Galapagos West, Central & North Islands Cruise | Seaman Journey

Begin your Galapagos adventure with a morning flight to the Galapagos Islands. Please note the Galapagos Government requires a fee of $20 for the migration control card.

Upon arrival in San Cristobal, passengers must pass through an airport inspection point to prevent the introduction of foreign plants or animals to the archipelago. Here, passengers also pay for entrance to the Galapagos National Park: $200 for foreigners and $100 for children under 12.

Your guide will then meet you and assist with your luggage, transporting you to the Catamaran Seaman Journey via a motorized boat called Panga.

In the afternoon, visit the Gianni Arismendy Environmental Interpretation Center. It features lush gardens and breathtaking ocean views, offering insights into the islands' geological and human history, conservation efforts, and natural history. As the oldest natural history museum in the Galapagos Islands, it's a testament to ongoing preservation efforts, inspiring and educating visitors through research and conservation initiatives.

In the morning, you'll explore San Cristobal Island's Punta Pitt, situated at its eastern tip. This area features a 90-meter beach and several natural viewpoints offering breathtaking vistas of an eroded hill made of volcanic tuff. A 1,400-meter trail, starting from Oliviana Beach, winds its way to the hill's summit, showcasing various lava formations. The strong winds atop the hill have sculpted the landscape into surreal, science fiction-like scenes, characterized by olive-yellow sands adorned with bright crystals. Here, sea lions bask in the sun, while frigate birds, pelicans, herons, and seagulls gracefully soar overhead. Pitt Islet is renowned for being one of the few spots where all three species of boobies (blue-footed, red-footed, and masked) and both species of frigate birds can be observed together.

In the afternoon, your adventure takes you to Lobos Island, a small, flat islet off the coast of San Cristobal. Named for the several sea lions that inhabit its shores, Lobos Island is a short 20-minute boat ride (10 kilometers) from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Designated as a tourist diving site, it boasts two piers for exploring the ocean depths alongside playful sea lions. A protected channel offers excellent snorkeling opportunities, while an 850-meter trail connecting the piers provides an hour-long stroll amidst coastal vegetation. The island's name stems from the presence of two sea lion species—the California sea lions and the fur seals, whose origins trace back to Antarctica.

In the morning you will visit Gardner Bay on Española Island, located on the north-eastern coast of Hood. It offers a wonderful beach for relaxation, swimming, and even kayaking, with the chance to observe sea lions (Zalophus wollebaki) and sharks in the crystal-clear waters. Here, you can also spot three species of Darwin finches, including a subspecies of the large-billed cactus finch (Geospiza fuliginosa), the small-beaked ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa), and the singing finch (Certhidea Olivacea), all endemic to the area. Keep an eye out for both resident and migratory birds.

In the afternoon, you will explore Suarez Point, renowned for its blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies. This beautiful oceanfront site is where large waved albatrosses use the cliffs as launching pads. Don't miss the magnificent blowhole, which shoots water high into the air, reaching heights of at least 50 to 75 meters. This location offers fantastic photography opportunities.

Today, explore Cormorant Point on Champion Islet, boasting one of the Galapagos' best flamingo lagoons and one of the largest on the islands. Situated between two tuff lava cones, the area exudes a unique atmosphere. Aside from flamingos, observe various species of shorebirds such as common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks, and migratory birds. Witness the contrasting beaches: "The Green Beach," with its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the "Flour Sand Beach," composed of coral.

After the walk, head to Champion Islet for fantastic snorkeling opportunities amidst diverse underwater wildlife, including sea turtles, sea lions, and abundant fish near the nearby coral reef.

In the afternoon, you will visit Post Office Bay, historically known for a wooden barrel placed by a whaling ship crew in the 18th century, serving as a post office for mariners and tourists since. The tradition involves carrying letters or postcards to their destinations by hand. Additionally, this site served as the landing area for some of the first colonists. Spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying the beach and the beauty of the Galapagos.

In the morning, you'll explore the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre, nestled within the Galapagos National Park along Charles Darwin Avenue, just a kilometer away from the Gus Angermeyer Tourist Pier. After a scenic 40-minute stroll, you'll enter this captivating attraction, an integral part of the Charles Darwin Foundation's network of visitor sites. Your journey begins at the information booth of the Galapagos National Park Service (SPNG), leading you through the Van Straelen Interpretation Centre and onward to the breeding centre. Here, an elevated circular wooden path offers panoramic views of Lonesome George and the tortoises of Española Island before culminating at the tortoise exhibition corral.

In the afternoon, your guide will meet you to embark on a highlands adventure in Santa Cruz. You will be taken by bus to the first visit to Ranch Manzanillo where visitors must wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, a waterproof jacket, sunscreen, a camera, and repellent for the first activity. The visit to Ranch Manzanillo includes a picnic lunch and a short walk before boarding the Catamaran. It is important to follow these instructions to accomplish this itinerary properly.

Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities to observe the wild Galapagos Tortoises. Tracking tortoises is not the only exciting activity to be found in the highlands. There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes, and craters ready to be explored.

In the morning, you'll explore Moreno Point on Isabela Island, situated along its northern coast between the towering Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. Traverse a trail that meanders along a Pahoehoe lava flow, characterized by its corrugated or accordion-like texture, leading you into a maze of coastal lagoons. These serene lagoons and mangroves are teeming with diverse bird species, offering a picturesque backdrop for exploration.

Later in the afternoon, you'll venture to Mangle Point off the eastern shores of Fernandina Island. This idyllic spot is renowned for its exceptional snorkeling opportunities and scenic rides through a lush grove of mangrove trees aboard a panga or zodiac. A leisurely hike of approximately half a mile is also an option. As you navigate the waters, keep your eyes peeled for sightings of sea lions, tortoises, pelicans, rays, and a myriad of bird species, adding to the enchantment of your marine adventure.

In the morning, explore Urbina Bay on Isabela Island. Situated at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast, Urbina Bay underwent a significant uplift in 1954, causing the land to rise over 16 feet and expanding the coast half a mile out. This unique geological event left marine life stranded on the new shore, creating an ideal snorkeling spot. The path at Urbina Bay begins with a wet landing and spans approximately 3200 meters, comprising sand, pumice, lava, coral, and vegetation. Keep an eye out for iguana burrows and the vibrant red and blue lobsters! Darwin's finches and land iguanas, larger than those found on other islands, are among the main attractions here. Don't miss the chance to spot Galapagos tortoises in the wild, sometimes even outside their usual seasons. Amidst abundant vegetation like chamomile and Rosewood, the endemic cotton Darwin flowers stand out, adding to the area's beauty.

In the afternoon, visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island, located west of Darwin Volcano. Once a favored spot for pirates and whalers, Tagus Cove is known for its tradition of boat name inscriptions, some dating back to the 1800s, found in a small cave along the trail. The name "Tagus" originates from a British warship that traversed the islands in 1814 in search of Galapagos Tortoises for food. Due to past eruptions, the substrate is rich in volcanic rocks of various sizes, including lapilli or petrified rain, characterized by small nearly spherical shapes.

In the morning, explore Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island, renowned for its large colonies of marine iguanas and unique species such as the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.

In the afternoon, venture to Vicente Roca Point, one of the most breathtaking spots in the enchanting Galapagos Islands. With towering cliffs and stunning formations of tuffstone, ash, and lava, Punta Vicente Roca exudes majesty. Located on the northwestern coast of the island, it consists of two distinct islets and boasts a spectacular marine life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the intriguing Mola-mola or sunfish. This bay offers excellent opportunities for Panga rides and snorkeling, where you may encounter penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, boobies, and sea lions. Dive into the crystal-clear waters to observe sea turtles, stingrays, and pufferfish, adding to the richness of this remarkable destination.

In the morning, visit Playa Espumilla on Santiago Island, situated on the northern coast in James Bay. This beach underwent changes during the last El Niño phenomenon, leading to the sedimentation of one of its lagoons and the disappearance of a significant flamingo colony. Despite this, the area remains captivating, with highlights including the Palosanto forest and the nesting of baby turtles.

In the afternoon, explore Puerto Egas, known for its black beach located on the west side of the island. This unique beach owes its distinctive black sand to volcanic tuff deposits. The site earned its name from an unsuccessful attempt to exploit salt, as the low price of salt on the mainland made it unviable in the Galapagos. Consequently, the project was abandoned, leaving behind remnants of infrastructure amidst the rugged beauty of the landscape.

In the morning, explore Rabida Island, renowned for its unique red-colored rocks and sand. The volcanic material here is highly porous, with external elements like rain, salty water, and sea breeze acting as oxidizing agents. Follow a short trail to a coastal lagoon behind the beach, where you can observe land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. The lagoon is also home to a colony of flamingos.

In the afternoon, visit Chinese Hat, a small islet located off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. Shaped like a Chinese hat when viewed from the north, this recent volcanic cone offers insights into geological features such as lava tubes and flows. On the west side, observe lava formations that were once submerged, now adorned with coral heads. The landscape is inhabited by colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins, making it a fascinating destination for wildlife observation and geological interpretation.

On your final day of exploration, you'll embark on a dinghy ride to Black Turtle Cove, located on the north coast of Santa Cruz, just west of Baltra, it offers a window into a quiet hideaway of the Galapagos. Once in the cove, the boat continues with the engines off and begins to explore the mangroveprotected cove. Sea turtles feed and mate in the calm waters, and three species of sharks are found here: the blacktip shark, the white-tip shark, and the Galapagos shark. Groups of spotted rays are also often seen, as well as egrets and herons.

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