Travel Detail

Upon arrival to Baltra Airport, you will be welcomed by local staff and then transfer to the vessel. In the afternoon, visit Bachas Beach. It is one of the most beautiful ones in all of Galapagos - and that's really saying something. It is a long stretch of pristine white sand beach where sea lions lounge and crabs scuttle back and forth. It was used by the Americans during World War Two: "Bachas" is actually a version of the word "barges," which were once landed here. Sea turtles nest in some of the sand dunes here, and your guides will ask you to stay clear of the marked areas so as not to disturb the eggs. A short distance away are two salty lagoons where flamingos are frequently seen. There is no real hike here: only the warm, sandy beach. After a stroll along the sand and a refreshing dip, some of our guests like to do some easy snorkeling in the gentle surf.

Elite is one of the newest yacht in the islands and reinvents luxury, comfort and class! The Galapagos Elite is specifically designed for sailing the sapphire waters of the Enchanted Islands. A sleek, twin-hulled catamaran, it will provide its guests with a steady, safe cruise without the rocking and swaying common to the older, single-hulled yachts that dominated the island cruise industry for decades. In addition to better stability, the design of the Elite allows for more space for everything on board, including social areas, suites and premium suites. Guests of all ages, will enjoy the ample, semi-covered sky deck, the al fresco dining area and the cozy bar-salon. The Galapagos Elite features state-of-the-art navigation computers and safety equipment: safety and reliability are essential parts of any Galapagos luxury experience.

Genovesa Island is famous for bird life and neither of its two visitor sites disappoint. Genovesa is the remnant of a once-mighty volcanic crater, and the island still has a distinctive crescent shape. The body of water formed by the crescent is called Darwin Bay, despite Charles Darwin not visiting this island. There are no large land animals on Genovesa: not even tortoises or land iguanas. Unlike other islands, Genovesa never had a problem with destructive introduced animals like feral cats or goats, which has allowed bird life to thrive unmolested on the island for millennia. In the morning, you will visit the Prince Philip's Steps site. Getting to the visitor site from the landing area is tricky and involves a bit of climbing skill, but once you're up, Prince Philip's Steps is a visitor favorite. There is a magnificent view from the upraised plateau, especially on a clear day. An easy trail wends through a low, scrubby forest and ends up at a rocky ravine of sorts, where lucky visitors will spot the rarely seen Short-eared Owl. Visitors may also see Red-footed Boobies, gulls, or other birds nesting or visiting the site. In the afternoon, visit the Darwin Bay visitor site. It is on the interior side of the crescent-shaped island, protected from wind and currents. It is a wide, sandy beach with a short trail that leads off to one side of the beach and up into some rocky formations. There are many bird species here: visitors can expect to see Blue-footed Boobies, Frigate Birds, Lava Gulls, Herons, Swallow-tailed gulls and more. It is one of the few visitor sites in the islands where you can see Red-footed Boobies. There are some tidal pools off the trail: lucky visitors may spot a ray, or some fish trapped there until the tide returns. Following the visit, guests will get to snorkel in the sheltered waters of the bay. Although deep water currents can sometimes cause the water to be chilly or cloudy, the crescent shape of the island protects the bay from strong winds. The bluffs along the side of the bay drop sharply into the water, which means that snorkelers can stay close to shore but still have deeper water off to one side. Lucky snorkelers might see sharks, rays, sea lions, sea turtles and dazzling reef fish including parrotfish, wrasses, king angelfish and damselfish.

Elite is one of the newest yacht in the islands and reinvents luxury, comfort and class! The Galapagos Elite is specifically designed for sailing the sapphire waters of the Enchanted Islands. A sleek, twin-hulled catamaran, it will provide its guests with a steady, safe cruise without the rocking and swaying common to the older, single-hulled yachts that dominated the island cruise industry for decades. In addition to better stability, the design of the Elite allows for more space for everything on board, including social areas, suites and premium suites. Guests of all ages, will enjoy the ample, semi-covered sky deck, the al fresco dining area and the cozy bar-salon. The Galapagos Elite features state-of-the-art navigation computers and safety equipment: safety and reliability are essential parts of any Galapagos luxury experience.

Back in the days of the great sailing ships, the Galapagos Islands were well known as a place where a traveling ship could stock up on food and water. Among the visitors were pirates, and the sheltered bay now known as Buccaneer Cove was a favorite place for them to repair their ships. Your visit includes a panga ride along the coast, where guests will see some interesting rock formations as well as several species of nesting birds including gulls, boobies and pelicans. The formations, eroded into the colorful red rock, are quite striking. You may get to see not only sea lions but also their more reclusive cousins, the Galapagos Fur Sea Lion. The panga ride is followed by a visit to unforgettable Playa Espumilla ("Foamy Beach" in English). The beach, known for reddish sand, is a favorite among guests: long, pristine and beautiful, home to a colony of sea lions, countless crabs and marine iguanas. It is possible to do some light snorkeling off the beach. In the afternoon, explore the Egas Port. The human history of the Galapagos Islands is often as interesting as the natural history, and a good example is Port Egas. Decades ago, an Ecuadorian named Hector Egas tried to make his fortune mining salt on Santiago Island. It worked for a while, but in the end the enterprise failed. Port Egas bears the name of this intrepid entrepreneur, and there are still some remnants of the old salt mine facilities here if you know where to look. Puerto Egas is a superb visitor site even without its history. The trail is a loop which goes through some low trees before swinging around along the coast. Along the inland part of the trail, look for finches and a medium-sized black bird: this is the Smooth-Billed Ani, an introduced species which somehow arrived in Galapagos at some point in the 1960's. On the coastal portion of the trail, you can expect to see numerous sea lions, marine iguanas, and shore birds. The coast is rocky due to its volcanic formation, but easy enough to walk along. Look in the shallow tidal pools: you never know what might have gotten stranded in there when the tide went out, and you might spot a stingray or an octopus in addition to the small fish usually found there.

