Compare Galapagos Islands Sailing by Adventure Unbound

Day 1:

Arrive Guayaquil, Ecuador.  You are met outside the customs and immigration area at the airport and escorted to the luxurious Wyndham Hotel.

Day 2:

 Transfer from the hotel to the airport and fly to the Galapagos.  You land on the island of Baltra where the U.S. Air Force built a runway during WWII.  Upon arrival you are met by Encantada yacht staff and drive 10 minutes from the airport to the Itabaca channel where a five-minute ferry ride takes you to the island of Santa Cruz.  From here you travel across the island, stopping to see some of the giant Galapagos tortoises at a nature preserve along the way. Upon arrival in the seaside town of Puerto Ayora there is time to visit the Charles Darwin Research Center. Later in the afternoon we board the yacht and settle in to our cabins.  After dinner in the harbor, we pull anchor and begin our travels towards the island of Genovesa.

Day 3:

We arrive in the morning at the island of Genovesa and have a dry landing at El Barranco, or Prince Phillip’s steps where a steep, rocky path leads to the top of a high cliff. There are spectacular views from here and the opportunity to observe red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos doves and Galapagos swallows. Back at the water we have our first snorkeling adventure. Then, we return to the boat and continue to Darwin Bay to find a white- sand coral beach and a half-mile trail that winds through mangrove trees filled with various birds.  We should see Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls among other birds. There are also tide pools to explore and an opportunity to snorkel in the bay and enjoy fascinating interactions with curious, playful sea lions.

Day 4:

We arrive at the island of Bartolomé, a small island formed by two tuff cones attached to Santiago Island.  On this extinct volcano we find fine-particle ash hardened into shades of red, black and green.  This is the home of the iconic Pinnacle Rock and we climb a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano for panoramic views across the island and to distant islands.  We return to a golden-sand beach to enjoy the sun and a perfect place for snorkeling.  With luck we may see Galapagos penguins and perhaps even have a chance to snorkel with them! Then we continue to Sullivan Bay where there is a large lava field of fascinating patterns, the result of explosions of gas or water coming forth from the once-molten lava. There’s another chance to snorkel in crystal clear waters.

Day 5:

Today we visit Bainbridge Rock, just off the coast of Santiago Island.    A trail follows the coastline where there are tide pools and grottos filled with sea life. This is an excellent chance to see the Galapagos fur seal bathing in the sun. We then take a panga (dinghy) ride in Chinese Hat which is a place of fairly recent volcanic activity and a few intact lava tunnels. This is another place to snorkel and swim in tranquil blue waters, watching colorful fish and playing with young sea lions.

After lunch on the boat we head to the northern part of the island of Santa Cruz to visit Caleta Tortuga Negra, a small bay surrounded by mangroves and only accessible by dinghy.  It’s a safe haven for marine life such as white tip reef sharks, sea turtles and various rays such as manta rays and eagle rays.

Day 6:

Our last day on the Encantada has still more discovery.  We go to the official visitor site of Seymour North where there is a large breeding colony of frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. The trail leads up among their nests while you watch your step as there are also land and marine iguanas. There’s also time to snorkel along the island’s rocky coast.  It’s a special place to end our Galapagos adventure and then return to the Itabaca Channel for a short transfer back to the Baltra airport and a flight to Guayaquil. On arrival in Guayaquil, transfer to the hotel and overnight.  Dinner is on your own.

Day 7:

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Encantada

Return home or continue exploring Ecuador. We are happy to arrange extensions to visit historic haciendas of the highlands; a jungle lodge in the Amazon or on to Peru and Machu Picchu.