Night dives are illegal in the Galapagos due to the fact that all of the surrounding sea is National Park and National Park sites 'close' at sundown, so this is your one and only chance to have a legal night dive in the Galapagos.

Santa Cruz Highlands Tour: Today, you'll go meet the iconic giant tortoises of Galapagos in their natural habitat and explore lava tunnels.  You'll walk around the enormous collapsed chambers called Los Gemelos (The Twins) and through the 'fuzzy' forest of one of the few remaining healthy Scalesia Forests in the Galapagos.  The fuzzy part is draped liverwort, which often reminds people of Spanish Moss.  Scalesia is in the daisy and sunflower family, but most describe it as Jurassic sized broccoli stalks.  You'll see blue-eyed Galapagos doves and hopefully, the adorable Vermillion Flycatcher.

Next you head to a private tortoise reserve where you will be able to walk through open fields and observe the iconic Galapagos Tortoises in the wild. Afterwards, you will explore a lava tube.  These amazing structures are literally where lava once flowed beneath the earth's surface.

Overnight Santa Cruz.

Gordon Rocks: While there is lots and lots to see, there is one reason people head to Gordon Rocks and one reason it is a world-renowned site: the Hammerheads, up close and really personal. Sure, there are Eagle Rays, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Mantas, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Jacks, Turtles, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Flag Cabrillas, Blennies, Wrasse in various growth stages, Cardinalfish, King Angelfish, Sea Lions, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, King Angelfish, Barracudas, Jack and more…but it’s all about the hammerheads.  Odds of seeing them are 90%.

The rocks lie a short distance north of the Plazas islands off the east coast of Santa Cruz. You dive in remnants of an old crater about 100m across. There are two large crescent shaped rocks on the north and south (the rim), and a smaller rock with a channel and 3 underwater pinnacles in the west. In the middle of the area lies another pinnacle jutting up to about 17m. You can dive on all sides of the crater, both inside (sandy area) and out (vertical walls, very deep). Currents can be very strong here, the local name for the dive site is La Lavadora (The Washing Machine). Sometimes, there are often heavy currents, eddies and down currents, swells and surge (especially inside the caldera) and the water in places is deep.

Lunch will be onboard during a surface interval. Overnight Santa Cruz. 

North Seymour: Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Shark, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Tiger Snake Eels, Moray Eels, Garden Eels, Sea Stars, Sea Turtles, Jacks, Blue and Gold Snappers, Flag Cabrilla, Creolefish, King Angelfish, Barracuda, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Frogfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Spotfin Burrfish, Scorpionfish, Cardinalfish, Nudibranch and more.  There is a large sandy area at 15m with a colony of endemic garden eels and white tipped reef sharks.

Mosqueras: Sea Lions, Eagle Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Shark, Garden Eels, Snake Eels, Jack, Mackerel, Threebanded Butterflyfish, Sea Turtles, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Yellow and Blue Striped Snappers, King Angelfish, Parrotfish, Yellowtail Grunt, Peruvian Grunt, Cardinalfish, Galapagos Grunt, Sea Stars and more.

Mosqueras is a sand islet which lies north to south in a shallow area between Baltra and Seymour.  There’s a cleaning station at about 15 m where snappers are in abundance and hammerheads may gather.  The large colony of garden eels often have a large field of cushion stars beyond.   Mosqueras is home to a large colony of sea lions.  With many juveniles in June, expect playful pups while you dive.

Lunch will be onboard during surface interval.  Overnight Santa Cruz.

Charles Darwin Research Station Visit: In addition to the many fascinating aspects of a visit to the Darwin Station,it is also home to world-famous Lonesome George, the only remaining Galapagos Tortoise of his species from the island of Pinta making him the most rare living creature in the world. If you have spent too much time in the water so far, a visit to the Darwin Station will also provide you with the opportunity to see land iguanas. When possible, we recommend you do your souvenir shopping here or in the National Park gift shop to support the good cause both are.

You will depart for Puerto Villamil, Isabela at 2PM and arrive around 4:30 PM.  Hotel check-in. Unpack. Relax. Enjoy the spectacular powdery white sand beach and especially the sunset from the beach. Overnight in Isabela.

Sierra Negra Volcano Trek.   Sierra Negra is a live volcano in one of the most volcanically active places on earth! It also happens to have the second largest caldera in the world on any active volcano.  4x4 vehicles will drive you up to our base, “El Cura”.  Here, you will mount trail horses or walk if you’re not comfortable on a horse. The trail can be muddy at times and it does take about 45 minutes longer on foot, however, horses use a wide trail and on foot, you walk a very narrow trail on the rim of the caldera.  

