Take an early flight to the Galápagos Islands. Head to Bachas Beach to observe Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, and the occasional flamingo.
Bachas Beach Visit: Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favourite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge -- these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and marine iguanas. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel here.
: Flights from Quito to Baltra depart between 6:40am and 9:40am depending on the day of the week. These will arrive into the Galápagos between 9:30am and 12:30pm with a short refuelling stop in Guayaquil (you will not disembark the plane). You will generally arrive at the boat in time for lunch on Day 2 before the afternoon activity.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Visit Darwin Bay and marvel at the sheer number of birds along the many trails. Head to El Barranco in the afternoon to see the many types of boobies, including red-footed boobies. You will have the opportunity to snorkel today.
Snorkelling (Darwin Bay): Visit this sunken caldera for a great snorkelling opportunity. See large schools of tropical fish swarming near the vertical walls, and, if lucky, see manta rays, white-spotted eagle rays, sea lions, and hammerhead sharks.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Visit Bartolomé for a guided tour to see the island's dramatic volcanic features. Continue to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island to witness the giant lava formations contrasting the white-coral-sand beach. Here, you will have the opportunity to snorkel should you choose.
Bartolomé Island Visit: Hike to Bartolomé's summit for a stronger perspective of the islands' not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy a panoramic view – it’s one of the best among the islands! See other Galápagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Search for marine life in the mangroves at Black Turtle Cove by panga, after, spot a variety of birdlife at Cerro Dragón.
Black Turtle Cove Excursion: Explore the mangroves by panga to find rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Keep any eye out for sting rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem. Whitetip reef sharks can also be seen gliding by.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the highlands of Santa Cruz to try to see giant land tortoises in the wild, then enjoy free time to explore Puerto Ayora.
Fausto Llerena Breeding Center & Charles Darwin Research Station Visit: Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened. This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Visit Post Office Bay and enjoy guided walks to observe birds and wildlife, and learn about the natural history of Floreana Island. After, snorkel at Corona del Diablo.
Post Office Bay Visit: Visit Post Office Bay and learn about its unique history. In the late 18th century, English whaling vessels placed a barrel here to be used as a post office. Today, the box is used mainly by tourists, who may drop off and pick up unstamped letters to be carried to far destinations. Continue the tradition – leave a letter and take one to deliver (be sure it makes it to the correct location)!
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Enjoy the day on Española Island, one of the oldest in the archipelago. Visit Punta Suárez, known for its amazing bird colonies and home to the waved albatross (between April and December). After lunch, visit the white sandy beach of Gardner Bay and jump in for a snorkelling excursion.
Punta Suárez Visit: Visit Punta Suárez, one of most rich wildlife landing sites in the Galápagos. Be greeted by surfing young sea lions on arrival. Head to the trail to find many species of nesting sea birds, and, if lucky, see the waved albatross. Follow the path up to a cliff for great views over the ocean, and watch sea birds gliding in the wind.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Travel to the dramatic Kicker Rock in the morning to witness the steep vertical stone walls rising from the ocean. Later, learn about the history of the Islands at the San Cristóbal Interpretation Centre. In the afternoon, head to Isla Lobos known for its friendly sea lions.
Interpretation Center Visit: Learn about the history of the Galápagos Islands from the very beginning of their volcanic origins through to today’s conservation efforts. Tour the Human History exhibit to learn about the islands’ discovery and colonization, and discover the natural history and variety of flora and fauna that make the Galápagos so fascinating.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Visit Santa Fe island for a chance to mingle with the iguanas and visit an endemic Giant Cactus Forest. Continue to South Plaza for some great bird watching opportunities.
Santa Fe Island Visit: Visit Santa Fé for amazing wildlife watching and snorkelling opportunities. Hike towards the cliffs along the island's northern shore to view the forest of giant prickly pear cactus (Opuntia), which is home to endemic land iguanas. It is also one of the best locations to see sea turtles, sea lions, and maybe even get a glimpse of a whitetip reef shark from the panga.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Have your morning coffee while you learn from an expert about the brewing process and how this activity supports the local community. Finish off with a tasting before enjoying a free afternoon by the water. Choose to walk to the white sandy beach of Tortuga Bay, home to marine iguanas, a cacti forest, and mangroves, or explore the town of Puerto Ayora on your own.
