Hermes Galapagos Cruises

This morning you will have an excursion to Rábida with its unique reddish landscape, to see a lagoon and a sea lion colony. Arrive at a red sand beach at Rábida to explore its trails. A short trail leads to a saltwater lagoon; another trail goes past the lagoon to the interior, where the revered palo santo trees grow. (When burned, the branches of this tree give off a pleasing aroma and ward off mosquitoes). Head back to the beach to see prehistoric-looking pelicans nesting among low-lying bushes—it’s a rare treat to watch parent pelicans return with gullets full of fish for the squawking youngsters. Take a panga ride from the beach to a cliff wall that drops off into the water to find one of the best deep-water snorkeling spots in the islands.

Continue to Bartolomé for a guided tour to see the dramatic volcanic features before hiking to a panoramic viewpoint. Hike to Bartolomé’s summit for a stronger perspective of the islands’ not-too-distant volcanic origins and enjoy a panoramic view—it’s one of the best among the islands! See other Galápagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock. Take the opportunity to swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic volcanic rock formations on the islands. Home to Galápagos penguins, friendly sea lions, sea turtles and a huge variety of fish, Bartolomé and its surrounding waters are a fantastic place to explore the natural wonders of the Galápagos.

Land at South Plaza in the morning for wildlife spotting opportunities and a walk through the cactus forest. South Plaza is one of the smallest islands in the Galápagos, but has one of the largest populations of land iguanas. Walk along a path through a cactus forest and view a combination of dry and coastal vegetation on this lively island, home to a wide range of fauna, including incredible birdlife. Spot red-billed tropicbirds and indigenous swallow-tailed gulls resting on the cliffs, and sea lions playing in the waters.

In the afternoon, take a guided walk around Santa Fé to observe wildlife and plentiful marine iguanas. Lace up your hiking boats to explore the island’s flora and fauna. Trek toward the cliffs along the island’s northern shore to see a forest of giant prickly pear cacti (Opuntia). See endemic land iguanas lounging in their favorite forest and feasting on Opuntia pads and fruit.

Morning landing at Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island. Enjoy amazing wildlife watching and interesting geological formations on this fascinating expedition. Arrive at a quiet cove on the eastern tip of San Cristóbal to explore Punta Pitt. Made up of volcanic tuff substrate, it’s the only site in the Galápagos where it’s possible to see three species of boobies and two species of frigatebirds. Snorkel around Punta Pitt Island and spot schools of fish swimming below. On the shore, admire the nesting birds and sun bathing sea lions.

In the afternoon, land at Cerro Brujo to observe the sea lions, marine iguanas and seabirds along the beach, in the water and in the air. Learn about the human and natural history of the area from your naturalist guide. Take a refreshing dip in the turquoise water and head out on a short walk to a freshwater lagoon—a great place to see flamingos.

In the morning, visit Isla Lobos and be greeted by sea lions frolicking in the waves and a small colony of blue-footed boobies. Explore this tiny island by foot and boat for some great wildlife encounters. Take a panga ride to view the sea- and shorebirds nesting and feeding. Spot a small colony of blue-footed boobies as well as two species of sea lions. Snorkel right off the beach, amid the families of sea lions and their inquisitive pups looking to play. Spot nesting frigatebirds and the famous blue-footed boobies resting on the shore. Be sure to bring your camera to catch some snaps at this prime wildlife watching haven.

In the afternoon, learn about the evolution of the Galapagos at the Interpretation Center, including the history of the Galápagos Islands from the very beginning of their volcanic origins through to today’s conservation efforts. Tour the Human History exhibit to learn about the islands’ discovery and colonization, and discover the natural history and variety of flora and fauna that make the Galápagos so fascinating.

Lastly, visit Tijeretas, a great viewpoint and spot for wildlife encounters. Tijeretas Hill bears its name thanks to the frigatebirds as “Tijeretas” is how people locally call them. Here we will enjoy from a great view of beautiful landscapes at the foot of a frigatebird nesting colony.

Enjoy the day on Española Island, one of the oldest in the archipelago. Visit Gardner Bay’s magnificent white sandy beach, home to sea lions and seabirds. Be sure to explore the beautiful turquoise water and its incredible sea life. Spot young sea lions and large schools of surprisingly big tropical fish, including yellow-tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish and bump-head parrot fish. Look for white-tipped reef sharks napping on the bottom.

