Detailed Itinerary:
Saturday: Island Santa Cruz – Highlands – Charles Darwin Station
In the morning you will fly to the Galapágos Island Baltra. After paying the National Park Entrance Fee, a crew member will pick you up. Transfer from the airport to the Itabaca Channel which you have to cross by ferry. After arrival there, you will pass through the highlands of Santa Cruz from north to south. On your way, you will cross the different vegetation zones of this fascinating island. Those vary from lower dry zones with many cactuses to scalesia- woods in the humid highland. There you will visit the private owned finca “Las Primicias”, which is open to the territory of the National Park of Galápagos. This reserve offers you one of the best possibilities to see the huge turtles of Santa Cruz island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from very close and learn more about their daily activities. Furthermore you will encounter one of the most beautiful lava tunnels in this area. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based on Santa Cruz Island. The station encompasses an information centre, a museum, a library and a tortoise breeding station. Here you will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of the Galápagos. Park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. In the  tortoise breeding and rearing centre you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this Station is probably Lonesome George. He is the only survivor of his specific turtle species. In the past all approaches to find a partner for him failed. But in July 2008 the scientists found a carved nest wit nine eggs from a female tortoise. Three of them could be saved and now accordingly to strict instructions they are incubated syntheticly. -/L/D

Sunday: Island South Plazas / Island Santa Fe
Today you will explore South Plaza Island, the more southernly island of the both Plaza Island, located in the east of Island Santa Cruz. On this island so full of life you will encounter colonies of sea lions and land iguanas. On the steep banks it is possible to see a great number of birds such as nesting tropic birds and fork-tailed seagulls. But most of all, enjoying the beautiful view from atop the steep banks or strolling along the base of the cliff is an extremely pleasurable experience. The Opuntia cactus and red coral bushes grow here and the vegetation changes colour according to the seasons of the year.
In the afternoon you visit Santa Fe Island, a small rocky peninsula which is covered by little Palo Santo trees and by up to 6m high opuntia cacti. Inhabitants of this island are a specific species of large yellow land iguanas, the Galápagos buzzard, some blue footed boobies and pelicans. After the hike you can swim or snorkel in the bay in company of sea lions and marine turtles. Finally you can observe the tropic underwater world. B/L/D

Monday: Española Island – Suarez Point - Gardener Bay
Española is the southernmost and oldest island of the Galápagos archipelago. Because of its isolated position you can explore a lot of endemic wildlife. In the morning you will have an excursion to Point Suarez which is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Española Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Point Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air. The walkabout on a stony path is about 2km (duration about 3 hours).
Gardener Bay is on the eastern shore with turquoise shot coloured water and a magnificent beach. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. The bay is also frequented by a transient colony of sea lions which like to swim with you. Birds, like the endemic Hood-Mockingbird and different species of Darwin finches, are omnipresent. B/L/D

Galapagos Voyager Yacht

Tuesday: Island San Cristobal – Leon Dormido – Interpretation Center
After a delicious breakfast you will follow the route of Charles Darwin. You will sail around the massive tuff-rock called Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock, which is a nesting site for a lot of sea birds. Because of its steepness you cannot find a landing stage but brave snorkelers can watch out for sharks and rays. At the port of Baquerizo Moreno, which is the capital of the province Galápagos, you will visit the Interpretation Center. The center will give you a good impression of the history of the Galápagos Islands. B/L/D

Wednesday: Island Santa Cruz – Bachas Beach – Black Turtle Cove
In the morning you will visit the long sandy “Las Bachas” Beach. Here you encounter sea lions, herons and marine iguanas and with good luck penguins.  You also have the opportunity to swim offshore of this soft white sand beach. Snorkelling enthusiasts can explore the fascinating underwater world as well.
In the afternoon you visit the nearby Black Turtle Cove, a nesting site for marine turtles. With good luck you can observe different types of sharks in the calm water, so for example the white-tipped shark or schools of golden mustard rays as well. B/L/D

Thursday: Island Genovesa – Prince Philips Steps – Darwin Bay
Your destination for today is Genovesa Island. Genovesa is considered as one of the wildest and untouched within the National Park of Galápagos. It is also known as “Bird Island” or “Tower Island”. On your way to this island you will cross the equator. After a panga ride along the cliffs of Genovesa Island you will make a dry landing at Prince Philip’s Steps, a carved out of stone stair. This will lead you to a wide plateau, where you can observe large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and bahama ducks. During this easy stroll you will cross a little Scalesia wood, in which you can observe the short-eared owl. The same path will lead you back to your boat.
After lunch on board make a wet landing onto Tower Island at Darwin Bay for an easy stroll observing seemingly thousands of birds, mainly frigate and red footed and masked boobies.  On the beach you can see the interesting spectacle how the frigates try to catch the prey of the boobies. B/L/D

Friday: Island Santiago – Sullivan Bay / Island Bartolome / Island Santa Cruz
Today you will land at Santiago Island, also known as James, or San Salvador Island, which is the fourth largest island in the archipelago. The influences of the former salt mine workers and their imported animals are still alive on the island. The last tries to populate Santiago Island were given up forty years ago. The Sullivan Bay is located on the east coast of Santiago Island. Its lava field with lava cacti is a variety of interesting patterns. After exploring the lava flow, you can swim or snorkel with playful sea lions off two small coralline. Arriving at Bartolomé you will ascend a lookout point from where you can admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous needle shaped rock, the so called Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some fine snorkeling spots from which you can discover the marvelous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles.
In the afternoon you anchor at the harbour of Puerto Ayora on Island Santa Cruz. Beside its rank as homestay for sea lions and pelicans, the marina is a popular starting point for round-the-world-yachtsman. The island itself has come to be both touristic and scientific center of the archipeleago. Here you have time to bay some souvenirs. B/L/D

Saturday: Island Santa Cruz – Los Gemelos – return flight
After your breakfast you will be escorted across the island to the north of Itabaca Chanel. On your way to it you will visit the twin crater Caldera de los Gemelos, which are known for their diversity of ca. 300 different fern species and the close by “forest” of sunflowers.
Afterwards you will be escorted to the airport of Baltra island and from there you will fly back to Ecuador mainland. B