Galapagos Cruise Tours

ARRIVAL - SATURDAY

On arrival at Baltra Airport you will transfer to the dock and be checked-in to your cabin. Your first outing will be to Black Turtle Cove, which is surrounded by three different species of mangrove and its waters are home to sea turtles, sharks and rays as well as a nesting site for sea birds.

The Workshop
Jonathan's methodology is not only fun and very practical, but it is geared to any level of photographer, even if you are a beginner with a point and shoot camera. Learn amazing practical tips for Nature Photography.

Overnight: Eclipse

SUNDAY - RABIDA ISLAND

Rábida has red sandy beaches and a saltwater lagoon that are home to a colony of sea lions and beautiful flamingos. Rábida is considered to be one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos Islands. At Puerto Egas small tidal pools are home to organisms, including sea urchins, octopus and starfish. You will also see marine iguanas, finches, oyster catchers and possibly the Galapagos Hawk. The trail leads to the Fur Sea Lion Grottos.

Jonathan's photography tip: Puerto Egas is a combination of wildlife and landscapes. Time to try a new technique, or focus on action. The tidal pools and fur seal grottos provide a rich macro environment with a kaleidoscope of colour.

Overnight: Eclipse

MONDAY - TAGUS COVE

Tagus Cove was historically used as an anchoring place for pirates, buccaneers and whalers. At the top of the trail, you can experience an incredible view of the whole cove and Darwin Lake. At Darwin Lake you will have the opportunity to see blue-footed boobies, as well as marine iguanas, penguins and brown pelicans. While exploring the channel between Fernandina and Isabela Islands, we sometimes encounter dolphins and whales. Fernandina Island has lava fields stretching towards the ocean from its base and Punta Espinoza is where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen.

Jonathan's photography tip: Tagus Cove is where I have taken my best underwater cormorant shots. Sea stars and sea urchins, beautiful algal gardens are fun for trying some underwater macro shots. We walk up to a viewpoint, gorgeous landscapes at every turn in the trail and lots of Darwin finches.

Referred to as the ¨jewel in the crown¨ Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island will simply take your breath away! Thousands of marine iguanas! Sit still, choose your subject and wait for a lava lizard to climb onto the iguana's head. Follow the meanderings of the bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs and photograph them as they crawl over the back of a dark black iguana.

Overnight: Eclipse

TUESDAY - URBINA BAY

At Urbina Bay, you will be able to observe sea turtle nesting sites, see penguins, flightless cormorants, land iguanas and Darwin's famous finches. Next, Punta Vicente Roca is a wonderful snorkeling site, where you can usually see turtles as well as all kinds of fish. For those who do not snorkel, a panga ride will give you the opportunity to study some of the Galapagos' spectacular geological rock formations.

Jonathan's photography tip: We visit a true wilderness area on the flanks of Alcedo volcano at Urbina Bay. The principal subjects are land iguanas, giant tortoises, Galapagos hawks and flightless cormorants. Time to practice with telephoto and long lenses; a tripod will come in handy here. Along the foreshore we often get diving birds, pelicans and blue-footed boobies and the largest marine iguanas in the Archipelago.

Punta Vicente Roca: One of my preferred snorkeling sites of all Galapagos, sea lions, fur seals, penguins, cormorants, diving boobies, green sea turtles and a wall that is covered in multi-coloured invertebrates.

Overnight: Eclipse

WEDNESDAY - SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the great efforts being made to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards we drive to the green highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will search for giant tortoises in their natural surroundings.

Jonathan's photography tip: On Santa Cruz Island we photograph the giant tortoises both in the wild up in the highlands and in the breeding centre at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Fantastic close-up shots will give you the ¨cover shot¨ for your Galapagos album!

Overnight: Eclipse

THURSDAY - GENOVESA ISLAND

Genovesa Island is home to many millions of birds belonging to different species. At Darwin's Bay a trail takes you to where red footed boobies and other bird species nest. Local inhabitants include sea lions, swallow-tail gulls, frigates and more. Snorkeling is fantatsic in this area as sharks, colourful reef fish and tortoises are common. El Barranco, is a steep path with stairs carved into the rock which leads to a plateau full of bird life amongst a Palo Santo forest.

Jonathan's photography tip: Genovesa boasts a population of around one and a half million birds. Boobies, both the elegant Nazca and colourful Red-footed are to be found in every stage of reproduction; courtship, nesting, incubating, with chicks of all sizes. Finches, Mockingbirds and Galapagos doves hop around your feet and short-eared owls hunt during the day in the huge petrel colonies. Sea lions bask in the sun on the white coral sand beach; marine iguanas are draped over the lava rocks, a delight for both telephoto and wide-angle photography.

Overnight: Eclipse

FRIDAY - BARTOLOME ISLAND

The view from the top of Bartolome Island is simply breathtaking. At the first site, you can snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where penguins are usually seen. From the summit you will have a wonderful view of Sullivan Bay. You can see fauna and flora that include sea lions, pioneer plants, reef sharks, rays and colourful reef fish. Cerro Dragon is one of the best places to see the large population of land iguanas. A slight hike takes to you to a salt water lagoon behind the beach, frequented by common stilts, pintail ducks and occasionally flamingos.

Jonathan's photography tip: We will snorkel in the clear waters of Bartolome swimming with sea lions, penguins, rays and a myriad of fish. Then we continue with the theme of landscape photography as we hike to the summit of the principal cone.

Overnight: Eclipse

SATURDAY - DEPARTURE

On your final day of the photo expedition you will visit Las Bachas Beach, located in the north of Santa Cruz Island. Its soft, white sand is derived from decomposed coral, making it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind the beach there is a small brackish lagoon, where it is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels.

After visiting Las Bachas Beach you will depart in the afternoon for you onward flight home with new photography skills, and many captured memories.