Cruise to Galapagos on an 8 day 7 night itinerary on board the Tip Top IV

Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra arriving at 09H20 a.m. approximately. Your guide conducts you to the bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; we board the Yacht without delay. As the crew weighs anchor, we greet you with our first orientation and we offer a light snack.

North Seymour Island

In the afternoon, we make a dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island, a low, flat island that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. We observe blue footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shore birds, sea lions and endemic Palo Santo. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. We return to the Yacht for a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

Darwin Bay

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Darwin Bay to walk and observe frigatebirds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, etc. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. We come aboard for a delicious lunch.

El Barranco

Later in the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Prince Phillips’s Steps (Barranco), we walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. Dinner on the Yacht, and then our orientation about conservation efforts made to protect the Islands.

Santiago Island: Egas Port

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on James Bay (Puerto Egas), to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas and sea lions. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch.

Buccaneer Cove

In the afternoon we navegate around Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero), an area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. The cliffs and pinnacle are used as nesting areas by several species of seabirds. This was a popular place for 17th & 18th century buccaneers to careen their vessels. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Dinner and our nightly orientation.

Isabela Island: Vicente Roca Point

After breakfast, we make a panga ride on Punta Vicente Roca to observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies, and flightless cormorants. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We come aboard for a delicious lunch.

Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza

In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Punta Espinoza to observe and see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas and the flightless cormorants and clumps of lava cactus. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Tagus Cove

After breakfast, we make a panga ride on Tagus Cove, a protected cove between the shoulders of two volcanic craters which protect it from the open sea; we observe penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and a variety of birds including flightless cormorant and blue footed boobies. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak.

Elizabeth Bay

Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a panga ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to see marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Urbina Bay

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Urbina Bay to take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants and giant tortoises. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak. Sail to Punta Moreno, again we make a wet landing.

Sierra Negra Volcano

We make a walk along shore lagoons located among petrified lava flows where different type of birds can be seeing. On top we have a panoramic view of the famous volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, as well as the highest part of Fernandina Island. Return to the yacht for dinner and our night orientation.

Cormorant Point

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Point Cormorant for a short walk to the Flamingos Lagoon of this island. Then we continue the walk until we reach the beach called “La Picona” to see marine turtles and their spawning grounds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Later, we make a panga ride on Champion Islet, a small island off the Coast of Floreana Island.

Champion Islet

The principal attraction of Champion Islet is the nearly-extinct Charles (Floreana) Mockingbird. Visitors can also observe bird species such as Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies or Brown Noddies. It is a great place for snorkelling; we will see sea turtles, reef fishes, Galapagos Penguins and white-tipped reef sharks. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for lunch.

Post Office Bay

In the afternoon we make a wet landing on Post Office Bay, a historic site that recalls the days of the whalers, who presumably placed a wooden barrel in the 18th century to use it as a post office. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

After breakfast we make an early disembark in the pier for a quick visit to the Twin Craters. Then the bus takes us directly to the airport (Baltra). Your guide accompanies you on this ride.