After a gorgeous ride / hike, we arrive to the northeastern edge of the caldera. The views are breathtaking!  We will relax a bit and have a snack on the edge of the caldera.  You may continue the trek over to Volcan Chico, another 1-2 hour hike in each direction.  The walk is difficult and there is no shade at all, but you will never, ever forget the experience!   

Volcan Chico is a part of Sierra Negra rather than a separate volcano. It is a parasitic cone. from which lava flows.  Most say the incredible landscapes look like  the moon!  Fumarolic activity is abundant. Feel the heat beneath your feet where lava flows below.  Find spots where steam rises. Oxidized metal content is responsible for the palette of crimson, gold, pink, and silver, which sparkles, in the equatorial sun. You will see both AA and pahoehoe lava fields. The views to the sea and the Perry Isthmus are spectacular.  For most, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

Campo Duro is literally a campground up the slopes of Sierra Negra.  Lunch is a delicious homemade treat with something from their large outdoor wood stove made of lava rock as well as fresh fruit from their organic orchard.  There is a private tortoise reserve on the grounds, a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these iconic creatures.   

On the way back to Puerto Villamil, we will visit the Isabela Breeding Center, a fascinating stop and the only place in the Galapagos to see the flat backed giant tortoises, most airlifted to safety when Cerro Azul last erupted.  The scars are still obviously on their unusual shells.  Afterwards, we will walk through the wetlands and back into town. Overnight Isabela.

Interpretation Center: Just outside Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is a visitors’ center which explains the natural processes that have made the Galápagos such a unique place, delineates efforts to protect and preserve the islands, and serves as an education center for park personnel and naturalist guides. The three exhibits inside are Human History, covering events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands; Natural History, with illustrations of natural events and information on how different species arrived at the islands; and Conservation, an introduction to the struggles of the ecosystems and preservation efforts under way.

Frigate Hill: After the Interpretation Center, we will hike about 1 kilometer to Frigate Hill, where both great and magnificent frigates make their nests.  Other species,  like blue footed boobies, swallowed tailed-gulls, and Darwin finches can also be seen.  On a clear day it offers sweeping views of the bay.

Night dives are illegal in the Galapagos due to the fact that all of the surrounding sea is National Park and National Park sites 'close' at sundown, so this is your one and only chance to have a legal night dive in the Galapagos.

Kicker Rock: This iconic Galapagos side is an eroded volcano, now 2 rocks rising 500 feet up out of the sea and resembling what locals called a 'sleeping lion', thus it's other name, Leon Dormido.  As majestic as it is to see topside, underneath is equally impressive.  The water is clear and sightings include: eagle rays, stone scorpionfish, harlequin wrasse, Galapagos sharks, schools of yellowtail grunts, jacks, barracudas, rainbow runners, salemas, barberfish, creolefish, flag cabrilla, black coral, nudibranchs, urchins, octopus, crustaceans and other invertebrates. The wall is perhaps the most colorful dive site in Galapagos.

You will take an early flight from San Cristobal to Isabela.  The views from a low flying plane are a tour in and of itself. 

Sierra Negra Volcano Trek:  Sierra Negra is a live volcano in one of the most volcanically active places on earth! It also happens to have the second largest caldera in the world
on any active volcano. You will be transported from town up to our base, “El Cura”.  Here, you will mount trail horses or walk if you’re not comfortable on a horse. The trail can be muddy at times and it does take about 45 minutes longer on foot, however, horses use a wide trail and on foot, you walk a very narrow trail on the rim of the caldera. 

After a beautiful ride / hike, we arrive to the northeastern edge of the caldera. The views are breathtaking!  We will relax a bit and have a snack on the edge of the caldera.  You may continue the trek over to Volcan Chico, another 1-2 hour hike in each direction.  The walk is difficult and there is no shade at all, but you will never, ever forget the experience!  

Volcan Chico is a part of Sierra Negra rather than a separate volcano. It is a parasitic cone. from which lava flows.  Most describe the incredible landscapes as something that might exist on the moon!  Fumarolic activity is abundant. Feel the heat beneath your feet where lava flows below.  Find spots where steam rises. Oxidized metal content is responsible for the palette of crimson, gold, pink, and silver, which sparkles, in the equatorial sun. You will see both AA and pahoehoe lava fields.  The views to the sea and the Perry Isthmus are spectacular.  For most, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Campo Duro is literally a campground up the slopes of Sierra Negra.  It is an oasis of lush greenery, a perfect respite after the strark lunarscapes of Volcan Chico. Lunch is a delicious homemade treat from their large outdoor wood stove made of lava rock as well as fresh fruit and vegetables from their organic gardens. There is a private tortoise reserve on the grounds, a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these iconic creatures

Tortuga Bay is a double-crescent powdery white sand beach. One side has calm, lake-like turquoise water, but the larger beach has strong and sometimes dangerous currents. You may see Sea Turtles, White -Tipped Reef Sharks, and Marbled Rays. Pelicans, Blue-Footed Boobies are often spotted in the red mangrove forest or black lava rocks lining the bay’s side. The mangroves provide a nesting area for the Great Blue Heron. Land birds include Darwin’s Finches and Galapagos Mockingbirds. You will see large marine iguana colonies sunning and sneezing the salt after returning from sea.  Crimson Sesuvium covers the ground much of the year. It is a stunning array of colors -blue skies, black volcanic rock, white sand, emerald green or deep blue sea, crimson or yellow sesuvium and green and brown shades of opuntia or mangrove.

