Galapagos Discovery: The Nat Hab Experience

Upon arrival at the airport in Quito, you are met by our local representative and transferred to the historic Old Town about an hour away. Settle into your boutique hotel in the heart of the colonial quarter and enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

After breakfast, embark on a full day of discovery in Ecuador’s capital. Heralded as Latin America's best-preserved colonial city, Quito's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with cobblestone lanes, elegant plazas and monuments, and ornate gilded churches. On a guided city tour, take in a panorama of the city and surrounding volcanic peaks from Panecillo Hill, visit the 16th-century Church and Convent of San Francisco, and wander through San Francisco Square. Marvel at the baroque splendor of La Compañia Church with its gleaming gold-leaf interior, and survey Independence Plaza, the original center of Quito from which we view the Archbishop's Palace, Cathedral and Presidential Palace.

We also visit an artisanal chocolate shop featuring products handmade from Ecuador's finest cacao and we'll do a chocolate tasting. Ethically cultivated by a women's cooperative using traditional organic techniques, this rare cacao is prized by the great chocolatiers of the world for its heady aroma and unique flavor. Following lunch, the afternoon is at leisure to explore the city further on your own or visit the shops near our hotel, where you can purchase locally crafted goods ranging from hats to wooden toys. This evening, we gather for a welcome dinner with one of our Expedition Leaders.

We rise early to make the return transfer to the Quito airport, where we board our flight, which has a short layover in Guayaquil due to scheduling and logistical constraints, to the Galapagos this morning. Our second Expedition Leader meets us as we land on the island of Baltra, then we transfer to the jetty to board to the Nemo III . This first-class sailing catamaran will be our home base for the next week as we explore among the islands. We soon set off for Las Bachas, a beautiful white sand beach on Santa Cruz. The azure water reveals a kaleidoscope of fish, while the powdered coral sand is a favorite nesting site for green sea turtles, and pink flamingos often dot the saltwater lagoons. Back aboard the Nemo III, our Expedition Leaders offer a briefing about tomorrow's activities, followed by cocktails and dinner.

Genovesa, or Tower Island, is a collapsed shield volcano that attracts literally millions of seabirds that come here to breed and nest. Paddling our kayaks inside the flooded crater, we are surrounded by red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels and yellow-crowned night herons that rend the air with a cacophony of squawks. Surrounded by vertical cliffs of the collapsed caldera, Darwin Bay is an ideal breeding site for the birds that congregate on Genovesa, including red-billed tropicbirds and shearwaters that nest in holes in the lava walls.

Our first landing is at El Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip's Steps, a steep path with stairs carved into the rock that leads to a plateau full of birdlife within a Palo Santo forest. We walk among colonies of great frigatebirds and Nazca boobies to a lava field where storm petrels nest in underground lava tubes. We may also see Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and perhaps an endemic short-eared owl.

After lunch aboard we continue to Darwin Bay Beach following a trail into lush mangroves where red-footed boobies nest. We may also see nesting colonies of common frigatebird, Nazca booby and huge numbers of breeding swallow-tailed seagulls. After the walk, we snorkel from the beach, where plenty of local sea lions loll in the sun, and sightings of rays and sea turtles are common below the water’s surface.

Awake this morning to the orange light of sunrise glowing on the volcanic craters of Santiago Island. This morning we visit Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago, known for its spectacular volcanic formations, relatively recent lava flows and unique geological scenery. The lava here is the pahoehoe type, which resembles smooth ropes. Few plants have been able to take root on the barren rock, and we admire the hardy pioneers that have, like the lava cactus.

This afternoon we set sail for Santa Cruz. Here, we leave our boat behind temporarily to ascend into the misty highlands. Soon, we arrive at Nat Hab's exclusive Tortoise Camp to spend the night. Accommodations are in safari-style raised platform tents and treehouses with views of the ocean. While rustic, they offer comfortable amenities, including real beds and private en suite facilities. But the real treat of a stay here is our proximity to wild tortoises, which are attracted to the area's lush vegetation, including our Scalesia forest restoration zone. Since 2022, Nat Hab and our guests have planted more than 1,000 of this important tree, endemic to the islands and habitat for myriad diverse plants and animals. However, invasive species and historical deforestation threatens the Scalesia forests, making their conservation a high priority. Tortoises are most commonly seen in camp from July through February. From March to June, we make an excursion to a nearby tortoise reserve for closer views, as they migrate seasonally to a lower elevation. Nearby, we can also explore a network of subterranean lava tubes and caverns.

Please note: At times, the Tortoise Camp may be closed due to poor weather conditions, in which case we will remain aboard the Nemo III for the night, though all sightseeing inclusions will remain the same.

