M/C Monique -  Itinerary A  7-Night Cruise  Thursday – Thursday 

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY   (B: breakfast/ L: lunch/ D: dinner) 

Day 1: Thursday AM – Baltra Airport

Upon landing, guests will be welcomed and assisted at the airport before being transferred to the M/C Monique. PM – Las Bachas Beach In the afternoon, you'll explore Las Bachas, a stunning white-sand beach along the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. It’s a great spot for a relaxing walk or gentle snorkeling. This beach is a nestIng site for sea turtles, and you may spot a rusted pontoon—an old World War II remnant. The name "Bachas" is derived from a mispronunciaIon of "barges," referring to the two parIally sunken vessels in the area. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling   Difficulty: Easy   (L, D) 

Day 2: Friday AM – Rábida Island

This morning's visit takes you to Rábida Island, which is renowned for its unique red sand beach. The island is home to striking cactus groves and dramaIc rocky landscapes, along with naIve dry-zone vegetation and endemic species. A walk along the beach might reveal brown pelican nests and occasionally flamingos in a nearby saltwater lagoon. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy ride, Kayaking

Difficulty: Moderate PM – Punta Albemarle (Isabela Island) Located on the northern Ip of Isabela Island, Punta Albemarle is home to a large mangrove that is ideal for dinghy exploration, thanks to its mesmerizing network of channels and creeks. Nearby, you’ll find the remains of a WWII-era American radar base. The site offers excellent wildlife viewing, including marine birds, the largest marine iguanas in the Galapagos, and many flightless cormorants. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Dinghy ride, Kayaking Difficulty: Easy (B, L, D) 

Day 3: Saturday AM – Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island)
Only accessible by dinghy, this expansive bay on Isabela’s northwest coast features two coves that attract a variety of nestIng birds, including blue-footed and Nazca boobies, storm petrels, and Brown Noddies. The nutrient-rich waters make this a premier snorkeling spot, where whales, dolphins, sea lions, and marine birds can often be seen feeding. Activities and Excursions: Snorkeling, Dinghy ride

Difficulty: Moderate PM – Tagus Cove (Isabela Island) A dinghy ride along the cliffs of Tagus Cove offers a chance to observe Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and other seabirds. After landing, a 30-minute hike leads to panoramic views of Darwin Lake—a large saltwater lagoon—and surrounding volcanic peaks. Activities: Walking   
Difficulty: Easy (B,L,D)

Day 4: Sunday AM – Espinoza Point (Fernandina Island)
Espinoza Point showcases Fernandina Island's stark lava fields dotted with Lava CactI and mangroves that grow atop hardened lava flows. Highlights include colonies of sea lions, penguins, flightless cormorants (especially actIve in spring and summer), and one of the largest concentrations of marine iguanas in the archipelago. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling

Difficulty: Moderate PM – Urbina Bay (Isabela Island) In the afternoon, explore Urbina Bay, renowned for its upraised coral beds and vivid land iguanas. The area is rich in wildlife—giant tortoises, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, penguins, and marine iguanas are all commonly seen. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling
Difficulty: Moderate (B, L, D)

Day 5: Monday AM – Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
Once the site of a salt mine, this black-sand beach now serves as a prime locatIon for shorebirds, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Inland, a walk that takes visitors past tIdal pools and beautiful volcanic formaIons may offer views of fur seals lounging in shaded grottoes. Activities and Excursions: Walking, snorkeling 

Difficulty: Easy  PM – Buccaneer Cove (San7ago Island) Once a haven for pirates and whalers, Buccaneer Cove now attracts wildlife rather than ships. It's a key nestIng area for sea turtles and frequented by sea lions. A dinghy ride reveals stunning eroded cliffs that host nestIng boobies, pelicans, and gulls. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy ride, kayaking  Difficulty: Moderate  (B, L, D)  

Day 6: Tuesday AM – Bartholomew Island
Bartholomew is best known for Pinnacle Rock, a striking volcanic cone that soars out of the water. A trail leads to the island’s summit, where breathtaking views of the surrounding lava terrain and the iconic rock await. The northern beach, a sea turtle nestIng site, is perfect for snorkeling with reef sharks, penguins, and eagle rays. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy ride

Difficulty: Easy PM – Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island) Located next to Pinnacle Rock, the beaches at Sullivan Bay offer outstanding snorkeling, and lucky visitors might find themselves swimming alongside penguins. This northern beach is also a key nestIng ground for green sea turtles. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy ride. Difficulty: Easy (B, L, D)

Day 7: Wednesday AM – North Seymour Island
Named after BriIsh naval officer Lord Hugh Seymour, this small island is covered in low-lying vegetation and teems with birdlife. You’ll encounter blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and a substantIal colony of magnificent frigate birds, with males displaying their vibrant red throat pouches to attract mates. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy ride Difficulty: Easy PM – Mosquera Islet Positioned between Baltra and North Seymour, Mosquera is a flat, sandy islet without a designated trail, allowing for free exploration. It’s known for its thriving sea lion colony, shorebirds, and colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs. The surrounding reefs make for excellent snorkeling, with chances to spot rays, turtles, and reef sharks. Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling 
Difficulty: Moderate  (B, L, D)  

Day 8: Thursday AM - Charles Darwin Research Station Visit the Breeding Center, also known as the Charles Darwin Research StatIon. The center hosts an interpretation center, museum, library, and tortoise breeding facility, home to various tortoise subspecies being prepared for reintroductIon. Activities and Excursions: Walking

Difficulty: Easy (B)  After your last visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.  Assistance and farewell at the airport.

      ***End of cruise*** 
* The Monique operates 3, 4 and 7 night trips with departures on Sundays + Thursdays.