywhere, as evidenced by the amazing lunar-like landscape. The Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos – an abrupt jag of rock protruding from the earth like a tooth, while nearby two golden bays back onto each other.
You can hike to the top of a once-active volcano here, and enjoy superb views across to Sullivan Bay, on nearby Santiago Island.

Early in the morning, head to Espumilla Beach in James Bay, where you can see playful sea lions, fur seals and various species of seabirds along with a native Palo Santo Forest. This is also a good place to snorkel. You will also visit Buccaners Cove, that used to be a hide out for pirates. After lunch, you will head to Port Egas, a beach located at the west side of Santiago Island, its main attractive its black sand beach, where you can also see Galapagos Fur Seals, Galapagos Hawks, and salt water lagoons where flamingos can be seen. End of the activities and dinner onboard.

Early in the morning, you will head to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will see Galapagos Giant Tortoises in its natural habitat at a private reserve. During the afternoon, you will visit Charles Darwin Station to learn about the protection and conservation of the island, where you will visit the Breeding and Rearing Centre for young tortoises and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

After breakfast, the yacht will take you to North Seymour, an important spot to see frigate birds and blue-footed boobies courting the females. You can also practice snorkeling or diving here. 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, 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, avolcanic soil island,where you can 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.

In the morning, 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. After lunch, you will visit 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.

Early in the morning, head to Bachas Beach, place that used to be a WWII base and where you will visit a lagoon behind the high tide line, where you can watch marine iguanas and flamingoes, and is also a nesting area for green sea turtles form November to February. After this activity, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport and take your flight back to the continent.