Passion Yacht

PM: After arriving at Baltra airport, we will be greeted by our naturalist guide to then board the M/Y WildAid’s Passion and have lunch. Following our meal, we will navigate a short distance to Black Turtle Cove, a large mangrove lagoon on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Pelicans and herons roost on the branches, while marine dwellers such as green sea turtles and golden rays may cruise right next to the panga as it makes its way through the mangroves.

The day ends with dinner and a briefing for the next day’s activities on board the yacht.

AM: We travel to Genovesa Island and for a wet landing on Darwin Bay, a unique site with a beautiful beach, lined with red mangroves and soft‐haired prickly pear cacti, where red‐footed boobies and great frigatebirds perch tamely.

PM: After a dry landing at El Barranco, we will climb to the edge of a cliff where frigatebirds, masked boobies, and red-footed boobies make their nests. The trail will take us to the inner part of the island, populated by palo santo trees and cacti. We will be seeking out the impressive red‐billed tropicbird amidst Galapagos storm petrels and the endemic short-eared owl.

AM: We will have a dry landing on Bartolome, followed by a mild climb up a set of wooden steps to reach the summit of a spatter cone for a breathtaking panorama of the island’s iconic Pinnacle Rock and views of neighboring Santiago, and other central islands in the distance. Afterward, we will visit the white sand beach used as a nesting site by sea turtles, followed by snorkeling in the waters of Bartolome Island, where it is not unusual to spot Galapagos penguins.

PM: Less than a quarter of one square kilometer in size, this island gets its name from being shaped like a Chinese hat. The hat shape is best appreciated from the north side. Lava formations can be seen on the western side of the island, formed under the sea and later raised upward, making it possible to observe coral heads on the lava. Be amazed by the landscapes covered by sea lions’ colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.

AM: Wet landing onto Rabida’s deep‐red beaches to explore the red island’s fascinating interior and saltwater lagoon, where flamingos are usually present. Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, and yellow warblers feed off the vegetation. Given the right time of the year, we may see brown pelicans nesting on salt bushes that fringe the beach.

PM: In the afternoon, we navigate a short distance to Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz’s northwestern shore with a dry landing to visit a saltwater lagoon, home to greater flamingos, black‐necked stilts, and white‐cheeked pintails. Further inland we will find a fantastic land iguana nesting site.

AM: After breakfast, we will disembark in Puerto Ayora and make a stop to visit the highlands. We will visit one of the local ranches where it is possible to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. As these animals migrate from the highlands to the coastal areas and back, the chosen ranch will depend on the presence of the tortoises since they roam free and change locations. The farms are also great places to see the Santa Cruz ground finch which populates these forests, where it is also possible to see the yellow warbler.

PM: This afternoon we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, we will see tortoises from different islands. The animals are found in large semi-natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure an easy view for visitors.

AM: Española is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location, a unique range of endemic species evolved here. Gardner Bay is located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. Continue visiting Islote Gardner and Osborn, these islets are snorkeling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks, and turtles.

PM: The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and Española lava lizards.

AM: After breakfast, Santa Fe is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.

PM: In the afternoon, you will go to Plazas, it consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.

AM: This is our last day on the islands. After breakfast we will disembark in Puerto Ayora to take our transport to the Baltra airport, making a short stop to visit the Twin Craters. The Gemelos are two deep craters located to the side of the road that leads from Puerto Ayora to the other side of the island in order to arrive to the airport. These huge craters were most likely created in a volcanic explosion or by magma chambers having collapsed underneath the island ́s surface. This is also an excellent place to see the Galapagos hawk and the Santa Cruz barn owl. The surrounding forests are also filled with birds such as the vermilion flycatcher and the yellow warbler.

After this visit, we will continue our way to the Baltra airport for the departing flight to mainland Ecuador.

AM: After arriving at Baltra airport, we will be greeted by our personnel to then cross the Itabaca channel and reach Santa Cruz Island for our first visit in the Archipelago: The Highlands of Santa Cruz. We will visit one of the ranches of the area where it is possible to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. As these animals migrate from the coastal area to the highlands and back, the chosen ranch will depend on the presence of the tortoises since they roam free and change locations. We will then head for the M/Y WildAid’s Passion for lunch and to freshen up to then head back to Puerto Ayora for our second visit of the day, the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center. Here, we will see tortoises from different islands. The animals are found in large semi-natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure an easy view for the visitors. The pens are divided according to four different stages: eggs, neonates, juveniles (held here until they are mature enough to be "repatriated"), and adults. Afterward, we will head back to Puerto Ayora, where we will have some time to explore the town and shops by ourselves (this is the only chance of shopping during this itinerary) before boarding the M/Y WildAid’s Passion at around 17:00.

