Galapagos' Southeast Wonders 5 Day Cruise | Sirius

Today, your adventure commences with a flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, our dedicated crew will warmly welcome you at the airport and transfer you to the awaiting cruise ship.

In the afternoon, explore Lobos Island, a small islet separated from San Cristobal by a narrow channel. It creates a sheltered bay where playful sea lion pups frolic in tidal pools. Despite its compact size, the island teems with wildlife, particularly "lobos marinos," Spanish for sea lions. As you disembark, groups of sea lions will extend a welcoming sight. A few steps inland reveal male frigatebirds with their inflated red balloons perched on bushes and trees. Additionally, a small colony of blue-footed boobies, often nesting along the trail, provides a captivating opportunity to witness their renowned courtship dance.

This morning you will visit Gardner beach, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and interesting beaches to visit in the Galapagos. Its fine coral sand and turquoise water give it a totally tropical appearance, which contrasts with the presence of sea lions basking in the beach. You will have the opportunity to walk along the beach and learn about the biology of sea lions and other endemic species, such as the Española mockingbird, marine iguanas and Galapagos hawks.There are several great snorkeling places at Gardner bay. It is a fantastic site to swim with sea lions, reef sharks, rays and many species of fish, including; Angelfish, Parrotfish, Damselfish, Surgeonfish and many others.

In the afternoon, visit Suarez Point. This rocky trail is one the most amazing nature walks you can do in the Galapagos islands.
From the moment you set foot on the island and all the way along the trail the amount and diversity of fauna is truly amazing. Sea lions and marine iguanas will be the first ones welcoming us, followed by large colonies of sea birds, including Nazca and Blue-footed boobies, gulls and tropicbirds. At the end of the trail we will visit a colony of waved albatross (April to January), the largest bird in the islands and one of the most interesting because of its powerful flight and elaborate courtship. Waved albatross only nest at Española, so this is the only place where you will see them at close range.

Floreana is famous for the tales of German settlers and the baroness during the late 1920’s and 30 ‘s. Assassinations, disappearances and other unsolved mysteries are the ingredients of this fascinating story.
Post office bay was often used by whalers to anchor their ships and go up to the highlands to get freshwater and tortoises. Most boats visiting the Galapagos had to came to this place sooner or later, so a system of mail was established more than 200 years ago: a barrel near the beach became the way to leave messages to other ships and also to the outside world. This mail system is still in use and will allow you to send postcards from the Galapagos to the outside world.

In the afternoon, visit Cormorant's point, located in the north of Floreana and known for its large coastal lagoon with American flamingoes, white-cheeked pintails, black-necked stilts and other shorebirds. There is a beautiful white sand beach which is an important nesting ground for green sea turtles where we can also see rays and reef sharks. In the last years, a small groups of blue footed boobies have started to breed right by the trail. This is also a great trail to look at endemic plants.

Giant Prickly-pear cactus and barren lava rocks surround the landing spot at Santa Fe, located inside one of the most beautiful bays in the Galapagos. Turquoise water and white sand beaches make this location a perfect home for a large colony of sea lions which you will see basking in the sand. Inland, look down for endemic Santa Fe land iguanas, but also look up for Galapagos hawks, which often perch at the top of the cactus looking for prey. Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and lava lizards are also common along the trail. After the hike, you will have the option to kayak or snorkel in the sheltered waters inside the bay, where you can swim with sea lion pups and reef sharks. Also look for sea turtles, rays and a large variety of tropical fish including large schools of surgeonfish and parrotfish.

This afternoon, explore South Plaza, a compact yet remarkably diverse islet. Upon arrival, you'll encounter Galapagos land iguanas beneath prickly-pear cactus, indulging in the fruits. A substantial sea lion colony awaits, offering glimpses of lively pups frolicking in tide pools and imposing males fiercely defending their territories. The trail will take you to a cliff where you can observe many sea birds, such as frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds, boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and pelicans. A reddish succulent vegetation with scattered cactus covers most of the islands like a carpet, giving this island a unique personality.

This morning, visit the Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Galapagos Islands' biodiversity in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park. Learn about joint projects aimed at safeguarding native species and eliminating invasive threats. Notably, the station plays a pivotal role in the captive reproduction of giant tortoises. The outdoor visit unfolds in a picturesque dry native forest with giant cacti, offering a chance to spot endemic Darwin finches, flycatchers, and mockingbirds thriving in their natural environment.

After the visit, bid farewell to your guide and fellow travelers before being transferred to the airport in anticipation of your flight back to the mainland.