Northern and Eastern Islands | Horizon Trimaran

AM: Arrive San Cristobal airport

You will arrive at San Cristobal Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Horizon staff member and transferred to the Trimaran. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.

PM: San Cristobal interpretation center

The Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center was opened in 1998 as a phase of the project “Interpretation and Environment Education Project.” Visitors can enjoy expositions on natural history, human history, and environment protection. The conservation efforts represent the movement to protect the wildlife and natural environment through population and tourist control. The Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center features an outdoor stadium, audio-visual equipment, and meeting rooms.

AM: Pitt point

Pitt Point, located on San Cristobal island's northeastern tip, is home to frigatebirds, storm petrels, and all three types of boobies: Nazca, blue-footed, and red-footed. A steep trail leads visitors up a cliff and through a ravine to an area teeming with birds. This location is also excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving.

PM: Witch hill & Kicker rock

Located on the northern coast, witch hill and its surroundings present one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos with its white powdery sand and the abundance of animals. Wildlife includes sea turtles, rays, and various types of booby birds. The clear water provides an excellent opportunity for enjoying swimming and snorkeling.

Kicker rock formation is located about two hours west of San Cristobal. The rocks protrude from the water and stand vertically hundreds of feet above the ocean, separated by a small channel. Although there are no landing areas, visitors can see a variety of marine life through circumnavigation and dinghy rides.

AM: Punta Suarez

Blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies can all be found in this area. The large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad, making it a beautiful location on the ocean front. The magnificent blowhole, which shoots water high into the air, is the most well-known attraction. This location offers fantastic photo opportunities.

PM: Gardner Bay

Gardner Bay, on the eastern side of the island, is the breeding site of nearly all of the world´s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. It has a large white sandy beach with a plethora of sea lions, making it ideal for relaxing. Because of its rocky shores, this location is ideal for diving and snorkeling.

AM: Bachas beach

Las Bachas beach, located on Santa Cruz Island's north shore, is ideal for swimming and relaxing. A floating pier, one of the few remaining remnants of the US presence in the Galapagos during WWII, can be seen here. There may be flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach as well.

PM: Bartolome Island

Bartholome is an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black, and even green volcanic formations. It is home to the famous Pinnacle Rock. A stairwell leads to the volcano's summit, which offers one of the best views of the islands. The beach is ideal for snorkeling and possible Galapagos penguin sightings.

AM: Rabida Island

Rabida Island (Jervis) is a great snorkeling spot and one of the archipelago's most colorful and volcanically diverse islands. Its famous maroon sandy beach and stunning lookouts provide breathtaking scenery. The island is a birdwatcher's paradise. Some of the rarest species, such as nine varieties of finches, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks, and brown pelicans, are plentiful.

PM: Puerto Egas

Egas Port, also known as James Bay, is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and the quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to a coastline with beautiful tide pools and fauna-filled grottos. The Galapagos fur sea lions sunbathe here. This is also an excellent snorkeling location.

AM: Darwin Bay

This white sand coral beach leads to a half-mile (0.75km) trail that winds through mangroves teeming with land birds. Here you can see Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. Tidal pools with playful sea lions can be found further down the path. At the end, there is a breathtaking view from a cliff.

PM: El Barranco

El Barranco's steep, rocky paths, also known as Prince Phillip's Steps, lead up to a high cliff-face. From here, you can enjoy a spectacular view. Palo santo vegetation can also be found here, as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves.

AM: Mosquera Islet

This reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) is only 160 meters across at its narrowest point, located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. This island is home to many shorebirds and has one of the largest populations of sea lions. There have been reports of orcas feeding on sea lions at this location on occasion.

PM: Santa Cruz tortoise Breeding Center

The Charles Darwin Research Station is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept until they reach the age of four and are strong enough to survive on their own.

AM: North Seymour Island

North Seymour Island is teeming with Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigatebirds. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava flows with sediment layers that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.

PM: Transfer to Baltra airport

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.