Reina Silvia
This boat has features not found on other yachts of its class. On the main deck’s aft is the boarding and swim platform, and the extended bow pulpit is excellent for scouting whales and dolphins. The upper deck features a large, sheltered lounge and bar, with circular seating that assures you a 360-degree view of the Islands while having a drink at sunset and equator crossings.
You’ll cruise the Galapagos in comfort, enjoying tasteful cuisine, informative lectures by the certified bilingual naturalist guide, and curling up in the library to read or watch nature films. The six staterooms have twin or king-sized beds, and four rooms include a hidden berth for the third member of your party. All accommodationshave air conditioning and a large, en-suite bathroom with full-size shower.
The Reina Silvia offers an eight-day excursion through the western part of the Galapagos archipelago, and an eight-day itinerary that takes in the eastern islands. Snorkeling gear and kayaks will help you in your explorations of the islands.
DAY 1 (Saturday)
MORNING FLIGHT FROM QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL TO BALTRA (GALAPAGOS) HIGHLANDS & FAUSTO LLERENA BREEDING CENTER.- Assistance at the airport by our representatives for your Galapagos flight. You will arrive at the airport on Baltra Island in the morning and after going through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a guide from the Reina Silvia. Accessible by bus from Puerto Ayora, the Highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green, which contrasts beautifully with much of the dry, lower islands. The dominant vegetation in the highlands are the Scalesia trees, creating the lush green color. The lava tunnels, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience.
The afternoon visit is to the “Fausto Llerena” breeding center where giant tortoises are bred in captivity and reared until the age of 5 years, when they can survive the effects of introduced predators. This is home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-foot long adults. Subspecies of the giant tortoises interact with one another, and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity.
Day 2 (Sunday)
ESPAÑOLA: GARDNER BAY / GARDNER ISLET / OSBORN ISLET / SUAREZ POINT.- In the morning, you will visit the spectacular Gardner Bay. After landing, you can walk across a lovely white- sand beach amongst a busy sea lion colony or dive into the water to swim with sea lion pups. You can also see curious mockingbirds on the beach.
The next visit is to the small island in front of Gardner Bay, Gardner Islet. There you will find steep cliffs, large boulders and sandy ledges. For an adventure you will find curvy tunnels on one end of the island and the other end you will find caves that make for a fascinating exploration.
Next up is Osborn Islet, a marine visitor site on Espanola Island. Osborn Islet is close to Española and is a great place to observe sea lions, parrot fish, butterfly fish, coral and possible red-lipped bat fish.
You will end the day visiting Suarez Point, located on the western end of Española Island, you will find a large population of albatross, or wild sea birds as well as carnivorous mockingbirds.
Day 3 (Monday)
SAN CRISTOBAL: LOBOS ISLAND / KICKER ROCK / PITT POINT .- Your morning visit will involve an excursion to Lobos Island which means “Sea Lion Island”. This appropriately named island is ripe with boasting, playful sea lions who will welcome you to their home upon landing on San Cristobal Island. This island offers great snorkeling opportunities as well as the chance to see blue-footed and Nazca boobies.
Next, you will visit Kicker Rock. This striking rock formation is located a couple hours off the western shore of San Cristobal. Jutting out of the water, the rocks stand vertically at hundreds of feet above the ocean divided by a small channel. Although there are no landing areas, kayaking and snorkeling allow visitors to spot a variety of marine life.
In the afternoon, you will visit Pitt Point, situated on the north-eastern tip of the island, hosts frigate birds, storm petrels, and all three types of booby birds: the Nazca, blue-footed and redfooted boobies. A steep trail goes up a cliff and through a ravine leading visitors to an area with an abundance of birds.
Day 4 (Tuesday)
SAN CRISTOBAL: SANTA FE / SOUTH PLAZA.- In the morning, you will visit Santa Fe Island (Barrington) which is home to a small, picturesque bay also named Santa Fe. The bay has two visitor trails, one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest.
In the afternoon, you will head to South Plaza Island. This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.
Day 5 (Wednesday)
GENOVESA: DARWIN BAY / EL BARRANCO.- In the morning, you will visit the white-sand coral beach of Darwin Bay which winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path we find tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully. At the end is a spectacular view of a cliff.
In the afternoon, you will visit El Barranco which is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps. It is a steep, rocky path that leads up to a high cliff-face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to Palo Santo vegetation as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves.
Day 6 (Thursday)
SANTIAGO: SULLIVAN BAY / BARTHOLOMEW ISLAND.- The morning visit heads to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, located on the southeast part of the island. This place is interesting for its geology because the area has elevations in form of small volcanoes, formed by the lava flows
In the afternoon, you will head to Bartholomew Island, home of the famous Pinnacle Rock. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. We will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! You will also visit a small, beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see Galapagos penguins.
Day 7 (Friday)
RABIDA ISLAND / CHINESE HAT ISLET.- In the morning you will visit Rabida Island (or Jervis) is one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago as well as a great snorkeling site. You will start on Rabida’s famous maroon/ red sand beach and after an easy hike you will arrive to a stunning lookout to enjoy the amazing landscapes. The island is a birdwatcher’s delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance such as nine varieties of finches, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and brown pelicans.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Chinese Hat Islet. This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet’s summit. This small islet is a great location to view many geological formations such as lava tubes and lava flows. Some of the lava flows were formed underwater and subsequently raised above sea level. The presence of coral heads on the lava flow indicates this phenomenon.
