Day 1 - Baltra & Mosquera Islet

The flight from mainland Ecuador lands on the island of Baltra. As you approach by air, you'll observe the rocky plateau of Baltra emerging from the blue waters of the Pacific. The terrain is flat and arid, specked with red volcanic rock and sparse growth of cactus.

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 park guides and Celebrity staff. After just a short bus and zodiac ride you will be aboard the ship. Your luggage will be delivered straight to your stateroom, giving you the opportunity to explore the ship and your home for the week.

Mosquera Islet This small, flat, sandy islet sits in the channel between Baltra and North Seymour. It is almost devoid of vegetation, but has one of the largest populations of sea lions in the islands. Its sandy expanse offers visitors the perfect opportunity to observe sea lion behavior. It is also a beautiful site to observe lava gulls, coastal birds, and Sally lightfoot crabs. Keep your eyes peeled for occasional sightings of dolphins and orcas. Excursion options: Walk.

Day 2 - Dragon Hill & Rabida Island

Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon) Located on Isla Santa Cruz, Dragon Hill, or "Cerro Dragon," is named after its population of land iguanas. The site offers a beautiful view of the landscape and two small brackish lagoons where flamingos and other shore birds occasionally feed. Along the trail, cross a beautiful white forest of Palo Santo (incense) trees and Galapagos cotton plants. Excursion options: long walk or shorter walk.

Rabida Island (Isla Rabida) Also known as Jervis Island, is a small island south of Santiago, and best known for its red sand and eroded volcanic landscape. The high amount of iron contained in the lava at Rabida give a distinctive red color to the sand of its beach. Flamingos and white-cheeked pintail ducks live in a salt water lagoon close to the beach, where brown pelicans and boobies have built their nests. Nine species of finches have been reported in this island.

A nesting colony of pelicans makes its home here, along with sea lions and some seabirds. Snorkeling along the rocks at the east end of the beach may reveal many of the reef fish common to these waters, and the ever-present sea lions.

Excursion options include a zodiac ride and short walk, swimming and snorkeling from the beach, and a deep water snorkel for more experienced snorkelers. This is a wet landing.

Day 3 - Puerto Villamil & Wall of Tears, Isabela

Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island Welcome to the small, laid-back island town of Puerto Villamil. An interpretive trail, approximately 1.5 km from town, takes you around secluded wetland lagoons to the Tortoise Center. The Center was created to protect baby tortoises from the threats of foreign species such as pigs and donkeys, as well as to educate visitors and locals about the importance of the Galapagos giant tortoise. Visitors can see both hatchling tortoises and the older breeding animals. The wetlands of Isabela Island are home to a variety of bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintail ducks, gallinules, and flamingoes. Excursion options: Walk and swim.

Wall of Tears, Isabela Island The Wall of Tears is 15 to 20 feet (5-6m) high, 10 feet (3 m) wide, and approximately 300 feet (100 m) long. When jailed in a penal colony here between 1944 and 1959, prisoners were forced to build the wall, stone by stone, in isolation, only to be asked to tear it down again and start over. It is a lesson in history and a remnant of a cruel and intolerant time. Excursion options: Walk.

Day 4 - Post Office Bay, Baroness Outlook, & Cormorant Point, Floreana

Post Office Bay, Floreana Island - Rich in history, this site is home to the post office barrel established in about 1793, where pirates, buccaneers, whalers and others could leave their mail to be picked up by outbound ships. The tradition continues today, as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home.

Cormorant Point, Floreana Island - Floreana was the first capital of the Galapagos, and where Charles Darwin met the islands' Governor. Its small brackish lagoon is often home to flamingos, stilts, and white-cheeked pintail ducks, and one of its beaches is a highly used nesting site for sea turtles. Check out the green-hued sand where you land! Excursion options include a relatively short walk to the lagoon and sea turtle nesting beach, and optional snorkeling and swimming at the landing beach.