Coffee Tasting Experience: Sip your morning coffee while you learn from an expert about the fascinating process of making this delicious brew, and how this activity supports the local community. Coffee in the Galapagos isn’t just about flavours; it signifies an entire wheelhouse dedicated to conservation, sustainable practices, and honouring the unique ecosystem in which the bean is being grown.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Free Time: Enjoy free time in this small town to explore the local sights.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Stop off in the small town of Puerto Villamil before hiking to the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano. In the afternoon, visit the wetlands and the tortoise breeding centre in the Puerto Villamil area.
Sierra Negra Volcano Hike: Hike to the rim of the 10km (6 mi) wide crater of the Sierra Negra volcano, which has the largest basaltic caldera in the Galápagos. Trek across the moon-like landscape of the lava fields and fumaroles, and enjoy spectacular views looking north toward Fernandina and the rest of Isabela Island. The volcano last erupted in June 2018, making it the most recent eruption of the Galápagos. This hike is 7km in total (3.5 km each way).
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Pay a morning visit to Punta Moreno on the southwest coast of Isabela to see lava formations, flamingos, and amazing views of the three most active volcanoes in the Galápagos Islands. Don't forget your snorkels! In the afternoon, visit Elizabeth Bay which offers amazing bird and marine life viewing opportunities. Head out on the pangas and explore the shallows and mangroves to look for sea turtles and penguins.
Punta Moreno Visit: Visit Punta Moreno and explore its interesting landscape, which is home to black lava flows and a unique system of brackish lagoons that draw in a wide range of wildlife. Spot Darwin’s finches, Galápagos doves, penguins, and more! Be sure to bring your camera for shots of the island’s amazing scenery, and your snorkel to experience a different point of view. Punta Moreno boasts a panoramic viewpoint of three of Isabela’s imposing volcanoes: Alcedo, Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Stop for a visit at Tagus Cove and hike to a lookout to get a stunning view of the bay. Spot old graffiti on the cliffs from whalers and pirates who once visited the the cove. Continue to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, the youngest of the Galápagos Islands, where you will have an opportunity to snorkel. Witness the large colony of marine iguanas and a variety of bird life.
Tagus Cove Visit: Visit Tagus Cove, an Isabela Island anchorage site that was popular among whalers and pirates. Tour the area on foot for spectacular views of Darwin Lake (a spherical saltwater crater), the bay, and Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. Upon landing, take the wooden stairway to the trail entrance, and follow the trail through a dry vegetation zone. Opt to continue on an ascent to a promontory made up of spatter cones (small volcanic cones) or explore the area by dinghy.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
On a morning excursion to Puerto Egas, walk on a dark sand beach studded with rock formations and tidal pools. Take a refreshing dip in turquoise waters and snorkel around, searching for fish and sea turtles in the protected bay. Later, visit Rábida Island for a visit to a saltwater lagoon and sea lion colony.
Puerto Egas Visit: Explore the spectacular shoreline of Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay. Spot a great number of shore birds and reptiles – the beach area is home to a plethora of wildlife.
: When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
Visit North Seymour for guided walks to observe birds and wildlife, including vast sea lion colonies. Disembark at Baltra and fly back to Quito.
North Seymour Island Visit: Have an amazing wildlife experience visiting North Seymour Island – this island is teeming with life! Follow trails to see all the action (you may need to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana while walking). Depending on the season, see blue-footed booby nests where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Head to a rocky shore to see flocks of pelicans having lunch in a dive bomb feeding frenzy, then turn inland to a large nesting site of magnificent frigatebirds. These huge, dark acrobats have two-metre (6.5 ft) wingspans, and males, with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks.
: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Meal plan: BREAKFAST
Cruise the Galápagos Islands aboard the Eden (14 nts). All meals aboard the Eden. Certified Galápagos National Park Service Guide. Excursion to see red-footed boobies (Genovesa Island). Hike to the Bartolomé Island viewpoint overlooking the famous Pinnacle Rock. Visits to Floreana and Española Islands. Isla lobos visit. Santa Fé and South Plazas excursions. Chance to see flightless cormorants and penguins. Visit to the largest marine iguana colony in the Galápagos (Fernandina Island).Snorkelling at Darwin Bay, Sullivan Bay, Gardner Bay, Corona del Diablo, Puerto Egas and North Seymour. Onboard snorkelling equipment and wetsuits. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
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