Expedition Galápagos

Welcome to the Galápagos! After your arrival on Baltra Island, the team of the andBeyond Galapagos Explorer welcomes you. On the very first afternoon, a quiet nature experience awaits you in Black Turtle Cove – a protected mangrove bay accessible only by pangas. Here, you glide silently through the water, past red, black, and brown mangroves.

With a little luck, you may see brown pelicans, herons, blacktip reef sharks, and stingrays using the bay as a protected habitat. The engines remain off – everything is very close, very quiet, very primordial. A first impression that already shows what makes this expedition so special.

In the morning, you will visit Sombrero Chino Island, named for its unmistakable shape. Among cooled lava flows, lava cacti, and brightly colored Sally Lightfoot crabs, you will wander through a landscape that looks almost extraterrestrial. While snorkeling, a colorful underwater world opens up – from parrotfish to the rare Galápagos penguins.

In the afternoon, you will reach the deep red sandy coast of Rabida – one of the most colorful islands in the archipelago. Here, nine different species of finches, flamingos, pelicans, and Galápagos hawks reside. While snorkeling, you may encounter sea lions, white-tipped sharks, and, with luck, even an eagle ray. A feast for bird lovers, photographers, and explorers.

Today, you will follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin on Santiago Island. At the coast of James Bay, observe lava and great blue herons, oystercatchers, and colorful crabs. With a bit of luck, a Galápagos sea lion may show itself in a lava tunnel. Snorkeling brings you close to blacktip sharks and rays.

In the afternoon, the boat sails along the dramatic rock formations of Buccaneer Cove – once a hideout for pirates. While blue-footed boobies and tropicbirds circle above the cliffs, you will discover the iconic rocks “the Monk” and “the Elephant.” Nature and history unite here in a very special way.

In the morning, you will explore the young island of Fernandina – a place full of contrasts. On the black lava fields around Espinosa Point, hundreds of marine iguanas thrive, alongside sea lions, lava lizards, and the flightless cormorant. While snorkeling, you will swim with turtles, Port Jackson sharks, and colorful harlequin fish – a unique moment in the west of the archipelago.

In the afternoon, you will reach Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. A short hike leads to Darwin Lake with a view of surrounding volcanoes. While kayaking or riding in pangas, you may see Galápagos penguins, pelicans, and, with luck, seahorses. Amidst historic pirate graffiti, experience the quiet magic of the past and the vibrancy of nature at the same time.

In the calm waters of the remote Elizabeth Bay, you glide through dense mangroves in a panga. Here, sea turtles, rays, penguins, and a variety of seabirds are plentiful. It is one of the quietest, most impressive moments of the journey – pure Galápagos magic without setting foot on land.

In the afternoon, head to Moreno Point: a bizarre lava landscape with small lagoons where flamingos, herons, and rare water birds live. On a walk, you will discover volcanic formations and cacti, while snorkeling, you will accompany marine iguanas, sea lions, and colorful fish schools through the underwater world of this wild coast.

Today, your expedition takes you to the green highlands of Santa Cruz. In the El Chato reserve, you will encounter free-roaming giant tortoises amidst ferns and Scalesia forests. If you wish, you can visit the distinct twin craters “Los Gemelos” – relics of volcanic activity and home to many endemic bird species.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, you will learn more about conservation programs for Galápagos giant tortoises and land iguanas. Afterwards, there will be time for a stroll through Puerto Ayora – or for a relaxing afternoon on board overlooking the bay. Science, nature, and culture come together seamlessly on this day.

The day begins on Santa Fe Island with a hike through forests of cacti and encounters with sea lions and the endemic Santa Fe land iguana. Those lucky enough may also spot the rare Santa Fe rice rat. The bay is regarded as a top snorkeling spot: eagle rays, parrotfish, and curious sea lions are your companions.

In the afternoon, you will visit South Plazas – a small island with a big impact. The brightly colored vegetation, huge Opuntia cacti, and steep cliffs form the stage for land iguanas, waved albatrosses, and the distinctive tropicbirds. Sea lions call from the cliffs while you walk through a landscape that exists nowhere else.

Your last Galápagos morning begins on Mosquera, a small, light sandy island between Baltra and Seymour. Here lives one of the largest sea lion colonies of the archipelago, along with seagulls, marine iguanas, crabs, and pelicans. An ideal place to take your leave quietly.

Then it’s time: back on board, pick up your luggage, a final look at the sea. At Seymour Airport, your expedition ends – with countless impressions, new perspectives, and a feeling of deep connection with nature. What remains is more than a memory – it is a genuine experience.