NORTH ITINERARY  (detailed)

On departing from Quito or Guayaquil, you will take a three hour flight to the Galapagos Islands landing on the Island of Baltra.  Here you will be met by your guide and after a short bus ride you will board the yacht Floreana and start your holiday.
1.-HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ: This is the second largest island in the Galapagos, and has the most developed vegetation zoning found in the archipelago.  On the short journey to the highlands you will drive through Coastal, Arid, Transition, Scalesia, Miconia, and Pampa Zones. During this visit you have the opportunity to see the famous giant tortoises (during the rainy season) in their natural environment; you will visit the twin craters, formed when large caverns left empty by flowing lava collapsed. You will also find Darwin’s finches, vermilion flycatcher, and the Galapagos Hawk.
2.-GENOVESA (also known as bird Island): DARWIN BAY, is the caldera of a collapsed volcano, we land on a small coral beach, were we take an easy walk. For those that want this will lead into a more demanding walk over lava rock.  This will allow for stunning views from the cliffs and allow apple time and opportunity to photograph the amazing bird life such as swallow-tailed gulls, red-footed booby, nazca booby, large ground finch, large cactus finch, sharp-billed ground finch, small marine iguanas, and great frigate bird.
EL BARRANCO, This is a demanding walk up a steep cliff, where tropicbirds, red-footed boobies and other nesting seabirds can be found. We follow the trail through a palo santo forest to a storm petrel colony passing boobies and great frigate bird along the way.  
3.-SANTIAGO ISLAND: SULLIVAN BAY: The main attraction of this bay is the broad, pahoehoe or rope lava flow. It is one of the most incredible places to compare the lava flows and their characteristics.
BARTHOLOME ISLAND, most likely the first of the islands to rise from the sea, Bartolome, is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches and luxuriant green mangroves. Here, penguins may join us at the swimming beach, and a hike to the summit of a once-active volcano rewards us with beautiful panoramic views of the often-photographed Pinnacle Rock panoramic and it’s amazingly moon landscapes
4.- CHINESE HAT: Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance, which is that of a Chinese hat. Sitting just off the south-eastern tip of Santiago, this fairly recently formed island makes for a pleasant visit as the island itself is quite beautiful and is definitely worth a trip.
To truly appreciate the shape of this island, visit the northern end of Sombrero Chino. Here there is a tiny sea lion colony on the north shore cove, where one can anchor their boats and land. Galapagos penguins can also be found swimming here sometimes.
Follow the trail around the cove and you will catch a glimpse of American oystercatchers in action, along with marine iguanas, lava lizards and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Starting from a crescent-shaped white sandy beach, this 400 meter long trail provides some wonderful landscapes to view. There are also some good swimming and snorkelling opportunities in the cove area amidst white-tipped reef sharks and tropical fish.
DRAGON HILL, has its name because it’s healthy population of land iguana. Dragon Hill offers a beautiful view of the landscapes from the top of the hill. Two small salt water lagoons are located behind the beach, where it is possible to see flamingos that give a colorful touch to the scene.
5.-ISABELA: BREEDING CENTER / WALL OF TEARS & THE HUMEDALES
Isabela, the largest island in the archipelago, occupies over fifty-eight percent of entire landmass of the Galapagos. It is a relatively recent island and consists of a chain of five fairly young and intermittently active volcanoes.
Breeding Center; the giant tortoise rearing center of Isabela is located 1.5 kilometers from Pto. Villamil, this important center has a captive breeding program for tortoises from the populations of southern Isabela.  In total there are 330 tortoises between juveniles and adults.
Humedales: This site is a series of lagoons know for its migrant bird populations the black-necked is one of the most famous birds of the area.  The vegetation around the lagoons is dense and there are no trails, although the road to the highlands and the open beach does provide reasonable access.
TINTORERAS It takes approximately 10 minutes from Puerto Villamil to arrive at The Tintoreras. The islet of the Tintoreras is situated to the south of Puerto Villamil. It has a small lbya of completely tranquil turquoise water, where is possible to appreciate sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc. This bay is connected to a shallow crevice of crystalline waters whose entrance closes when the tide is low. In this crevice, it s possible to see how sharks swim with other small fish and sea lions.
It is not advisable to swim in these beaches because of the presence of the colonies of sea lions which may be disturbed.
6.-FERNANDINA ISLAND:  PUNTA ESPINOSA, Fernandina Island is the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos, with eruptions taking place every few years. The flat lava of Punta Espinosa offers a stark and barren landscape, but here flightless cormorants build their nests on the point, sea lions sprawl on the beach or play in the tide pools and large numbers of marine iguanas dot the sand. We also will have the opportunity to compare the aa and pahoehoe lava types here.
TAGUS COVE (ISABELA ISLAND) is situated directly east of Fernandina Island on the west coast of Isabela Island. It is a beautiful, well-protected cove sheltered by the shoulders of two volcanic craters and has been used as an anchorage for over 300 years. A nature trail here ascends through the typical dry vegetation zone and offers spectacular views of Darwin Lake, a saltwater crater lake and the long narrow inlet that appears to connect with it. At the top of the trail it is possible to observe the different vegetation zones, catch a glimpse of Darwin and Wolf volcanoes, and observe Galapagos penguins, Flightless cormorants and pelicans.
7.-SANTIAGO ISLAND: PTO. EGAS, with its black sand beaches, was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960’s and a hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to sight land birds such as finches, doves and hawks. Here we can also swim and play with Galapagos sea lions in a quiet grotto cut into the lava cliffs. We may see sea lions basking on the rocks beneath a natural rock bridge, diving blue-footed boobies, sally light foot crabs and colorful lava lizards scurrying at our feet. RABIDA ISLAND, One of the special features of Rabida Island is its remarkable red color, which is a result of the high percentage of oxidized iron in the composition of lava. Here we will witness the nine varieties of finches also the large-billed flycatchers and brown pelicans. Here a small salt-water lagoon where greater Flamingos can be seen and a beautiful colony of sea lions. 
8.-BLACK TURTLE COVE is one of the most beautiful marine sites; located in a small mangrove lagoon. It is a nursery grounds for many marine species such as sharks, spotted eagle rays and sting rays. Also it is a favored breeding ground for the sea turtle.  It is also a wonderful site for watching, herons, finches and blue-footed boobies feeding.  This site does not involve a land visit; it is all seen from the small zodiac boats.
Return to Baltra Island and finally your flight home.
We Hope you enjoy your visit with us.   


