Galapagos Islands Sample Cruise Itineraries
Yachts M/Y Eric & M/Y Letty
The Ships - Rates & Departure Dates - Deck Plans - All Galapagos Programs
Note: The two ships travel in tandem as an "Armada", alternating itineraries each week.

Note: M/Y Eric & M/Y Letty cruise operator Ecoventura alternates two different full-week, 7-night itineraries as required by the Galapagos National Park in an effort to better reduce usage on heavily visited sites. The order of visits may vary slightly based on the yacht assigned.

Itinerary A
SOUTHERN/CENTRAL ROUTE
8 Days/7 Nights SUN/SUN
Sample Itinerary "A" (75K PDF - opens in new window)

SUN	AM	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, SAN CRISTOBAL (Chatham)	Blue-footed Boobie sky-pointing
	PM	Cerro Tijeretas & Leon Dormido, SAN CRISTOBAL
MON	AM	Punta Pitt, (SN, PR) SAN CRISTOBAL
	PM	Cerro Brujo (SN, PR, KY) SAN CRISTOBAL
TUE	AM	Punta Suarez, ESPANOLA (Hood)
	PM	Gardner Bay (SN, PR, KY) ESPANOLA (Hood)
WED	AM	Punta Cormorant (PR), Devil’s Crown or Champion (SN), FLOREANA
	PM	Post Office Bay (SN), Baroness Point (PR), FLOREANA (Charles)
THU	AM	Highlands of SANTA CRUZ (Indefatigable)
	PM	CCFL (Charles Darwin Research Station), SANTA CRUZ
FRI	AM	BARTOLOME (PR, SN)
	PM	Las Bachas (SN) or Black Turtle Cove (PR) or Sombrero Chino (PR, SN)
SAT	AM	SOUTH PLAZA ISLET
	PM	NORTH SEYMOUR (PR, SN)
SUN	AM	Interpretation Center, SAN CRISTOBAL (Chatham)
Passengers must often chose just one activity per site or as time permits: SN = snorkel, KY = kayak, PR = panga (dingy) ride

Sunday - Arrive San Cristobal
Upon arrival to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island, the crew is waiting at the airport to escort you to your anchored yacht. After the welcome briefing, buffet lunch and safety drill, you travel by bus to Cerro Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill), which is located just outside of the town of La Predial, which was a fishing village from 1952-1960. This is one of the two sites where you can see both species of frigate birds nesting together (Magnificent and Great). The trail leads to Playa Mann where you have beautiful views. At sunset, you cruise around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido - the Sleeping Lion), a vertical tuff cone formation that abruptly juts up almost 500 feet out of the ocean. On the cliffs, you spot blue-footed boobies, Nazca Boobies and magnificent frigate birds. (L, D)

Monday - Punta Pitt, San Cristobal Island & Cerro Brujo, Genovesa (Tower) Island
This morning, you visit Punta Pitt on the northeast tip of San Cristobal, a tuff formation that serves as a nesting site for many sea birds including blue footed, Nazca and red-footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels. Punta Pitt is considered to be a first class site for birds and equal to Genovesa (Tower) Island.

This afternoon you visit Cerro Brujo, a breathtaking white power-sand beach, said to be one of the most spectacular in Galapagos and have an opportunity to snorkel or kayak right from the beach. (B, L, D)

Tuesday - Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay, Espanola (Hood) Island
This morning you have a dry landing at Punta Suarez, where you witness the highest rate of endemic species in Galapagos. Sea lions noisily green us as you land on their beach. Curious Hood mockingbirds peck at the shoelaces. From April to November, the waved albatross, found only on Espanola, perform their wild mating ritual. Colonies of blue-footed boobies engage in 'sky-pointing' to show off for potential mates. Nazca boobies busily care for their young. Stunning swallow-tailed gulls are the only nocturnal gulls in the world. Red-billed tropicbirds take shelter under the cliffs. You also find Darwin's Finches, Galapagos Doves and Galapagos Hawks. Observe a unique species of marine iguana identified with traces of red and green colorings. Colorful sally light-foot crabs crawl along the shoreline near to the famous 'blow hole'.

In the afternoon, you have a wet landing on Gardner Bay. Walk along seemingly endless stretches of white sandy beach where you'll find large colonies of sea lions. There is no trail to follow so this is a chance to explore and you may find a Galapagos Hawk, Darwin's Finches or Hood Mockingbird. Swim with sea lions right from the beach, explore by kayak or just relax. There's an excellent snorkeling site off Gardner Islet with a colorful diversity of sea life. Near Tortuga Rock you can explore caves covered with invertebrates. (B, L, D)

Wednesday - Punta Cormorant, Devil's Crown & Post Office Bay, Floreana (Charles) Island
This morning you step ashore at Punta Cormorant, one of the few populated islands in the Galapagos. Floreana presents a rich history with mystery and intrigue. Set foot on a green-sand beach alive with the sounds of sea lions. Follow a trail to a brackish lagoon, home of the pintail ducks, common stilts, and the pinkest flamingos in the world. Wind your way past a rich variety of plants including morning glory, cut-leaf daisies, palo verdes and Scalesia trees, leading to a beach with powder soft sand. Sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand dunes and rays swim in the shallow water. After the walk, you have an opportunity to snorkel at Devil's Crown, a shallow sunken crater colonized by a brilliant array of colorful fish and corral.

