TIP TOP III 8 DAY CRUISE ITINERARY (FRIDAY-FRIDAY)

Day 1 - Friday  / Galapagos Arrival & Caleta Tortuga Negra, Santa Cruz

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 Tip Top III. Once on board we have lunch and set off for Caleta Tortuga Negra.

Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. As we drift though the quite waters in our panga, we are likely to see spotted eagle rays and diamond shaped mustard rays, white-tipped reef sharks slip beneath the boat and Pacific green sea turtles come to the surface for air and to mate. Waterfowl, including pelicans, herons and egret, all feed in the cove.

Day 2 - Saturday  / Rabida & 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 movie Master and Commander.

Located south of Santiago, Rabida is one of the most volcanically varied islands in the chain. Geologically consisting of eroded hills and lava emitted from spatter cones that have resulted in island's striking colors. A visit begins with a wet landing on the deep maroon colored northern beach.
Marine iguanas and sea lions are often seen resting in the shade of the caves nearby. Behind the beach is the salt brush home where the brown pelicans make their nests.  On the cliffs above the pelicans, blue-footed boobies and masked boobies can be seen.  Following the path visitors arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where pink flamingos, Bahama pintail ducks and common stilts are frequently seen feeding.

Day 3 - Sunday  / Darwin Bay & Prince Philips Steps, Genovesa (Tower)

Tower is a collapsed volcano and the yacht sails directly into its large caldera to anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls.  Tower attracts an enormous number of pelagic seabirds that come there to nest. Great frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels all breed here by the thousands.

Day 4 - Monday  / Darwin Station & Highlands, Santa Cruz

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.

A trip to the highlands offers an excellent opportunities for viewing wild tortoises. As you walk through the forest, listen carefully for the sound of heavy foot steps and the sound of shrubs being slowly crushed as the tortoises make their way through the brush to enjoy a meal. The Highlands also offers plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes and craters to explore. Theses eerie formations offer a fascinating hike into the belly of the island to view its volcanic make-up.

Day 5 - Tuesday  / Plazas & Santa Fe

Located off the east coast of Santa Cruz, South Plaza is a small island with an interesting collection of species. Home to a noisy colony of sea lions, South Plaza is known for its lazy land iguanas who can be seen waiting under the prickly pear cactus for some of the delicious fruit to drop. Swallow-tailed gulls can be seen nesting along the cliffs. While yellow-tailed mullets, Audubon shearwaters, frigatebirds and brown pelicans can all be seen flying past.

Visits to Santa Fe begin with a panga ride across the lovely turquoise lagoon. Once ashore you are brought into contact with of of the many sea lion colonies in the Galapagos. Bulls vie for the right of beach master while cows laze in the sun. The loop trail around the islands leads past the salt bushes where Galapagos hawks can easily be approached. Continuing along the cliffs leads you to a forest of the largest prickly pear cactus in Galapagos. Santa Fe is home to an endemic land iguana. These iguanas are the largest in the islands and they are beige to chocolate brown in color and resemble small dinosaurs.

Day 6 - Wednesday  / Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay, Española

Española's two visitor sites offer an exceptional island visit. Gardner Bay is a favorite destination for swimming and snorkeling as well as offering a great beach. Punta Suarez is one of the highlights of the Galapagos Islands. The variety and quantity of wildlife assures a memorable visit. Visitors find migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly colored marine iguanas, Española lava lizards, Hood mockingbirds, swallow tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, Galapagos hawks, a selection of finch, and the waved albatross.

Day 7 - Thursday / 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 8 - Friday Morning / Las Bachas & Galapagos Departure

Located west of Caleta Tortuga Negra on Santa Cruz, Bachas Beach is a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. The lagoon behind the beach offers the opportunity to view coastal birds like pink flamingos, black-necked stilts and whimbrels. Bachas also is home to hundreds of blue-footed boobies who can be seen hunting in the waters just off the coast. We then return to the airport for our flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland.

View the 5 day cruise itinerary (Friday - Tuesday)

View the 5 day cruise itinerary (Monday - Friday)

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