Overnight Santa Cruz.

Gordon Rocks: While there is lots and lots to see, there is one reason people head to Gordon Rocks and one reason it is a world-renowned site: the Hammerheads, up close and really personal. Sure, there are Eagle Rays, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Mantas, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Jacks, Turtles, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Flag Cabrillas, Blennies, Wrasse in various growth stages, Cardinalfish, King Angelfish, Sea Lions, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, King Angelfish, Barracudas, Jack and more…but it’s all about the hammerheads.  Odds of seeing them are 90%.

The rocks lie a short distance north of the Plazas islands off the east coast of Santa Cruz. You dive in remnants of an old crater about 100m across. There are two large crescent shaped rocks on the north and south (the rim), and a smaller rock with a channel and 3 underwater pinnacles in the west. In the middle of the area lies another pinnacle jutting up to about 17m. You can dive on all sides of the crater, both inside (sandy area) and out (vertical walls, very deep). Currents can be very strong here, the local name for the dive site is La Lavadora (The Washing Machine). Sometimes, there are often heavy currents, eddies and down currents, swells and surge (especially inside the caldera) and the water in places is deep.

Lunch will be onboard during a surface interval.Throw some shorts over your bathing suit and put on your walking shoes when you disembark at Itabaca in preparation for the Santa Cruz Highlands.

Santa Cruz Highlands Tour: After diving, you'll go meet the iconic giant tortoises of Galapagos in their natural habitat and explore lava tunnels.  You'll walk around the enormous collapsed chambers called Los Gemelos (The Twins) and through the 'fuzzy' forest of one of the few remaining healthy Scalesia Forests in the Galapagos.  The fuzzy part is draped liverwort, which often reminds people of Spanish Moss.  Scalesia is in the daisy and sunflower family, but most describe it as Jurassic sized broccoli stalks.  You'll see blue-eyed Galapagos doves and hopefully, the adorable Vermillion Flycatcher.

Next you head to a private tortoise reserve where you will be able to walk through open fields and observe the iconic Galapagos Tortoises in the wild.  Afterwards, you will explore a lava tube.  These amazing structures are literally where lava once flowed beneath the earth's surface.

Overnight Santa Cruz.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Baltra for your departure to the mainland.

Santa Cruz Highlands Tour: Wear appropriate clothing on your flight because after we pick you up at Baltra Airport, you'll go meet the iconic giant tortoises of Galapagos in their natural habitat and explore lava tunnels.  You'll walk around the enormous collapsed chambers called Los Gemelos (The Twins) and through the 'fuzzy' forest of one of the few remaining healthy Scalesia Forests in the Galapagos.  The fuzzy part is draped liverwort, which often reminds people of Spanish Moss.  Scalesia is in the daisy and sunflower family, but most describe it as Jurassic sized broccoli stalks.  You'll see blue-eyed Galapagos doves and hopefully, the adorable Vermillion Flycatcher.

Next you head to a private tortoise reserve where you will be able to walk through open fields and observe the iconic Galapagos Tortoises in the wild.  Afterwards, you will explore a lava tube.  These amazing structures are literally where lava once flowed beneath the earth's surface.

Overnight Santa Cruz.

Gordon Rocks: While there is lots and lots to see, there is one reason people head to Gordon Rocks and one reason it is a world-renowned site: the Hammerheads, up close and really personal. Sure, there are Eagle Rays, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Mantas, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Jacks, Turtles, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Flag Cabrillas, Blennies, Wrasse in various growth stages, Cardinalfish, King Angelfish, Sea Lions, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, King Angelfish, Barracudas, Jack and more…but it’s all about the hammerheads.  Odds of seeing them are 90%.

The rocks lie a short distance north of the Plazas islands off the east coast of Santa Cruz. You dive in remnants of an old crater about 100m across. There are two large crescent shaped rocks on the north and south (the rim), and a smaller rock with a channel and 3 underwater pinnacles in the west. In the middle of the area lies another pinnacle jutting up to about 17m. You can dive on all sides of the crater, both inside (sandy area) and out (vertical walls, very deep). Currents can be very strong here, the local name for the dive site is La Lavadora (The Washing Machine). Sometimes, there are often heavy currents, eddies and down currents, swells and surge (especially inside the caldera) and the water in places is deep.

