After landing at Baltra Airport, they drive you to the Itabaca Channel to take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride takes you up to the fascinating, more humid Highlands of the island where you’ll learn about its unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Note: Please dress in comfortable shoes and clothes, and bring a small backpack with any medicine you might be taking, sunblock, insect repellent, and anything you need during the excursion. You’ll go onboard Yacht Isabela II at the end of the day.

After lunch, they drive you to a nearby reserve that is one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, munching on grass and leaves, and wallowing in small pools. There are several lava tunnels to explore in the reserve, too. A short bus ride takes you to Puerto Ayora to board the Isabela II.

Following a wet landing on the black, sandy beach, your trail takes you to enjoy close-up encounters with recently reintroduced land iguanas, plus land and marine birds amid a landscape of tuff-stone layers, jagged rocks, and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds. You can also observe a colony of fur seals, usually dozing in the shade of some rocks.
Aquatic activities: Snorkeling, Beach, Swimming

Chinese Hat Islet is formed only relatively recently and makes a wonderful afternoon visit as you explore the wildlife along its 1,312 ft long (400 m long) trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped, white sandy beach. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins.
Aquatic activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Kayaking, Beach, Swimming

The day kicks off with a panga ride along the cliffs of “Bird Island”, as Genovesa is affectionately nicknamed, followed by a landing at a steep staircase that connects you with a flat plateau. From here the trail winds its way through large colonies of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, and storm petrels. With luck, you’ll be able to spot the short-eared owl. Those who do not wish to disembark can enjoy a longer panga (inflatable dinghy) ride along the cliffs, weather conditions permitting. Other activities that may take place here include snorkeling and kayaking.
Aquatic activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Kayaking, Glass-bottom boat, Swimming, Paddleboarding

You land after lunch at the beautiful white beach of Darwin Bay. Here you walk amid literally hundreds of birds, most of which are frigatebirds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, as well as gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds.
Aquatic activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Beach, Swimming

Take the dinghy over to this idyllic sandy-white beach populated by colonies of sea lions. Galapagos hawks are often easily observed, perched atop salt bushes. The Santa Fe land iguana may be spotted during our exploration. Following the walk, you can snorkel and swim along a natural wave barrier or ride the glass-bottom boat.
Aquatic activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Kayaking, Glass-bottom boat, Swimming, Paddleboarding

Following lunch and a rest, disembark (dry landing) in this channel, whose turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline. Beyond, a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as a groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-grey land iguanas sit beneath these, waiting patiently for pears to drop. Along the coastline you find sea lion colonies, while frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, and shearwaters glide, playing with the thermals.

Your journey ends at Baltra Island where you transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.