Galapagos tours & Cruises West Islands + Genovesa Circuit Endemic Catamaran


As you cruise through volcanic rocks, islands and other island formations in the Galapagos archipelago, discover the wonders of West islands + Genovesa. Fernandina island's flightless cormorants can be viewed. You can also walk among nesting red-footed boobies at El Barranco. Then, cool off with the rays, sealions and iguanas of Isabela island. An 8-day tour that includes wildlife encounters and nature adventures will take you on a ride in a zodiac, along with hiking on lava and other geological formations. The Endemic is a luxurious catamaran that offers gourmet cuisine, world-class service, and private balconies in every cabin.
Day 1: Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach
After your arrival at Baltra Airport, you will be met by a representative and transferred to the M/C Endemic. In the afternoon, you will visit Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island's northern coast. You can take a walk or snorkel in the gentle waves. The beach is where sea turtles lay eggs. A rusted pontoon is another relic from the Second World War. Actually, "bachas", which is an incorrect pronunciation of "barges", was used to describe two of the wrecked barges that were found offshore. The locals mispronounced it and it stuck.
Day 2: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay & El Barranco (Prince Philip’s Steps)

Darwin Bay

Visit Darwin Bay in the morning. It is the only sandy beach in the caldera of Genovesa. The beach is home to colonies of Great Frigates. For the chance of a match, males show their red balloon pouches to females. Red-footed Bobies nest in trees, while the other two species do so on the ground.

El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps).

You will visit El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps), which is a stone-carved stairway. You will reach a plateau where you can see large colonies of frigate birds, stormpetrels, ducks, and masked boobies. This easy walk will take you through a Scalesia forest that is the habitat for the short-eared Owl. You will return to your boat by following the same route.

Day 3: Santa Cruz Island:Twin Craters & Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay

Santa Cruz Island: Twin Craters

After breakfast, you will visit the Twin Craters in the morning. These scenic craters, which are located in the Santa Cruz highlands on the way to Baltra airport (from Puerto Ayora), are approximately 30m deep. These two large land depressions are surrounded with Scalesia forests that support a variety of birds, including the Vermilion Flycatcher and the yellow warbler. The visit also includes stunning views of the lush green highlands forest. To see giant tortoises wild, you will need to stay on Santa Cruz Island's highlands. This impressive animal is the reason for the archipelago's name. The Galapagos giant tortoises can be easily admired in their natural habitat. They are walking, eating, and even walking. You can also see many birds, including yellow warblers and Galapagos rails, short-eared Owls, Darwin's finches and paint-billed Crapkes. You will also visit underground lava tubes made from cooled and solidified volcanic lava. We will then continue our journey on to the M/C Endemic.

Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay

You will be visiting Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island's east coast in the afternoon. Our landing spot is on a beach of coral sand and we begin our walk through lava flows that have been flowing for less than 100 years. This is the ideal spot to view and feel the volcanic origins of Galapagos. You will also find lava fields flora.

Day 4: Isabela Island: Sierra Negra Volcano, Wetlands, The Wall of tears & Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center

Wetlands

Isabela Island, which covers 4,588 km2, is the largest archipelago. It covers more than half the land area of Galapagos. You will be taken to the Wetlands (Humedales), a network of trails that runs 6 km long and is located south of Isabela Island. There is a large variety of vegetation and abundant bird life including finches, gallinules, stilts, ducks and other birds.

Sierra Negra Volcano

You can also visit Sierra Negra Volcano which is the largest crater in the archipelago, measuring five kilometers in diameter. You will be amazed at the contrast of colors between vegetation, lava fields and fumaroles.

You will see giant tortoises, marine iguanas and other creatures on the way to Orchilla hill. The stunning views of the bay, Puerto Villamil, volcanic islets, and rocks can all be seen from the viewpoint. Isabela wetlands is home to both endemic and introduced species.

Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center

After lunch, you can visit the Isabela Arnaldo Tupiza breeding center for juvenile and infant giant tortoises until they are ready to go out into the wild.
Muro

The Wall of tears

You can also visit the Wall of Tears. This monument was built by prisoners in the 40s. Isabela Island was once a penal colony. The punishment included building the wall.

Day 5: Isabela Island: Elizabeth Bay & Urbina Bay

Elizabeth Bay

You will find Elizabeth Bay in the morning. This is a marine visitor spot. You will be traveling in a Zodiac, so there's no need to land. The Marielas islands are where you will find the most important and largest penguin colony of the Galapagos Islands. Continue on to the cove, which is surrounded with red mangroves. Here you will find sea turtles and flightless cormorants.

Urbina Bay

Urbina Bay will also be open for visitors in the afternoon. You can find coral formations and large-colored land iguanas here. There are many opportunities to see giant turtles, flightless cormorants and blue-footed bobies as well as penguins, marine iguanas, and blue-footed Bobies.

Day 6: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove & Fernandina Island: Espinoza Point

Isabela Island: Tagus Cove

Tagus Cove is the first attraction you will see after breakfast. You can see the Galapagos penguin and the flightless cormorant from the Zodiac as you ride along the cliffs.

It takes about 30 minutes to hike up the trail to the top of Darwin Cliff, from which you can see Darwin Lake, a saltier-than-the seawater lake. From this spot, you can also view several volcanoes.

Fernandina Island: Espinoza Point

After lunch, Fernandina will take you to Espinoza Point, which is Fernandina’s favorite visit point. It is surrounded by fascinating lava scenery and Lava-Cactuses. Mangroves flourish on the lava's surface. Highlights include sea lions and penguins as well as the flightless cormorant, which is especially common in spring and summer, and the largest iguana colony of Galapagos.

Day 7: Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach & Buccaneer Cove & Rabida Island

Santiago Island: Buccaneer Cove

You will be able to explore the Buccaneer cove, which is just north of James Bay in the morning.
It was a safe place for pirates in the 17th-18th centuries to store their loot, get fresh water, and capture tortoises as food. You can enjoy a Zodiac ride, snorkeling or kayaking here. You can see blue-footed, Nazca and fur seals as well as Galapagos Hawks flying over the area.

Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach

You can also visit Espumilla Beach. This beach is known for its pristine sandy beaches and Sally Lightfoot Crabs. The dancing dance of predator-prey is performed by the crabs that attract hunting herons. Snorkeling is recommended due to the abundance of marine life, including sharks, moray eels, and octopi.

Rabida Island

You will travel to Rabida Island in the afternoon. The main attraction of Rabida Island is its red sand beach. This area is known for its cactus-groves and rock formation scenery. You will find nests of brown pelicans and a lagoon where you might see flamingos.

Day 8: Mosquera Islet & Departure from Baltra Island

Mosquera Islet

Visit Mosquera in the morning. It is a small island between Baltra and North Seymour Islands. This sandbank has a length of more than 600 meters and is home to sea lions, lava gulls, and Sally light-foot crabs. It is home to the largest population of orca whales and sea lions, which can be seen depending on the season.

Transfer to Baltra airport after your last visit to Ecuador for your return flight.
Assistance at the airport and farewell


Highlights

  • Keep an eye out for dolphins as they swim at the bow of the Endemic catamaran
  • Walk amongst nesting red footed boobies in the mangrove forest at Darwin bay
  • Swim with marine iguanas as they feed on algae off the coast of Fernandina island
  • Learn about the flightless cormorant an icon in the theory of evolution
  • Enjoy a different sunset at a distinct Galapagos island every afternoon
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