Theory Itinerary

Itinerary A - Beaches and Bays (photography departure)

These voyages are the same itineraries that we would cover on a non-photography departure cruise and so are perfect for anyone looking to explore and enjoy the Galapagos, not just photography aficionados.There is no need to bring professional cameras or long lenses, and all levels are welcome!

One of the benefits of booking a photography tour is earlier or later excursions to take advantage of the best natural lighting, and the pace may be slower to allow time for that perfect angle shot.

Day 1: 
Upon arrival in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island, our guides will be waiting for you to escort you to the vessel. After a short bus ride and zodiac transfer, you’ll get your cabin assignment and be treated to a delicious buffet lunch. You will be required to participate in a brief safety drill and pick your snorkel equipment. After a briefing, the captain and crew will welcome you with a cocktail reception and a briefing of the next day’s activities. As the yacht sets sail, choose from a selection of guide books or fiction in the library, or climb to the top deck for a circumnavigation around Kicker Rock.

Day 2: 
You’ll start your exploration today with a Zodiac ride to look for wildlife at Cerro Brujo, which translates to Wizard Hill. Your guide will point out the wide variety of birds soaring around you, from brown pelicans and brown noddy terns to blue-footed boobies dive-bombing the water around you as they fish. Your guides will also point out unusual geological formations, including the Cathedral, jokingly called Darwin’s Pants. After the Zodiac tour, you’ll be able to take in the gorgeous coral sand beach at your own pace. Take a peaceful walk along the beach, swim with sea lions or you have the option to paddleboard or kayak. 

Return to the yacht for a BBQ lunch served on the sun deck before going ashore at Punta Pitt for a hike - parts of the trail are rocky, and there is some climbing involved. This is considered one of the best sites for bird-watching, primarily because it is the only place where you’ll see all three species of boobies - the blue-footed, the red-footed, and the Nazca. Your guides will also point out frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels, brown pelicans. At Pitt Rock, we can snorkel with sea lions and colourful fish such as King Angel and Surgeonfish.

Day 3: 
This morning you’ll land at Punta Suarez on Española Island. Your guides will point out the large number of endemic species living here, such as the waved albatross. As you walk, take care not to step on the marine iguanas sunbathing on the dark rocks. Follow the trail to the dramatic ocean blow hole, watch for colourful Sally light-foot crabs crawling along the shoreline. We also find Darwin’s finches, hood mockingbird, Galapagos doves, red-billed tropicbirds, Galápagos hawks, Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gull in the world. 

Return to the yacht for a BBQ lunch served on deck and a cooking demonstration on how to make Ecuadorian ceviche. After lunch, you’ll have the option to snorkel at Tortuga Rock and explore the caves covered with invertebrates. Disembark at Gardner Bay, site of a beautiful white-sand beach where colonies of sea lions dot the shoreline. Here you’ll have the option to snorkel from the beach, kayak or paddleboard. After the activities, return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

Day 4: 
Step ashore at Punta Cormorant’s olive-sand beach with the sounds of sea lions, lava herons, yellow-crowned night herons and blue-footed boobies as you walk around Floreana Island. As you walk to a brackish lagoon, home to Bahama ducks, common stilts, Galápagos flycatchers and bright pink flamingos, the guides will point out the rich variety of plant life, including morning glories, cut-leaf daisies, mangroves, palo verde and Scalesia. Don’t miss the opportunity to snorkel at Devil’s Crown or Champion Islet, a shallow sunken crater colonised by a brilliant array of colourful fish and coral, white-tipped sharks, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and sea stars. 

Return to the yacht for lunch and a brief lesson on the human history of Galápagos. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Post Office Bay on Floreana, the site where English whaling vessels erected a post barrel in the late 18th century. Take a Zodiac excursion at Baroness Point to look for sea turtles and rays. If you have an underwater camera, you’ll be busy snapping photos of sea stars and a brilliant array of colourful fish. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner and an optional pirate themed party.

Day 5: 
Wake up in the bustling harbour of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. You’ll travel by bus to a higher altitude with beautiful geological formations including the lava tunnels at El Mirador and Los Gemelos (The Twins). The highlight of the morning is a visit to a privately-owned ranch where tortoises roam free. 

Lunch will be served back on board the yacht, and in the afternoon you’ll learn about the most famous visitor to the Galapagos - Charles Darwin - as well as current conservation efforts, when you visit the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena and Charles Darwin Research Station. You’ll also have some free time to explore the town as you walk back to the main dock. You’ll have the option to stay on land for dinner with transfers provided by Zodiac. Otherwise, return to the yacht for the usual delicious multi-course dinner.

Day 6: 
Today, you’ll have two options for a morning activity. One option involves a challenging hike, with hundreds of wooden steps winding around Bartolomé Island, ending in a gorgeous panoramic view of Pinnacle Rock. If you’d rather skip the hike, enjoy a Zodiac ride around the island and look for penguins. You’ll see these adorable animals - the second smallest type of penguin - swimming and diving playfully or grooming themselves on rocks. Crystal clear water beckons you to wade in from the beach. Snorkel with schools of tropical fish, white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins. 

Return to the vessel for a BBQ lunch served on the sundeck. In the afternoon, you will visit Playa Las Bachas, on the northern side of Santa Cruz. You’ll also have a wonderful opportunity for snorkelling after exploring interior lagoons with vivid flamingos.

Day 7:
 This morning you’ll start out at South Plazas, a small islet with tall cliffs and a trail with a variety of plants and animals. Look for nests for a variety of birds, such as swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, small ground finches, and red-billed tropicbirds. This geological uplift is home to a colony of bachelor sea lions. You’ll also have the opportunity to see land iguanas up close, and your guides will describe what differentiates them from marine iguanas. During lunch, you’ll sail to North Seymour Island, where a spectacular sight awaits - frigate birds with red sacs on their chests inflated, seeking mates. You’ll have a final opportunity to snorkel in deeper water. Look for sharks, sea lions, and starfish, along with a variety of tropical fish.

Before dinner, the captain and crew join you for a champagne toast to celebrate a wonderful week. During the briefing you’ll receive detailed instructions for disembarking the next morning, After dinner, there is a special presentation from your guides.

Day 8: This morning you’ll disembark the yacht after breakfast. As a perfect way to sum up the trip, you’ll visit the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal to discover more about the human history of the Galapagos Islands. There’s also a paved trail where you can enjoy a brief walk before a bus ride to town. You’ll have some free time for last-minute photos before your transfer to the airport.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.Naturalist tour - non-diving