8D7N Galápagos: Islands of Evolution

Arrive at Baltra Airport on a recommended flight and meet the Aqua Expeditions team for transfer to the jetty. Embark Aqua Mare, enjoy lunch and receive a snorkelling kit briefing. In the afternoon, explore Bahía Borrero, a white-sand beach on northern Santa Cruz, with opportunities to observe Darwin’s finches and other coastal wildlife. Sea turtles may be encountered while snorkelling, subject to conditions.

Meals: Lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Darwin Bay’s coralline beach and surrounding waters, a rewarding area for birdwatching and snorkelling. After lunch, travel by tender along the volcanic shoreline of El Barranco and walk inland across lava terrain. Look for red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, storm petrels and fur seals resting in rocky crevices.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Walk across fascinating pahoehoe lava formations at Sullivan Bay to appreciate the islands’ volcanic origins. Later, visit the distinctive cone-shaped Sombrero Chino islet. The surrounding waters may offer sea lion and penguin sightings, with opportunities for guided snorkelling, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding as conditions allow.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Visit Bartolomé for a guided climb to a scenic viewpoint overlooking iconic Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding volcanic coast. A snorkelling excursion may reveal sea turtles or Galápagos penguins. In the afternoon, continue to Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz, an important habitat for land iguanas, and explore the coastal scenery with naturalist guides.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre and Darwin Station area to learn about giant tortoise conservation and island-specific breeding efforts. A local Galápagos coffee stop may feature in the programme. Continue into the highlands to Manzanillo, where free-roaming giant tortoises can be observed in their natural habitat. An optional full-day diving alternative may be available by prior arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Punta Suárez, celebrated for endemic wildlife such as the Española mockingbird, lava lizards, marine iguanas and, in the appropriate season, waved albatrosses. Later, discover the coast around Osborn Islet by tender or in the water, followed by time at Gardner Bay’s beautiful sandy beach, home to an impressive sea lion colony.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Discover Santa Fé’s palo santo trees, prickly pear cacti and endemic land iguanas during a guided nature excursion. Depending on conditions, enjoy snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding. In the afternoon, explore South Plaza Island on foot, where diverse vegetation, striking volcanic terrain and abundant land and seabird life make for a memorable final full expedition day.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

After breakfast and disembarkation, travel into the Santa Cruz highlands to visit Los Gemelos, two large volcanic sinkholes surrounded by lush vegetation, en route to Baltra. Continue to the airport for the recommended departure flight to mainland Ecuador.

Meals: Breakfast. End of cruise.