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8
DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
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| DAY
1 - TUESDAY: |
AM:
Santa Cruz: Board The Beagle.
PM: Bachas Beach, disembark on a white sand nesting site of Green Sea Turtles; enjoy the first sights of the Galapagos Islands and an introductory dip in waters teeming with tropical fish. |
| DAY
2 - WEDNESDAY: |
AM:
Genovesa: Dry landing on Prince Philip's Steps, taking you up a cliff onto a lava rock trail, through Palo Santo woodland, among nesting birds with a chance to encounter Short-eared Owl.
PM:
Snorkeling along steep dramatic Galapagos cliffs, we then visit Darwin Bay, a collapsed caldera home to Frigatebirds and Red-footed Boobies |
| DAY
3 - THURSDAY: |
AM:
Santiago: A wet landing at James Bay onto a black beach. Follow a coastal trail to observe tidal pools, marine birds, iguanas and sea lions. We will be out to meet Galapagos fur seals sleeping in and around lava bridges and grottos.
PM: After lunch The Beagle navigates to western Isabela Island. |
| DAY
4 - FRIDAY: |
AM:
ISABELA: A panga ride at Punta Vicente Roca to snorkel where the underwater wildlife is particularly abundant, as it takes advantage of the nutrient-rich Cromwell Current upwelling.
PM: FERNANDINA: A dry landing at Punta Espinoza on the youngest island of the archipelago. Marine iguanas pile up against each other, gathering body heat from the rocks, so be careful not to step on anyone's tail! Home to sea lions, Flightless Cormorants, penguins, herons, Sally Lightfoot Crabs and much more. |
| DAY
5 - SATURDAY: |
AM:
ISABELA: A 30-minute hike at Tagus Cove takes you up a cliff to a magnificent viewpoint of beautiful landscapes of Darwin Volcano and Darwin Lake.
PM: To the south, at the foot of the western side of Alcedo Volcano is Urbina Bay, uplifted from the seabed in 1954 leaving coral heads out of the water for everyone to admire. An important colony of land iguanas resides at this site. We will be also looking for Alcedo's giant tortoises in their natural habitat. |
| DAY
6 - SUNDAY: |
AM:
Isabela: At Elizabeth Bay we take a panga ride in search of Galapagos penguins at Mariela Rock and head over to the quiet lagoons where green sea turtles and spotted eagle rays glide along.
PM: Explore the desolate landscapes of impressive black lava at Punta Moreno. |
| DAY
7 - MONDAY: |
AM:
Isabela: Take the trail up to the crater of Sierra Negra Volcano, the 2nd largest in the world. On the way back down we will drop in on the famous giant tortoises at the Centro de Crianza Arnaldo Tupiza breeding centre.
PM: Lunch will be served on the yacht and afterwards you can enjoy a swim in one of the coves at Puerto Villamil before we set sail to Puerto Ayora. |
| DAY
8 - TUESDAY: |
AM:
Santa Cruz: We ride by bus to the Gemelos, twin pit craters in the Santa Cruz highlands and a visit a local farm -Primicias- where giant tortoises can be seen in their natural misty woodland habitat.
PM: We will spend the afternoon in Charles Darwin Research Station and strolling about Puerto Ayora, exploring the shops and getting to know island town life. |
