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The Ocean Spray Cruise
10-day itinerary I
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Darwin Island
What to see
- Whale sharks (seasonal)
- Schooling hammerheads
- Pelagic dive site
Wildlife
- Whale shark Huge filter feeders best known from cooler-season visits to Darwin and Wolf.
- Hammerhead shark Schooling sharks at Darwin and Wolf, most reliable in cooler water.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
What to see
- Hammerhead schools
- Whale sharks (cooler months)
- Advanced diving
Wildlife
- Whale shark Huge filter feeders best known from cooler-season visits to Darwin and Wolf.
- Hammerhead shark Schooling sharks at Darwin and Wolf, most reliable in cooler water.
Isabela
Day 7 on this itinerary
What to see
- Historic whaler graffiti
- Penguins & flightless cormorants
- Darwin Lake hike
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Isabela
Day 6 on this itinerary
What to see
- Mola mola / sunfish
- Sea turtles
- Nutrient-rich walls
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Isabela
Day 8 on this itinerary
What to see
- Mangrove panga ride
- Penguins & rays
- Sea turtles
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Isabela
Day 7 on this itinerary
What to see
- Uplifted seabed (1954)
- Land iguanas
- Giant tortoises
Wildlife
- Giant tortoise Highland grazers. Nesting is strongest in the cool season; hatchlings appear later.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Isabela
Day 8 on this itinerary
What to see
- Lava tide pools
- Flamingos
- Coastal lagoon birds
Wildlife
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Fernandina
Day 6 on this itinerary
What to see
- Marine iguana colonies
- Flightless cormorants
- Lava flows into the ocean
Wildlife
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
Santiago
What to see
- Pahoehoe lava field
- Dramatic volcanic walk
- Bartolomé views nearby
Wildlife
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Santiago
Day 5 on this itinerary
What to see
- Cone-shaped islet
- Snorkel with penguins
- White-tip reef sharks
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
Santiago
Day 1 on this itinerary
What to see
- Pinnacle Rock
- Iconic summit viewpoint
- Penguin snorkeling
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Santiago
Day 3 on this itinerary
What to see
- Fur seals
- Coastal walks
- Tide pools
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Santa Cruz
What to see
- Mangrove nursery
- Sharks & rays by panga
- Quiet wildlife watching
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Santa Cruz
What to see
- Sea turtle nesting beach
- Flamingo lagoons
- Soft white sand
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
Santa Cruz
What to see
- Land iguanas
- Brackish lagoon flamingos
- Dry-forest hike
Wildlife
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Days 4, 9 on this itinerary
What to see
- Giant tortoises in mist forest
- Lava tunnels
- Darwin Station / Puerto Ayora
Wildlife
- Giant tortoise Highland grazers. Nesting is strongest in the cool season; hatchlings appear later.
Floreana
What to see
- Historic barrel mail
- Baroness Lookout
- Floreana lore
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Floreana
What to see
- Olivine green beach
- Flamingo lagoon
- Sea turtle nesting (seasonal)
Wildlife
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Floreana
What to see
- Snorkel inside a volcanic crater
- Dense tropical reef fish
- Rays, turtles & sharks in the current
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
San Cristóbal
What to see
- Hammerheads in the channel
- Dramatic volcanic stack
- Premier snorkel / dive
Wildlife
- Hammerhead shark Schooling sharks at Darwin and Wolf, most reliable in cooler water.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
San Cristóbal
What to see
- Sea lion colony
- Blue-footed boobies
- Shallow snorkel
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
San Cristóbal
What to see
- All three booby species
- Frigatebirds
- Red volcanic landscape
Wildlife
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
What to see
- Eastern gateway port
- Sea lions on the malecón
- Interpretation Center
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
Española
What to see
- Waved albatross colony
- Blowhole cliffs
- Nazca boobies
Wildlife
- Waved albatross Nests only on Espanola, with courtship dances from about April to June.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
Española
What to see
- Long white sand beach
- Playful sea lions
- Relaxed swimming/snorkeling
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Genovesa
Day 2 on this itinerary
What to see
- Red-footed boobies
- Frigatebirds
- Submerged crater beach
Wildlife
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
Genovesa
Day 2 on this itinerary
What to see
- Nazca booby cliffs
- Short-eared owls
- Storm petrel fields
Wildlife
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
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10-day itinerary I day by day
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Day 1 · Tuesday
Baltra Arrival & Bartholomew Island
You'll land at Baltra Island Airport, where the crew meets you and takes you straight to the boat to begin your cruise. The afternoon brings your first stop at Bartholomew Island, home to Pinnacle Rock, one of the most photographed formations in the Galápagos. The beaches at its base are ideal for a first snorkel, …
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Day 2 · Wednesday
Darwin Bay & Prince Philip's Steps
Darwin Bay sits inside the eroded rim of an ancient volcanic crater. Great frigatebirds gather along the beach here, while red-footed boobies nest in the trees just behind it. Later you'll climb Prince Philip's Steps, a stone stairway that leads up through a small patch of Scalesia forest, home to the short-eared owl.
