Galapagos 8 Day Cruise | Ocean Spray

Upon arrival at Baltra Island Airport, you'll be greeted and transferred to the M/C Ocean Spray, your luxurious home on the water during this Galapagos Islands trip. Once onboard, you'll be welcomed by your guide and crew members, taken to your accommodations, and given a brief overview of health, safety and emergency protocols, as well as a description of the normal routines and different areas of the M/C Ocean Spray.

In the afternoon, you'll visit Chinese Hat, a small island named after its distinctive shape. This site offers an intimate encounter with Galapagos wildlife, including well-preserved, fragile volcanic rock unlike anything you've seen before. The island is home to many different bird species, including playful Galapagos penguins and elusive Galapagos Hawks.

Today you will visit to Isabela Island at Vicente Roca Point, where you'll find incredible rock formations that are home to many different bird species. The cool azure waters of the nutrient-rich Cromwell Current provide a fascinating feeding ground for birds and underwater mammals.

In the afternoon, you'll visit Fernandina Island, the youngest island in the archipelago and one of the most pristine, having never been invaded by foreign species. As the westernmost island, it is also more volcanically active than its siblings. Espinosa Point is the only visitor point on Fernandina, but there's plenty to see including Galapagos Hawks, marine iguanas and the endemic flightless cormorant. You'll also have the opportunity to hike and take in the sweeping views of the otherworldly landscape.

This morning you will visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island, known for its rich human history as a preferred stop for pirates, sailors, and whalers for centuries. You'll have the opportunity to read the interesting names and places etched into the cove's walls, take a hike for panoramic views of the cove and its surroundings, and pass by a mangrove forest where the last 35 pairs of Mangrove finches live. You can also snorkel off of the cove's beach and have a good chance of seeing marine iguanas diving for food.

In the afternoon, you'll head to Urbina Bay, a volcanic uplift that was once under the ocean floor, now home to land and marine iguanas, boisterous sea lions, and the fascinating flightless cormorant. The bay is a great place to relax on the beach, snorkel in its waters, and hike along the trails to see different species of shorebirds living near the water.

This morning you will have the chance to experience the diverse marine life at Elizabeth Bay without disrupting its fragile ecosystem by observing from the comfort of your Zodiac. The clear waters offer a glimpse of Galapagos sharks and sea turtles swimming among other aquatic species.

In the afternoon explore the unique birdlife at Moreno Point, known for its rocky shoreline and home to a variety of species. Take a hike to the saltwater lagoons nearby to spot more unique bird species. The contrast of the jet-black lava flows against the deep blue waters, the lush green vegetation and the backdrop of Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes make Moreno Point a must-see destination for nature enthusiasts.

Begin your day with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a hub of conservation and scientific research in the Galapagos Islands. Here, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the work being done to protect the unique flora and fauna of the archipelago, and see up-close the efforts to breed and reintroduce the iconic Galapagos Giant Tortoises. The station also houses an impressive collection of plant specimens and other natural history exhibits, including a full whale skeleton.

In the afternoon, head to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, a unique ecosystem that reaches up to 1,500 meters above sea level. Explore the rolling hills, lush vegetation, and volcanic landscapes, and spot the island's famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife, such as finches, mockingbirds, and various bird species. Take in the stunning panoramic views of the surrounding ocean, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of whales or rays jumping in the waves.

Today you will experience the breathtaking beauty of South Plaza Island, where the contrast of black lava rock and turquoise waters is a photographer's dream. The island is home to a diverse array of plant and wildlife species, including the prickly pear cactus tree, a crucial food source for the land iguana. With the recent eradication of imported mice, the population of land iguanas has been growing.

Discover the unique pink land iguana, found only on Santa Fe Island. This volcanic island is home to a forest of Palo Santo and Opuntia trees, and offers two trails - one leading to a viewpoint overlooking the island and ocean, and the other to a small beach. Sadly, the island's population of Giant Tortoises, once unique to the island, were driven to extinction by overhunting.

Española Island is a must-see destination in the Galapagos Islands, known for its rich diversity of species and stunning geological features. Suarez Point is a highlight of the island, home to the only breeding site for Waved Albatrosses in the Galapagos. Visitors may be lucky enough to witness young albatrosses taking their first flight out to sea, where they will spend up to five years. The nutrient-rich waters surrounding Española Island are teeming with marine life, including sea lions, marine iguanas, and sharks. The island is also a bird-watcher's paradise, with a variety of species such as Nazca and Blue-footed boobies, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls and Galapagos Doves.

Gardner Bay is home to a lively colony of sea lions that can be seen playing in the crystal-clear waters. The bay is also a haven for bird-watchers, with various finch species and the endemic Española Mockingbird found here. However, visitors must remember to not feed or touch the wildlife, as it is important to maintain the natural balance of the ecosystem.

The Interpretation Center, open to the public for over two decades, provides visitors with a glimpse into the rich history of the Galapagos archipelago and the breeding practices of Giant Tortoises. San Cristobal, the easternmost island, was also the first island Charles Darwin set foot on and is now home to the provincial capital and the Ecuadorian navy. Visitors can see Giant Tortoises that have been bred in captivity roaming in a semi-natural habitat in the area surrounding the center.

On the final day of your cruise, your only excursion is to the Interpretation Center. Afterwards, you will board the M/C Ocean Spray to collect your belongings and freshen up before being transferred to the airport.