Galápagos: Northwest Islands

Upon arrival at Baltra, you’ll meet your naturalist guide and transfer to the Samba. After lunch, we cruise to Mosquera Islet, a pristine sandbank rising from the sea between Baltra and North Seymour. Here, sea lions lounge on sugar-soft sand while shorebirds and Sally Lightfoot crabs animate the shoreline. Swim, snorkel, or photograph wildlife in golden evening light—an unforgettable introduction to the Galápagos.

You wake to the sounds of one of the largest seabird colonies on Earth. At Darwin Bay, photograph red-footed boobies courting, frigatebirds displaying scarlet throat pouches, and finches foraging among mangroves and saltbush. In the afternoon, climb Prince Philip’s Steps for dramatic cliff-top views, Nazca boobies, tropicbirds, and storm petrels swirling over lava fields. As daylight fades, watch the rare spectacle of short-eared owls hunting in full daylight.

While most vessels head south, the Samba sails northwest to remote Marchena, accessible to very few visitors. Punta Mejía offers some of the archipelago’s finest snorkeling, where calm blue waters contrast sharply with jet-black lava and reveal rays, reef sharks, turtles, and vibrant fish life. At Playa Negra, explore newly formed lava grottoes where marine iguanas feed before setting off into deep ocean waters. The afternoon navigation crosses nutrient-rich currents, offering real chances to encounter dolphins, whales, or feeding frenzies.

At Punta Albemarle, explore one of the most remote sites in the Galápagos, where recent lava flows host flightless cormorants and the archipelago’s largest marine iguanas. These shy birds nest undisturbed here, offering rare photographic opportunities. Later, cruise along the dramatic cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca, a geological showcase of lava dikes and tuff cones. Snorkel beneath towering rock walls where turtles feed and penguins dart through cold, nutrient-rich waters.

Fernandina, the youngest island in the Galápagos, feels like the beginning of life itself. At Punta Espinoza, photograph dense marine iguana colonies, flightless cormorants, penguins, sea lions, and Galápagos hawks against stark lava backdrops. Snorkel alongside turtles, iguanas, and fish before continuing to Urbina Bay on Isabela. Here, uplifted seabed reveals colorful land iguanas, giant tortoises, and a landscape that feels lifted from another geological era.

Elizabeth Bay is a serene mangrove labyrinth where penguins, spotted eagle rays, turtles, and juvenile fish thrive. We explore silently by dinghy, paddling through one of the Galápagos’ most tranquil ecosystems. In the afternoon, land at Punta Moreno, a vast lava field punctuated by hidden brackish lagoons. These oases attract flamingos, stilts, and other birds, offering striking contrasts between life and volcanic stone.

A morning visit to Floreana’s highlands reveals lush vegetation, panoramic viewpoints, and stories of pirates, settlers, and legendary castaways. At Asilo de la Paz, uncover the island’s remarkable human history while photographing misty landscapes and endemic flora. In the afternoon, snorkel at Devil’s Crown—one of the best sites in the Galápagos—where sharks, rays, turtles, and dense fish schools surround the submerged crater. Later, we sail back toward Santa Cruz.

An early visit to Santa Cruz’s lush highlands reveals Scalesia forests and the dramatic sinkholes known as Los Gemelos. This area is rich with Darwin’s finches, flycatchers, mockingbirds, and native plants. After breakfast, we transfer to Baltra Airport for onward travel, concluding an unforgettable journey through the wild northwest Galápagos.