Seabird Sanctuary Expedition 5-Day | Isabela II

Today, we will arrive at Baltra Airport on Santa Cruz Island. From there,we’ll take a scenic drive to the Itabaca Channel for a ferry to Santa Cruz Island. Following a 30-minute bus ride, we’ll explore the island’s lush highlands to appreciate its unique ecosystems and enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we will visit a nearby reserve known for observing giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The reserve also has lava tunnels to explore. Then, we will transfer to Puerto Ayora to board the Isabela II for more adventures.

Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
After landing on the black sandy beach, we marvel at encounters with land iguanas and birds near tuff-stone layers, rugged rocks, and lava formations. Marine iguanas eat algae during low tide, while fur seals rest in the shade.

Chinese Hat Islet
This young islet features a 1,312 ft (400 m) trail starting at a crescent-shaped, white sandy beach. It’s perfect for swimming and snorkeling and offers encounters with white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins.

In the evening, we'll return to our yacht and enjoy a delicious dinner while taking in the beautiful sunset over the Galapagos.

Prince Phillip’s Steps (Genovesa Island)
Start your day with a scenic panga ride along the cliffs of “Bird Island,” also known as Genovesa. Then descend a wooden staircase to a plateau and observe colonies of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and storm petrels. Keep an eye out for the short-eared owl. You can also take a longer panga ride along the cliffs or enjoy snorkeling and kayaking, weather permitting.

Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
After a satisfying lunch, we reach the pristine white sands of Darwin Bay. Here, you can observe many bird species, including frigatebirds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds.

Santa Fe Island
Embark on a dinghy ride to the sandy-white shores of Santa Fe Island, home to sea lions. Look for Galapagos hawks and Santa Fe land iguanas. Conclude with snorkeling or a glass-bottom boat ride.

South Plaza Island
After lunch, dry land in a channel with turquoise waters and a coastline of white sands and black lava. Experience a vibrant landscape with scarlet sesuvium succulents and green prickly-pear cacti, home to yellow-grey land iguanas and lively sea lion colonies. Watch frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, and shearwaters gracefully soaring overhead.

Our voyage culminates at Baltra Island, where we proceed to the airport for our return flight to the mainland.