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Day 3 · Thursday
Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove & Egas Port
Espumilla Beach is a stretch of pale sand where marine iguanas, Sally lightfoot crabs, herons and even octopi are commonly seen. From there you'll move on to Buccaneer Cove, once used by pirates and whalers to repair ships, restock water and load tortoises for their voyages. Egas Port closes out the day, a black sand …
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Day 4 · Friday
North Seymour, Santa Cruz Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station
North Seymour Island holds the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galápagos, along with blue-footed boobies performing their courtship dance. Up in the Santa Cruz highlands you'll see giant tortoises roaming free among sinkholes and lava tunnels. The day ends at the Charles Darwin Research Station, where tortoises of different subspecies are bred and …
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Day 5 · Saturday
Mosquera Islet & Chinese Hat
Mosquera Islet is a long sand bank, just over 600 metres end to end, home to one of the largest sea lion populations in the islands along with lava gulls and Sally lightfoot crabs, with orcas occasionally spotted offshore. From there you'll continue to Chinese Hat, named for its distinctive cone shape, a site known …
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Day 6 · Sunday
Vicente Roca Point & Espinoza Point
A dinghy ride brings you into Vicente Roca Point, a wide bay split into two coves. The cooler water here draws in an abundance of marine life, so it's common to spot whales, dolphins and sea lions while you snorkel. Espinoza Point sits within a striking lava landscape dotted with lava cactus, with mangroves growing …
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Day 7 · Monday
Tagus Cove & Urbina Bay
At Tagus Cove you'll look out for the flightless cormorant and other seabirds before the trail climbs to a cliff top overlooking Darwin Lake, a saline lake saltier than the ocean itself. Urbina Bay follows, where uplifted coral formations sit alongside land iguanas, giant tortoises and lava lizards.
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Day 8 · Tuesday
Elizabeth Bay & Moreno Point
The day starts with a zodiac ride past the Marielas Islets, home to the largest and most important penguin colony in the Galápagos, before continuing into a cove lined with red mangroves. Moreno Point rewards anyone interested in geology and birds alike, with a shoreline of rough lava left behind by an eruption decades ago.
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Day 9 · Wednesday
Charles Darwin Research Station & Santa Cruz Highlands
At the Charles Darwin Research Station you'll see different tortoise subspecies being bred and readied for reintroduction to the wild. Up in the Santa Cruz highlands, those same tortoises roam free among sinkholes and lava tunnels carved into the terrain.
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Day 10 · Thursday
South Plaza Island & Departure
South Plaza Island is a small, rocky island covered in endemic cacti and home to a healthy population of land iguanas. After this final stop you'll be transferred to Baltra Airport for your flight back to mainland Ecuador.
The Ocean Spray Cruise
Embark on an extraordinary journey aboard the Ocean Spray Cruise. You will visit secluded islands to find fascinating wildlife and incredible scenery. Our Galapagos expedition packages aboard the Ocean Spray cater to both short and extended voyages, ensuring an unforgettable experience. Regardless of duration, our expert guides will lead you on captivating daily excursions. See the next tab for…
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