Champion Islet - This islet provides a wonderful opportunity for ocean adventures. When snorkeling, tropical fish abound with frequent sightings of sea turtles, rays, sharks, sea stars, and sea lions if they're in a playful mood. On a zodiac ride along the rocky shoreline keep an eye out for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigate birds. Red-billed Tropic birds nest in the crevices below prickly pear cacti. The rare Charles Mockingbird also makes its home here. Excursion option: advanced snorkel.

Baroness Outlook, Floreana Island - The Baroness' Viewing Point is the ideal place to take in the unique scenery that defines Floreana, and to learn about the intriguing history of the island, once inhabited by an indulgent baroness and her three lovers. During the zodiac ride around La Loberia, you can observe several marine species such as golden eagle rays, sea turtles, sea lions, mullets and occasionally Galapagos penguins.

Day 5 - Warlock Hill, Kicker Rock & Los Lobos

San Cristobal Island (Isla San Cristobal), also known as Chatham Island, is the fifth largest of the Galapagos Islands in terms of size, and has the second largest human settlement, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It is the second most popular island after Isla Santa Cruz.

Warlock Hill (Cerro Brujo) Warlock Hill is named for its distinctive shaped mountain that resembles a witches hat. White sand juxtaposed with black volcanic rocks makes this beach another of the Galapagos' most spectacular. Brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and marine iguanas are all found here. Excursion options include a beach walk, swimming, or snorkeling. This is a wet landing.

Kicker Rock (Len Dormido) Kicker Rock or Len Dormido, named for its characteristic shape like that of a boot or sleeping lion, is a dramatic sight with the remains of a volcanic tuff cone rising almost 148 m straight up out of the ocean. Erosion has split the rock into two parts, forming a narrow channel between. Circumnavigation provides the visitor with the best views of the rock. Blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, frigate birds, and sea lions line the shore. Excursion options: Circumnavigation.

Los Lobos Named after its large colony of sea lions, this island usually allows visitors to observe and potentially interact with sea lion pups, especially while snorkeling. In addition, we may see blue-footed boobies, frigates, and even a glimpse at the second type of sea lion species found in Galapagos: the Fur Sea Lion. It is a seasonal nesting location for the blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. Excursion options: Walk, zodiac, snorkel.

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 - Suarez Point & Gardner Bay

Gardner Bay, Espanola Island - Located on the northeastern side of the island, Gardner Bay has a beautiful long white sandy beach perfect for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the area. In the water, sea turtles, rays, colorful tropical fish, sea lions and maybe even a white-tip reef shark may be seen. If you happen to visit here between October and December, you will find Green Sea Turtles mating just off shore. Gardner Bay is home to some of the most inquisitive mockingbirds in the Galapagos. Excursion options: beach walking, swimming, or a deep-water snorkel for experienced snorkelers.

Suarez Point, Espanola Island - Espanola is the oldest island in the Galapagos and home to an abundance of wildlife. At this site, visitors can expect to see sea lions, Galapagos Hawks, marine iguanas, and both blue-footed and Nazca boobies. Excursion options: long, rocky walk to look for Waved Albatrosses (March to January). They perform one of the most spectacular courtship rituals in the animal world. The second part of the walk is to observe an impressive blowhole that spews water like a towering geyser, which can reach 70 feet in the air. Optional shorter walk is also available.

Day 8 - Daphne Island & Baltra

Daphne Island (Isla Daphne) is a satellite volcanic cone located north of Santa Cruz island. The crater floor is an important breeding site for the blue-footed boobies. The presence of these sea birds makes this an exceptional island to visit. The cliff shore of the island is home for sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies and tropic birds. In addition, large schools of fish can be observed from the zodiac rides.

Nearing the crater rim red-billed tropicbirds nest in the cliffs. These elegant birds with long white tail feathers and a coral-red bill, nest in the over hanging ledges and crevices of the steep slopes. Magnificent frigate birds build their nests in the little vegetation that occurs on the island's slopes and near the crater rim. Finches, masked boobies, short eared owls and Galapagos Martins are also visible.

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 Southern Loop Itinerary