Natural Paradise – North & Central Galapagos Islands

• San Cristobal Island

  AM: Arrive Baltra:
  You will arrive at San Cristobal Island in the morning. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met 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.

  PM: Kicker Rock:
  This striking rock formation is located a couple hours off the western shore of San Cristobal. Jutting out of the water, the rocks stand vertically at hundreds of feet above the ocean divided by a small channel. Although there are no landing areas, kayaking and scuba diving allow visitors to spot a variety of marine life.

  Activities: Snorkeling and dinghy ride

  Difficulty: Easy

  Type of Landing: No landing

  Highlights and Animals: Great snorkeling: sharks, tropical fish, turtles, manta rays (occ.), hammerhead sharks, spectacular rock formations; sea birds: blue- footed boobies, Nazca boobies & frigate birds.

• North Seymour & South Plaza Island

  AM: North Seymour:
  In North Seymour you will be able to see Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigatebirds which are abundant on this island. North Seymour was formed by a series of submarine lava flows containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.

  Possible Activities: Dinghy ride & hiking (1.5 miles / 2.41 km)

  Difficulty: Moderate / Difficult

  Type of Landing: Dry landing

  Highlights and Animals: Land & marine iguanas, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, sea lions; snorkeling: rays, reef sharks, fish, garden eels.

  PM: South Plaza Island:
  This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colourful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. During the rainy season its colour is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.

  Possible Activities: Hiking

  Difficulty: Moderate

  Type of Landing: Dry landing

  Highlights & Animals: Land iguanas

• Rabida & Bartholome Islands

  AM: Rabida Island:
  Which is one of the most colourful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago, as well as a great snorkeling site. We will start on Rabida’s famous maroon sandy beach, and after an easy hike, you will arrive to a stunning lookout to enjoy the amazing landscapes. The island is a birdwatcher’s delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance such as nine varieties of finches, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and brown pelicans.

  Possible Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride & short hike (0,6 miles / 1km)

  Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

  Type of Landing: Wet landing

  Highlights & Animals: Snorkeling: white-cheeked pintail ducks, colourful fish, sea lions, brackish water lagoon, penguins, Galapagos hawk.

  PM: Bartholomew Island:
  Home of the famous Pinnacle Rock. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. We will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! You will also visit a small, beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see Galapagos penguins.

  Possible Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling & hiking (1.2 miles/ 2 km)

  Difficulty: Moderate / Difficult.

  Walk up to the top of volcano 374 feet (114 meters), 375 wooden steps

  Type of Landing: Dry & wet landings

  Highlights & Animals: Pinnacle Rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus; snorkeling: penguins, reef sharks, rays, and great colorful fish.

• Santiago & Santa Cruz Islands

  AM: Sullivan Bay:
  In the morning, you will visit Sullivan Bay located on the southeast part of Santiago. This place is interesting for its geology because the area is covered by lava flows. This place has elevations in the form of small volcanoes formed by the lava flows.

  Possible Activities: Hiking

  Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

  Type of Landing: Dry landing

  Highlights & Animals: Lava flows, small volcanoes

  PM: Dragon Hill:
  Is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.

  Possible Activities: Walking and hiking

  Type of Landing: Dry landing

  Difficulty: Easy / Moderate: the trail may get muddy at times, and there is uneven rocky terrain

  Highlights: Land iguana nesting spot, Galapagos flamingos, common stilts, palo santo trees and cacti forest.

• Santa Cruz Island

  AM: Highlands & Twin Craters
  Reached by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green that contrast beautifully with much of the dry, lower islands. The dominant vegetation in the highlands is the forest of scalesia trees creating the lush green color. The lava tubes, over half a mile long, are underground; walking through them is a unique, surreal experience.

  Possible Activities: Hike (1.5 miles/ 2 ½ km)

  Type of Landing: Dry landing

  Difficulty: Moderate

  Highlights: Lava tunnels, wild turtles, tortoises breeding center

  Next visit Twin Craters:
  Located opposite each other on both sides of the road leading from Puerto Ayora to Baltra. The name is only figurative; not real craters, these formations were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers. The view is breathtaking.