In the afternoon you visit Post Office Bay, not the most scenic, but probably the most famous site in Galapagos. Here is where a post barrel was put into use in the late 18th Century by English whaling vessels. You are invited to leave a post card and to pick up any mail from your home area. (B, L, D)

Thursday -Santa Cruz Highlands and Darwin Station, Santa Cruz Island
This morning you will travel by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The scenery gradually changes as you wind your way through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos. Here you visit the tortoise reserve at one of the private farms in the highlands where you encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat. You visit Los Gemelos, Spanish for 'The Twins', a pair of large pit craters where you find the bright red male vermilion flycatcher. You stop at 'the tunnels', the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos.

In the afternoon you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. (B, L, D)

Friday - Bartolome Island
This morning you will visit Bartolome, where it seems like you are walking on the moon. This young Island is inhospitable to most plants and animals. After a dry landing, climb 30 minutes up stairs leading to the summit of a once active volcano. Along the way, you pause to marvel at lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones. From the top of the wooden stairs, you can gaze out across the island for a panoramic view of the island and 'Pinnacle Rock', an eroded tuff cone. Crystal clear water is an invitation to snorkel from the beach or Zodiac with schools of tropical fish and Galapagos Penguins.

In the afternoon you will visit Bachas Beach where there is a long strand of white beach with lagoons behind it where you can see Greater Flamingos. There is also the chance for some wonderful snorkeling off the beach. Located off the tip of Santiago Island is Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino). It owes its name to its shape. After a wet landing through colonies of friendly, curious sea lions, the trail leads to an area of volcanic rubble where you will find bands of marine iguanas and colonies of oystercatchers. You can choose to snorkel at a site that is frequented by Galapagos penguins. (B, L, D)

Saturday - South Plaza Islet & North Seymour Island
This morning, you visit South Plaza, a small geological uplift with tall cliffs offering spectacular views. After a dry landing the trails lead you through prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) and Sesuvium. Here you can find the Galapagos Land Iguana feeding on the cactus leaves. Toward the end of the hill you encounter a colony of bachelor sea lions. The bulls are in various stages of recovery from battles lost over prime beach territory. You also find swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters and red-billed tropicbirds, who build their nests along the cliffs.

In the afternoon you sail for North Seymour Island, a small geological uplift. This is a dry landing, and home to the larges colony of Magnificent Frigate bird. You will also see endemic land iguanas, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. (B, L, D)

Sunday - Interpretation Center
You visit the Interpretation Center opened on San Cristobal Island in 1999. Here you gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the Islands. Afterwards, you spend time in port before heading to the airport for the flight back to the mainland. (B)

Recommended tipping:
$200 per person that will be distributed with the crew and guides.

Longer 15-Day/14-Night Cruises can be created by combining Itineraries A + B back-to-back. Call EcoAdventures toll free 1-800-326-5025 for details.

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Itinerary B
WESTERN/NORTHERN ROUTE
8 Days/7 Nights SUN/SUN Round-Trip - San Cristobal

Sample Itinerary "B" (104K PDF - opens in new window)

Day 1, Sunday – Arrive San Cristobal
Upon your arrival at San Cristobal Airport, proceed through entry formalities. Note that your Galapagos National Park tax has already been paid. You should not pay this tax again. In the airport lobby, find the small booth titled EcoVentura/Cruise Line, and check in with the staff there. They will secure your luggage and transfer it to the ship for you. You will then be transported to your ship for embarkation. After the welcome briefing, buffet lunch and safety drill, you will travel by bus into the interior of San Cristobal to visit La Galapaguera and Cerro Colorado, where the National Park has established a breeding program for the tortoises and set up an information center for visitors. Along the trail you will find the San Cristobal (Chatham) mockingbird and Calandrinia plant, both endemic to this island. Here, you will see the terrestrial tortoises living in their natural habitat but also learn about their origin, evolution and threats by introduced animals. (L, D)

Day 2, Monday - Prince Philip's Steps & Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Spend the entire day on Genovesa, one of the most spectacular islands in the Galapagos. This morning you will have a dry landing at Prince Philip's Steps. Find storm petrels and the elusive short-eared owl, and watch the famous red-footed boobies nesting in palo santo trees. After the walk, swim or kayak, then take a Zodiak (called 'pangas; in the Galapagos) ride along the jagged shoreline. On your ride, observe the beautiful red-billed tropicbird.

In the afternoon you will have a wet landing on Darwin Bay's coral beach, wind past swallow-tailed and lava gulls gathered in tide-pools. Then, enter a mangrove forest of nesting great frigate birds. Watch for males inflating their red, throated pouches to attract the females flying overhead. (B, L, D)

Day 3, Tuesday - Bachas Beach or Mosquera, Black Turtle Cove & Leon Dormido
This morning you will visit, Las Bachas, which is the Spanish translation for 'barges'. There is a long stretch of a soft white sand beach and interior lagoons where you find the greater flamingo. There is also a wonderful chance to snorkel here from the beach.

