Galapagos 8 Day Western Islands Cruise | Monique

Upon landing, guests will be welcomed and assisted at the airport before being transferred to the M/C Monique.

In the afternoon, you'll explore Las Bachas, a stunning white-sand beach along the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. It’s a great spot for a relaxing walk or gentle snorkeling. This beach is a nesting site for sea turtles, and you may spot a rusted pontoon—an old World War II remnant. The name "Bachas" is derived from a mispronunciation of "barges," referring to the two partially sunken vessels in the area.

This morning's visit takes you to Rábida Island, which is renowned for its unique red sand beach. The island is home to striking cactus groves and dramatic rocky landscapes, along with native dry-zone vegetation and endemic species. A walk along the beach might reveal brown pelican nests and occasionally flamingos in a nearby saltwater lagoon.

Located on the northern tip of Isabela Island, Punta Albemarle is home to a large mangrove that is ideal for dinghy exploration, thanks to its mesmerizing network of channels and creeks. Nearby, you’ll find the remains of a WWII-era American radar base. The site offers excellent wildlife viewing, including marine birds, the largest marine iguanas in the Galapagos, and many flightless cormorants.

This morning visit Vicente Roca Point, an expansive bay on Isabela’s northwest coast featuring two coves that attract a variety of nesting birds, including blue-footed and Nazca boobies, storm petrels, and Brown Noddies. The nutrient-rich waters make this a premier snorkeling spot, where whales, dolphins, sea lions, and marine birds can often be seen feeding.

In the afternoon, take a dinghy ride along the cliffs of Tagus Cove for a chance to observe Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and other seabirds. After landing, a 30-minute hike leads to panoramic views of Darwin Lake—a large saltwater lagoon—and surrounding volcanic peaks.

Espinoza Point showcases Fernandina Island's stark lava fields dotted with Lava Cacti and mangroves that grow atop hardened lava flows. Highlights include colonies of sea lions, penguins, flightless cormorants (especially active in spring and summer), and one of the largest concentrations of marine iguanas in the archipelago.

In the afternoon, explore Urbina Bay, renowned for its upraised coral beds and vivid land iguanas. The area is rich in wildlife—giant tortoises, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, penguins, and marine iguanas are all commonly seen.

Once the site of a salt mine, this black-sand beach now serves as a prime location for spotting shorebirds, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Inland, a walk that takes visitors past tidal pools and beautiful volcanic formations may offer views of fur seals lounging in shaded grottoes.

In the afternoon you will visit Buccaneer Cove, a key nesting area for sea turtles and frequented by sea lions. A dinghy ride reveals stunning eroded cliffs that host nesting boobies, pelicans, and gulls.

Bartholomew is best known for Pinnacle Rock, a striking volcanic cone that soars out of the water. A trail leads to the island’s summit, where breathtaking views of the surrounding lava terrain and the iconic rock await. The northern beach, a sea turtle nesting site, is perfect for snorkeling with reef sharks, penguins, and eagle rays.

Located next to Pinnacle Rock, the beaches at Sullivan Bay offer outstanding snorkeling, and lucky visitors might find themselves swimming alongside penguins. This northern beach is also a key nesting ground for green sea turtles.

Named after British naval officer Lord Hugh Seymour, this small island is covered in low-lying vegetation and teems with birdlife. You’ll encounter blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and a substantial colony of magnificent frigatebirds, with males displaying their vibrant red throat pouches to attract mates.

Positioned between Baltra and North Seymour, Mosquera is a flat, sandy islet without a designated trail, allowing for free exploration. It’s known for its thriving sea lion colony, shorebirds, and colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs. The surrounding reefs make for excellent snorkeling, with chances to spot rays, turtles, and reef sharks.

This morning visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, also known as the Charles Darwin Research Station. The center hosts an interpretation center, museum, library, and tortoise breeding facility, home to various tortoise subspecies being prepared for reintroduction.

After your last visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.