  Possible Activities: Short hiking

  Type of Landing: Dry landing

  Difficulty: Moderate

  Highlights: Pit craters, Scalesia forest

  PM: Charles Darwin Research Station & Fausto Llerena Breeding Center:
  Home to turtles ranging from three inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans and stretch 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.

  Possible Activities: Walking

  Type of Landing: Dry landing

  Difficulty: Easy

  Highlights: Giant tortoises in captivity

• Genovesa Island

  AM: 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 marvelous 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.

  Possible Activities: Hiking (0,9 miles / 2 Km)

  Difficulty: Moderate

  Type of Landing: Dry, difficult landing

  Highlights & Animals: Red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, storm-petrels, Galapagos doves

  PM: Darwin Bay:
  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.

  Possible Activities: Hiking (0,9 miles / 1,5 Km), snorkeling, kayaking, and dinghy ride

  Difficulty: Easy

  Type of Landing: Wet landing

  Highlights & Animals: Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls, mangroves, coral pebble beach, snorkeling: rays, colourful reef fish, and hammerhead sharks occasionally

• Santiago Island

  AM: 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. Snorkeling 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.

  Possible Activities: Snorkeling and swimming

  Difficulty: Easy

  Type of Landing: Wet landing

  Highlights & Animals: Snorkelling

  PM: 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 snorkeling site.

  Possible Activities: Snorkeling, hiking (1.2 miles/2 km)

  Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

  Type of Landing: Wet landing

  Highlights & Animals: Fur sea lions, Galapagos sea lions, tidal pools and grottos, Galapagos hawks, oyster catchers, marine iguanas, finches; snorkeling: reef sharks, turtles, rays, nice underwater formations.

• Santa Cruz Island - Baltra Airport

  AM: Bachas Beach:
  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.

  Possible Activities: Hiking

  Difficulty: Easy

  Type of Landing: Wet landing

  Highlights & Animals: World War II remnants, Sally Ligthfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, whimbrels, sea turtles

  PM: Transfer to Baltra Airport:
  Your cruise has officially come to an end. We hope you enjoyed your Galapagos Cruise! We will now transfer you to your scheduled departure from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!

Junior Suite

Cabins 8 & 9, 21m2, private balcony, private bathroom with hot water, air conditioning and storage space.

Suite

Cabin 1, 33m2, located on the main deck, king size bed, one sofa, panoramic windows, private bathroom with hot water, television, DVD player, air conditioning and storage space.

Layout: 3 Decks / 9 Cabins
Lower deck: Cabin 4 = Standard cabin – twin or double
Lower deck: Cabin 5 = Standard cabin – double
Main deck: Cabin 2,3 = Standard cabin – twin or double
Main deck: Cabin 1 = Suite – double
Upper deck: Cabin 6,7 = Suite – double
Upper deck: Cabin 8,9 = Junior suite – twin or double
Beds layout: twins, doubles & suites
Rooming: Private cabins only
Sharing: Not available

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• All meals and excursions
• Transfers in the islands
• Bilingual National Park Guide
• Use of snorkeling equipment & Wetsuit
• Use of underwater camera
• Free airport Assistance*
• Hotel night in Quito or Guayaquil (the day before the cruise)*
• 1 Free Transfer Out for the Galapagos Flight (applicable on regular cruise departure day only)*

*Applies when purcharsing airfare from South America Tours 

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Roundtrip Airfare to / from Galapagos
• Alcoholic drinks
• USD $100 Galapagos National Park fee
• USD $20 Transit Control Card
• Travel / medical insurance
• Tips
• Personal Expenses

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

• Discount for groups from 6 to 14 passengers 10% 
• Discount for children under 12 years 20%
• Single supplement 50%
• Xmas and New Year Supplement 30%

Long itineraries are the combination of short ones; please let us know if you would like to book a long cruise.