Galapagos Alya: Itinerary Northern, Central & Southeastern Islands (A)

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, you will be greeted and transferred to the Alya Catamaran, where you’ll enjoy a welcome drink and lunch.

In the afternoon, we visit Black Turtle Cove, a tranquil bay located on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Accessible only by dinghy, this area is surrounded by lush mangroves and serves as a sanctuary for marine wildlife. Here, you can often spot black-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and rays gliding through the shallow waters.

After the excursion, we return to the Alya for dinner and an evening at leisure.

Darwin Bay offers a wet landing onto a picturesque coral beach. Today’s activities include short hikes, photography, swimming, and snorkeling. Genovesa, a small island in the northern Galápagos, is home to a rich variety of wildlife. Near the beach, a mangrove forest shelters colonies of frigatebirds, marine iguanas, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, great ground finches, gulls, and herons. After exploring the island, guests can enjoy a swim in the bay, followed by snacks and refreshments onboard.

In the afternoon, we visit El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps. This site features a dry landing and a hike along the cliffside trail. The area is a haven for tropical birds, petrels, frigatebirds, doves, finches, and both red-footed and Nazca boobies.

Return to the yacht for dinner.

The day starts with a visit to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island. After a wet landing, we embark on a hike across a fascinating lava field, where smooth, rope-like formations (pahoehoe lava), hornitos, and pioneer plants like mollugo can be observed. Refreshments will be available onboard after the excursion.

In the afternoon, we explore Bartolomé Island, famous for its breathtaking volcanic landscapes and iconic Pinnacle Rock. The adventure includes a dry landing for a hike to a panoramic viewpoint (114m elevation), revealing stunning views of Santiago, Rabida, and Isabela Islands. Along the way, we encounter unique pioneer plant species.

Afterward, we make a wet landing on the beach, where guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. The waters around Pinnacle Rock are home to Galápagos penguins, an unforgettable sight for visitors.

Return to the yacht for dinner.

In the morning, we visit Dragon Hill, one of Santa Cruz Island’s unique landscapes. The trail leads through dry vegetation zones, where we can observe land iguanas, flamingos, and pintail ducks near the lagoons.

Later, we set sail to Chinese Hat Islet, a small island off the southeast coast of Santiago. Named for its distinctive shape, this islet is made up of lava formations and tubes, showcasing fascinating volcanic geology. The west side features pillow lava, evidence of ancient underwater eruptions. The trail, approximately 700 meters round trip, offers a fantastic opportunity to observe lava flows, coral remnants, and diverse wildlife.

After lunch, we visit Mosquera Islet, located between Baltra and North Seymour Islands. This tiny island is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies, along with several species of coastal birds. Guests can relax on the white sandy beach before returning to the yacht.

Return to the Alya for dinner.

After breakfast, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, located near Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. This conservation center is the main breeding site for giant tortoises and land iguanas, where endangered species are raised in captivity before being reintroduced into the wild.

The station was once home to Lonesome George, the last known individual of the Pinta Island tortoise species. Here, visitors can learn about ongoing efforts to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Galápagos.

Following the visit, guests will be transferred to Baltra Airport for their return flight to mainland Ecuador.