AM - Baltra AirportUpon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up iscarried out rst, to ensure that no foreign plant or animalspecies are introduced into the islands. Furthermore, yourTCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; this must be keptsafe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on yourreturn ight. In addition, entrance to the Galapagos NationalPark is due for entry (US $100), if this has not yet been paid.Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with theluggage, and accompany you on the short bus ride to theharbour of Puerto Ayora. Here you will climb aboard theM/Y Aqua! After greeting the crew and the captain, yourcabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy yourrst lunch on-board.PM - North SeymourThis islet is one of most visited sites, and it is teeming withbirdlife. An easy circular path takes you through thearchipelago’s most extensive colonies of blue-footedboobies and frigate birds. At the beginning of the breedingseason, adult frigate bird-males blow up their vivid redpouches to impressive football-sized balloons. This is one ofthe few spots where you can compare the magnicent andthe great frigate bird breeding next to each other

South Plaza is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, andforms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite itssmall size, some of the most interesting and outstandingspecies of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas landiguanas are smaller than their relatives found on otherislands. There are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossinga male marine iguana and a female land iguana; they areunique, recognisable at rst glance by their black/grey color,with a land iguana's crest, but face and tail of the marineiguana. The large population of iguanas is due to thepresence of tuna, their favourite food. Swallow-tailed gullsnesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with otherseabirds such as Audubon shearwaters, red-billedtropicbirds, frigate birds and brown pelicans.PM – Santa FeLocated in the south-eastern part of the Galapagos, thisisland was formed from an uplift rather than being ofvolcanic origin, which is why it is mostly at. There aresome theories which claim that this could be the oldestisland in the Archipelago. Santa Fe is home to a numberof endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagossnake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of thetwo species of lands iguanas of the islands.After disembarking into the beautiful and clear watersyou will be in contact with one of the many sea lioncolonies.Along the trail, many salt bushes can be seen as well as thegiant prickly pear cactus - gigantism is a characteristic ofoceanic islands. There are many possibilities to snorkel withplayful sea lions and tropical sh.

After discovering and learning about the difference of Espanola Island tortoises with those from other islands, you will have the opportunity to take amazing photographs of the tortoises at the breeding center!The tour starts at the information booth of the GNP. The trail continues to the Van Straelen interpretation Center, the breeding center and from there will be a path- this is where you can see the tortoises of Española Island, ending in the tortoise exhibit corral. Tortoises of this corral are accustomed to humans; it is an excellent spot to be photographed with them!The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the extreme north cape of Floreana, which formed from smaller volcanic cones, covered by tropical dry forest (palo santo). At the landing beach, you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion colony. The green sand on this beach contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals which have been blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the southern side of the peninsula is made up of even finer white coral sand which feels very smooth on the feet. Parrotfish have pulverised it, grinding the calcareous skeletons of living coral. You can spot schools of stingrays who love the sandy bottom to hide themselves. During the first months of the year, Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs.

Dragon Hill boasts two key-species which are very likely to be seen during every visit to the Galapagos, though not too commonly distributed throughout the islands: Galapagos land iguanas and American flamingos. You will climb a hill with giant opuntia cacti where these ‘dragons’ feed and breed. Although they are quite shy and elusive, you stand a fair chance of seeing the success of this project with your own eyes.The short walk crosses the coastal vegetation zone, as well as the somewhat higher arid zone with vulnerable tropical dry forest. In the warm and wet season in the first half of the year everything turns green. Evergreen giant prickly pear cacti with internal reservoirs used a different survival tactic in this dry climate to the leaf dropping palo santo trees; in the end both were successful. Moreover, this is a very photogenic spot as well, with breathtaking panoramas over the bay and towards an intriguing steep volcanic spout of red lava that overlooks the area. Dragon Hill has become popular because of its saline lagoons behind the beach; these contain algae and shrimp and attract seasonally foraging American flamingos. Dragon Hill is the best location on Santa Cruz to observe them. It’s time to say goodbye to Galapagos! It’s been a pleasure accompanying you on this unique trip and hope to see you again very soon!Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crewmembers, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to the Seymour Ecological Airport, where we will take the shuttle back to the airport. In case you have booked your trip for a longer stay with us, we would be welcoming any potential new fellow passengers to the yacht, and continue our trip to the next visiting site!

Itineraries are subject to change.