Overview

Baltra

Isabela

Fernandina

Santa Cruz

Floreana

Our Western Galapagos cruise itinerary begins in Baltra, where we board the ship and sail towards Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island for an interesting hike through palo santo forests full of the Galapagos’ famed land iguanas. Overnight, we sail around the seahorse-shaped Isabela Island to two great visitor sites: Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island (with the fascinating geology of the collapsed Ecuador volcano) and then wild and pure Punta Espinoza on Fernandina (one of the most pristine islands in the world, with one of the archipelago’s biggest colony of marine iguanas and opportunities to see flightless cormorants). From there, we sail back around to Santa Cruz Island to visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station, where scientists are involved in research and conservation efforts, the most well-known of which involves a captive breeding program for Galapagos giant tortoises. After that, we spend the afternoon enjoying a range of activities. The following day finds us on Floreana Island, exploring its human history and stunning wildlife at both Post Office Bay and Cormorant Point. The next day we say goodbye to the Galapagos Islands after an amazing journey!

Western Galapagos Highlights

Galapagos giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Meet these gentle giants at the Charles Darwin Research Station, one of the most important visitor sites of Galapagos.
Post Office Bay on Floreana Island.
Enjoy the amazing Post Office Bay and leave your own postcard!
Punta Vicente Roca at Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands
You can spot several of the Galapagos iconic animals while snorkeling at Punta Vicente Roca!
American flamingo seen at Post Office Bay in Galapagos-
American flamingos can be seen at the Post Office Bay on Floreana Island.

Western Galapagos Wildlife

Western Galapagos Travel Itinerary Map

Santa Cruz II Cruise route through our western itinerary.

Travel itinerary

Day 1 - Baltra & Santa Cruz Islands

Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island.

Dragon Hill is a highlight of Santa Cruz Island.

Baltra Island

You’ll arrive at Baltra Island via plane in the morning and then transfer to the dock to board the Santa Cruz II Galapagos Cruise. After an introductory briefing onboard, we partake in an emergency boat drill, after which guests receive their cabin assignments and are invited to lunch.

Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) [Santa Cruz Island]

The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts the fascinating landscapes of Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). The first part of the walk here passes by a brackish-water lagoon that’s frequented by shorebirds, ducks and American flamingos. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western islands of the Galapagos, as well as a chance to check out some land iguanas.

Day 2 - Isabela & Fernandina Islands

Marine iguanas spotted at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island.

Our guests with some marine iguanas at Punta Espinoza.

Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)

After breakfast, we will get to explore the coast by dinghy, all while your naturalist guides explain the dramatic geology of the surrounding area. This site is also a nesting place for numerous  Galapagos iconic species, such as: flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, fur seals, and boobies. Weather permitting, you’ll get the chance to snorkel alongside the cliffs of this area that are rich in marine life, oftentimes visited by green sea turtles and oceanic sun fish (mola mola).

Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)

The afternoon is dedicated to exploring Fernandina, the youngest island in the Galapagos Islands. The complete absence of introduced animals is one of its biggest draws, as Fernandina boasts a very unique environment with a very high density of marine iguanas. Other Galapagos iconic species found here include sea lions, Sally lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins, and flightless cormorants.

Day 3 - Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos giant tortoise can be seen at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

The Galapagos giant tortoise is one of the most iconic species of the archipelago and can be spotted on Santa Cruz Island.

Puerto Ayora & the Charles Darwin Research Station

In the morning, we disembark (dry landing) at Puerto Ayora to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. The Station consists of a giant tortoise breeding center and an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest that is home to many land birds. The Station also serves as headquarters for scientific research and conservation efforts, as well as the administrative offices of the Galapagos National Park. Following this visit, we board a private transport to head up and enjoy lunch in the cooler highlands of Santa Cruz Island, which is an entirely different ecosystem.

Highlands

You have several options to choose from in the afternoon, these are discussed in advance with your Expedition Leader. At the end of the afternoon’s activities, guests return to Puerto Ayora and hop back aboard the Santa Cruz II Galapagos cruise.

Day 4 - Floreana Island

Kayaking and spotting Galapagos penguins around Fernandina Island.

Enjoy aquatic activities while spotting the most iconic species of the Galapagos Islands.

Baroness Tower + Post Office Bay

After breakfast, passengers can enjoy a dinghy ride along the maze of channels on Floreana’s north shore. Afterwards, we get to experience Baroness Cove with its breathtaking views of Floreana Island. Later on, we land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the Galapagos Islands for over two centuries. It is here that passengers are invited to leave their very own postcard and/or take postcards that have been left by other visitors (to be redelivered to their addressee)! Snorkeling activities are offered right off the beach. Afterwards, we head back aboard for lunch.

Champion Islet + Cormorant Point

Following lunch and a break, passengers are invited to hop aboard the dinghies (for snorkeling) or the glass-bottom boat to explore the underwater wonders around Champion Islet – an extinct shield volcano that’s regarded as one of the best snorkeling spots in the Galapagos Islands. From here, it’s onwards to Cormorant Point, beginning with a wet landing on an olivine-crystal beach for a leisurely walk that includes a brackish-water lagoon where bird species – such as American flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and other birds – tend to gather. After this, we continue our walk over to a white-sand beach, where sea turtles emerge from the sea at night to nest (from December to May).

Day 5 - Baltra Island

Sea lion basking under the sun on Baltra Island.

Sea lions usually welcome you when you arrive to the archipelago!

Baltra Island

You will disembark at Baltra Island in order to transfer to the airport to take your flight back to the mainland.

Enquire

Are you a direct customer?*
Please select your check-in date*
Please select your check-out date*
At Metropolitan Touring we process the information you provide us with in order to respond to the request made by you in relation to the services we provide and the products we supply. You can exercise the rights of access, rectification and updating of inaccurate data or, where appropriate, request the deletion or elimination, limitation or suspension of the processing of your data or oppose the processing of your data. You can contact us at [email protected]