Day 1 - Baltra & Black Turtle Cove

Cruise Embarkation, Baltra Island - Your flight from Ecuador lands on Baltra Island. During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal. Now the cactus-strewn landscapes of Baltra are home to the region's main airport and where you will be greeted by staff from Celebrity. After just a short bus and zodiac ride you will be aboard the ship.

Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island - A Zodiac ride into Black Turtle Cove, one of the most beautiful sites in the Galapagos, takes us through a complex maze of tranquil saltwater inlets surrounded by mangroves. Once inside the cove, we'll quietly explore the area looking for sea turtles, several species of rays, and sharks. It is also a nesting site for brown pelicans, egrets, and herons. Excursion options: Zodiac.

Day 2 - Sullivan Bay & Bartolome Island

Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island - During a volcanic eruption in the early 1900's, this area of Santiago was covered with flowing lava. Today, the hardened fields of black rock create a geologic wonderland. There are two small beaches where turtles come for nesting. Take advantage of the cool of the early morning for a walk at this amazing site. Excursion options: Walk.

Bartolomé Island - Bartolomé Island offers one of the region's most photographed views, and is a spectacular geological setting. Its barren moon-like volcanic landscapes, spatter cones, and pinnacle rock make for a unique stop. It is also home to the endemic Galapagos penguin and provides an excellent opportunity for snorkeling. Marine turtles come ashore to nest here between January and March. Excursion options: hike up some 368 stairs "To the Top" of the volcano, a zodiac ride, and an optional beach swim or snorkel.

Day 3 - Urvina Bay & Tagus Cove, Isabela

Isabela Island (Isla Isabela) is the largest island in the Galapagos, is in the shape of a sea horse and was named by Christopher Columbus in honor of Queen Isabela of Spain. It is home to five active volcanoes. The Wolf Volcano erupted in May, 2015 after 33 years of inactivity.

Urvina Bay Here we will see large land iguanas, finches, and if lucky, a giant tortoise or two. In 1954, the intrusion of magma below one of the island's volcanoes caused part of the bay to be uplifted some 6 meters. Today, we can walk through the remains of what was once a thriving underwater reef. Excursion options include a long, faster-paced hike with some rock climbing required, followed by an optional snorkel (if conditions allow), a short walk, or swim. This is a wet landing.

Caleta Tagus (Tagus Cove), Isabela Historically an anchorage for pirates and whalers was named for the British naval vessel that moored here in 1814. The names of those old ships are carved into the rock above the landing. Tagus Point offers a breathtaking view of Isabela, its volcanoes, and a saltwater lagoon

The coves quiet waters make for an ideal zodiac ride beneath its sheltered cliffs, where blue-fitted boobies, brown noddies, pelicans and noddy terns make their nests, and flightless cormorants and penguins inhabit the lava ledges. Along the shore seabirds, penguins, sea lions, sea turtles and nesting flightless cormorants can often be found Excursion options include a scenic zodiac ride for wildlife viewing, a long, faster-paced walk, snorkeling, and kayak. This is a dry landing.

Day 4 - Espinoza Point & Vicente Roca Point

Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island - Fernandina Island is the youngest Galapagos island due to its volcanic activity. As Darwin wrote, it is "covered with immense deluges of black naked lava." Along with its extraordinary black lava rocks, Punta Espinoza hosts the largest colony of marine iguanas in the Archipelago, along with sea lions and a nesting site for flightless cormorants. Excursion options: walk, deep water snorkel, or hike.

Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island - The half-collapsed remains make for a spectacular setting at this site. Awe-inspiring cliffs, blue waters, and wildlife create a zodiac ride to remember as you search for sea turtles, penguins, fur seals, the flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, marine mammals, and the oddly shaped form of the elusive sunfish. Excursion options: zodiac, deep water snorkel.

Day 5 - Egas Point & Espumilla Beach, Santiago

Puerto Egas, Santiago With its sandy beach, black rocks, and blue-water grottos, Puerto Egas offers a taste of Galapagos geology, great snorkeling, and an opportunity to see shorebirds and Galapagos fur seals.

The wet landing on the dark sands here leads to one of the more rewarding visits in the Galapagos, the Fur Seal Grotto. Here one can get very close views of both fur seals and sea lions in a series of rocky pools. For many, this is the only opportunity to see the Galapagos fur seal, once thought to be on the verge of extinction. In addition to the fur seals. This site also offers the best opportunity for tide-pooling in the Galapagos.

Espumilla Beach, Santiago Island Located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay, this beach is a sea turtle nesting site. The favored attractions here are the Palo Santo forest, beach, and the lovely landscape. The trail passes a small seasonal lagoon where flamingos and white-cheeked pintail ducks are sometimes seen. Continuing on, the trail loops through the arid zone, where some of the tallest Palo Santo trees of the entire archipelago are found. Also, look out for the Galapagos Hawk as well as Darwin's finches. Excursion options: Walk.

Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. These pirates would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent site. Excursion options: Kayak, snorkel, zodiac.

Day 6 - Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island - This is the main population center of the islands, home to the National Park Tortoise Breeding Center and the Charles Darwin Research Station. After Darwin's studies and surveys, the Galapagos Archipelago remained untouched except for occasional landings for water and meager supplies mustered from the uninhabited islands. Many tortoises were taken for food and oil.

In 1930, an expedition from the US arrived to create a wildlife sanctuary for the entire archipelago, and finally, in 1935, the first laws were passed to protect these islands. In 1959, the Ecuadorian government declared the Galapagos a national park, the catalyst needed to promote scientific research, restoration, and preservation of the ecosystem.

You will have the opportunity to take a bus ride to the highlands to observe giant tortoises in the wild and walk through a lava tunnel. Optional time for shopping will be available. Excursion options: Tortoise-breeding Center/Charles Darwin Center, Highlands.

Day 7 - El Barranco & Darwin Bay, Genovesa

El Barranco, Genovesa Island - Also known as Prince Philip's Steps, El Barranco was named for Prince Philip, who visited Galapagos in 1965 and again in 1981. The steep stairway leads up through a seabird colony full of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies. Once visitors reach the plateau, the trail continues inland and passes more nesting booby colonies in the thin Palo Santo forest. You will see Nazca boobies, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and storm petrels. Lucky visitors with keen eyes may catch a glimpse of a Short-eared lava owl stalking petrel along the island's eastern cliffs. Excursion options: Hike, zodiac, deep water snorkel.

Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island - Darwin Bay's soft white sand is only the beginning of a spectacular excursion. A trail from the beach takes you into lush mangroves where red-footed boobies nest. Other local wildlife includes sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, frigate birds, and more. Snorkeling is a must here, as the nutrient-rich water attracts all types of marine life, including sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, and the occasional manta ray. Excursion options: Walk, swim, snorkel and kayak.

Day 8 - North Seymour & Baltra Island

North Seymour (Isla Seymour) is a small island just north of Baltra. It is home to the largest colony of frigate birds in the Galapagos. While keeping an eye out for male frigates trying to impress potential mates with an inflated red neck pouch, you may also see blue-footed boobies dancing in a timeless courtship ritual. Sea lions and large land iguanas also roam about this rocky terrain. Excursion options include a short easy walk. This is a dry landing.

Baltra and Cruise Debarkation: At the end of your cruise, you will return to Baltra to say farewell to the enchanted islands. After your last zodiac ride and a short bus ride, you'll arrive at the Baltra airport for your onward journeys.

7-Nights Galapagos Northern Loop Itinerary