North Galapagos Islands

Day 1: Baltra - Santa Cruz Island

Morning flight from mainland Ecuador to Baltra, Galapagos Islands. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be greeted by the Natural Paradise staff and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.

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 are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.

Day 2: El Barranco, Darwin Bay - Genovesa Island

In the morning, you will visit El Barranco which is also known as Prince Phillip's Steps. It is a steep, rocky path that leads up to a high cliff-face. A marvellous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to palo santo vegetation as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves.

In the afternoon, you will visit the white-sand coral beach of Darwin Bay which heads a half mile trail (0,75km) that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path we'll find tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully. At the end is a spectacular view of a cliff.

Day 3: Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove & Egas Port

In the morning, visit is to Espumilla Beach where marine iguanas lounge and the Sally Lightfoot crabs attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkelling is highly recommended as you could and yourself face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark and a variety of other species of tropical fish.

Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. These pirates would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent site.

In the afternoon, you will go to Egas Port, also known as James Bay, on Santiago Island which is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to the coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos fur sea lions bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkelling site.

Day 4: Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz & Return to Baltra

The morning visit, Bachas Beach, is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz which is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest on the beach.

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

• On-board accommodation
• All meals during the voyage
• Pre and post cruise transfers 
• All expedition shore excursions
• Use of equipment for water activities

• Air transportation 
• Passport, visa and immigration fees
• Airport arrival/departure taxes
• Travel protection plan
• Galapagos National Park fee US$100 
• Transit Control Card US$20
• Christmas & new-year surcharges 
• Laundry service
• Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities