Daphne Itinerary A - 8 days

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY
AM: BALTRA ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
On arrival in the Galapagos, you’ll be met in the arrival’s hall by your naturalist guide and transferred to your boat, M/Y Grand Daphne, which will be moored close to Isla Baltra. Once on board, you’ll meet the crew, be assigned a cabin and enjoy a delicious lunch with your fellow travelers. Try on the snorkeling gear to ensure it fits, before your first snorkeling session. Wetsuits can also be hired at an additional cost.

PM: SANTA CRUZ: BACHAS BEACH
Sail from Baltra to Las Bachas, on the north shore of Isla Santa Cruz, which is a nesting site for the Pacific green turtle. You may also see some marine iguanas. The sand here, made of decomposed coral, is particularly white and soft, and the nearby rocks make for an excellent snorkeling spot, where you might see some of the many Sally Lightfoot crabs on the island. A saltwater lagoon just near the beach is home to flamingos, whimbrel, and great blue herons.
Included activities
Santa Cruz Island – Bachas Beach Walk (1 hour) – Wet Landing
Santa Cruz Island – Bachas Beach Snorkel (1 hour) – Wet Landing

DAY 2: THURSDAY
AM: RABIDA
Today you will sail from Las Bachas to Isla Rabida, known for its spectacular red sand beaches, caused by the high content of iron in the sand which rusts to form the unusual shade. Follow a trail from the shore along to a lagoon which is one of the best spots in the Galapagos to view flamingos. Keep an eye out for nesting pelicans, pintail ducks, marine iguanas and sea lions – all are commonly sighted on the island. Check out a vast opuntia cactus forest, hinting at the previous habitation of land iguanas, Galapagos hawks, mockingbirds, doves, finches and lava lizards. You may like to take the chance to go snorkelling and seek out sea stars, damsels, gobbies and surgeon fish

PM: ISABELA: ALBERMARLE POINT
In the afternoon, head to Albemarle on the northeast side of Isabela Island. Covered in mangroves, the bay is home to sea turtles, sea lions, penguins and flightless cormorants who feed on the algae and fish here. Another fantastic location for snorkeling, you may like to have a look beneath the water’s surface in search of sea turtles and flightless cormorants.
Included activities
Rabida Island – Walk and Snorkel from the beach (2 hours) – Wet Landing
Isabela Island – Albermarle Point – Snorkelling (1 hour)- Dry Landing
isabela Island – Albermarle Point – Walk (2 hours) – Dry Landing

DAY 3: FRIDAY
AM: ISABELA: TAGUS COVE
Sail overnight from Punta Albermarle around to the western shores of Isla Isabela. Wake up near Tagus Cove, where pirates and whalers used to collect tortoises for their travels. Enjoy a short visit here (approximately 2 hours), perhaps snorkelling or checking out the graffiti on the walls (the oldest of which is from 1836). Witness flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, a variety of waterfowl and the most northerly penguins in the world. You will walk to a lookout point for a stunning view of the north of Isabela Island and Volcan Wolf (Wolf Volcano).

PM: ISABELA: URBINA BAY
Today you will also visit Bahia Urbina on the west of Isabela Island, Urbina Bay has a wide variety of plant life which changes depending on the season. You will be able to observe the beautiful color of the plants which attracts many different insects. The site also features a short trek inland, where giant tortoises can be spotted amongst the bushes in their natural habitat. You may also see land iguanas which often nest in the middle of the trail where their distinctive, textured and yellowish skin can be observed from up close. Flycatchers, Darwin’s finches and mockingbirds are common on the ground and in the trees.
Included activities
Isabela Island – Tagus Cove – Walk (1.45 hours) – Dry Landing
Isabela Island – Tagus Cove – Snorkel (1 hour)
Isabela Island – Urbina Bay – Snorkel (1 hour)
Isabela Island – Urbina Bay – Walk (1.5 hours) – Wet Landing

DAY 4: SATURDAY
AM: FERNANDINA: ESPINOZA POINT
Today we visit Espinosa Point that is a narrow ledge of lava and sand extending from the base of La Cumbre volcano. Take a walk around the beautiful peninsula, which boasts such wildlife and plant life as lava cacti, marine iguanas, barking sea lions, tiny penguins and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Keep a lookout for that marvelous Galapagos predator hunting from the treetops: the Galapagos hawk. Top-notch snorkeling opportunities await in the clear waters, and turtles and sea lions can be seen swimming around and feeding on the shore. This is also a great spot to see flightless cormorants drying their atrophied wings on the rocks.

PM: FERNANDINA: VICENTE ROCA POINT
In the afternoon head to Vicente Roca Point, this site allowed for panga rides to observe the abundant wildlife and offers one of the best snorkeling spots of the Archipelago. The snorkeling “route” takes us along the cliffs and offers the not so common chance of exploring two shallow underwater caves.
The primitive and unaggressive bullhead shark, known locally as the Port Jackson shark, is often seen here sharing its space with red-lipped batfish, frogfishes, Pacific seahorses, the endemic Camotillo, schools of barracuda and brown-stripped snappers. Sponges, corals, and other marine invertebrates are also abundant in the area.
Included activities
Fernandina Island – Vicente Roca Point Snorkelling (1 hour) Dry Landing
Fernandina Island – Vicente Roca Point– Panga Ray boat tour (30 mins)
Fernandina Island – Espinosa Point – Snorkel (1 hour)
Fernandina Island – Espinosa Point – Walk (2 hours) – Dry Landing

DAY 5: SUNDAY
AM: SANTIAGO: EGAS PORT
Sail this morning to Egas Port, a black-sand beach on the west side of James Bay, northwest of Isla Santiago, home to incredible volcanic tuff formations. Take a stroll along the beach with the native marine iguanas, pelicans, finches, mockingbirds, oystercatchers, Galapagos sea lions and Galapagos fur seals. You can see the amazing tidal pools, formed from ancient lava flow, providing a home for sponges, snails, hermit crabs, barnacles and fish. You might also end up snorkelling with a Galapagos fur seal – they’re always looking for a friend!
 
PM: SANTIAGO: BUCCANER COVE
In the afternoon travel to the northwest side of Santiago Island where you’ll find Caleta Bucanero, named after the pirates and buccaneers who once found shelter in the bay. Here you’ll have the chance to go snorkelling and take a dinghy ride to look for blue-footed boobies, pelicans and nocturnal seagulls nesting in the cliffs.
Included activities
Santiago Island – Egas Port – Snorkelling (1 hour)
Santiago Island – Egas Port – Walk (1.45 hours) – Wet Landing
Santiago Island – Buccanero Cove – Panga boat tour (1 hour)
Santiago Island – Buccanero Cove – Snorkelling (1 hour)

DAY 6: MONDAY
AM: BARTOLOME
Wake up in Bartolome Island, a spectacular volcanic landscape full of spatter cones and lava flows, and home to Galapagos penguins and lava lizards. Put on your walking shoes and climb up 360 wooden steps to the summit, where an amazing view of Pinnacle Rock awaits. This is one of the most photographed sights in the Galapagos – an abrupt jag of rock protruding from the earth like a tooth, providing a focal point for two nearby bays. Hike to the top of a once-active volcano and enjoy superb views across to Bahia Sullivan on nearby Isla Santiago. If you’re in luck, you might catch a glimpse of the Galapagos hawk. There’s also the chance to go snorkelling among the colourful marine life.

PM: CHINESE HAT
In the afternoon, travel to the small island of Sombrero Chino, found on the southeast side of Santiago Island. With lovely sandy beaches and a striking volcanic landscape, this is a fantastic place to take a hike and look out for the sea lions and penguins that rest here, and snorkel in search of reef sharks and sea turtles.
Included activities
Bartolome Island – Snorkelling (1.5 hours)
Bartolome Island – Walk (1.5 hours) – Dry Landing
Chinese Hat– Snorkelling (1.5 hours) Wet Landing
Chinese Hat – Walk (1.5 hours) Wet Landing 

DAY 7: TUESDAY
AM: NORTH SEYMOUR
Wake up this morning in North Seymour, one of the most visited islands of the Galapagos. First up is a walk around the island to spot some blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. Boobies and frigates have an interesting relationship, sharing the same nesting area on North Seymour. Blue-footed boobies nest on the ground while the frigate birds nest just above them in the saltbushes. As you walk, look out for land iguanas, marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lions and the endemic incense tree. After the walk, cool off and go snorkelling and encounter a great variety of fish and perhaps some white-tipped reef sharks, rays and sea lions.
 
PM: SANTA CRUZ: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
Later in the day, travel to Isla Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos. Pay a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station in the small town of Puerto Ayora. As well as undertaking vital conservation work, the station also makes for interesting exploration and offers the best opportunities for close encounters with giant tortoises. You may also see baby tortoises. Enjoy some free time to walk around the town where you can purchase a souvenir or two to take back home with you.
Included activities
North Seymour Island – Snorkelling (1 hours)
North Seymour Island – Walk (2 hours) – Dry Landing
Santa Cruz Island – Charles Darwin Research Station (1.5 hours) – Dry Landing

DAY 8: WEDNESDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS - BALTRA AND TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
Flights to the mainland from Galapagos depart mid-morning, so it’s an early start for your last morning on the islands.

You will visit the Santa Cruz Highlands. Travel through the agricultural region and into the misty forests where you can see the unique scalesia cloud forest, dome-shaped giant tortoises in the wild, different species of Darwin finches and possibly the world-famous woodpecker and warbler finches. You might also glimpse a vermillion flycatcher.

Then it’s time to bid farewell to the archipelago and head to the airport for your mid-morning flight back to Quito.
Included activities
Santa Cruz Island – Highlands Visit (1 hour) – Dry Landing