JOURNEY II (Cormorant II) 5 Day Cruise Itinerary (Wednesday - Sunday)

Day 1 - Wednesday / Galapagos Arrival & Bartolome

We begin our morning with a flight to the Galapagos Islands. Our crew meets us at the airport and assists us with our luggage and transfers with us to the Journey II. Once on board we have lunch and set sail for Bartolome.

Located just off Sullivan Bay east of Santiago, Bartolome, a desolate island with few plants is the most visited and most photographed island in the Galapagos. Bartolome's Pinnacle Rock has become one of the best recognized and most photographed sights in the islands and was the back drop for the motion picture Master and Commander.

Day 2 - Thursday / Punta Espinosa, Fernandina & Urvina Bay, Isabela

The youngest of the Galapagos Islands, Fernandina is approximately 700,00 years old. It's location to the west and on the far side of Isabela makes it one of the least visited islands. Fernandina is home to the largest colony of marine iguanas. Flightless cormorants nest in along this rocky area near the high water line, and recently Galapagos penguins have been spotted nesting in the area.

Lying at the foot of Alcedo Volcano, south of Tagus Cove, is Urvina Bay (Urbina Bay) one of the best and the most recent example of Geological Uplift in the Galapagos. Seasonally Urvina Bay provides a nesting area for many of the Galapagos creatures. Female tortoises journey down from Alcedo to lay their eggs in the sand. Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants and brown pelicans nest in the area as well.

Day 3 - Friday / Elizabeth Bay & Punta Moreno, Isabela

A marine visitor site, a visit to Elizabeth Bay is a panga ride around the Marielas islets home to the largest colony of penguin in the Galapagos. The nearby mangrove lined cove is home to sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions.

A visit to Punta Moreno begins on the rocky shoreline surrounded by black and red mangrove lagoons. Here we are treated to excellent views of some of Isabela's volcanoes including Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul.  The area has an abundant bird population including Darwin finch, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, penguins, flightless cormorants, brown pelicans and blue- footed boobies.

Day 4 - Saturday / Punta Cormorant, Devil's Crown & Post Office Bay, Floreana

Floreana is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and colonists. In 1793 British whalers established the Post Office Barrel to send letters to and from England. This tradition has continued over the years, and even today visitors may drop off and pick up letters, without stamps, to be carried to far destinations. Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches. The landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a carbonate beach of extremely fine white sand. Formed by the erosion of coral skeletons, it is a nesting site for green sea turtles.

Day 5 - Sunday / Darwin Station & Galapagos Departure

Located near the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz is the center of tourism in the Galapagos. A ten minute walk from the center of town, the Charles Darwin Research Station is the working Galapagos based branch of the international, non-profit Charles Darwin Foundation, a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station is included in all cruises of the islands. Visitors learn about natural history, issues concerning the islands, and see the Tortoise breeding and rearing project at work

We then head across the island of Santa Cruz to the Baltra airport for our flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland.

View the 8 Day Cruise Itinerary (Wednesday - Wednesday)

View the 8 Day Cruise Itinerary (Sunday - Sunday)

View the 4 Day Cruise Itinerary (Sunday to Wednesday)

*Please note the itinerary may vary due to changes in air schedules, weather, national park regulations, local conditions, safety or unforeseen emergencies.