Cachalote Galapagos Cruise » Itinerary

Cachalote’s start day is a Wednesday. You can join the cruise from:

Day 01 to day 08 (seven nights, Tower route )
Day 08 to day 15 (seven nights, Fernandina route)
Day 01 to day 15 (14 nights, full route)

Fly to the Galapagos early this morning, a flight of around three hours since the islands are some 600 miles offshore. This afternoon visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about their breeding, conservation and education programs.

Walk the coastal path to look for the bright yellow Santa Fe land iguana with their distinctive spiked backs. Watch sea birds this afternoon on South Plaza island.

Visit Cerro Brujo, a beautiful white sand beach and one of the first places visited by Charles Darwin. Sail to Punta Pitt, a beautiful spot.

Start today with a landing on ‘sea lion beach’. All along the sand are sea lions basking in the sun. This afternoon walk to the rugged cliffs of Punta Suarez to see spectacular bird life.

Walk across Floreana Island to see flamingoes and sea turtles. Continue to the Devil’s Crown where you can snorkel. After lunch, visit Post Office bay and learn something about the human history of the islands.

Visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz where you walk up the hill for great views as well as the chance to see an iguana nesting site. Snorkel off Santiago Island later.

Explore ‘Bird Island’ on foot with a walk to Prince Philip’s Steps. Visit the coral sands of Darwin Bay for the chance to snorkel with fur seals.

Paddle through the mangroves of Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island. The west cove offers splendid snorkelling and swimming as well as a white coral sand beach. Carry on to visit the highlands.

Visit the island of Rabida, where the unusual coloured sand makes the beach look red from a distance. Walk to the lagoon at Cerro Dragon.

Land in the small town of Puerto Villamil on the southern end of Isabela. Explore the highlands by foot then return to town to see birds, the beach and the old penal colony.

Walk across a lava flow this morning on Isabela Island. There is very still little sign of life on these fairly new flows. Carry on to Urbina Bay where you should see penguins and turtles.

Walk to a volcanic caldera for great views of the northern part of Isabela. Continue to Urbina bay where you look for giant tortoises in the wild and swim off the beach.

This morning visit the sea lion colony of Isla Lobos before boarding your flight back to mainland.

Walk along the shores of Santiago Island to see the relatively rare fur seals. Snorkel offshore for some of the most abundant marine life of the week. Sail round to pinnacle rock from where you walk to the top of Bartolome Island for beautiful views.

Get up early this morning to paddle through mangroves in the dawn light. Fly back to the mainland and connect through to your flights home. Please note that international flights for this holiday are quoted separately.