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The Natural Paradise Galapagos Cruise
5-day itinerary
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Day 4 on this itinerary
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
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 3 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
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
Day 2 on this itinerary
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
Day 4 on this itinerary
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.
Day 5 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
Day 1 on this itinerary
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.
Day 1 on this itinerary
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
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
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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5-day itinerary day by day
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Day 1 · Tuesday
San Cristobal Arrival, Kicker Rock & Witch Hill
You'll land at San Cristóbal Airport, where a Natural Paradise staff member meets you after immigration and baggage claim and brings you to the yacht, with time to settle into your cabin before lunch and the welcome briefing. In the afternoon you'll circumnavigate Kicker Rock, a striking formation a couple of hours off San Cristóbal's …
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Day 2 · Wednesday
South Plaza Island & Black Turtle Cove
South Plaza is a small island with steep cliffs, formed by rising lava and now covered in Opuntia cactus. It holds one of the largest sea lion colonies in the islands, alongside colourful yellow and red land iguanas, and the Sesuvium ground cover shifts from greenish yellow in the rainy season to bright red through …
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Day 3 · Thursday
Rabida Island & Pinnacle Rock
Rábida Island, also called Jervis, is one of the most colourful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago. You'll start on its famous maroon-red sand beach before an easy hike to a lookout with sweeping views. It's a strong spot for birdwatching too, with several finch species, Galápagos vermilion flycatchers, hawks and brown pelicans all …
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Day 4 · Friday
Sullivan Bay & Dragon Hill
Sullivan Bay, on the southeast side of Santiago, is a striking site for its geology, the area is covered in lava flows and dotted with small volcanic elevations left behind as the lava cooled. In the afternoon, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites in the Galápagos, and one of the longer walking …
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Day 5 · Saturday
Twin Craters & Departure
The Twin Craters sit on either side of the road between Puerto Ayora and Baltra, formations created not by volcanic activity but by the collapse of underground chambers, with a dramatic view over the resulting pits and the surrounding Scalesia forest. After this final visit you'll be transferred to Baltra Airport for your flight back …
The Natural Paradise Galapagos Cruise
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