Elite is one of the newest yacht in the islands and reinvents luxury, comfort and class! The Galapagos Elite is specifically designed for sailing the sapphire waters of the Enchanted Islands. A sleek, twin-hulled catamaran, it will provide its guests with a steady, safe cruise without the rocking and swaying common to the older, single-hulled yachts that dominated the island cruise industry for decades. In addition to better stability, the design of the Elite allows for more space for everything on board, including social areas, suites and premium suites. Guests of all ages, will enjoy the ample, semi-covered sky deck, the al fresco dining area and the cozy bar-salon. The Galapagos Elite features state-of-the-art navigation computers and safety equipment: safety and reliability are essential parts of any Galapagos luxury experience.

After breakfast, you'll head to Black Turtle Cove, located on the north shore of Santa Cruz. This stunning location is home to three different species of mangroves, creating a unique and thriving habitat for a diverse range of marine life. As you drift through the calm waters aboard our Zodiac, keep an eye out for spotted eagle rays and diamond-shaped mustard rays swimming in formation, white-tipped reef sharks slipping beneath the boat, and Pacific green sea turtles surfacing for air and to mate. You'll also see a variety of waterfowl, including pelicans, herons, and egrets feeding in the cove. It's a peaceful and awe-inspiring experience. In the afternoon, you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to see giant tortoises in the wild. These enormous animals give this renowned archipelago its name. You can easily appreciate the Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat, eating and lumbering among others. This is also a good place to see birds such as short-eared owls, Darwin's finches, yellow warblers, Galapagos rails and paint-billed crakes. As part of this experience, you will visit underground lava tunnels formed by cooled and solidified lava. Afterward, you'll go to Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Center that is managed by the Galapagos National Park Service and biologists from the Charles Darwin Research Station. The purpose of the center, named for a legendary park ranger, is to raise Galapagos tortoise hatchlings in a protected environment. When the tortoises are large enough to fend for themselves, they are released into the wild. The program has been very successful, and in recent years hundreds of young tortoises have been released on several islands. You will see different sub-species of tortoises in various species of development, from tiny young hatchlings smaller than the palm of your hand to fully-grown behemoths lumbering about their enclosures. Your guide will accompany you and provide information about the programs and facilities. The breeding center is at the Charles Darwin Research Station, just outside Puerto Ayora. In addition to the tortoises, you may see finches, warblers and other birds in and around the tall cacti tree, and tiny lava lizards scurrying about underfoot. After the visit, we will continue our journey to board the M/C Elite.

Elite is one of the newest yacht in the islands and reinvents luxury, comfort and class! The Galapagos Elite is specifically designed for sailing the sapphire waters of the Enchanted Islands. A sleek, twin-hulled catamaran, it will provide its guests with a steady, safe cruise without the rocking and swaying common to the older, single-hulled yachts that dominated the island cruise industry for decades. In addition to better stability, the design of the Elite allows for more space for everything on board, including social areas, suites and premium suites. Guests of all ages, will enjoy the ample, semi-covered sky deck, the al fresco dining area and the cozy bar-salon. The Galapagos Elite features state-of-the-art navigation computers and safety equipment: safety and reliability are essential parts of any Galapagos luxury experience.

Meal Plan: Buffet Breakfast

Elegance, comfort, security and personalized service are just some of the characteristics that make Hilton Colon Guayaquil, a real five-star city resort hotel. The splendid building is located only five minutes away from Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport and dominates the city's new booming commercial and financial zone in Ecuador. The hotel is surrounded by the main shopping center and offers easy access to the downtown district area.

In the morning, visit the Isla Lobos, or "Sea Lion Island". It is a long, thin island not far off the coast of San Cristobal Island. As the name implies, it is home to a healthy colony of sea lions. There is a trail on the island, and visitors can see different species of birds, including Boobys of both the Blue-footed and Nazca varieties. There are marina iguanas and lava lizards on the island as well. In addition to the hike on the islet, the calm channel between Lobos Island and San Cristobal is one of the better snorkeling spots in the islands, as it is usually calm, and the sea lions often frolic with visitors. After our early morning visit, passengers will get ready and then be taken to San Cristobal Airport. Our airport personnel will assist passengers with the check-in process. Farwell and boarding the flight back to mainland Ecuador.