Stella Maris Yacht 7-Night Itinerary B

AM: We will have a wet landing on Chinese Hat Island, located southeast of Santiago Island. Its name describes the shape of the island, which you will be able to appreciate from a distance.  This island’s landscapes are dominated by volcanic formations and very fragile lava tubes lava.  Because of this, it is very important to stay on the paths.  Here you will encounter a small colony of sea lions and then proceed to hike through this dark, unyielding island of solid rock.

PM: In the afternoon, we will take a trip to the dark red beach of the small, volcanic Rabida Island. A short path leads to a small lagoon that is popular among flamingos. This beach is one of the most beautiful snorkeling places in the Galapagos Islands and it has a great abundance of tropical fish. Rabida Island is also the only site where Batfish live. 

AM: Fernandina Island is not only the westernmost island but is also the youngest and most pristine island in the Galapagos. The 2005 eruption of La Cumbre Volcano created huge fields of lava. This eruption was followed on April 11, 2009, when the volcano flared up again, forming a cloud of ash and steam while hot lava flowed down the slopes of the volcano into the ocean. Nonetheless, an abundance of wildlife calls this island home, including the famous Flightless cormorants as well as penguins, pelicans, marine iguanas and sea lions.  You can also find mangroves here on Fernandina Island.

Today we will visit Espinoza Point, one of Fernandina Island’s visitor points, is situated within fascinating scenery filled with lava cactuses and mangroves growing on the surface of the lava. Within this unique scenery, you will encounter numerous animals; the highlights being sea lions, penguins, Flightless cormorants (especially in the spring and summer), and one of the largest iguana colonies in the Galapagos Islands.  On the small strip of land that constitutes Espinoza Point, you can find literally hundreds of marine iguanas, which gather in large groups.

PM: This afternoon will take us to the largest landmass in the Galapagos archipelago: Isabela Island. With a surface of 1,770 sq. miles (4,588 sq. km.), the island constitutes more than the half of the land area of the entire Galapagos archipelago. After a dry landing, we will visit the notorious Tagus Cove, which was historically used as an anchoring place for pirates, buccaneers, and whalers.  Around the deep blue bay, you can observe a large number of Blue-footed boobies perched on the ledges of the cliffs, as well as marine iguanas, penguins, brown pelicans, brown noddy terns and swallow-tailed gulls. A steep trail passes through an area of dry vegetation and volcanic landscapes with scalesia woods and cactuses.   

AM: In the morning we will take a short boat trip through the harbor of Isabela Island. After passing sea lions and pelicans that bathe in the sun on the fishing boats there, we will reach the small island of Tintoreras, where we will take an easy walk through the bizarre lava landscape with its huge colonies of marine iguanas. A colony of sea lions is also located here, and it’s common to see Whitetip reef sharks resting in the water near the shore. These sharks are called “tintoreras” in Spanish, giving the island its name. Afterwards, we will visit the Wetlands of Isabela Island. With some luck, you will be able to see pink flamingos in the lagoons. We will also cross lava tunnels, which are quite popular among the marine iguanas here. Later this morning, we will hike to the “Wall of Tears,” one of the most touching human-built monuments in the archipelago. This huge stone mound (8 meters high and around 200 meters long) was built in the 1940s and ‘50s by prisoners of a penal colony that operated here from 1946 to 1959.

PM: After lunch, we will hike to a Isabela Island Giant tortoise breeding station. On the way, we will pass brackish water lakes where you can sometimes see flamingos. At the breeding station you can get up close and personal to some of the giant tortoise species from Isabela Island. 

Later this afternoon, we will drive to the highlands of Isabela Island and start hiking up to the edge of the Sierra Negra Volcano’s crater. The volcano — reaching a height of around 1,500 meters and having an outer diameter of approximately nine kilometers (over 5 miles) — is the second largest caldera in the world. We will hike along the cone to a resting place in the northeast.  From the Sierra Negra Volcano, you will be able to see the Chico Volcano, which is about 90 minutes away on foot and known for its moon-like volcanic lava landscape.

AM: At the port of Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of Ecuador’s Galapagos Province, we will visit the modern Interpretation Center of San Cristobal Island. This island used to have a large sugar refinery owned by a tyrannical owner who enslaved people to work in his factory. You will be able to learn about this and other stories at the breeding center. At the center, you will also learn about the nature and settlement history of the archipelago.

PM: Afterwards, we will take a bus to airport on San Cristobal Island for your flight back to the mainland. Enjoy the last view of the “enchanted islands,” a unique paradise with fascinating natural highlights.