Tip Top V Itinerary 2 - 8 days
ITINERARY EAST ( OPTION 2) - 8 DAYS
FRIDAY
AM: Baltra: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: Santa Cruz: Bachas Beach (HK/SN)
SATURDAY
AM: Genovesa: Prince Phillip Steps (HK/SN/KY/PR)
PM: Genovesa: Darwin Bay (HK/SN/KY/PR)
SUNDAY
AM: South Plazas (HK)
PM: Santa Fe (HK/SN/KY/PR)
MONDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Highlands / Twin Craters (HK)
PM: Santa Cruz: Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena (HK)
TUESDAY
AM: Floreana: Post Office By / Baroness Lookout (HK/SN/KY/PR)
PM: Floreana: Cormorant Point / Champion Islet (HK/SN/PR)
WEDNESDAY
AM: Espanola: Suarez Point (HK)
PM: Espanola: Gardner Bay / Osborn Islet (HK/SN/KY)
THURSDAY
AM: San Cristobal: Kicker Rock / Witch Hill (HK/SN/KY/PR)
PM: San Cristobal: B. Moreno Port / Interpretation Center (HK)
FRIDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove (PR)
Baltra: Transfer to the Airport
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1 : FRIDAY
AM: BALTRA AIRPORT ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
The guide will then escort you to a bus for a brief 5-kilometer ride to the pier, where you'll promptly board the Yacht. As the crew prepares to set sail, we'll welcome you with an initial orientation and a light snack.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: BACHAS BEACH
After navigating, you'll disembark at Las Bachas Beach, where you'll have the chance to marvel at a lagoon frequented by elegant flamingos. As you stroll through this picturesque area, your guide will share captivating details about the fascinating lives of the birds and animals you encounter.
In the evening, we'll have an orientation about the Galapagos Islands, covering their origin and evolution. You'll enjoy a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, followed by dinner and your first nightly orientation
DAY 2: SATURDAY
AM: GENOVESA: PRINCE PHILLIP STEPS
Start your day with a delightful breakfast and continue with an exhilarating panga ride and make a dry landing at Prince Phillips’s Steps. Here, you'll have the chance to walk and immerse yourself in the captivating lives of the local bird species.
Return to the yacht for a sumptuous lunch.
PM: GENOVESA: DARWIN BAY
In the afternoon, make a thrilling wet landing at Darwin Bay to explore and observe an array of wildlife, including frigate birds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, and more. Relish dinner on the yacht, followed by an engaging orientation about the conservation efforts dedicated to protecting the Islands.
Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.
DAY 3: SUNDAY
AM: SOUTH PLAZAS
Kick off your day with a delicious breakfast, which will be followed by a thrilling dry landing on the pier of South Plaza, where you can delight in the playful antics of the sea lions. Embark on a walk through a cactus forest, offering the chance to observe land iguanas and a variety of tropical birds. Return to the yacht for a well-deserved lunch.
PM: SANTA FE
In the afternoon, make an exciting wet landing on Santa Fe Island to explore another cactus forest and visit a colony of land iguanas unique to Santa Fe. As the afternoon winds down, return to the yacht for dinner and an engaging nightly orientation.
Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.
DAY 4: MONDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS - TWIN CRATERS
Once you've had breakfast, you'll disembark and hop on a bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, where you'll explore the native forests and El Chato Reserve. Next, you'll venture to a farm to marvel at giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat. Lunch will be served on the farm, promising a delightful experience.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: INTERPRETATION CENTER FAUSTO LLERENA
Following lunch, you'll return to Puerto Ayora to embark on a fascinating visit to the Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena within the Charles Darwin Research Station. After this enriching experience, you'll return to the Yacht for a delicious dinner and the nightly orientation.
DAY: 5 TUESDAY
AM: FLOREANA: POST OFFICE BAY - BARONESS LOOKOUT
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast and afterward continue with a wet landing, followed by a visit to Baroness Point, named after the intriguing Baroness Eloisa von Wagner, who once lived on Floreana Island. Enjoy the stunning landscape and explore the ruins of her house. Next, stop at Post Office Bay, a historic site dating back to the 18th century when whalers used a wooden barrel as a post office.