In the afternoon you will visit Black Turtle Cover (Caleta Tortuga Negra) where you will have a Zodiak ride through a series of coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves. Here you can view pairs of mating sea turtles (Sept-Feb) white-tipped reef sharks, and golden cow-nosed rays. Located at the southern tip of Santa Cruz Island is Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon). Along the trail you find Darwin Finches, Galapagos Flycatchers, yellow warblers, Audubon Shearwaters and the endemic land iguana. There are flamingos is the salt-water lagoon as well as other water birds such as stilts, pintail ducks and sandpipers. From the top of the hill you have a magnificent view. (B, L, D)

Day 4, Wednesday - Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island & Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
This morning you will have a wet landing at Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island. Fernandina, located in the western part of the archipelago, is the youngest and most pristine island of the Galapagos. Here, observe hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest colony in the Galapagos, bask in the sun along the rugged shoreline. Watch also groups of sea lions lounge and resident bulls carefully guard their territory. See flightless cormorants build their nests on the point and Galapagos hawks fly overhead.

In the afternoon, visit Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galapagos, formed by the confluence of six volcanoes. This afternoon you have a wet landing at Urbina Bay at the base of Alcedo Volcano, where you find four miles of its coastal seabed, with marine life exposed due to a dramatic uplift in 1954 when the volcano erupted. The marine remnants of coral skeletons, some of them waist-high, are visited after a wet landing on the beach. The brown pelicans and flightless cormorants nest here. Giant marine iguanas are seen along the coast. You might encounter Galapagos Penguins while snorkeling here. A Zodiak ride takes you to Punta Vincente Roca, where you can view the tuff walls, and enter a wave-sculpted cave frequented by sea turtles. (B, L, D)

Day 5, Thursday - Elizabeth Bay & Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
The morning the excursion is a zodiac ride to Elizabeth Bay off the shore of Isabela Island. First you will visit to a secluded cove, lined with large red mangrove trees. Here, turtles, rays, and shore birds can be seen. You will then motor to the rocky islets known as 'Las Marielas', where a colony of nesting penguins, flightless cormorants and giant marine iguanas are found.

This afternoon, you have a dry landing at Tagus Cove. Six volcanoes flowed together and formed the largest Island in Galapagos. During the walk, you discover a salt-water lagoon, a scenic overlook with a spectacular view of the ocean, lava fields and volcanic formations. Graffiti dating back to the 1800's is written on the rocky cliffs. Explore the coves by Zodiac or kayak to find Galapagos Penguins, boobies, pelicans and other seabirds. An excellent snorkeling opportunity is offered after the walk. After dinner, a sky full of stars beckons to go out on deck and observe the galaxy. (B, L, D)

Day 6, Friday - Puerto Egas, Santiago Island & Rabida Island
Take a morning stroll along the shore at Puerto Egas, Santiago (James) Island, to look for octopus, starfish, and other sea life caught in the tide pools. At low tide, catch a glimpse of marine iguanas as they feed on green algae. Watch also for great blue herons, lava herons, oystercatchers, and yellow-crowned night herons. End your walk at the grottos and deep clear pools for an encounter with fur sea lions, which formerly lived on the verge of extinction.

In the afternoon, on Rabida Island, you have a wet landing at the dark, red-colored beach of volcanic origin frequented by sea lions. It is often considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the Islands. A short trail leads to a salt-water lagoon, where you will occasionally find flamingos. July thru September is a good time of the year to observe how brown pelicans nest in the salty bushes found at the far side of the salty lagoon. Also to be observed are boobies and nine species of Darwin's finches. (B, L, D)

Day 7, Saturday - The Highlands & Darwin Station, Santa Cruz Island & Santa Fe Island
This morning, disembark for a bus excursion to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Enjoy a variety of scenery on this winding road to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, scientists from all over the world conduct biological research from anatomy to zoology. Observe the tortoises, learn about the captive breeding program, and get your picture taken with the giant tortoises. Afterward, stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora (population: 10,000), the largest town in the Galapagos. Buy souvenirs, mail postcards, and absorb local charm in the social heart of the islands.

In the afternoon you will visit Santa Fe Island, Southeast of Puerto Ayora. This afternoon, you visit SANTA FE (Barrington), a volcanic uplift, starting with a wet landing at a beach with sea lions. Here, you can observe one of the few remaining land iguanas of the species endemic to Santa Fe Island. Some of these iguanas can be 5 feet long and have very pronounced spines along its back. You also find a forest of giant prickly pear cactus, which is the land iguanas favorite food. (B, L, D)

Day 8, Sunday: Interpretation Center/ San Cristobal
This morning, you drop anchor in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal. You visit the Interpretation Center opened in 1999. Here you gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the islands. Afterwards, you head straight to the airport for our flight back to the mainland. (B)

Recommended tipping:
$200 per person that will be distributed with the crew and guides.