The Sea Finch itinerary
Weekly Itinerary
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | North Seymour | Punta Carrion | All day visit to Santa Fe | South Plazas | Bartolome | North Seymour | All day visit to Bartolome |
| Afternoon | Bachas Beach | South Plazas | Punta Carrion | Sombrero Chino | Bachas Beach |
Our daily excursions on board the Sea Finch will take you to experience the Galapagos Islands in a safe and comfortable manner. Scroll down to check the boat´s weekly itinerary and choose as many days as you like according to your interests and time availability.
Monday
North Seymour
Morning
North Seymour Island was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, reason why its low, flat profile. Swallow-tailed gulls sit perched in ledges of the cliffs only a few meters high form the shoreline. A forest of Palo Santo trees stands just above the landing site, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom. Amongst the emblematic fauna of the island, you will be able to see sea lions, land iguanas and blue footed boobies. The trail turns inland where you will find active and dynamic colonies of both species of “magnificent” and “great” frigate birds.
Dry landing.
Bachas Beach
Afternoon
Las Bachas, a beautiful coralline beach located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, is the perfect place for practicing snorkeling, swimming or to simply enjoy the white soft sand. Several brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos.
Wet landing.
Tour schedule
- 07h50: Meeting point in Puerto Ayora
- 10h00: North Seymour Island visit
- 13h00: Lunch
- 14h00: “Las Bachas” visit
- 16h00: (aprox) Back in Puerto Ayora
Tuesday
Punta Carrion
Morning
You will have the possibility of snorkeling in the calm waters of Punta Carrión where you will be able to observe a variety of tropical fish and possibly white tip reef sharks that peacefully rest on the sandy bottom.
Snorkeling.
South Plazas
Afternoon
A few hundred meters away from the Eastern cost of Santa Cruz Island, South Plazas and North Plazas islands were formed from uplifted seabed, giving it a tilted tabletop quality. You will disembark on South Plazas where you will be greeted by a colony of sea lions. Further up the shore a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-gray land iguanas sit beneath, waiting patiently for pears to drop.
The trail takes you gradually towards the southern cliff of the island where you will be able to observe nesting swallow-tailed gulls and several sea birds such as tropic birds, Nazca and blue footed boobies fly by.
Dry landing
Tour schedule
- 08h20: Meeting point in Puerto Ayora
- 09h30: Snorkeling in Punta Carrión
- 12h00: South Plazas Island visit – Lunch
- 16h00: (aprox) Arribal at Puerto Ayora
Wednesday
Santa Fe
Morning
Santa Fe offers a beautiful bay where the yacht anchors and where the visit of the island begins. You will disembark on a small sandy beach where you will be able to see a colony of sea lions and the possibility of seeing the Galapagos hawk. Following the trail, the endemic species of land iguanas from the island of Santa Fé wait beneath the large opuntia cactus to eat its fallen pads or flowers.
After the visit on land you will be taken to enjoy snorkeling in the clear waters of the anchoring site of Santa Fé. You will be able to see a variety of tropical fish and a possibility of seeing turtles and sea lions underwater.
Wet landing / snorkeling
Tour schedule
- 07h50: Meeting point in Puerto Ayora
- 10h00: Santa Fe visit
- Snorkeling
- Lunch
- 15h30: (aprox) Back in Puerto Ayora
Thursday
South Plazas
Morning
Located a few hundred meters away from the Eastern cost of Santa Cruz Island, South Plazas and North Plazas islands were formed from uplifted seabed, giving it a tilted tabletop quality. You will disembark on South Plazas where you will be greeted by a colony of sea lions. Further up the shore a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-gray land iguanas sit beneath, waiting patiently for pears to drop.
The trail takes you gradually towards the southern cliff of the island where you will be able to observe nesting swallow-tailed gulls and several sea birds such as tropic birds, Nazca and blue footed boobies fly by.
Dry landing.
Punta Carrion
Afternoon
You will have the possibility of snorkeling in the calm waters of Punta Carrión where you will be able to observe a variety of tropical fish and possibly white tip reef sharks that peacefully rest on the sandy bottom.
Snorkeling
Tour schedule
- 07h50: Meeting point in Puerto Ayora
- 11h00: South Plazas island visit
- 13h00: Lunch
- 14h30: Snorkeling in Punta Carrion
- 16h00: (aprox) Back in Puerto Ayora
Friday
Bartolome
Morning
Bartolome offers one of the most emblematic sceneries of the Galapagos Islands. A 600 – meter pathway complete with stairs and a boardwalk will take you to the highest point of the island where you will be able to learn first hand about the volcanic origins of the Galapagos Islands.
After the walk a dingy ride along the coastline will give you the opportunity to see the Galapagos penguin. This curious bird nest amongst the fissured lava flows and ventures into the crystal clear waters of Bartolome to fish.
Sombrero Chino
Afternoon
After your walk in Bartolome, Sea Finch will lift its anchor and sail to Sombrero Chino. The yacht will anchor at a pristine channel between Santiago Island and Sombrero chino, with turquoise water that contrasts with pioneer vegetation growing in rugged dark lava and a beautiful small coralline beach.
This is a wonderful setting for snorkeling with tropical fish, star fish and with good possibilities of swimming with Galapagos penguins, white tip sharks, sea lions and turtles.
Snorkeling / Wet landing.
Tour schedule
- 06h50: Meeting point in Puerto Ayora
- 10h00: Bartolome Island visit
- 13h00: Lunch / snorkeling
- 18h00: (aprox) Back in Puerto Ayora
Saturday
North Seymour
Morning
North Seymour Island was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, reason why its low, flat profile. Swallow-tailed gulls sit perched in ledges of the cliffs only a few meters high form the shoreline. A forest of Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing site, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom. Amongst the emblematic fauna of the island you will be able to see sea lions, land iguanas and blue footed boobies. The trail turns inland where you will find active and dynamic colonies of both species of “magnificent” and “great” frigate birds.
Dry landing.
Las Bachas
Afternoon
Las Bachas, a beautiful coralline beach located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, is the perfect place for practicing snorkeling, swimming or to simply enjoy the white soft sand. Several brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos.
Wet Landing
Tour schedule
- 07h50: Meeting point in Puerto Ayora
- 10h00: North Seymour Island visit
- 13h00: Lunch
- 14h00: “Las Bachas” visit
- 16h00: (aprox) Back in Puerto Ayora
Sunday
Bartolome
Morning
Bartolome offers one of the most emblematic sceneries of the Galapagos Islands. A 600 – meter pathway complete with stairs and a boardwalk will take you to the highest point of the island where you will be able to learn first hand about the volcanic origins of the Galapagos Islands.
After the walk a dingy ride along the coastline will give you the opportunity to see the Galapagos penguin. This curious bird nest amongst the fissured lava flows and ventures into the crystal clear waters of Bartolome to fish.
Afternoon
After enjoying your lunch, you will disembark on the beautiful beach of Bartolome island. From here you can enjoy some snorkeling off the beach or from our dingy depending on how comfortable you feel with this activity. Swimmers will be following the rocky cost of Bartolome, beneath the iconic Bartolome pinnacle rock. Enjoy the company of topical fish, hopefully penguins, white tip sharks, turtles, and unique floor bed with intriguing lava formations. For those who prefer an easier afternoon, you can relax at the beach.
Note: Hourly tour schedules presented above may vary according to weather conditions or regulations imposed by the Galapagos National Park.