Lunch will be onboard during a surface interval. Overnight Santa Cruz. 

North Seymour: Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Shark, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Tiger Snake Eels, Moray Eels, Garden Eels, Sea Stars, Sea Turtles, Jacks, Blue and Gold Snappers, Flag Cabrilla, Creolefish, King Angelfish, Barracuda, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Frogfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Spotfin Burrfish, Scorpionfish, Cardinalfish, Nudibranch and more.  There is a large sandy area at 15m with a colony of endemic garden eels and white tipped reef sharks.

Mosqueras: Sea Lions, Eagle Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Shark, Garden Eels, Snake Eels, Jack, Mackerel, Threebanded Butterflyfish, Sea Turtles, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Yellow and Blue Striped Snappers, King Angelfish, Parrotfish, Yellowtail Grunt, Peruvian Grunt, Cardinalfish, Galapagos Grunt, Sea Stars and more.

Mosqueras is a sand islet which lies north to south in a shallow area between Baltra and Seymour.  There’s a cleaning station at about 15 m where snappers are in abundance and hammerheads may gather.  The large colony of garden eels often have a large field of cushion stars beyond.   Mosqueras is home to a large colony of sea lions.  With many juveniles in June, expect playful pups while you dive.

Charles Darwin Research Station Visit: In addition to the many fascinating aspects of a visit to the Darwin Station,it is also home to world-famous Lonesome George, the only remaining Galapagos Tortoise of his species from the island of Pinta making him the most rare living creature in the world. If you have spent too much time in the water so far, a visit to the Darwin Station will also provide you with the opportunity to see land iguanas. When possible, we recommend you do your souvenir shopping here or in the National Park gift shop to support the good cause both are.

You will depart for Puerto Villamil, Isabela at 2PM and arrive around 4:30 PM.  Hotel check-in. Unpack. Relax. Enjoy the spectacular powdery white sand beach and especially the sunset from the beach. Overnight in Isabela.

Sierra Negra Volcano Trek:  Sierra Negra is a live volcano in one of the most volcanically active places on earth! It also happens to have the second largest caldera in the world on any active volcano.  4x4 vehicles will drive you up to our base, “El Cura”.  Here, you will mount trail horses or walk if you’re not comfortable on a horse. The trail can be muddy at times and it does take about 45 minutes longer on foot, however, horses use a wide trail and on foot, you walk a very narrow trail on the rim of the caldera.  

After a gorgeous ride / hike, we arrive to the northeastern edge of the caldera. The views are breathtaking!  We will relax a bit and have a snack on the edge of the caldera.  You may continue the trek over to Volcan Chico, another 1-2 hour hike in each direction.  The walk is difficult and there is no shade at all, but you will never, ever forget the experience!   

Volcan Chico is a part of Sierra Negra rather than a separate volcano. It is a parasitic cone. from which lava flows.  Most say the incredible landscapes look like  the moon!  Fumarolic activity is abundant. Feel the heat beneath your feet where lava flows below.  Find spots where steam rises. Oxidized metal content is responsible for the palette of crimson, gold, pink, and silver, which sparkles, in the equatorial sun. You will see both AA and pahoehoe lava fields. The views to the sea and the Perry Isthmus are spectacular.  For most, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

Campo Duro is literally a campground up the slopes of Sierra Negra.  Lunch is a delicious homemade treat with something from their large outdoor wood stove made of lava rock as well as fresh fruit from their organic orchard.  There is a private tortoise reserve on the grounds, a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these iconic creatures.   

On the way back to Puerto Villamil, we will visit the Isabela Breeding Center, a fascinating stop and the only place in the Galapagos to see the flat backed giant tortoises, most airlifted to safety when Cerro Azul last erupted.  The scars are still obviously on their unusual shells.  Afterwards, we will walk through the wetlands and back into town. Overnight Isabela.

Los Tuneles:  We venture about an hour south of Puerto Villamil with numerous turtles (often mating) and mantas en-route to arrive at Los Tuneles, which is, simply put, one of the most magical spots in the whole of the Galapagos.  It is a labyrinth of submerged and partially collapsed lava tunnels. The water is  calm and swimming-pool clear.  There are large schools of fish, Sea Turtles, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Lobster,  Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas and Galapagos Penguins. The backdrop is an incredible land-before-time vista with 2 active volcanoes looming above, Volcan Sierra (last erupted in 2005) and Cerro Azul (last erupted in May 2008).  It is an amazing place you will never forget. 

Overnight Isabela.