Enjoy a two-night hotel stay in Ecuador's fascinating capital, Quito, before boarding your luxury expedition ship to explore the unique Galapagos Islands.
The Northern and Central islands of the Galapagos archipelago are home to an abundance of wildlife. Keep an eye out for red-footed, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, as well as marine iguanas and sea lions.
Cruise to the islands of Daphne Grande and Genovesa with their huge colonies of seabirds including the world's largest red-footed booby and yellow-crowned night herons. Discover the abundance of wildlife on North Seymour Island, from the Magnificent Frigatebird to marine iguanas, before continuing to Santiago island with its spectacular lava flows.
Explore Rabida island with its rugged red cliffs, and see the most emblematic animal in the archipelago, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise at the Galapaguera Cerro Colorado on San Cristobal island.
Don't miss the opportunity to swim with sea lions at Gardener Bay on Espanola and see the Waved Galapagos Albatross, the largest seabird to nest in the archipelago at Punta Suarez, before heading to Santa Cruz island, home to the Charles Darwin Research Station.
SV748 Operated by Silversea
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North Central Galapagos Luxury Expedition Itinerary
Day 1 - Baltra Island (Galapagos)
Embark your ship on Baltra Island. The island boasts a variety of flora and fauna, including prickly pear cactus and boobies. Cruise to Daphne Grande which is home to huge colonies of seabirds.
Day 2 - Genovesa Island
Bahia Darwin located in Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island is the rim of a sunken crater and home to an abundance of Galapagos wildlife. El Barranco or Prince Philip's Steps is a series of rocky steps leading to a cliff face, where visitors can observe red-footed boobies and wedge-rumped storm petrels. The steps were named after Prince Philip who visited the archipelago in 1965 and 1981. There will be opportunities for snorkelling and kayaking.
Day 3 - North Seymour Island - Santiago Island
North Seymour Island boasts prickly pear cactus and palo santos trees. There is a designated trail on the island which passes an abundance of wildlife, including blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. Continue to the east coast of Santiago Island with its white sandy beaches and lava flows.
Day 4 - Rabida - Santa Cruz Island
Visit the small picturesque island of Rabida with its rock red cliffs. It is home to Darwin's finches and lava lizards. Eden is a small eroded cone, home to sealions and blue-footed boobies and the perfect place to snorkel and kayak.
Day 5 - San Cristobal Island
See the most famous animal in the archipelago, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise at the Galapaguera Cerro Colorado, a centre which aims to restore and protect the archipelago's natural biodiversity. Later, head to the eroded landscape of Punta Pitt, home to red-fotted boobies and the Great Frigatebird.
Day 6 - Espanola Island
Located on Espanola Island, Bahia Gardner is a popular snorkelling location where you may be able to see Manta Rays and white-tipped sharks. Later, head to Punta Suarez, a visitor site with a designated trail which allows you to observe wildlife in its natural habitat, especially waved albatrosses which flock here from all over the world to nest.
Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island - Plazas Sur
Perhaps visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island where you can learn about the Galapagos Islands and the Tortoise breeding program, before visiting the bustling town of Puerto Ayora which is home to the Galapagos National Park Headquarters. The small island of Plazas Sur is home to prickly pear cactus, land iguanas and Sally Lightfoot Crabs.
Day 8 - San Cristobal
Disembark on San Cristobal Island.
For navigational reasons the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the cruise itinerary.