Central Galapagos Islands

Day 1: Arrive San Cristobal - Galapaguera

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands.

On arrival in the Galapagos you will be met in the arrivals hall and then transferred to the Grand Queen Beatriz, anchored a short distance away in San Cristobal Island. Once on board you’ll be assigned your cabins, meet the crew members and have a welcome briefing and safety drill before getting to know your naturalist guide and fellow travellers over a delicious lunch.

This afternoon you will travel into the interior of the island to visit the highlands site of ‘Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado’ (Red Hill) where the national park has established a breeding program and information centre for tortoises. Here, we will be able to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat and learn all about their origin, evolution and their threatened future.

Day 2: Bartolome Island - Sullivan Bay

Bartolome is a relatively new island in the archipelago and traces of its volcanic past can be seen everywhere, as evidenced by the amazing lunar-like landscape.

The Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos – an abrupt jag of rock protruding from the earth like a tooth, while nearby two golden bays back onto each other. You can hike to the top of a once-active volcano here, and enjoy superb views across to Sullivan Bay, on nearby Santiago Island.

Day 3: Espumilla Beach & Egas Port

Today you will visit some wonderful places. Espumilla Beach, on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay, is one of the most idyllic locations in the Galapagos Islands and is an important nesting site for marine turtles. Espumilla beach is also well known for its Palo Santo Forest and some extraordinary lava formations.

This morning you will also visit Caleta Bucanero (Buccaneer Cove), a natural monument of rocks caused by sea erosion. This cove was used by pirates to careen their ships. It is a place of local legends and stories! Port Egas is a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island.

South of the beach is Sugarloaf Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff. This site is named Puerto Egas, after Hector Egas who last attempted to mine salt here. The walk along the beach offers hundreds of marine iguanas, California sea lions and Galapagos fur sea lions.

Day 4: Charles Darwin Station - Depart Baltra

The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic hub of the archipelago and is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre and museum offer a great insight for anyone interested in the archipelago's natural and human history, and keen to learn more about conservation efforts to preserve the unique ecosystems of the Galapagos. It also offers our best chance for close-up encounters with giant tortoises, and we can see many newborn and young giant turtles - part of the breeding program to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.

This is your final excursion before you return to the airport in Baltra for your flight back to Quito.

• On-board accommodation
• Transfers
• Activities/shore excursions as specified
• Naturalist guides
• All meals during the voyage
• Use of wetsuits and snorkelling equipment

• International and internal airfares 
• Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable 
• Galapagos entrance fee US$100 per person
• Tourist control card US$20 per person
• Alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities 
• Any items not mentioned as included