Afterward, take a bus from the small town of Puerto Velasco Ibarra to Asilo de la Paz, a historic site where early settlers found a freshwater spring and refuge in the "cave of pirates." This area was home to the island's first settlers, including Patrick Watkins, Dr. Ritter and his companion Dora Strauch, and the Wittmer family. Walk along a path to visit the cave of pirates and a corral built by the National Park Service, where you can see Galapagos tortoises from various islands in captivity. Return to the yacht for lunch.
PM: FLOREANA: CORMORANT POINT - CHAMPION ISLET
In the afternoon, make a wet landing at Cormorant Point for a short walk to the Flamingo Lagoon. Continue the walk to "La Picona" beach to see marine turtles and their nesting grounds. Then, take a panga ride to Champion Islet, a small island off the coast of Floreana Island. The main attraction here is the nearly extinct Charles (Floreana) Mockingbird. Visitors can also observe bird species such as Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, and Brown Noddies. Champion Islet is an excellent spot for snorkeling, where you can see sea turtles, reef fish, Galapagos Penguins, and white-tipped reef sharks. Return to the yacht for dinner and a nightly orientation.
Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.
IMPORTANT: the listed visit spots can´t be visited in one day, we will proceed according to weather conditions and group dynamics.
DAY 6: WEDNESDAY
AM: ESPANOLA: SUAREZ POINT
Start your day with a good breakfast and kick off with an early dry landing at Suarez Point, where you'll embark on an adventurous walk along lava beds. Here, you'll encounter unique colonies of marine birds, including the majestic Albatross (from May to December). Return to the yacht for a delicious lunch.
PM: ESPANOLA: GARDNER BAY - OSBORN ISLET
In the afternoon, set out on a thrilling panga ride around Gardner Islet. Then, make a wet landing at Gardner Bay for an exhilarating beach walk, where you'll observe a lively colony of sea lions, abundant during the breeding season. This area is also a crucial nesting site for sea turtles. After this, embark on another panga ride around Osborn Islet. Late in the afternoon return to the yacht for a delightful dinner and an engaging nightly orientation.
Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.
DAY 7: THURSDAY
AM: SAN CRISTOBAL: KICKER ROCK - WITCH HILL
After breakfast, embark on an exhilarating wet landing at Witch Hill, where you'll stroll along a stunning white sandy beach. Here, you'll encounter playful sea lions, elegant brown pelicans, striking marine iguanas, and the iconic blue-footed boobies.
Next, your skilled Captain expertly navigates around Kicker Rock, a colossal tuff-rock formation that soars nearly 500 feet straight from the ocean. This dramatic rock serves as a nesting sanctuary for a myriad of sea birds. Savor a delicious lunch on board as you take in the breathtaking views.
PM: SAN CRISTOBAL: INTERPRETATION CENTER
In the afternoon, make a dry landing at Isla Lobos, where you'll be enchanted by the sight of blue-footed boobies, majestic frigates, diverse sea birds, graceful rays, and playful sea lions.
Later, make a dry landing at Baquerizo Moreno Port to visit the Interpretation Center Gianni Arismendy.
Here, you'll delve into the fascinating history and evolution of the Galapagos Islands, exploring human, natural, and conservation aspects. Spend some time in town for last-minute shopping or a visit to the ATM.
Return to the yacht and for the next visit, you´ll explore Lobos Island in the Galápagos is a favorite destination for nature lovers, offering incredible opportunities for wildlife encounters, snorkeling adventures, and a scenic short hike. The island is teeming with sea lions and is a great place to spot bluefooted boobies, frigatebirds, and a variety of fascinating marine life. At night enjoy a delightful dinner and the last nightly orientation.
Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling
DAY 8 : FRIDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: BLACK TURTLE COVE - BALTRA AIRPORT
Start your morning with an exciting panga ride through Black Turtle Cove, a network of mangrove-fringed coves and islets. Here, you'll have the chance to observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays.
You'll then return to the Yacht, have a farewell breakfast. Your guide will accompany you to disembark at the pier at Baltra Island on after a short bus ride you reach the airport, just in time to board your flight back to the mainland
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ITINERARIES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE DUE TO OPERATIONAL REASONS, WEATHER CONDITIONS, OR DIRECTIVES FROM THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITIES