Complete East and Central Itinerary - Letty Yacht - Galapagos Cruise

San Cristóbal, the fifth largest and easternmost island in the Galapagos, features the archipelago's oldest permanent settlement and was where Darwin first set foot in 1835. Manuel Cobos and Jose Monroy established the Orchillera Society, initially a penal colony; sugarcane was cultivated, and a prosperous fishing industry thrived from 1952 to 1960. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno serves as the provincial capital.

A.M. San Cristóbal Airport

At the outset of this itinerary, brimming with activities and scenic spots, we will visit the island's interpretation center. The Galapagos National Park Visitor Centre in San Cristóbal, established in 1998, offers a comprehensive history of the archipelago, including its ecosystems, flora, fauna, and cultural heritage. It features two interpretive panels detailing the natural and cultural history of the islands, along with amenities like a small auditorium, meeting rooms, and video equipment for community events.

P.M. Interpretation Center - Cerro Colorado 14:00 - 18:00h

Following this visit, we will journey to the "Galapaguera Islands."

This facility, inaugurated by the National Park in 2003, serves as both an artificial turtle breeding program and a tourist information center. Visitors can observe giant tortoises in a natural habitat and learn about their evolution and the threats they face from other species.

Activities: TK

Meals: B - L - D

A.M. San Cristóbal Island - Punta Pitt 08:00-12:00h

Following a pleasant start to the day with breakfast, we proceed to Punta Pitt, located on the eastern edge of San Cristóbal. This site hosts a bachelor colony of sea lions, and it's the sole location in the Galapagos where all three species nest. Swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels, along with two species of frigatebirds, also inhabit the area. The panoramic view from the cliff top offers stunning vistas of the sea lions and the rugged, wind-sculpted peaks of the island. Exploring the area on foot provides an opportunity to observe the resilient vegetation that thrives in this volcanic terrain.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

P.M. Punta Pitt - Cerro Brujo 15:00 - 18:00h

From Punta Pitt, our journey continues to Cerro Brujo, where swimming and snorkeling are popular activities along the coral-sand beach. Charles Darwin and Captain Fitzroy both explored the remnants of a tuff cone here. The scenery is breathtaking, with sightings of sea lions, marine iguanas, and migratory birds. The lagoon sometimes dries out completely, leaving behind salt deposits on the bottom.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

P.M. Kicker Rock

Following lunch, our next destination is Kicker Rock, a coral-sand beach located approximately ten minutes from the airport. Here, sea lions rest on both the sand and rocks. Visitors can also spot birds like yellow warblers, frigatebirds, and various finches coexisting with the sea lions along the shoreline.

Activities: Circumnavigation

Meals: B - L - D

Española is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos, estimated to be around four million years old. It is a typical shield volcano, formed from a single caldera at its center. Over millennia, it has gradually moved away from the hot spot where it originated. The island is home to several endemic species such as the Waved Albatross, Española Lava Lizard, and Española Mockingbird.

AM: Gardner Bay 08:00 - 12:00h

We kick off the day with a delightful start and after breakfast, we head to Gardner Bay. Known for its expansive white sand beach, Gardner Bay is adorned with three species of Darwin's finches and Española mockingbirds, making it one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos. The Española mockingbird, the only carnivorous species of mockingbird, feeds on insects, turtle hatchlings, sea lion placentas, and newborn boobies. Green turtles can be spotted gracefully swimming in the water or hauling themselves onto the shore. Visitors can enjoy swimming or snorkeling among the rocks in the shallow sea.

Activities: TK / KY / SN

P.M. Suarez Point

In the afternoon, we venture to Punta Suárez, a renowned site in the Galapagos. Here, visitors can encounter a variety of animals including sea lions, marine iguanas, Española lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, Española mockingbirds, three species of Darwin's finches, and Galapagos doves. The highlight of the site is the breeding colony of the Waved Albatross, where each pair lays a single egg annually and shares the responsibility of incubating it. In January, the entire colony departs Española to feed for three months before returning to the island.

The island of Floreana was home to the Galapagos Islands' first post office and was settled by Ecuadorians in 1832. It also gained notoriety for several mysterious disappearances in the 1930s, including that of an Austrian baroness. Access to and from Floreana is limited, with a biweekly boat service connecting it to Santa Cruz Island.

A.M. The Baroness' Lookout - Post Office Bay 08:00 - 12:00h

Located in the northern part of Floreana Island between Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant, the Baroness' Lookout is a striking basalt tuff formation with historical significance. It offers an ideal viewpoint for mangrove interpretation and opportunities to spot golden eagle rays, sea turtles, sea lions, mullets, and possibly Galapagos penguins. The site is named after Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner, who resided on Floreana Island and used this spot as a strategic vantage point to observe approaching ships.

Next, we visit Post Office Bay to explore the human history of the Galapagos. Whalers established a makeshift post office here in 1793 by leaving addressed letters in a wooden barrel. Today, visitors can participate by leaving postcards and browsing through the collection. In 1926, Norwegians attempted unsuccessfully to colonize the area. There's also a lava tube that visitors can enter via a ladder extending from the Post Office Barrel.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

P.M. Cormorant Point 14:00 - 18:00h

A popular tourist destination, Cormorant Point features two beaches: one with green sand rich in olivine crystals and another with white sand strewn with small broken corals. The main attraction is the Flamingo Lagoon, where visitors can observe Galapagos flamingos wading in brackish water. Green turtles and rays are also commonly spotted at Flour Beach. Floreana gained notoriety for its mysterious disappearances in the 1930s. Access to Floreana is exclusively by boat from Santa Cruz Island.

