Galapagos 8 Day Cruise | M/C Galapagos Seaman Journey

AM: Flight to Galapagos / Ranch Mazanillo
Begin your Galapagos adventure with a morning flight from Quito Airport, with a brief stop in Guayaquil en route. As you touch down at Baltra Airport, your naturalist guides will welcome you and assist with your luggage, ready to whisk you away to the enchanting Ranch Mazanillo. Here, you'll witness majestic giant tortoises in their natural habitat and relish a sumptuous picnic lunch, all before boarding the Seaman Journey.

PM: Santa Cruz Highlands
Escape into the captivating world of the Santa Cruz Highlands, as you journey through the diverse life and geology of the archipelago's various life zones. Ascend through lush agricultural lands and misty forests, and be spellbound by the plethora of bird species, including the iconic Darwin's finches and vivid vermillion flycatchers.

The Santa Cruz Highlands offer incredible opportunities to witness and track wild Galapagos tortoises, while exploring the island's awe-inspiring lava tubes, sinkholes, and craters, offering a fascinating insight into its volcanic make-up. Experience the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz Highlands in all its glory, as you discover its rich and diverse ecosystem.

AM: Mangle Point, Fernandina Island - Experience the Best Snorkeling Site in the Galapagos
Discover the pristine beauty of the Galapagos Islands with a visit to Mangle Point on Fernandina Island. This idyllic location is renowned for its superior snorkeling opportunities and is the perfect place to ride in a panga or Zodiac through a lush forest of mangrove trees. Keep your eyes peeled for the incredible marine life that calls this place home, including penguins, sea lions, pelicans, rays, and marine iguanas. Don't miss the chance to spot numerous bird species and immerse yourself in the wonders of this natural paradise.

PM: Punta Moreno - Explore the Fascinating Coastal Lagoons and Volcanic Landscape
Immerse yourself in the otherworldly beauty of Punta Moreno, located on the north coast of Isabela Island in the Galapagos. Follow a trail along a pahoehoe lava flow and explore the intricate network of coastal lagoons that dot the landscape. Marvel at the incredible bird species that call this place home and spot the three species of cactus that are unique to this area. Don't miss the chance to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the volcanic landscape that is so characteristic of the Galapagos Islands.

AM: Exploring Urbina Bay, Isabela Island's Unique Uplifted Shoreline
Urbina Bay, located on the west coast of Isabela Island, is a fascinating site that resulted from a significant uplift of the island in 1954. The uplift caused a 6km stretch of coral reef to rise 5 metres, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore and coral exposed on land. Today, visitors to Urbina Bay can explore this unique shoreline via a path that starts at the beach with a wet landing and takes you through sand, pumice, lava, coral, and vegetation.

On land, visitors can spot flightless cormorants, pelicans, Darwin's finches, giant tortoises, and land and marine iguanas, while rays and turtles can be seen in the bay. Urbina Bay is also an ideal location for snorkelling, with plenty of opportunities to spot red and blue lobsters. The site is home to a variety of fascinating vegetation, including chamomile, rosewood, and the beautiful flowers of the Galapagos or Darwin's cotton, endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

PM: Discovering Tagus Cove's Rich History and Unique Geology
Located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island, Tagus Cove is a historical site that was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers in the past. Visitors can still see the names etched into the cliffs and inside caves by these seafaring adventurers. The site is named after a British warship that visited the islands in 1814 and hunted Galapagos tortoises for food.

Today, Tagus Cove is a great spot for visitors to discover the unique geology of the island. Explosive eruptions have created a substrate with a large number of volcanic rocks of different sizes, including small, spherically-shaped balls known as "lapilli" or petrified rain. A short but steep hike brings visitors past Darwin Lake, a deep saltwater lake that is a fantastic location for viewing land birds such as ground and tree finches, hawks, large-billed flycatchers, yellow warblers, and sometimes the woodpecker finch.

