Galaxy 10 Days B

Day 1 – Baltra Island & Santiago Island
AM: Arrival at the airport and transfer to the boat. Briefing onboard about the boat and the island.
PM: The Sullivan Bay lava field has a variety of interesting patterns made by the shapes and textures of trees that once existed there and hornitos caused when pockets of gas or water trapped under the lava exploded. The low-lying mollugo and the lava cactus are the only plants that have managed to take root in this harsh environment. On the shoreline black and white oystercatchers can be seen fishing for crabs and molluscs in the tide pools.

Day 2 – Bartholomew Island & Santa Cruz Island
AM: Bartolome is the most photographed island in the Archipelago, and its pictures are the most shown next to Galapagos’ name. In fact, a walk through an unusual lava landscape, and then up some wooden stairs, will take you to the top, from where the view is more spectacular than what the images suggest.
PM: Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Las Bachas is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galápagos, 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 off the beach.

Day 3 – North Seymour Island & Mosquera Island
AM: The 2km trail crosses the inland of the island North Seymour and explores the rocky coast, passing colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. Daphne Major and Minor can be spotted in the distance and body surfing sea lions play close to the shore. Along the shoreline marine iguanas, white coral and black lava rocks complete the visit to North Seymour.
PM: Mosquera Island is located between Baltra and North Seymour. This is a small islet formed by a geological uplift, with a reef of rocks and coral and a great white sand beach, where a population of sea lions can be found. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. Along the rocks are commonly running Red Lava crabs or Sally light-foot crabs. If the tide is too low a dinghy ride will be made.

Day 4 – Genovesa Island
AM: Prince Phillip´s step is an extraordinary, steep path that leads through a seabird colony full of life, up to cliffs that are 25m high. At the top the trail continues inland, passing more seabird colonies in a thin palo santo forest. Leaving the forest you can overview a rocky plain. You could get a view of masked and red-footed boobies, great frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and hundreds of storm petrels at the edge of the cliff.
PM: The beach of Darwin Bay is a coral beach where a 750m trail takes you through more seabird colonies. You get to see the cliffs from the seaward side, which are home to a large red-footed booby colony. Once ashore the number of birds seems overwhelming – Nazca boobies soar overhead, great frigate birds display their pouches while resting on the nearby rocks and plants, and mockingbirds scamper quickly across the sand.

Day 5 – Santa Cruz Island
AM: The Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon) visitors’ site was established by the Galápagos Islands National Park administration. A hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon behind the beach is often frequented by flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. There is a short walk to the hill, which has rewarding views of the bay and a nesting site of land iguanas.
PM: León Dormido is a small, distinctive island that comprises two rocks which jut out of the ocean and is home to a large colony of sea birds. Kicker Rock is an excellent dive site where you could see many reef fish as well as hammerhead and Galápagos sharks. Sightings of large rays and turtles are common but not guaranteed.

Day 6 – San Cristobal Island
AM: The Galápagos National Park Interpretation Centre has a series of interactive exhibits providing information about the history and biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands. The self-guided walking tour will take you through the history of the Islands in the context of nature, humankind and conservation.
PM: Isla Lobos is a small island named after the sea lions that rest and play on its rocky shores. It is also home to blue-footed boobies, great frigate-birds, brown pelicans, lava gulls, common noddies, yellow warblers and small and medium ground finches. There is good snorkeling in the clear waters of the channel and this is one of the best sites at which to swim with sea lions underwater.

Day 7 – Española Island
AM: Suárez Point is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Española Island mockingbirds, Galápagos doves and Galápagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island.
PM: Gardner Bay has a magnificent beach with turquoise waters. Around the small islets nearby, snorkellers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. The bay is also frequented by a transient colony of sea lions which like to swim with you. Birds, like the endemic Hood-mockingbird and different species of Darwin finches, are omnipresent.
Osborn Islet is a small island to the southeast of Española Island is a marine visit where you can enjoy fantastic snorkeling and swimming.

