Route A5-Archipel-II - Catamaran Archipel

ARCHIPEL II ROUTE A5

ITINERARY A5 / 5D – 4N

Our adventurous 4-night route leads around the largest island: Isabela. Explore the pristine western part of the Galapagos Islands that was just recently born out of the fire. Nutrient-rich deep-water impulses are a true magnet for all types of marine life and seabirds. It is true, of course, that access to this remote, less visited region requires longer trips (mainly overnight), but our sturdy catamaran will enable you to see the survival of the fittest – without having to experience it yourself.

HIGHLIGHTS

Virgin Fernandina & isolated west coast of Isabela make you eye-witness of evolution.
Pioneer species colonize barren lava fields
Archipelago’s largest concentration of American flamingo in bird-rich wetlands
Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural ambience

±34h

3x

±4x

±3x

±2x

Easy Moderate

High chance of spotting

American Flamingo

Flightless Cormorant

Galapagos Penguin

Galapagos Giant Tortoise

Whitetip reef Shark

Legend

Arrival

Snorkeling

Hike

Kayak

kayak galapagos islands

Dinghy Ride

panga ride galapagos islands

Departure

VISITORS SITES MAP

DAY 1 / THURSDAY

AM: Arrival to Baltra Airport

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)

DAY 2 / FRIDAY

AM: Tintoreras Islet (Isabela)

PM: Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre(Isabela)

DAY 3 / SATURDAY

AM: Moreno Point (Isabela)

PM: Elizabeth Bay (Isabela)

DAY 4 / SUNDAY

AM: Tagus Cove (Isabela)

PM: Espinoza Point (Fernandina)

DAY 5 / MONDAY

AM: Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)
Transfer out to Baltra Airport

Download Itinerary

Download Map

ATC Cruises Galapagos map Archipel II Itinerary A5

ISLANDS OVERVIEW & ACTIVITIES

Thursday

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport

Arrival at Baltra 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: Highlands (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through pastures in the agricultural zone and in the transition zone of adjacent El Chato Tortoise Reserve.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

Highlands Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

Friday

AM: Tintoreras Islet (Isabela)

This group of jagged rocky islets just off the coast of Puerto Villamil forms one of the most stereotypical sites of the Galapagos.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Las Tintoreras Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

PM: Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center (Isabela)

In the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes (the vulnerable hatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand)!

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise breeding center Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

Saturday

AM: Moreno Point (Isabela)

Fresh, promising greens of pioneer vegetation contrast strongly with the dead, pitch-black lava flow that once reached the ocean at Moreno Point.

Activities:

Difficulty: Moderated

moreno point Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

PM: Elizabeth Bay (Isabela)

At the remote Elizabeth Bay you will enjoy the best dinghy-ride of the Galapagos, which combines a visit to the Marielas Islets in the mouth of the bay, with the highest mangles in its innermost heart.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

Elizabeth bay Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

Sunday

AM: Tagus Cove (Isabela)

Tagus Cove is a historical anchorage at the northern entrance of Bolivar Channel (between Isabela and Fernandina).

Activities:

Difficulty: Moderated

Tagus Cove Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

PM: Espinoza Point (Fernandina)

Westernmost Fernandina harbours one of the world’s most virgin, untouched ecosystems, and is another crown jewel of the Galapagos.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy – Moderated

Espinoza point Archipel ATC Cruises Galapagos Islands Ecuador

Monday

AM: Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)

Strolling along its coastline, the blinding white Bachas Beach appears full of natural life. It is one of most important breeding sites for Pacific green turtles.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

Las bachas beach 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: – –

DAY 1: Thursday

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport

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

Activities:

Difficulty: – –

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through pastures in the agricultural zone and in the transition zone of adjacent El Chato Tortoise Reserve.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy
DAY 2: Friday

AM: Tintoreras Islet (Isabela)

This group of jagged rocky islets just off the coast of Puerto Villamil forms one of the most stereotypical sites of the Galapagos.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

PM: Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center (Isabela)

In the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes (the vulnerable hatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand)!

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy
DAY 3: Saturday

AM: Moreno Point (Isabela)

Fresh, promising greens of pioneer vegetation contrast strongly with the dead, pitch-black lava flow that once reached the ocean at Moreno Point.

Activities:

Difficulty: Moderated

PM: Elizabeth Bay (Isabela)

At the remote Elizabeth Bay you will enjoy the best dinghy-ride of the Galapagos, which combines a visit to the Marielas Islets in the mouth of the bay, with the highest mangles in its innermost heart.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy
DAY 4: Sunday

AM: Tagus Cove (Isabela)

Tagus Cove is a historical anchorage at the northern entrance of Bolivar Channel (between Isabela and Fernandina).

Activities:

Difficulty: Moderated

PM: Espinoza Point (Fernandina)

Westernmost Fernandina harbours one of the world’s most virgin, untouched ecosystems, and is another crown jewel of the Galapagos.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy – Moderated
DAY 5: Monday

AM: Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)

Strolling along its coastline, the blinding white Bachas Beach appears full of natural life. It is one of most important breeding sites for Pacific green turtles.

Activities:

Difficulty: Easy

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: – –