SOUTH ITINERARY  (detailed)

On departing from Quito or Guayaquil, you will take a three hour flight to the Galapagos Islands landing on the Island of Baltra. Here you will be met by your guide and after a short bus ride you will board the yacht Floreana and start your holiday.
1.-BALTRA AIRPORT /NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
North Seymour’s topography is flat and strewn with boulders due to its origins as an uplifted, not volcanic, island. You should expect to see large populations of magnificent Frigate birds due to the idea nesting sites, Blue- footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the outer shore. Sea lions and Marine iguanas can also be seen hauled out on the beach.
2.-DRAGON HILL/WHALE BAY
DRAGON HILL: On entering the trail you pass a stunning lagoon which is often frequented by flamingos. As expected the trail leads up a hill where land iguanas can be found and wonderful sea scapes.
WHALE BAY: On the cost of Santa Cruz Island, this is a semicircle beach, which is green in color, due to a high volume of olivine crystals. It extends 25 meters from the base of the hill. The beach has some historical interest as it was the first trail to the highlands used to search for fresh water. There are a number of pieces of ceramics strewn about, although no verified information exists concerning the origins of the ceramic. Here can be found a curious Galapagos Hawk.
3.-CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION: Founded more than Twenty years ago to assist the National Park Service in its efforts to save Galapagos wildlife, the station plays an important part in monitoring and assessing the state of the islands. Today you will find buildings housing the different scientific areas of the station, a library and homes of scientists and tortoise keepers. The museum at the station has a facility for rearing tortoises, a project to increase the depleted population. Also the world famous lonesome George can be found with in the stations breading program.
EL CHATO: An amazing opportunity to see the magnificent giant land tortoise in its natural habitat, having just seen the tortoise in the breading program in the station, you can now see them bathing and eating in the wild (depending on the season). This area is vegetated with transition zone vegetation and is located in the humid zone of the highlands of Santa Cruz. The walk to the reserve is one of the best places to observe ground birds, tree and ground finches, the vermillion flycatcher, cattle egrets and occasionally Galapagos rails.
4.-FLOREANA ISLAND: As one of the oldest islands, Floreana has the most interesting human history. It has stories of marooned whales, prisoners and colonists as well as bizaree disaperances and even murders! It is made up of numerous extinct volcanic cones and has an established extensive scrubby vegetation.
Morning visit: Post Office Bay, significant for its human history. In 1793, James Colnett, the captain of a whaling vessel, established the wooden post barrel on Floreana. Whaling ships, typically offshore for two years at a time, frequented the archipelago Outbound ships would drop off letters after rounding the cape and the ships returning home would mail them. Over the years, thousand of ships have stopped to send and receive mail at Post Office Bay. This will be your opportunity to partake in this amazing postal service. You will be given letters to take home and mail to their intended recipients, and also have the opportunity to drop off letters ourselves.
Afternoon visit: Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches. The landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a carbonate beach of extremely fine white sand, formed by the erosion of coral skeletons, it is a nesting site for green sea turtles.
5.-ESPAÑOLA ISLAND: Española, the southernmost island, has the densest and most diversified concentration of wildlife.
Punta Suarez is home to Blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, oystercatchers and the majestic waved albatross breeding grounds. This makes this site one of the richest wildlife locations in the Galapagos Islands. The area is famous for it marine iguanas with unique copper-red patches, Gardner bay, An amazing white sand beach with stunning turquoise shallows beautiful to walk, swim or snorkel. You could just sit and admire the extrovert mockingbirds and the sea lions.
6.-SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND:
LOBOS ISLAND, as its name suggests is famous for its population of sea lions and fur sea lions. You will also encounter a nesting ground for the great frigate bird and a small number of blue footed boobies BREEDING CENTER; here it is explained, in a simple manner, the natural phenomena that created the Galapagos Islands. They explain the series of natural processes, such as volcanic eruption and marine current locations that have lead to the amazing islands that you are now visiting.
7.-SANTA FE ISLAND: This Island offers the unique opportunity to see the hybrid iguana, a land and marine iguana mix. There is also the opportunity to see an unusual prickly pear cactus forest.
SOUTH PLAZAS, an uplifted island, like Baltra, it is highly populated by sea lions, over 1000 inhabit this island residing in 10 harems each one attended by a male. One of the characteristics of this island is its vegetation of Opuntia Cactuses and sesuvium plants. This small island offers cliffs with swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds
8.-BLACK TURTLE COVE is one of the most beautiful marine sites; located in a small mangrove lagoon. It is a nursery grounds for many marine species such as sharks, spotted eagle rays and sting rays. Also it is a favored breeding ground for the sea turtle. It is also a wonderful site for watching, herons, finches and blue-footed boobies feeding. This site does not involve a land visit; it is all seen from the small zodiac boats.
Return to Baltra Island and finally your flight home.
We Hope you enjoy your visit with us.