8 days Galapagos islands luxury cruise Origin yacht Itinerary B

Fly to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (SCY) on San Cristobal Island, and transfer by bus then Zodiac to the Origin anchored in the bay.  After a welcome briefing and safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch is served on board. In the afternoon, travel to Cerro Colorado to visit Centro de Crianza Jacinto Gordillo (La Galapaguera) where the national park has established a breeding program for giant tortoises in their natural habitat.  At the visitor center, learn about the origin and evolution of tortoises, as well as threats from introduced animals. Along the trail, watch for the San Cristobal mockingbird and Calandrinia plant, both endemic to this island.  Return to the Origin for a briefing followed by our Captain’s welcome cocktail party and dinner prepared by our chefs.

Spend the entire day on Genovesa(TOWER) Island, one of the most spectacular places in Galapagos for bird species. Land at Prince Philip’s Steps, where red-footed boobies nest in palo santo trees,  Nazca boobies nest near the trail, and storm petrels gather in large numbers in an open lava field.  With luck, you may see the elusive short-eared owl.  Return to the ORIGIN for a BBQ lunch on the sun deck. Chose to paddle from a kayak or stand-up paddle board and explore the cliffs. Look for the red-billed tropic bird hiding in the crevices or snorkel in deeper water from the Zodiac.  Land at Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tide pools. Enter a forest of Optuntia cactus and mangroves where colonies of great frigatebirds nest, the males inflating their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead.   Chose to relax on the beach or swim with sea lions in these northern warmer waters. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner and an evening full of stars.