Day 8 – Floreana Island
AM: The Baroness´ Observatory is a site that shows a breath-taking view of La Lobería and the inland features of Floreana Island. You can also learn about the mysterious disappearance of Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet, an attractive young Austrian, who lived on Floreana with her two lovers.
The best known site on Floreana is Post Office Bay, a white-sand beach where in the past sailors used to leave and receive their letters in a barrel. The tradition continues – leave your postcard in the barrel and see how long it takes to be delivered, and at the same time if there is a postcard with an address close to your home, please take it with you.
PM: Noted for the volcanic green olivine crystals found in the beach, Cormorant Point offers a trail overlooking a saltwater lagoon that is a favourite of flamingos. Beyond the lagoon the trail leads to a magnificent white-sand beach. Green sea turtles lay their eggs in the sands here during the night and their tracks leading to and from the sea mark the beach.
Arguably the best snorkeling site in the islands, Devil’s Crown is a collapsed volcanic cone that boasts an extraordinary number and variety of fish. It is a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates. In addition, sharks, sea lions, sea turtles and eels can be found amongst the rocks and corals.

Day 9 – Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island
AM: Santa Fe is a volcanic uplift and hosts a forest of Opuntia cactus, which are the largest of the archipelago, and palo santo. Weathered cliffs provide a haven for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, and sehar-waters petrels. The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are often seen, as well as lava lizards. There is a picturesque turquoise lagoon and calm waters where you can snorkel amongst sea lions.
PM: South Plaza has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the Galápagos. It is also home to marine iguanas and a hybrid iguana whose fathers are marine iguanas and mothers are land iguanas. There are cliffs with spectacular views and a rocky trail circumnavigates the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. The island is home to enormous prickly pear cactus and the endemic succulent sesuvian.

Day 10 – Santa Cruz Island & Baltra Island
AM: Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the Galápagos Islands with many restaurants, souvenir shops, discotheques, bars, internet coffee shops and other stores. A good way to wind down after a Galápagos Islands cruise is to take a stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora. The bay is a good location to spot brown pelicans, golden rays, marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, frigate birds, Galápagos sea lions, and large numbers of blue-footed boobies.
PM: The Charles Darwin Research Station is an international not-for-profit organization that provides scientific research, technical information and assistance to ensure the proper preservation of the Galápagos Islands. Visitors can learn about natural history, issues concerning the islands, and see the tortoise breeding and rearing project at work.

Departure	Arrival
Thursday 30th of May 2024	Saturday 8th of June 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 13th of June 2024	Saturday 22nd of June 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 27th of June 2024	Saturday 6th of July 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 11th of July 2024	Saturday 20th of July 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 25th of July 2024	Saturday 3rd of August 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 8th of August 2024	Saturday 17th of August 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 22nd of August 2024	Saturday 31st of August 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 5th of September 2024	Saturday 14th of September 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 19th of September 2024	Saturday 28th of September 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 3rd of October 2024	Saturday 12th of October 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 17th of October 2024	Saturday 26th of October 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 31st of October 2024	Saturday 9th of November 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 14th of November 2024	Saturday 23rd of November 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 28th of November 2024	Saturday 7th of December 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 12th of December 2024	Saturday 21st of December 2024	[request availability]
Thursday 26th of December 2024	Saturday 4th of January 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 9th of January 2025	Saturday 18th of January 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 23rd of January 2025	Saturday 1st of February 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 6th of February 2025	Saturday 15th of February 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 20th of February 2025	Saturday 1st of March 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 6th of March 2025	Saturday 15th of March 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 20th of March 2025	Saturday 29th of March 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 3rd of April 2025	Saturday 12th of April 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 17th of April 2025	Saturday 26th of April 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 1st of May 2025	Saturday 10th of May 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 15th of May 2025	Saturday 24th of May 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 29th of May 2025	Saturday 7th of June 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 12th of June 2025	Saturday 21st of June 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 26th of June 2025	Saturday 5th of July 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 10th of July 2025	Saturday 19th of July 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 24th of July 2025	Saturday 2nd of August 2025	[request availability]
Thursday 7th of August 2025	Saturday 16th of August 2025	[request availability]