Galapagos Voyage

This morning you make an early start to fly down to Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city and economic dynamo. After a short stop, your flight continues almost 1000km directly west to Baltra, one of only two commercial airports on the islands. More importantly for you, it's the starting point for your voyage through the so-called "Enchanted Islands" and you immediately board the boat that's to be your floating home and set sail.

In the departure lounge at Quito airport you will meet the representative of the M.Y. San Jose who will assist you with your group check-in and payment of the $10 transit card fee. Lunch is normally served on the flight. On arrival at Baltra Airport in the Galapagos you must pay the US$100 arrival tax for entry to Galapagos National Park. This is best done using cash, as using credit cards can be a time consuming process. You are met in the arrival hall of the airport by your naturalist guide and transferred to the 'San Jose'.

Once settled on board, your cruise departs for Las Bachas. The sandy, white beaches on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island are a nesting site for the Pacific green turtle, and marine iguanas are also commonly seem. The rocks provide a great snorkelling experience and are the perfect habitat for the Sally Lightfoot crabs, which are plentiful on the island. A saltwater lagoon near the beach is home to flamingo and whimbrel, and look out too for great blue herons. Boat (twin cabins) - 7 nights (BD)

San Jose – The M.Y. San Jose is a modern, comfortable vessel built in 2003. It has a large and comfortable lounge and dining area, as well as a sun deck where you can watch the wildlife or just kick back and relax. There are eight well appointed, individually air conditioned, twin cabins. There are 9 including English speaking Naturalist guide. The guide is certified by the National Park Level II.

Sailing along Isabela’s west coast is an exploration of Galapagos history, both natural and man-made. The shoreline has long provided a safe harbour for ships and was also the site of an astonishing geological uplift in the 1950s, when Volcan Alcedo erupted, the coastline rising as much as 1km out of the sea. This morning you visit Punta Moreno and Elizabeth Bay. On the south- western side of Isabela, Punta Moreno has an impressive landscape of Black lava flows and brackish lagoons which are magnet for wildlife. Here amongst the unusual vegetation you are likely to spot Darwin’s finches, Galapagos Doves, blue-footed boobies, mockingbirds and flightless cormorants. From here you have spectacular views of the Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul Volcanoes The jagged, rocky islets of Elizabeth Bay make for classic Galapagos exploration, with an abundance of life on land and underwater.

In the sheltered passages and coves fringed with mangrove forests, rays and many turtles are often seen, as well as sea lions resting on fallen trees. Elsewhere, trails through the sharp lava terrain get you among penguins and Sally Lightfoot crabs.

Elizabeth Bay is also the finest place in the Galapagos for seeing shearwaters further north, Tagus Cove is a beautiful spot – a sheltered anchorage protected by two volcanoes. The name of this small cave originated from a British warship which sailed through the islands in 1814 looking for the Galapagos Tortoise for use as food; the walls of the cave display maritime inscriptions left by the sailors of this era. The waters are alive with marine life here – look out for dolphins and penguins, and perhaps even sunfish. A hike uphill takes you past a saltwater lagoon and through palo santo forest to Punta Tortuga, where the views back down to the cove and lagoon are breathtaking. The trail is also a great opportunity to see Galapagos hawks. (BLD)

Today you visit some wonderful places. Espumilla Beach, on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay, is one of the most idyllic locations in the Galapagos Islands and is an important nesting site for marine turtles. Espumilla beach is also well known for it’s Palo Santo Forest and some extraordinary lava formations. This morning you also visit Caleta Bucanero (Buccaneer Cove), a natural monument of rocks caused by sea erosion. This cove was used by pirates to careen their ships. It is a place of local legends and stories!

Port Egas is a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island. South of the beach is Sugarloaf Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff. This site is named Puerto Egas, after Hector Egas who last attempted to mine salt here. The walk along the beach offers hundreds of marine iguanas, california sea lions and Galapagos fur sea lions. (BLD)

Today you visit Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, and home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. As well as undertaking vital conservation work, the station also makes for interesting exploration and offers the best opportunities for close encounters with giant tortoises, including the famous ‘Lonesome George’, the last tortoise of his sub-species (one of 11 sub-species native to the islands). You also observe baby tortoises and land iguanas.

Afterward you head up into the highlands for a total change of scenery. Beginning at the coast you travel across Santa Cruz through the agricultural region and into the misty forests. Here it is a lush humid zone containing miconia bushes, scalesia and inactive volcanic cones. Santa Cruz has more endemic plants than any of the other islands and you are likely to see Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat and perhaps even the bright red feathers of a vermillion flycatcher! (BLD)

The day is left free to relax and shop, or do one of a number of optional excursions (which must be booked in advance during your first stay in Quito). Outside Quito, you can visit the national park surrounding the lovely snow-capped volcanic cone of Cotopaxi (5897m), the largest active volcano in the world and Ecuador's second highest peak. Alternatively, you could head a couple of hours north to visit one of South America's most famous market towns - Otavalo. Although it's not market day, the shops are full of the handicrafts produced in the villages nearby.

The industrious Otavalenos are always instantly recognisable due to their striking appearance: the pony-tailed men in their distinctive uniform of felt hat, navy and grey poncho, calf-length white cotton trousers and rope-soled alpargatas; the women in white blouses, dark skirts and necklaces of gold and coral. For the more active there are options to go mountain biking or white water rafting, or trek up Pichincha on the edge of the city. (B)