Spend the morning exploring the highlands, in search of more giant tortoises. During the season when tortoises are rare in camp, we visit either El Manzanillo or El Chato tortoise reserve to view more tortoises in the wild. Continue to Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz, where we visit the world-famous giant tortoise rearing center at Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, international scientists conduct studies dedicated to conserving the unique habitats and species of the Galapagos. At the facility we visit the protection pens where hatchlings are bred to help increase the depleted tortoise population, a central part of the missions for both the research station and Galapagos National Park. You'll also have a bit of free time on your own in town, where you’ll find a nice selection of shops, cafes and seaside bars.

This morning we land at Punta Moreno on Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos. The point is located between two volcanoes, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, and we step ashore to walk atop the hardened lava. At first glance, the corrugated rock landscape appears lifeless. However, the ropy black surface is dotted with numerous coastal lagoons harboring a wide variety of birdlife. Commonly seen species include flamingos, paint-billed crakes, white-cheeked pintails and herons. We also see endemic Galapagos flora taking root on this young, barren lava flow, including giant opuntia cactus, Palo Santo trees, carob trees and lichens. The protected waters of Moreno Bay are surrounded by mangroves, creating perfect habitat for sea turtles, which we may spot from the pangas or as we snorkel. We may also see cormorants along the shoreline while we're exploring by panga.

At Urbina Bay this afternoon, step onto a black sand beach to witness one of the best examples of geological uplift in the Galapagos, a phenomenon that occurs when molten rock beneath the surface suddenly shifts. In 1954 the shoreline was uplifted, exposing 1.6 square miles of shoreline. The coastline was driven three-quarters of a mile farther out to sea, exposing coral and stranding marine organisms on what is now shore. Urbina is home to a colony of some of the largest land iguanas in the islands and the iconic Galapagos tortoise, and we may also see bright yellow Darwin’s cotton flowers here, unique to the archipelago.

This morning we awake at Fernandina, the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos, erupting most recently in 2018. The rippling pahoehoe lava at Punta Espinoza is a stark backdrop for the surprising variety of life that flourishes here: flightless cormorants nest on the rocks, Galapagos hawks soar overhead, sea lions sprawl on the beach, and huge colonies of marine iguanas bask in the sun. Bright orange Sally Lightfoot crabs pepper the black rocks at water's edge, a vivid counterpoint to the aquamarine sea. A snorkeling excursion offers a good chance to see sea turtles and submerged marine iguanas feeding on algae. Fernandina is home to a number of rare and unique Galapagos species such as the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk and Galapagos snake, among others. We’ll also see fascinating lava cactus, which grows on young lava flows with virtually no water.

As we cross the Bolivar Channel to reach Isabela this afternoon, keep watch for whales and dolphins. Anchoring at Tagus Cove, we set out in search of penguins, pelicans and graffiti dating to the 1800s when the names of ships were carved into the rock above a historic anchorage for pirates and whalers. Another snorkeling opportunity awaits, perhaps with a chance to frolic again with young sea lions. Inside the submerged volcanic cone we find saltwater Darwin Lake.

At Puerto Egas on Santiago, one of the most volcanically active islands in the Galapagos, we make a morning landing on a black sand beach with eroded rock formations. The trail crosses the dry interior where remains of a salt mining enterprise are still visible, and continues along the coast. Tide pools are home to a variety of marine life, including sea urchins, octopus, sponges and sea stars. Birdlife abounds, with great blue herons, lava herons, oystercatchers, yellow-crowned night herons, Galapagos doves, finches, mockingbirds and seasonal shorebirds. In the lava grottos we find a colony of Galapagos fur seals, one of the only places in the islands where these endemic animals are on view from land. After our walk, there may be time to swim or snorkel off the beach with the resident sea lions, and we may also see turtles, rays and reef sharks.

This afternoon, sea conditions permitting, we visit Buccaneer’s Cove. Formerly a safe haven for pirates, whalers and sailors in the 18th and 19th centuries, it is a scenic site with impressive tuff cliffs and a dark reddish-purple sand beach. We have a chance to possibly do some deep-water snorkeling here or kayak.

Returning to Santa Cruz this morning, we visit Black Turtle Cove, a sheltered lagoon on the north coast of the island. Take a panga ride to explore the shimmering turquoise water, hoping to see white-tipped reef sharks, rays and sea turtles. Too soon, our time in the Enchanted Isles comes to a close as we return to Baltra and say goodbye to the Nemo III, her crew and our Expedition Leaders. From Baltra, we board our flight back to the mainland. Upon arrival at the Quito airport, transfer to our nearby hotel, just minutes away, where an overnight stay is included. A complimentary shuttle will return you to the airport for your homeward flight.