ARCHIPEL I ROUTE A4

ITINERARY A4 / 4D – 3N

Our 3 nights route cruises along 3 of the 4 inhabited islands of the archipelago, featuring their intriguing colonization history: San Cristobal, Floreana and Santa Cruz. But we will also land at two untouched islands: the extraordinary crown-jewel of Santa Fe and the popular, really not to be missed highlight South Plaza (both with land iguanas and giant cactus trees).

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Snorkelling with sea lions and colourful reef fish (Champion Islet)
  • Breeding programs of emblematic Galapagos giant tortoises
  • Crown jewel Santa Fé with mainly endemic species
  • Not to be missed highlight South Plaza (land iguanas & giant cactus forest)

navigation-hours
±17h
hikes galapagos
±5x
dinghy-ride
±2x
snorkelling galapagos islands
±3x
difficulty
Easy Moderate
High chance of spotting

Galapagos giant tortoise
galapagos giant tortoise giant turtle

Booby colonies
Booby footed colonies in Galapagos Islands

Marine iguana
iguana marine

Green sea turtle
Green sea turtle in the Galapagos

Great and American frigatebird
American frigatebird
Legend

Arrival

Snorkeling

snorkeling galapagos islands

Hike

Kayak

kayak galapagos islands

Dinghy Ride

panga ride galapagos islands

Departure

VISITORS SITES MAP

DAY 1 / MONDAY

AM: Arrival at San Cristobal Airport

PM:  Interpretation Centre – Frigatebird Hill 

DAY2 / TUESDAY

AM: Santa Fe kayak galapagos islandspanga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

PM: South Plaza

DAY 3 / WEDNESDAY

AM: North Seymour panga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

PM: Chinese Hat kayak galapagos islandspanga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

DAY 4 / THURSDAY

AM: Twin Craters – El Chato Reserve

Transfer out to Baltra Airport 

ISLANDS OVERVIEW & ACTIVITIES

ITINERARY A4

Monday

AM: Arrival at San Cristobal Airport

Arrival at San Cristobal Airport and transfer in. You will have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage will be inspected.

Activities:

Difficulty: – –

Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
PM: Interpretation Centre and Frigatebird Hill

The Interpretation Centre gives a perfect explanation of this unique archipelago. Its exhibition helps you learn what makes this archipelago so unique. Information panels, pictures, documents, maquettes, and dioramas tell background and conservation stories about the islands.

Activities: snorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

Interpretation Centre San Cristobal Galapagos Islands

Tuesday

AM: Santa Fe

Santa Fe is home to a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of the two species of lands iguanas of the islands

Activities: kayak galapagos islandspanga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

Santa fe Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
PM: South Plaza

Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. There are several hybrid iguanas- a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

South Plaza Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

Wednesday

AM: North Seymour

North Seymour is another highlight of your cruise. In the archipelago’s most extensive seabird breeding colony you can walk just a short distance from frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies.

Activities:  panga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

North Seymour Galapagos Islands
PM: Chinese Hat

Though recently born out of the fire the volcanic islet Chinese Hat does not appear to be any more inhospitable than Bartolome and lunatic Sullivan Bay. This tiny, rusty-coloured islet just begins to sprout. You arrive just in time to witness the next chapter about colonisation by pioneers!

Activities:  kayak galapagos islandspanga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

Chinese Hat Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

Thursday

AM: Twin Craters - El Chato Reserve

El Chato Reserve is a protected area and official part of the Galapagos National Park. It extends from Cerro El Chato as far down as the southwestern coast of Santa Cruz Island, where females lay their eggs.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

El Chato reserve Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
Transfer out to Baltra Airport

Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we will take the airport shuttle. Your guide will accompany you to the check-in counters in the departure hall.

We expect you to return home with stunning pictures and unforgettable lifelong memories!

Activities:

Difficulty: – –

Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
DAY 1

Monday

AM: Arrival at San Cristobal Airport

Arrival at San Cristobal Airport and transfer in. You will have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage will be inspected.

Activities:

Difficulty: – –

Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
PM: Interpretation Centre and Frigatebird Hill

The Interpretation Centre gives a perfect explanation of this unique archipelago. Its exhibition helps you learn what makes this archipelago so unique. Information panels, pictures, documents, maquettes, and dioramas tell background and conservation stories about the islands.

Activities: snorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

Interpretation Centre San Cristobal Galapagos Islands
DAY 2

Tuesday

AM: Santa Fe

Santa Fe is home to a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of the two species of lands iguanas of the islands

Activities: kayak galapagos islandspanga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

Santa fe Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
PM: South Plaza

Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. There are several hybrid iguanas- a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

South Plaza Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
DAY 3

Wednesday

AM: North Seymour

North Seymour is another highlight of your cruise. In the archipelago’s most extensive seabird breeding colony you can walk just a short distance from frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies.

Activities:  panga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

North Seymour Galapagos Islands
PM: Chinese Hat

Though recently born out of the fire the volcanic islet Chinese Hat does not appear to be any more inhospitable than Bartolome and lunatic Sullivan Bay. This tiny, rusty-coloured islet just begins to sprout. You arrive just in time to witness the next chapter about colonisation by pioneers!

Activities:  kayak galapagos islandspanga ride galapagos islandssnorkeling galapagos islands

Difficulty: Easy

Chinese Hat Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
DAY 4

Thursday

AM: Twin Craters - El Chato Reserve

El Chato Reserve is a protected area and official part of the Galapagos National Park. It extends from Cerro El Chato as far down as the southwestern coast of Santa Cruz Island, where females lay their eggs.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

El Chato reserve Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador
Transfer out to Baltra Airport

Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we will take the airport shuttle. Your guide will accompany you to the check-in counters in the departure hall.

We expect you to return home with stunning pictures and unforgettable lifelong memories!

Activities:

Difficulty: – –

Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador