Tribute Galapagos Luxury Yacht

AM: Upon arrival at San Cristobal, you will pass through an airport inspection point to ensure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and pay the park entrance fee of $200 (unless it has been prepaid). A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the dock, where you will board the Tribute cruise. You will be assigned to your cabins, and lunch will be served shortly after

PM: Lobos Island is a colony of Galapagos sea lions. As in other colonies in the archipelago, you can approach nurturing females within a few meters. During breeding season, this colony is also visited by territorial males, defending and mating their harem. Two other emblematic species are breeding here: male blue-footed boobies and great frigate birds who try to impress the females (and tourists) with clumsy dances, heaving their feet or blowing up their balloon-sized scarlet pouches.

AM: During your excursion at Santa Fe island, you will be 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 to a cactus forest trail, which gives a close-up view of how these surrealistic, house-high giant opuntia prickly pears have grown out larger than on any other island and tell a fascinating evolutionary 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

PM: You will anchor in the afternoon to explore Black Turtle Cove from the dinghy. This place is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Three mangrove species crowd the area from the shore out into the lagoon, which reaches almost a mile inland. As we drift through quiet waters in the zodiac, you are likely to see spotted eagle rays, which swim in a diamond formation. White-tipped reef sharks slip beneath the boat and Pacific green turtles come to the surface for air.

AM: As one of the outer islands and most exclusive places on the Galapagos, Genovesa is well worth last night’s longer navigation. This compact site in the heart of its flooded crater shows the extremely varied coastal ecosystems of the Galapagos in miniature; nearly too much for a single day. Whimbrels and wandering tattlers forage actively along the surf, next to resting Galapagos sea lions. Impressive frigatebirds and red-footed boobies nest in the mangroves, where you can also see vocalists such as the yellow warbler, Darwin’s finches, and the Galapagos mockingbird. Uniquely, two subpopulations of the same species of large cactus finch differ in their singing

PM: Not only because of its historical English name (Tower) Genovesa has a royal touch. Follow in the footsteps of Prince Philip – a Galapagos lover for many years – and visit his favorite birding spot with the largest breeding colonies of red-footed and Nazca boobies, and look for the remarkable short-eared owl that hunts on foot!

AM: Chinese Hat from the north, you will understand the reason for its name. You arrive just in time to witness how this young barren islet is being colonized by pioneer species sprouting from holes in the lava. The presence of Galapagos sea lions, countless marine iguanas, eagles, and mockingbirds contributes to soil fertilization. Snorkeling here is highly recommended, as it’s home to a colony of Galapagos Penguins, critically endangered because of the effects of climate change. While you’re swimming, they might approach curiously, alongside sea lions and elusive Pacific green turtles.

PM: This afternoo,n you have a ‘wet landing’ on the extraordinary red beach of Rabida island. Oxidized iron particles have given its rocks and sand an intense rusty color. Contiguous to the beach is a shallow green lagoon, an oasis on this otherwise arid island, which attracts all kinds of aquatic birds, like pintails and sometimes American flamingos. Between the evergreen foliage of the surrounding mangrove bushes, many species of songbirds hide and breed. One of the most outstanding attractions is the major breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only ones in the world that plunge-dive. On return, you will be picked up by the inflatable dinghies to get ready for snorkelling

AM: The dinghies will bring you to the tourist pier of Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz island, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This institution was named after the British naturalist who developed his Theory of Evolution after visiting these islands in 1835 and worked on the conservation and restoration of the Galapagos ecosystems, as well as for the sustainable development of its communities.

PM: After this visit, you will disembark the Tribute and be transferred to Baltra Airport.

AM: Arrive at Baltra Airport and transfer in. You must pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee (unless it was pre-paid) and your luggage will be inspected. A member of our staff will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbor. Here you will climb aboard the yacht Tribute. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch aboard.

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through pastures in the agricultural zone and in the transition zone of the adjacent El Chato Tortoise Reserve.

AM: Your first visit here will be to the offshore islet of Tintoreras, remarkable for its breeding colony of large marine iguanas. Snorkeling opportunities are excellent, as the site features a unique tidal channel with clear, turquoise waters, allowing you to swim alongside playful sea lions, marine turtles, marine iguanas, sting rays, and white tip sharks. Afterward, you will enjoy a tour of the Sierra Negra volcano. Bring a backpack with hiking & water shoes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and a light rain jacket. Sierra Negra is the only major volcano on Isabela and crater regions are currently open to tourism. Its impressive caldera of 10 km wide is the largest of the Galapagos Islands. The route followed is approximately 16 km long, and will reward you with dramatic geological and ecological contrasts.

PM: This afternoon's visit starts from the exotic beaches near the only urban population of Isabela, Puerto Villamil, and continues into dense mangrove forests. From the main dirt road, several side trails diverge and invite you to explore them, leading to intimate sites with dreamy brackish pools visited by amazingly tame songbirds. The route continues into Muro de las Lágrimas (Wall of Tears), a massive wall made of sharp lava chunks built by political prisoners during the 1950s, from the time when Isabela Island was a penal colony. Despite the sad story, it is an impressive memorial site worth visiting. Save some energy for a visit to the Tortoise Breeding Centre, a project created to rescue the endangered tortoise population of the islands’ volcanoes.

AM: During the night we navigated to the northwest coast of Isabela, where the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes are found. In between these two, we will disembark at Punta Moreno, where a trail that runs along a solidified black lava flow will lead us to a complex of tidal lagoons. In their waters, we might see sharks and marine turtles. Several species of birds will also be visible, including flamingos, which are found around the lakes and mangroves. This is a favorite excursion as it combines the opportunity to see coastal species with a hike through stunning landscapes.

PM: Later, you will visit Espinoza Point, which is Fernandina’s only terrestrial visitors site, and one of the few locations where you will find some bizarre animal species, products of natural selection. The figurehead is the emblematic flightless cormorant that lives exclusively in the remote west of the Galapagos, and could be considered as the ‘holy grail of evolution’. This bird lost its ability to fly but instead became an agile marine hunter. You will also love the almost unworldly views with the dominating cone of Volcán La Cumbre as a spectacular backdrop. The narrow headland that you walk along is the end of a lava tongue that reaches the coast and solidifies upon contact with the water.

AM: This morning’s visit starts with a dinghy ride along the island’s cliffs. This will provide you a good chance to spot the endemic Galapagos penguin, the only one of its species to live in the tropics. From the landing dock, it’s a 30-minute hike along the trail to the top of the cliff, from where you can observe the iconic Darwin Lake (pictured). Look carefully at all the graffiti on the surrounding rocks, they were written by pirates, whalers, and buccaneers in past centuries. Back at the coast, you could pick a kayak to explore this paradisiacal coastal environment.

PM: Whilst having lunch we navigated across the Bolivar Channel for a final visit to Isabela island. While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, roaring echoes of the waves will accompany you. Just around the corner, the collapsed amphitheater of the Ecuador volcano offers an impressive view. The calmer waters of the coves are well-protected against the ocean swell and are fairly cold, but a great place for snorkeling amongst various species of sharks, penguins, puffer fish, and even seahorses!

AM: The beautiful volcanic islet of Bartolomé is among the youngest of the islands and, on a geological scale, was just recently born out of the fire. Although it looks deserted at first sight, Bartholomew offers some of the wildest landscapes and best panoramas of the entire archipelago. To enjoy the postcard view of the idyllic “Pinnacle Bay” you will have to climb the stairs to the viewpoint on top of the island (114 m/375 ft). Enter a dramatic world of threatening (though extinguished) nearby spatter cones, craters, and lightweight lava droplets that have been spewed out by fiery fountains. The summit trail is also ideal for witnessing how scanty pioneer vegetation, such as lava cacti.

PM: The arrival in Sullivan Bay is like a moon landing. The desolate, sprawling fields seem to be out of this planet, therefore this island is very popular among photographers and geologists. The last eruption here occurred in 1897 and covered the bay with Pahoehoe lava flows, which are characterized by smooth, gently undulating, or broadly hummocky surfaces. The beach nearby has clear, shallow waters that invite you to snorkel, and if you venture to deeper waters, generous marine life can be found (like some Galapagos penguins on the rocks!). Moreover, Pacific green turtles, whitetip reef sharks (careless about humans), Galapagos sea lions, and rays are likely to make an appearance.

AM: Dragon Hill hosts two key species that are not too commonly distributed throughout the islands: Galapagos land iguanas and American flamingos. You will climb a hill with giant opuntia cacti where these animals feed and breed. This is a very photogenic spot as well, with breathtaking panoramas over the bay and towards an intriguing steep volcanic spout of red lava that overlooks the area. Dragon Hill has become popular because of its picturesque saline lagoons behind the beach, which contain minerals, algae, and shrimp that attract an abundance of seabirds

PM: Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and therefore is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing

AM: Your last visit is to Bachas. Two conjunct beaches, with soft white sand that makes it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. There is a small brackish water lagoon behind the first beach, where occasionally it is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The second beach is longer, and it has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA used this Island as a strategic point to protect the Panama Channel.
Finally, you will be transferred from Baltra to the dock in Puerto Ayora