Galapagos with Nicole Isaacs

Arrival Day

• Arrive at Quito International Airport and transfer to the luxury ILLA hotel located in central Quito. Here, you will meet your traveling companions and your host, Nicole Isaacs.

Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Twin Craters

• AM: Flight to Galapagos

  • Please note that a fee of $20 is required for the migration control card as mandated by the Galapagos Government.

  • Upon arrival in Santa Cruz, you will go through an inspection point at the airport to ensure no foreign plants or animals enter the archipelago.

  • At this point, you’ll also need to pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee: $200 for foreign adults and $100 for children under 12 (effective September 2024).

  • Our guide will meet you, assist with your luggage. Your luggages will be sent directly to the Seaman Journey yacht.

• We take a bus to the ferry crossing at Itabaca Channel.

• From there, another bus will transport you to Ranch Manzanillo.

  • Please wear comfortable walking shoes and light clothing, and bring a waterproof jacket, sunscreen, camera, and insect repellent for this first activity.

  • The visit includes a picnic lunch and a short walk before boarding the Motor Catamaran.

  • Following these instructions will ensure a smooth itinerary.

• Santa Cruz is an excellent place to observe the wild Galapagos Tortoises, and there are plenty of exciting activities in the highlands, including exploring lava tubes, sinkholes, and craters. After this visit, you will proceed to the M/C Seaman Journey.

Isabela Island: Moreno Point & Fernandina Island: Mangle Point

• AM: Moreno Point, Isabela Island
  Moreno Point is situated on the northern coast of Isabela Island, nestled between the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. The trail winds along a Pahoehoe lava flow, leading to a series of coastal lagoons. Here, you can spot various bird species around the lakes and mangroves.

• PM: Fernandina Island, Mangle Point
  Located off the eastern coast of Fernandina, Mangle Point is an excellent snorkeling destination and a stunning spot for a panga or zodiac ride through the mangrove trees. A short hike of about half a mile is also available. During your ride, keep an eye out for sea lions, tortoises, pelicans, rays, and a plethora of other bird species.

Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove

• AM: Isabela Island, Urbina Bay

  • Urbina Bay is situated at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast, nestled between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a significant uplift in 1954, raising the land by over 16 feet and extending the coastline half a mile, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. It’s a fantastic spot for snorkeling. The trail begins with a wet landing and stretches approximately 3200 meters, featuring a mix of sand, pumice, lava, coral, and vegetation, where you can observe iguana burrows. Look out for red and blue lobsters, as well as Darwin’s finches. The main attraction here is the land iguanas, which are larger than those found on South Plaza Island. Wild tortoises can also be spotted, and a variety of vegetation thrives, including chamomile and Rosewood. Among them, the striking flowers of Darwin’s cotton, endemic to the Galapagos, stand out.

• PM: Isabela Island, Tagus Cove

  • Tagus Cove lies west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. This spot was once popular with pirates and whalers, who began the tradition of inscribing their boat names in a small cave at the trail's start, featuring inscriptions dating back to the 1800s. The cove is named after a British warship that passed through in 1814 searching for Galapagos Tortoises for food. The area is rich in volcanic rocks, including unique “lapilli” or petrified rain, shaped like small spheres, resulting from past eruptions.

Fernandina Island: Espinoza Point & Isabela Island: Vicente Roca Point

• AM: Fernandina Island, Espinoza Point

  • Espinoza Point is renowned for its large colonies of marine iguanas and serves as a habitat for unique species such as the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.

• PM: Isabela Island, Vicente Roca Point

  • Vicente Roca Point is one of the most breathtaking locations in the Galapagos, featuring towering cliffs and stunning tuffstone, ash, and lava formations. Situated on the northwestern coast, this area includes two distinct islets and a vast bay rich in marine life. Here, you can spot seahorses, sea turtles, and the intriguing Mola-mola or sunfish. It’s an excellent spot for panga rides and snorkeling, where you may encounter penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, and sea lions. Additionally, while snorkeling, keep an eye out for sea turtles, stingrays, and pufferfish.

Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach & Puerto Egas

• AM: Santiago Island, Espumilla Beach

  • Espumilla Beach is situated on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. Following the last El Niño phenomenon, one of the lagoons here underwent sedimentation, leading to the loss of a notable flamingo colony. Key attractions include the palo santo forest and the nesting sites of baby turtles.

• PM: Puerto Egas, Santiago Island

  • Puerto Egas features a striking black beach on the island's west side, formed by volcanic tuff deposits that create its unique sand. The area is named after a failed attempt to exploit salt, as the low prices on the mainland made it unfeasible to continue operations in the Galapagos. Consequently, the project and its infrastructure were abandoned, leaving an intriguing historical site.

Rabida Island & Chinese Hat

• AM: Rabida Island

  • Rábida Island is distinguished by its striking red rocks and sand, a result of oxidizing volcanic materials influenced by rain, saltwater, and sea breezes. A short trail leads you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach, where you can observe various land birds, including finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. The lagoon is also home to a colony of flamingos.

• PM: Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino)

  • Chinese Hat is a small islet located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island, recognizable for its recent volcanic cone that resembles a Chinese hat from the north. To the west, you'll find lava formations that originated underwater and were uplifted, revealing coral heads atop the lava. This site is perfect for exploring geological features like lava tubes and flows, while the landscape is populated by sea lion colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.

Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove

• AM: Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island. AM: Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island

  • A dinghy ride to Black Turtle Cove, located on the north coast of Santa Cruz just west of Baltra, reveals a serene hideaway in the Galapagos. Once inside the cove, the boat's engines are turned off to allow for a peaceful exploration of the mangrove-protected waters. Here, you can observe sea turtles feeding and mating, as well as three species of sharks: black-tip, white-tip, and Galapagos sharks. It’s also common to spot groups of spotted rays, along with egrets and herons.

• PM: Flight back to the mainland

  • After your visit, you’ll be transferred to Baltra airport in time for your flight back to Quito International Airport.