Galapagos Explorer: A Family Adventure in Darwin's Footsteps

Quito, Ecuador

Depart U.S. and fly to Quito, Ecuador. Welcome reception and dinner.

(R, D)

San Cristobal Island

Fly to San Cristobal Island (about 2.5 hours). Meet your naturalist guides upon arrival and transfer to the pier to embark Coral I in Puerto Baquerizo. In the afternoon, visit is the Interpretive Center, an excellent place to learn about the islands’ history. Then, climb Frigatebird Hill for a magnificent view at the foot of a frigatebird nesting colony.

(B, L, D)

San Cristobal Island

Today, experience your first “wet” landing, meaning that you transfer to land via dinghy and get your feet wet as you step on the beach. Many of your landings on this voyage will be “wet” as opposed to “dry”, which indicate you can step onto a pier. Morning: Wet landing at Cerro Brujo, where lava formations are juxtaposed against a white sandy beach and migratory birds such as Black-necked Stilts, Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrels, other sandpiper species, and White-cheeked Pintails nest. After a leisurely hike you will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel. Afternoon: Wet landing at Pitt Point, for a hike over rocky terrain searching for three species of boobies, as well as frigatebirds and a sea lion colony.

(B, L, D)

Española Island

Morning: Dry landing at Suarez Point (Española Island). Being one of the oldest and most isolated of the Galápagos, Española is of geological interest. Here, it is possible to explore volcanic formations and see large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs. Seabirds include the Española mockingbird, Nazca boobies, and the spectacular, red-billed tropicbirds. A somewhat lengthy hike leads to nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail. You may see the Galápagos dove, the Galápagos hawk, swallow-tailed gulls, and the world’s largest colony of waved albatross—an unequivocal highlight during mating season, which generally takes place between April and December. Admire the island’s dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous “Soplador,” a seaward blowhole that shoots water up to 23 m (75 ft) into the air. Afternoon: Wet landing at Gardner Bay on a beautiful, white coral sandy beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. There are no trails, but along the shore you can spot Galápagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galápagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin’s finches. The swimming and snorkeling here offer a great variety of the Galápagos marine wildlife: king angelfish, Creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.

(B, L, D)

Floreana Island

Morning: Wet landing on an olivine green, sanded beach for a hike to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. The trail continues to a beautiful white sandy beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. After the hike, enjoy a swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, and sea lions. A small colony of penguins resides here and can sometimes be observed as well. Afternoon: Wet landing at Post Office Bay, on the north side of Floreana. It is named such because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel to serve as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Today, visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to the letter destination, will take it back for free. The chances are that the letter posted can take a long time to arrive at its destination. However, there have been cases where it has arrived before the sender returned home. You may also encounter Darwin’s finches, Yellow Warbler and Lava Lizards. Great snorkeling opportunities here with Green Pacific Sea Turtles. As well, the island is best known for its endemic vegetation. Snorkelers can again practice on the main beach among playful sea lions.

(B, L, D)

Santa Cruz Island

Morning: Dry landing on Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the Highlands Tortoise Reserve to get up close to the famous giant tortoises. In the highlands of the Galápagos, it is possible to see tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets (usually standing on the tortoises’ shell). The journey to the reserve offers great opportunities to see the contrasts that the island offers in the variety of its ecosystems. Often, Galápagos Giant Tortoises are also seen on the way, wandering through pastures in the paddocks. This spot is a birdwatchers’ haven, since almost every land bird present on the island lives or migrates here. Afternoon: After lunch, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding program takes place—and where the famous Lonesome George (the last surviving specimen of his species) lived for decades. Admire a prickly-pear cactus forest and a variety of Darwin’s finches and other land birds. The Darwin Station also provides environmental education to the communities, schools, and tourists visiting the Galápagos Islands. You will also have some free time to visit the town and shop for souvenirs.

(B, L, D)

Genovesa Island

Morning: Dry landing at the gully formed of lava rocks known as El Barranco. Marvel at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropic birds fly overhead, switching between their nests and the bay, and a small colony of fur seals may be found near the landing site. A steep stairway leads to a path that takes you through a seabird colony full of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies. At the plateau, the trail continues inland allowing you to see more nesting booby colonies in the thin Palo Santo forest. Near the end of the trail, over a rocky lava plain, Wedge-rumped Storm-petrels can be observed flying in all directions. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl. Afternoon: Wet landing at Darwin Bay onto a small sand and coral beach. A short trail heads west along a tidal lagoon and then up a rocky hill that leads to a point overlooking the cliffs and Darwin Bay. You may see pairs of Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Yellow-crowned and Lava Herons. The trail continues through Palo Santo trees, Opuntia cacti, and Saltbushes. This is one of the few places in the islands where you are guaranteed to see Red-footed Boobies. It is estimated that more than 200,000 Red-footed Boobies live in the trees and bushes of Genovesa.

(B, L, D)

Rabida Island/Bartolome Island

Morning: Wet landing on Rabida Island. Dark-red sand covers the unique beaches of this island, home of sea lion colonies. Rabida is considered the epicenter of the Galápagos Islands due to the diversity of its volcanic geology. Nesting brown pelicans are found from July through September, plus nine species of the famous Darwin’s finches. Take a dinghy ride along the marine cliffs to observe nesting seabirds. Then, snorkel off the coast, where marine life is particularly active. Afternoon: Dry or Wet landing at Bartolome Island. At the center of the archipelago, Bartolome is one of the most frequently visited sites of all the islands. The highest point is only 374 feet (114 m) above sea level, and it has a surface area of 0.74 mi (1.2 km). The island is separated from the island of Santiago by the Sullivan Bay, which is an excellent site for snorkeling, filled with the breathtaking volcanic landscapes that make this corner of the world so unique. The first landing possibility is by a dock made of lava and concrete, which soon turns into a long, wooden staircase leading to the island’s summit. Here you will find what just may be the most photographed site in the Galapagos: Pinnacle Rock. The second type of landing possibility is at coralline beach next to Pinnacle Rock, which is a wet landing site. From this point, you will be able to snorkel among tropical fish, perhaps sea lions and penguins as they rest on the lava floors of the intertidal zone and sometimes decide to take a dip.

(B, L, D)

Quito, Ecuador

Morning: Take a dinghy ride along the north shore of Santa Cruz Island to Black Turtle Cove, which is accessible only by sea. Four species of mangrove crowd and form an internal lagoon where turtles peak their heads above the surface while fish, rays, and white-tipped reef sharks circle below. You may also see sea birds including pelicans, herons, and egrets. Afternoon: Disembark Coral I, transfer to Baltra Island and fly to Quito. This evening, attend a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel.

(B, R, D)

United States

Return flights home.

(B)

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TOUR: Darwin`s Galápagos: A Family Journey of Discovery aboard Coral I, August 5-14, 2025, optional pre-tour extension Colonial Quito and Middle of the World Complex, August 4-5, 2025.

TOUR OPERATOR: Criterion Travel, Inc.

PROGRAM SIZE: This tour is limited to 36 participants including staff.

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