AM: Explore Espinoza Point, Fernandina Island
Embark on a thrilling adventure at Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island, famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas and unique lava cactus. Witness species such as the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake in their natural habitat. Keep an eye out for sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs, and take in the awe-inspiring views of La Cumbre volcano.

PM: Discover Punta Vicente Roca
In the afternoon, head to Punta Vicente Roca, one of the most impressive and spectacular places in the Galapagos Islands. Admire the high cliffs, tuff stone, ash, and lava formations that give the area a majestic touch. Explore the large bay and snorkel in its crystal-clear waters, encountering a spectacular marine life including seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating mola-mola or sunfish. Don't miss the chance to witness "feeding frenzies" with groups of whales, dolphins, sea lions, tuna, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, pelicans, and other marine birds all feeding simultaneously.

AM: Explore Espumilla Beach on Santiago Island
Visit Espumilla Beach on the northern coast of Santiago Island and witness nesting marine turtles in their natural habitat. Take a walk through the stunning mangrove forest, leading to a picturesque lagoon where you can spot a group of flamingos, as well as pintail ducks and common stilts. Capture the beauty of this unique ecosystem with your camera.

PM: Discover Puerto Egas on Santiago Island
Puerto Egas is a must-visit attraction on the west side of Santiago Island. Experience the black sand beach, formed by volcanic tuff deposits, and marvel at the stunning natural beauty of this site. Learn about the failed salt exploitation project that led to the abandoned infrastructure, and explore the area's diverse flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for Galapagos fur seals and a variety of bird species, including the Galapagos hawk and yellow-crowned night heron. Don't forget to take some memorable photos of this breathtaking location.

AM: Explore Rabida Island's Red Rocks and Coastal Lagoon
Rabida Island is renowned for its unique red volcanic rocks and sand, which have been oxidized over time by external elements such as rain, salt water, and sea breeze. A short walk along a trail will lead you to a stunning coastal lagoon behind the beach where you can spot land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. At the lagoon, you can also observe a colony of flamingos in their natural habitat.

PM: Discover Chinese Hat's Geological Wonders and Marine Wildlife
Chinese Hat is a small islet (1 sq km) located off the southeast coast of Santiago Island, boasting delicate lava and spatter cones. The recent volcanic cone is shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from the north side, and offers an excellent site for interpreting geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins, making it a perfect spot for nature lovers to discover the diverse marine wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.

AM: Explore the Lava Flows of Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island
Santiago, also known as James or San Salvador Island, is a volcanic island in the Galapagos archipelago. With its many young flows and cones, the island is still volcanically active and a number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last two centuries. The focus of the visit to Sullivan Bay is on the fascinating lava flows with their reddish-yellow tuff cones and tiny Mollugo plants growing out of the fissures.

PM: Enjoy Stunning Views from the Summit of Bartolome Island
Bartolome Island is located across from Sullivan Bay and boasts an altitude of 114 metres. The island is renowned for its Pinnacle Rock and visitors can enjoy spectacular views of this iconic landmark, as well as the vast black lava flows at Sullivan Bay and the rest of Santiago Island, from the island's summit. Bartolome Island also features volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, and lava fields, with very little vegetation except for the tequila plant and the unique lava cactus. Visitors to this island may also spot marine turtles and a small colony of Galapagos penguins.

AM: Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island
Bachas Beach, located on the west side of Santa Cruz Island, is a must-visit spot for wildlife enthusiasts. The stunning sandy white-coral beach is a significant nesting site for sea turtles, making it an ideal place to observe them. Additionally, a small lagoon behind the beach offers birdwatchers an opportunity to see flamingos and other bird species, including black-necked stilts, white-cheeked pintail ducks, and whimbrels. Furthermore, Bachas Beach has historic significance, as it has the remains of a floating dock and old abandoned barges used by the Americans during WWII.

After an exhilarating morning excursion at Bachas Beach, it's time to say goodbye to the Galapagos Islands. You will be transferred to Baltra Airport for your flight back to the mainland.