Activities: TK / KY / PR / SN

Meals: B - L - D

A.M. North Seymour 08:00 - 10:00h

North Seymour Island, formed by submarine lava flows, is currently home to approximately 2,500 land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, common noddies, and frigatebirds. These species were relocated there during the Hancock expeditions in the early 1930s to enhance their survival conditions. While land iguanas are not found on North Seymour, it hosts significant populations of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, common noddies, and frigatebirds.

In the afternoon, transportation to Baltra Island and the airport will be arranged.

P.M. Bartolomé 15:00 - 18:00h

Located in Sullivan Bay east of Santiago Island, Bartolomé is an uninhabited island known for Pinnacle Rock, a volcanic cone formed from lava eruptions of an underwater volcano. Visitors may recognize Bartolomé and Pinnacle Rock from the 2003 film "Master and Commander." Tourists have two main options: hiking to a spectacular viewpoint or enjoying snorkeling and swimming at the beach. Bird enthusiasts can observe Galapagos Penguins, herons, and Galapagos hawks in the area.

Activities: TK / PR / SN

It's an island in the northeastern part of the Galapagos archipelago, shaped like a horseshoe. Formed by the eruption of a shield volcano and subsequent collapse of one side of the caldera, Genovesa shows evidence of ongoing lava flows along its volcano's edges. Nicknamed 'The Bird Island,' Genovesa is renowned for its diverse and abundant bird species, including frigatebirds, Nazca and red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels, red-billed tropicbirds, finches, and mockingbirds. Visitors can explore two main sites: one along the beach popular for snorkeling and swimming, and another at the point where the two sites converge.

A.M. Darwin Bay 08:00 - 12:00h

The highlight of the morning is Darwin Bay, a small sandy and coral beach accessible by foot. Here, visitors can observe red-footed boobies in two plumage variations, along with frigatebirds, Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, finches, and mockingbirds. Genovesa's reputation as a bird sanctuary is underscored by the presence of Galapagos penguins and herons.

P.M. Prince Philip's Steps 14:00 - 18:00h

After lunch, we proceed to Prince Philip's Steps (El Barranco). Named after Prince Philip, who visited the island in 1965 and 1981, this Galapagos attraction offers views of marine life through cracks in the lava cliffs. The trail continues inland through Palo Santo forests, passing additional nesting colonies of boobies. Finally, visitors can marvel at a rocky lava plain inhabited by wedge-rumped storm petrels and short-eared owls.

Activities: TK / KY / PR

A.M. Plazas 08:00 - 12:00h

Located off the east coast of Santa Cruz, the Plazas Islands consist of two small crescent-shaped islets: North Plaza and South Plaza. South Plaza is renowned for its diverse wildlife and stunning flora. Conservation efforts focus on addressing the decline of the cactus population, crucial for the survival of land iguanas. The long-term objective is to restore the cactus forest while ensuring a healthy population of land iguanas.

Activities: TK / KY / PR

P.M. Santa Fe

Santa Fe Island, a small uninhabited island in the Galapagos archipelago, lacks freshwater and has never been inhabited by humans. It is inhabited by a large population of goats, which have adapted to drinking seawater. The island features two snorkeling sites in the landing bay and another in the adjacent bay, making it a popular destination for snorkeling and diving.

Activities: TK / KY / PR

Meals: B - L - D

A.M. El Chato - Twin Craters 08:00 - 12:00h

Located in Santa Rosa, approximately 21.7 kilometers from Gus Angermeyer, El Chato offers visitors a chance to observe giant tortoises, owls, Darwin's finches, and lava tunnels. Nearby, there's a lava tunnel formed by around 400 meters of solidified lava.

Following that, we'll visit Los Gemelos (Twin Craters): These two large sinkholes along the road between Puerto Ayora and Baltra were created by collapsed magma chambers. Visitors can explore them by stopping at the roadside and walking around their rims. A circular trail leads through the scenic Scalesia forest to the larger crater, offering opportunities to observe land birds like the Galapagos Dove, Vermilion Flycatcher, Short-eared Owl, and various finch species.

Activities: TK

Charles Darwin

This well-known national park site northeast of Puerto Ayora hosts over 200 scientists and volunteers engaged in research and conservation efforts, notably including captive breeding programs for giant tortoises.

Among the arid zone vegetation, visitors can observe Galapagos giant tortoises in enclosures. There's also a nursery equipped with incubators where baby tortoises are cared for until they reach about 1.5 kg or four years old, after which they are returned to their native islands.

Activities: TK

Meals: B - L - D

Although today marks our final day, we're eager to make the most of it!

Our day begins at Borrero Bay: This pristine white coral beach attracts green turtles, while yellow warblers and Darwin's finches are drawn to the palo santo, leather leaf, and salt-tolerant plants that thrive here. The varied elevation of the extinct volcano supports a range of vegetation zones, from littoral to arid, humid, and dry pampas.

It's a breathtaking landscape that invites leisurely swims in the azure waters of the bay or relaxing strolls along the beach.

Activities: TK

Meals: B

Transfer to the airport.