After lunch, sail to the western side of the islands to Punta Suárez, known for its amazing bird colonies and home to the waved albatross (April and December). Punta Suárez is one of most rich wildlife landing sites in the Galápagos. Be greeted by surfing young sea lions on arrival. Head to the trail to find many species of nesting seabirds and, if lucky, see the waved albatross. Follow the path up to a cliff for great views over the ocean and watch seabirds gliding in the wind.

Land at Punta Cormorant, the only landing site on Floreana Island, and discover two amazingly different beaches: one with green sand, colored by olivine crystals, and another with white sand particles known as Flour Beach. Spend the afternoon observing flamingos and other shore birds feeding in the lagoon. Spot penguins and marine iguanas at the water’s edge, and explore the lava tubes with your naturalist guide.

At Champion Islet, jump on in and get up close and personal with the playful sea lion colony that reside in the waters off this tiny island. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays and colorful fish swimming by. There can be currents in this area, this activity should be done by strong swimmers only.

Lastly, visit Post Office Bay and learn about its unique history. In the late 18th century, English whaling vessels placed a barrel here to be used as a post office. Today, the box is used mainly by tourists, who may drop off and pick up unstamped letters to be carried to far destinations. Continue the tradition—leave a letter and take one to deliver (be sure it makes it to the correct location).

Disembark in Puerto Ayora and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant Galápagos tortoises. Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, a great place to observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close—a corral houses adult tortoises and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened.

This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos’ ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community. In the afternoon, fly back to the Ecuador mainland from the Baltra airport.

This morning, visit Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz. For some prime birdwatching, take a short walk from the beach to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon frequented by pink flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. Pass through a Scalesia tree forest; endemic to the area, there are only 400 specimens of Scalesia trees left in the world.

In the afternoon, the boat arrives at a small uniquely shaped island off the southern tip of Santiago called Chinese Hat. Here it is often possible to see Galápagos penguins, and the marine life is fantastic for snorkeling. Snorkel right from the white-coral sand beach and come face to face with playful sea lions and large schools of tropical fish. Keep an eye out for marine iguanas and penguins too! There is also a large sea lion colony as well as many marine iguanas that can be seen while walking amongst the volcanic scenery. Explore Chinese Hat’s beautiful landscape and spectacular white-coral sand beach followed by snorkeling with sea lions and penguins and swimming opportunities in the cove. Trek to see good views of the island’s volcano.

Today you will be visiting the beautiful and remote Genovesa Island. This northern island, famous for its red-footed colony, is a paradise for bird lovers. It is estimated that about 200,000 red-footed boobies live on this island.

El Barranco, otherwise known as Prince Phillips’s Steps, was named after a visit by the British Monarch in 1964. El Barranco’s steep 81-foot stairway leads up to a high cliff-face that opens out onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay. Here an amazing view can be appreciated. Once at the top of the stairway, you will meet Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches along the way of a palo santo trail. It will also be possible to see wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm and short-eared owls.

Darwin bay was formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island, another name used for Genovesa. After landing at a small sand and coral beach, it is easy to realize why this island is a bird lover’s paradise. Among the bird species found here, the most common are swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos doves and yellow warblers. Continue on a short and flat trail to encounter red-footed booby and great frigatebird nests. Visit a tidal lagoon where sea lions swim playfully, ending your path on a cliff with magnificent views of this remote part of the Galapagos.

Take a morning panga ride and look for marine life in Black Turtle Cove. Explore the mangroves by panga to find rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Keep any eye out for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem. White-tip reef sharks can also be seen gliding by.

Next, sail to Bachas Beach, where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white. Here you can relax and swim in its crystalline waters. This site also gives visitors the opportunity to see frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and sea lions. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water’s edge—these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts and sea lions. Then go snorkeling or swimming right off the white-sand beach. Spot all sorts of marine wildlife in the shallow waters and tidal pools. Bachas is also one of the most important beaches for the green turtle as a nesting site.

After a long journey from the central part of the Galapagos, you will arrive to the pristine and remote West of the archipelago. Your visits today are Tagus Cove and Urbina Bay on the west of Isabela Island, where you will have your first encounters with flightless cormorants, penguins, giant tortoises, as well as beautiful landscapes and amazing snorkeling opportunities.