Once onboard, the crew and captain will welcome us, have a short security drill and enjoy dinner and the briefing for the next day ́s activities.

AM: We spend the day on Floreana, the legendary homestead of infamous Baroness Eloise Von Wagner de Bousquet. Wet landing onto the olivine beaches of Punta Cormorant, where we will be seeking Greater Flamingos on the brackish lagoon on our way to another special beach with the finest sand you’ll set foot on, a sea turtle nesting ground where sharks and rays also visit regularly. We end the outing with a short panga ride to snorkel in the Devil’s Crown, an old volcanic crater, and a key snorkeling site.

PM: In the highlands of Floreana Island we will find a freshwater spring that historically was a hideout for the pirates and whalers.

AM: After breakfast, we will visit Post Office Bay (wet landing), where you can drop your postcards in the barrel as the whalers did centuries ago and select cards to hand-deliver when you return home.

PM: This is an excellent time to keep an eye out for whales and dolphins.Furthermore, enjoy the landscape of Isabela Island.

AM: This morning we will visit Floreana Island ́s Black Beach to learn about the intriguing human history of the island and its first inhabitants. We will visit this freshwater source known as Asilo de La Paz, as well as the caves that served as hideouts for pirates and where the first Galapagueño was born, according to the stories of Floreana, which involve the infamous Baroness Eloise Wagner von Bousquet and her lovers who mysteriously began to disappear after settling on the island.

PM: After our visit, we will have the best opportunity for a not‐so‐common yet well beloved activity in the archipelago, full afternoon navigation to look for whales and dolphins. This afternoon is completed by the impressive landscapes of Isabela and the Cerro Azul volcano.

AM: Dry landing near Tagus Cove, a historical pirate hideaway where names of countless ships are recorded for posterity on the cliff face. Hike through beautiful Galapagos landscapes to Darwin Lake, a salt‐water crater lagoon surrounded by tuff stone.

PM: We cross Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island, one of the world’s most pristine sites, and disembark (dry landing) at Punta Espinosa. Strolling along the shoreline, we will be on the lookout for flightless cormorants, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos penguins and hawks, sooty‐colored marine iguanas and bright red‐orange Sally Lightfoot crabs.

AM: At Puerto Egas, we arrive by wet landing and disembark on a dark sand volcanic beach with a fascinating history of human settlement. With luck, we will see the Galapagos fur seals lounging on the edges of the lava fields and playful sea lions under arches of lava carved by erosion from the ocean. In these crystalline pools known as “grottos,” we walk along the shore observing the abundant marine life and shorebirds they attract.

PM: At Buccaneer Cove we can enjoy a panga ride around the beautiful coastline. This place is named so as it was once a refuge for British Buccaneers who anchored here to collect supplies and clean their ships. The cove is scenic with views of the cliffs and a dark beach, and unusual rock formations known as ‘the monk’ and ‘elephant rock.’

After Buccaneer’s Cove, we are en route to central Santiago Island to disembark at Espumilla Beach with a wet landing onto golden-colored sand. This area is also used by green sea turtles as a nesting site. A trail through the forest will take us through some of the largest specimens of Palo Santo on the islands to best observe yellow warblers, the Galapagos flycatcher, and Darwin finches.

AM: We will have a dry landing on Sullivan Bay in Santiago Island to start our walk over a recent lava flow, including very fresh pahoehoe lava formations, lava bubbles containing crystallized minerals, and pioneer plants. Along the shoreline, we may find Galapagos penguins and herons going after small fish.

PM: We disembark on North Seymour Island directly onto this small, uplifted island. We will walk through a large bird nesting colony of two different species of frigatebirds, blue‐footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. Depending on the season we will be able to watch the spectacular mating rituals being displayed.

AM: Mosquera is a small islet located between Baltra and North Seymour Islands, measuring about 160 meters wide and 600 meters long. We will visit this islet to view the shorebirds and aquatic life that frequent this area.

After this visit, the yacht will sail to Baltra Island where passengers will disembark and be assisted to the airport for their departing flight.