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 in to 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.

Rise early for the return transfer to Quito airport, where we board our flight, which has a short layover in Guayaquil due to scheduling and logistical constraints, to the Galapagos Islands. Our second Expedition Leader meets us as we land on the island of Baltra, then transfer to the jetty to board the Nemo III. This deluxe motor-sailing catamaran will be our home base for the next week as we cruise among the islands. Our first landing awaits on North Seymour, a small geological uplift where we follow a trail that leads us to swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies and endemic land iguanas. North Seymour is also home to the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galapagos. Strolling along the beach, we're likely to see marine iguanas and sea lions in the northerly swells. Back aboard the Nemo III, our Expedition Leaders offer a briefing about tomorrow's activities, followed by sunset cocktails and dinner.

On Isla Lobos this morning, our adventures begin with a walk over the rocks to look for blue-footed boobies, nesting frigatebirds and endemic lava lizards from San Cristobal. Returning to our catamaran, don snorkel gear for a shallow-water swim with the resident sea lion colony and marine iguanas, followed by a short ride by panga (motorized inflatable raft) along the shoreline to look at a frigatebird colony. This afternoon we land at Cerro Brujo, or "Wizard Hill." This ancient volcanic tuff cone on San Cristobal sits next to an expanse of powdery white sand that's home to a large colony of Galapagos sea lions as well as blue-footed boobies, pelicans, egrets and marine iguanas. After a walk on the beach to scout for sea lions, we have a chance to swim with them, too. At every turn, our discoveries are enhanced by the in-depth knowledge of our Expedition Leaders, who are expert naturalists on the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. Back aboard the Nemo III once more, sail on to Kicker Rock, a dramatic volcanic tuff cone that rises 300 feet above the ocean's surface. Circumnavigating the rock, look for marine life as we watch the sun sink below the horizon.

Española is one of the most prolific wildlife sites in the Galapagos. Along the island's north shore this morning, follow a cliff formed by eroded cinder cones and layers of old basalt where we observe giant cacti and many different bird species. Next, we do some deep-water snorkeling at one of the offshore islets in Gardner Bay, looking for abundant tropical fish, rays and marine turtles. Ashore, an idyllic white sand beach awaits, where sea lions laze by the dozens and Pacific green sea turtles frequent the rocky part of the shoreline. Return to our catamaran for lunch aboard as we sail to Punta Suarez. Hiking on the headlands, we witness abundant birdlife, hoping to see Hood mockingbirds, blue-footed boobies, nesting swallow-tailed gulls and Galapagos hawks. Española is also the world's main nesting site for the huge waved albatross, with a wingspan of 7–8 feet.

This morning we land at Punta Cormorant on Floreana, one of the few populated islands in the Galapagos. Following a trail through a Palo Santo forest to a brackish lagoon, look for pintail ducks, common stilts and bright pink flamingos. As we wind our way past a wide variety of plants, we reach a beach of fine sand where sea turtles lay eggs in the dunes and rays swim in the shallow water. Back aboard ship, we sail a short distance to Champion Islet just offshore, one of the best drift-snorkel spots in the Galapagos. As the current floats us past the steep walls of this submerged volcanic crater, we spy large schools of fish and bright corals as we're followed by playful young sea lions. Floreana's rich cultural history is filled with intrigue, including tales of pirates who once hid out here. One relic of this colorful past is the "Post Office Barrel," established by British whalers in 1793, where travelers still leave mail for personal delivery via visitors passing through. After a short snorkel to look for sea turtles, we paddle around the mangrove-lined shores of Post Office Bay where large bull sea lions patrol the rocky terrain and reddish-colored marine iguanas bask near the tree cacti.

Santa Cruz is our destination this morning. Begin with a visit to Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz, to visit the world-famous giant tortoise-rearing center run in tandem by Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, international scientists conduct research dedicated to conserving the unique habitats and species of the Galapagos. At the facility, visit the protection pens where hatchlings are bred to help increase depleted tortoise populations, a central mission for both the research station and the national park. To date, more than 5,000 tortoises bred at the station have been released into the wild.

After some time to explore town, followed by lunch back on board the boat, we ascend into the misty highlands of Santa Cruz to reach Nat Hab's private Tortoise Camp. This exclusive setting offers a rare opportunity to spend a night in wild tortoise habitat, and these ancient, gentle reptiles that are the archipelago's namesake often wander right through camp. 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. Please note: At times, Tortoise Camp may be closed due to poor weather conditions.

Spend the morning exploring a network of subterranean lava tubes and caverns adjacent to Tortoise Camp. Returning to Nemo III, we'll have lunch aboard and sail for Santa Fe. On a short hike through a forest of prickly pear cacti, look for the endemic land iguanas that wait patiently underneath for fruit to drop. Returning to our catamaran, we explore a small islet surrounded by great reef diversity, then set out for a cruise along the north coast. Along this expanse, large cliffs and sea caves are used by many species of marine birds for nesting and roosting—as well as by basking green sea turtles and sea lions.

Sail on to Bartolome and climb to the island's highest point for 360-degree views, passing intriguing geological formations along the path including spatter cones, tuff cones and lava tubes. From the summit, a panorama unfolds of the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock, famously shown in the 2003 film Master and Commander. Some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos awaits around the base of this ancient submerged volcano. It's an underwater playground that's home to huge schools of fish permanently under attack by Galapagos penguins. Gentle white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles and stingrays are also common sightings.

Then continue to Sombrero Chino, a small island off the coast of Santiago, which really does look like a Chinese hat! A paddling excursion here reveals more of the Galapagos' fascinating marine life and striking geology, as we witness the delicate lava and spatter cones on the island’s surface. The small channel of turquoise water provides a beautiful snorkeling site, particularly along the Santiago coast where it is possible to see sharks, sea lions, penguins and rays.

Just off Santa Cruz lies Daphne Major, which we circumnavigate. One of two small volcanic islands (along with Daphne Minor) that are a haven for multiple bird species, Daphne Major is formed of a tuff crater. It’s a noted location for bird research, especially on finches. Two Princeton University scientists have been conducting longitudinal studies over more than three decades, observing subtle evolutionary processes at work. Blue-footed boobies nest in the interior of the crater, while masked boobies nest on the sides of the cone and along the crater's edge. All too soon, our time in the Enchanted Isles comes to a close as we return to Baltra where we say goodbye to the Nemo III, her crew and our Expedition Leaders. From Baltra, we board our flight 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.