Tagus Cove is located on the Northwestern coast of Isabela. It is a historical site visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, where graffiti has been carved into the rock walls by visitors over the past centuries. This spot has been frequented by whalers and pirates since the 1800s that used the area as anchorage. The name of the site dates back to 1814 when it was visited by a British ship, The Tagus, which had anchored there in search of giant tortoises to be used as food supply on the boat.

Here, admire a variety of seabirds, such as blue-footed booby, brown noddy, terns, flightless cormorant and Galapagos penguins depending on the season. Occasionally you might see woodpecker finches, the Galapagos hawk, the yellow warbler or a large-billed flycatcher. After a dry landing, climb up the trail to visit Darwin ‘s Lake. The lake is located on the slopes of Darwin Volcano and is, surprisingly, a saltwater lake above sea level. Your naturalist guide will tell you the different scientific theories for this occurrence. Meanwhile, while snorkeling there are chances to see sharks, turtles and sea stars. You may also see various different types of colorful fish.

Urbina Bay is a fascinating visitor site that came to be as the shallow sea bottom uplifted in 1954, showing a large coral reef sticking up above sea level. Because of this, Urbina Bay is one of the newest features in the Galapagos. This visitor site is located on the western shore of Isabela and provides spectacular views of the Alcedo volcano. The long trail starts on the beach where a wet landing is made. In this location, you will likely see wild Galapagos giant tortoises and Galapagos land iguanas. As the trail circles back towards the shoreline you’ll come across colonies of the unique Galapagos flightless cormorant which lost its ability to fly. This is also a great spot for snorkeling, as you can come close to a Galapagos penguin colony and see Galapagos marine iguanas feeding underwater.

Today, visit the most western visitor site of the Galapagos, Espinoza Point in Fernandina Island. This island is also one the most pristine on the archipelago as no foreign species have been introduced. From here you can see the island of Isabela across the Bolívar Channel, an area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. Fernandina is the youngest of the Galapagos Islands and a visitor favorite. When landing, check out the tidal pools where there is abundance of sea life, including small fish and mollusks. If you are lucky, a sea turtle or ray may appear in the pools. A little further ahead you will pass through some marine iguana burrows and sea lion colonies. The trail continues to where several flightless cormorants have their nests. This remarkable bird is only found in western Galapagos, and experts estimate that there may only be a few hundred individuals in total.

In the afternoon, visit Vicente Roca Point on Isabela Island, famous for its rich underwater sea life thanks to its location on the Bolivar Channel. Vicente Roca Point has great deep-water snorkeling. Vicente Roca Point is renowned for its Galápagos green turtles, which are very numerous on the bay. Although the spot is known for its high concentration of green turtles, sharks and rays can also be observed when underwater visibility is good. Take a dinghy ride along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and coastal birds; Nazca and blue-footed boobies, noddies, brown pelicans, penguins and flightless cormorants. The upwelling of cold-water currents in this part of the Galapagos gives rise to an abundance of marine life. Your snorkeling will takes you along the cliffs and offers the chance of exploring two shallow underwater caves with rich marine wildlife.

Morning excursion to Puerto Egas to see the salt crater as well as a dark-sand beach and tidal pools. Santiago Island has seen its share of human activity from whalers and pirates over the years, and despite the introduction of goats to the island many years ago, the wildlife of Santiago has otherwise flourished and provides outstanding viewing opportunities. The island boasts marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, land and sea turtles, among others. Enjoy great wildlife viewing both on land and in the water. Explore the spectacular shoreline of Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay. Grab a snorkel and jump into the water right off the beach to explore Puerto Egas’ interesting underwater world. Keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles and reef sharks. After, visit the large tidal pool area—marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs are everywhere.

Continue to Buccaneer Cove to witness the towering cliff wall rock formations during a panga excursion. Buccaneer Cove was a favorite hideout for pirates looking to stock up their boats with food and water. Spot sea lions relaxing on the beach and seabirds nesting in the cove—there’s lots to see at this site.

Visit North Seymour for guided walks to observe birds and wildlife, including vast sea lion colonies. This island is teeming with life! Follow trails to see all the action (you may need to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana while walking). See blue-footed booby nests where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Head to a rocky shore to see flocks of pelicans having lunch in a dive bomb feeding frenzy, then turn inland to a large nesting site of magnificent frigatebirds. These huge, dark acrobats have 6.5-foot (two-meter) wingspans and males, with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks. In the afternoon, disembark at Baltra for your flight back to the Ecuador mainland.