Galapagos 4 Day Cruise | M/C Galapagos Seaman Journey

Take a morning flight to the Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil Airport. The flight from Quito to the Galapagos is approximately 2 ½ hours and from Guayaquil it is approximately 1 ½ hours. On arrival at Baltra Airport, you will be met by your naturalist guide who will collect your luggage and transport you to the harbour where you will board the M/C Seaman Journey.

Isla Seymour Norte, is a flat island compared to the archipelago’s mainly volcanic lands. Witness the large populations of frigate birds, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, while sea lions line the shore, eager for photo opportunities!

AM: El Barranco

Genovesa Island is a horse-shoe shaped island formed from the eruption of a shield volcano. Also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, El Barranco has a steep rocky path leading up to a high cliff face. The cliffs are composed of very fragile lava and the natural erosion that has occurred in these lava flows has created the ideal nesting site for storm petrels. Red-footed, Nazca and masked boobies are all found here as are red-billed tropicbirds, short-eared owls and wedge-rumped storm petrels that are active during the daytime. During the panga rides along the cliffs, fur seals may be seen as well as several species of seabirds.

PM: Darwin Bay

The eventual collapse of one side of the caldera resulted in a submerged crater that formed Darwin Bay. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favourite site for birdwatchers as red-footed boobies, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, yellow-crowned and black-crowned lava herons, swallow-tailed gulls and yellow warblers can be seen in the area.

The trail climbs gradually to the edge of the cliff where you may see red-footed boobies nesting in the mangrove trees below. Other birds to have been sighted here include sharp-beaked finches, large cactus finches, ground finches, Galapagos doves and Galapagos swallows. Reaching the end the trail at the cliff's edge offers an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.

AM: Plazas

Plazas is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The South Plaza land iguanas are the smallest in the archipelago. Marine iguanas are also abundant, as well as an occasional hybrid, a cross between a marine iguana and a land iguana. They are unique, recognizable at first glance by their black/grey colour, with a land iguana's crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana. The large population of iguanas is due to the presence of tuna, their favourite food. Swallow-tailed gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other sea birds such as Audubon’s shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds and brown pelicans.

PM: Santa Fe

Santa Fe or Barrington Island is a small, relatively flat island in the centre of the Galapagos archipelago. It is one of the oldest volcanoes. Santa Fe is home to two species endemic to the island - the Santa Fe land iguana and the Santa Fe rice rat. The Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake and Galapagos mockingbird are also found here.

The visit begins with a wet landing at Barrington Bay. Sea lions are found on the beach here in large numbers. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well as the giant Santa Fe Opuntia (prickly pear) cactus. Snorkelling is an option here, with great possibilities of snorkelling with playful sea lions and tropical fish.

AM: Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Centre

In 2004 the Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Centre (named after the famous colonist) was inaugurated, located in the north east of San Cristobal Island, to care for the smallest tortoises on the island. The breeding program on the island began in 2008 with the hatching of the first tortoise in captivity.

After the morning excursion you will be taken to Baltra Airport for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.