4 days aboard Archipel I

In the afternoon, for your first excursion, you will disembark back to San Cristobal island. There you will visit an Interpretation Center, where photos, historic documents and maquettes will help you get a glimpse of the seriousness and complexity of preserving the unique ecosystems of Galapagos. Right behind the center is found Frigatebird hill. You will ascend to its summit through a precious trail of endemic trees where both Magnificent and Great frigatebirds form a mixed breeding colony. Once at the top, you can marvel at the panoramic views of this primal rugged coastline. On the way down, you will cross a Charles Darwin statue, which is a reminder that this scientist, along with his scientific expedition, anchored right here in 1835. Back on board.

During you excursion at Santa Fe island, you will get surprised at how close to you some curious sea lions waddle. Likewise approachable for a close-up are Galapagos hawks that usually perch at their outlooks, ready to snatch away a baby marine iguana or lava lizard. We start next a cactus forest trail, that gives a close-up view on how these surrealistic, house-high giant opuntia prickly pears have grown out larger than on any other island and tell a fascinating evolutional story. At the calm, turquoise Barrington Bay, you can swim in close company with Galapagos sea lions, fluorescent blue chin parrot fishes, yellowtail surgeon fishes, whiptail stingrays, Pacific green turtles, whitetip reef sharks, and more.

While landing at South Plaza (its northern counterpart is closed to tourism), a barking Galapagos sea lion bull may block the jetty for a loud welcome to his beach and rookery. All around, this tiny islet counts hundreds of them. From the sand beach, a red carpet of purslane and sesuvium plants are laid out uphill, giving the whole area a psychedelic ambience, a sensation increased by the infinite number of saffron-coloured iguanas spitting salt to visitors and devouring the cacti fruits with their leathery tongues. You will be provided with snorkelling gear, because this site allows to swim over a reef of boulders that attracts an amazing variety of tropical reef fish, harmless whitetip sharks and playful Galapagos sea lions.

North Seymour is a flat islet that is actually part of the seabed lifted to the surface by the clashing of tectonic plates. Upon disembarking there, you will ascend a trail that passes through the largest colonies of frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. Then, at the Seymour Channel (one of the Galapagos' premier deep-sea dive sites), you can swim among plunge-diving blue-footed boobies, sea lions, colourful reef fish, green sea turtles, and even hammerhead sharks.

Approaching Chinese Hat from the north, you will understand the reason of its name. You arrive just in time to witness how this young barren islet is being colonised by pioneer species sprouting from holes in the lava. The presence of Galapagos sea lions, countless marine iguanas, eagles and mockingbirds contribute to soil fertilisation. Snorkelling here is highly recommended, as it’s home of a colony of the rare Galapagos Penguins,. While you’re swimming, they might approach curiously to your mask, alongside sea lions and some types of reef fish.

Santa Cruz is a huge island with different climates and ecosystems. You will disembark at its sunny coast and be driven to the rainy highlands. Your first stop there will be at Twin Craters, impressive lava formations that appeared during a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, and are now covered by scalesia forest. The endemic woodpecker finch, considered a holy grail of evolution, can seldom be seen in these areas using tools to feed. Later you will visit a ranch visited by wild giant Galapagos tortoises. Since these magnificent reptiles do not stop their migrations at the official boundaries of the National Park, dozens of them enter the private properties on the island, taking mud baths, devouring fallen fruit and carrying birds on their shells.