Northern Galapagos Islands Cruise - ODYSSEY M/Y

Baltra Island

Arrival at Seymour Airport on Baltra Island. Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Seymour Airport on Baltra Island this morning and meet and greet your naturalist guide and fellow passengers at the arrivals hall. Here, your luggage will be inspected and your Galapagos National Park entrance fee will be collected. By airport shuttle, reach our landing dock and transfer to our inflatable dinghy to board the Odyssey. Tour the facilities of this luxury 16 passenger yacht after a warm welcome on board and indulge in lunch.

Dragon Hill

Your first stop on the Odyssey after lunch is Dragon Hill on the northwestern shores of Santa Cruz, some 25 km west of Seymour Airport on Baltra Island. Aptly named for the population of Galapagos land iguanas that populate this island, these mini-land dragons spend their afternoons roaming the sun-drenched sands and jagged boulders, feeding on the fruits and flowers of the Opuntia Cacti. Despite their healthy population on Santa Cruz now, these land iguanas were under threat by wild dogs, cats and goats in the 1970s and were transferred to surrounding islands for over a decade to encourage re-population. On a leisurely 2.4 km walk with your naturalist guide, discover the stark desert landscapes of Santa Cruz, winding past Palo Santo trees on your way to the summit of the hill where you'll be met with sweeping views over the bay. Conclude your visit to Dragon Hill with a stop at a salt water lagoon where you have the opportunity to spot the elusive flamingo. Return to the Odyssey where your guide will brief you for tomorrow and explain the National Park rules. The captain and crew will follow with a toast and welcome cocktail to celebrate your first evening on board.

Evening onboard Odyssey M/Y. 

Rabida

Otherworldly Rabida boasts a landscape of strewn boulders and large prickly pear cacti, as well as a striking red sand beach backed by matching rust-colored cliffs. A result of oxidized iron, sunrise and sunset give these geologic features an intense glow. Outside of the mating season, visitors to the red beach are greeted by a large colony of Galapagos sea lions. Here you will also visit a small saltwater lagoon, and because it's the arid island's most fertile place, it attracts a range of marine wildlife like pintails and flamingos. With your naturalist guide, look for varieties of songbirds in the surrounding mangrove bushes. Rabida is also a favorite stop on this Northern Galapagos Islands cruise for its breeding brown pelicans. Watch from the beach as they hover above the surface of the sea and hunt in V-shaped formations, plunge-diving for their prey.

Chinese Hat

A gently sloping volcanic cone with a height of 52 m, this islet near the southeast coast of Santiago takes the form of a Chinaman's hat, hence its name. Volcanic in origin, the spatter cone Chinese Hat is a product of an eruption on nearby Santiago Island, which spewed a mountain of molten rocks and lava, forming this islet. A walk with your naturalist guide will reveal Chinese Hat's volcanic history, its lava bombs and tunnels. Continue to a white sand coral beach and spot marine iguanas and lava lizards along the trail as your guide discusses the predicted rapid colonization of this islet due to its favorable conditions and close proximity to Santiago.

Onboard Odyssey M/Y. 

Darwin Bay

Set sail to Genovesa Island this morning situated off the northern shores of Santa Cruz Island, where you will reach Darwin Bay by wet landing. This lake with a diameter of some 1.5 km enjoys a picturesque locale set in the caldera of Genovesa. With your guide, go for a leisurely 3 km stroll and discover barren lava formations, creeks, and tidal pools, following the trail to the top of a cliff. Encounter colonies of frigatebirds, red-footed and masked boobies and marine iguanas in their natural habitat on this remote island. Passionate birdwatchers will also be delighted by the presence of herons, the great terrestrial finch and cactus finch, which makes the longer trip to this outer island well worth the journey. Following your visit on land, re-energize with snacks and refreshments on board before you enjoy some time at leisure to swim and snorkel in the shimmering waters of Darwin Bay.

Prince Philip’s Steps

Transfer to the Odyssey's inflatable dinghy for a ride along Genovesa Island's eastern arm of the caldera before arriving at Prince Philip's Steps. Follow in his footsteps this morning by scaling the heights of Prince Philip's Steps, named after the Duke of Edinburgh's first visit to the Galapagos in the 1960s. Also known as El Barranco, this steep and rocky path that leads visitors to the top of a rugged cliff some 25 meters up affords views of the island's varied species of seabirds. Despite its daunting appearance at first sight, this climb on the eastern stretch of Darwin Bay is easy and manageable with the presence of sturdy wooden handrails. Atop the cliff, wind your way past colonies of red-foot and mask boobies and observe tropical birds, petrels, frigatebirds and finches in their natural habitat. Enjoy dinner on board after an exciting afternoon of birdwatching.

Evening onboard Odyssey M/Y. 

Bartolome

Wake early this morning for an inflatable dinghy ride along the shoreline of this tiny 1.2 sq. km island. With the illumination of the early morning light, the island is made even more picturesque. With your guide, conquer the steep steps of the 800-meter Summit Trail to the top of Bartolome Island to discover the pioneering plants of tiquilia, scalesia and chamaesyce that inhabit this region, and revel in the sweeping views of Santiago, Rabida and Isabela Islands from atop. Enjoy some leisurely time on this wild island by swimming or snorkeling at the base of Pinnacle Rock, or opt to go on a nature walk instead for an opportunity to spot the endangered Galapagos penguins.

Sullivan Bay

Sullivan Bay is a favorite stop on this five day Northern Galapagos Islands itinerary because of its unique geological characteristics. Situated on the southeastern end of Santiago Island, reach Sullivan Bay by wet landing this morning and embark on an easy 1.5 km hike across a wild terrain of volcanic features, observing black lava flow, collapsed craters, and volcanic hornitos. This stretch of Santiago Island was carpeted in flowing lava following an eruption in the early 1900s, formulating a relatively young landscape. Geology and volcanologists will delight in experiencing hardened lava flow and pahoehoe - ropy lava, beneath your feet. Despite the island's barren landscape of tuff cones and eroded lava flow, you may be lucky enough to spot Pacific green turtles on the tiny white sand beach, stray herons and crabs.

Evening onboard Odyssey M/Y. 

Highlands

Depart the Odyssey this morning for an inflatable dinghy ride and road journey to the Highlands of Santa Cruz. With your knowledgeable naturalist guide, rain coat and pair of provided rubber boots, embark on a hike through the lush landscape, navigating muddy grounds and open pastures to observe giant tortoises and Galapagos finches in their natural habitat, sometimes stopping meters within reach of the giant tortoises. In 2015, an estimated 32,000 tortoises lived in the wild on the Galapagos Islands, with most of them on Isabela Island.

Transfer to Baltra airport. Your visit to the Highlands concludes this five-day Northern Galapagos Islands cruise on the Odyssey. Your guide and friendly crew members will transfer you by shuttle to Seymour Airport on Baltra island for your onward journey.