Day 8 (Saturday)
BALTRA .- After breakfast, you will be transferred from the boat to the Baltra airport for your flight to Guayaquil or Quito.
Day 1 (Saturday)
MORNING FLIGHT FROM QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL TO BALTRA (GALAPAGOS) TWIN CRATERS & FAUSTO LLERENA BREEDING CENTER.- Assistance at the airport by our representatives for your Galapagos flight. You will arrive at the airport on Baltra Island in the morning and after going through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by guide from the Reina Silvia. You will have lunch at a local restaurant and visit the Twin Craters located opposite to each other on both sides of the road leading from Puerto Ayora to Baltra. The name is only figurative; not real craters, these formations were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers. The view is breathtaking.
The afternoon visit is the “Fausto Llerena” breeding center where giant tortoises are bred in captivity and reared until the age of 5 years, when they can survive the effects of introduced predators. This is home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-foot long adults. Subspecies of the giant tortoises interact with one another, and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity.
Day 2 (Sunday)
FLOREANA: CORMORANT POINT / CHAMPION/POST OFFICE BAY / ASILO DE LA PAZ.- Cormorant Point hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and whitecheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The Green Beach is named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the Four Sand Beach is composed of white coral.
Afterwards, you will visit Champion Islet, named after the whaler Andrew Champion, is a small island located just offshore Floreana Island in the southern part of the Archipelago, considered as one of the most beautiful places on Galapagos for all snorkeling and diving fans and an excellent opportunity for dolphin watching.
After lunch, you will visit the famous Post Office Bay. You will land on the beach and head to a spot where 18th century whalers placed a wooden barrel for use as an unofficial mail box. The custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So do not forget your postcards, and do not be surprised if the post card arrives to its destination before you even get home!
In the afternoon, you will visit The Asilo de la Paz. This is a hill 450m high that is behind Straw Hill in the agricultural area of the island. The main attractions are of a historic type: one is the cave of pirates and the other is the freshwater spring. The two sites are located at the base of the hill.
Day 3 (Monday)
ISABELA: MORENO POINT / ELIZABETH BAY.- In the morning you will visit Moreno Point, located southwest of Elizabeth Bay. Here a dry landing onto what was once flowing lava is possible. The lava has left craters in its wake which formed crystal tide pools. By looking into the pools, you can peer into another world as the marine life drifts by your window. In the brackish pools of this area, you may see pink flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, and common gallinules. If you look carefully into the pools, you may see white-tip reef sharks and some sea turtles.
In the afternoon, you will visit Elizabeth Bay, which is located on the east coast of Isabela Island. The bay contains many islets, which can be visited by dinghy. Penguins and blue-footed boobies can be spotted on the rocky islets. With an abundance of marine life and clear water, the area is perfect for snorkeling and viewing schools of colorful fish, sea lions, and perhaps even sharks.
Day 4 (Tuesday)
ISABELA AND FERNANDINA: URBINA BAY / ESPINOZA POINT In the morning, you will land at Urbina Bay which presents some fascinating geological formations. In 1954, an uplift from the sea formed the bay which has been characterized by the resulting terrestrial coral reef ever since. Expect to see stingrays and sea turtles swimming near the surface of the water along with flightless cormorants, pelicans, and marine iguanas. You will be dazzled by the breathtaking view of the Alcedo Volcano.
In the afternoon, you will land at Espinosa Point and after walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, you’ll reach the island’s highlight: the flightless cormorant nesting site. This area also provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos hawk.
Day 5 (Wednesday)
ISABELA: TAGUS COVE / VICENTE ROCA POINT.- After breakfast, you will visit Tagus Cove which is located across from Fernandina Island, near the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s, using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views. Punta Tortuga, just north of Tagus Cove, is another lovely beach surrounded by mangroves.
The afternoon visit is at Vicente Roca Point. Comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (or sunfish).
Day 6 (Thursday)
ESPUMILLA BEACH / BUCCANEER COVE / EGAS PORT / SALT MINES.- In the morning you will start visiting Espumilla Beach where marine iguanas lounge and the Sally Lightfoot crabs attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkeling is highly recommended as you could find yourself face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark and a variety of other species of tropical fish.
Next you will visit Buccaneer Cove which is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. These pirates would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent site.
After lunch, you will go to Egas Port, also known as James Bay, on Santiago Island which is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to the coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos fur sea lions bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkeling site.
Later in the afternoon you will visit the Minas de Sal, located northwest of Santiago Island. The trail has an approximate distance of 8 km. round-trip. This site has an important history from the year 1683 when William Ambrose Cowley visited this place, it was he who gave the name of James to the Bay and the island there have been many travelers who have visited this place to exploit this natural resource and salted beef and fish.
Day 7 (Friday)
BACHAS BEACH / NORTH SEYMOUR.- The morning visit to Bachas Beach which is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz and is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest on the beach.
In the afternoon, you will visit North Seymour. Here you will be able to see Galapagos sea lions, bluefooted boobies and magnificent frigate birds which are abundant on the Island. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava flows containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.
Day 8 (Saturday)
BALTRA.- After breakfast, you will be transferred from the boat to the Baltra airport for your flight to Guayaquil or Quito.


