First class cruise aboard Treasure of Galapagos

Morning

San Cristóbal Island Airport, San Cristobal

Today you fly to the magical Galapagos Islands! At the departures hall of the Quito airport, you must reach the Galapagos Government Council counter, to purchase the Transit Control Card ($20 per person, must be kept safe during the trip as it has to be presented again upon return). Then your luggage will be inspected to make sure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced on the islands. Next you will catch the flight to San Cristobal island, and upon landing there, authorities will collect the Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($200 per adult, $100 per child), unless it has been prepaid. A guide holding an Oniric Cruises sign will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour, and board the Treasure cruise. After a warm welcome, cabins will be assigned and lunch served.

Morning

Española Island, Gardner Bay, Española

Last night we navigated to Española island, the oldest in the archipelago, estimated at over 4 million years old, located in the extreme southeast of the archipelago. On the north-eastern coast of this island, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and to snorkel side by side with eagle rays, golden rays, barracudas, batfish, turtles, sea lions, and white tipped sharks.

Morning

Floreana Island, Cormorant Point, Floreana

In the afternoon, you will have a wet landing on this peninsula that is covered with aromatic palo santo forest. The sand at the beach is green, because it contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals that have been blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. Crossing to the other side of the peninsula, there is a ‘flour sand’ beach that originated from coral that was pulverized by Parrotfish. From the shore you could spot schools of stingrays who love burying themselves in the sandy bottom. During the first months of the year, Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs. Return on board.

Morning

Santa Fe

Only few tours set foot ashore on the extraordinary uninhabited island of Santa Fe, which therefore remains rather exclusive to naturalist cruises. You will stroll right through a Galapagos sea lion rookery, the giant opuntia cactus forest and go in search of the pale Barrington land iguana, which is endemic to this uninhabited island (as many incredibly evolved island species). There is a diverse loop route, and a challenging alternative trail that climbs a scarp cliff. Of course, you will have the opportunity to snorkel from the iconic Barrington Bay and spot whitetip reef sharks cruising in the shallow waters as well as plunge-diving blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans. Colourful fish such as the king angelfish, boxfish, and parrotfish swim around in these waters as well.

Morning

Santa Cruz Island, Los Gemelos - Highlands, Santa Cruz

You will disembark to Santa Cruz island, on which rainy and exuberant highlands are located the Twin Craters, impressive lava formations that appeared during a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, and now are covered by forest. It is a great spot for bird watching: the endemic carpenter finch, which is considered a holy-grail of evolution, can sometimes be seen in these areas using tools to feed. Transfer to Baltra airport.