Beaches and Bays of the Galápagos

High atop El Panecillo hill, a tall statue of the Virgin Mary smiles over Quito’s gleaming baroque churches and huddled roofs. Between cobbled squares and steep hillsides, Ecuador’s traditional mountain culture still thrives here: pre-Columbian treasures fill the city’s museums, chefs put modern spins on ancient ingredients and venerable market traders are always ready with the perfect, sage-scented remedy.

Step into the beautiful, beating heart of Quito on a guided tour of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this grid of bustling, steep streets, see some of its most iconic sights, including the opulent Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (Church of the Society of Jesus), its walls groaning with over seven tons of gold. This evening, head to the Mindalae Museum to explore Ecuador’s Indigenous cultures and take in a traditional music performance. Cap off your night with dinner at a scenic rooftop restaurant.

Catch your charter flight to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galápagos Islands and San Cristóbal’s main port. Although merely a few hundred miles from the mainland, the Galápagos Islands may feel even further away in reality; modern life has largely skirted this group of volcanic, windswept pearls, still every bit as wild and wondrous as when Charles Darwin set foot here in the 1830s. The wildlife he observed so carefully is still the main draw of any adventure here. Colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs and lumbering iguanas, curious boobies and a score of famous finches: many of them are found nowhere else, highly adapted to life on these lonely, elemental islands. Hop aboard a Zodiac for the brisk ride to your luxurious adventure yacht anchored in the bay. Then, sail to León Dormido (Kicker Rock), a remnant of a tuff cone formation rising some 500 feet from the ocean. Blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies and frigatebirds are a common sight along these cliffs.

Watch for iconic Galápagos wildlife at Cerro Brujo, an eroding tuff cone formation with a breathtaking white coral beach, expansive views and excellent bird watching. Stroll along the beach, swim with sea lions, paddleboard or kayak. Later, go ashore at Punta Pitt, a nesting site for all three types of booby, both frigate species, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels, and shearwater and brown pelicans. Stay on land to do some birdwatching or dive in to snorkel with the resident sea lions.

Home to the highest concentration of endemic species in the Galápagos, Española Island’s Punta Suarez beckons you ashore to encounter a diversity of species found nowhere else on Earth. Later, snorkel with Gardner Bay’s sea lions, explore the bay’s islets by kayak or relax on a beautiful white-sand beach. Tonight, do a bit of stargazing beneath an incredible equatorial sky.

One of the few populated isles in the Galápagos chain, Floreana boasts a rich and intriguing history. Head to Punta Cormorant to snorkel Devil’s Crown or Champion, a shallow sunken crater colonized by a brilliant array of colorful fish and corral, oceanic whitetip sharks, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and sea stars. Later, visit Post Office Bay, the former site of a post barrel used by English whalers in the late 18th century.

Awake in Santa Cruz’s lively harbor of Academy Bay. Go ashore at Ayora Point and ascend through the seven vegetation zones of the Galápagos, making your way into the highlands to encounter giant tortoises at a private farm. Back on board, set out to see “the tunnels” — the largest lava tubes found in the Galápagos. Then head to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about ongoing conservation efforts and visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, a vital resource harboring various species of giant tortoise. Spend the rest of the day relaxing onboard, capping off your night with a trip to shore for dinner in Santa Cruz.

Drop anchor on the northern side of Santa Cruz Island to visit Playa Las Bachas (Bachas Beach), home to bright pink flamingos that feed on the interior lagoons. Snorkel offshore or stroll along the long, glittering white sand beach. Next, cruise to Bartolomé Island. Featured prominently in the 2003 blockbuster Master and Commander, Bartolomé is easily distinguished by its towering basalt spire, Pinnacle Rock. Here, the hauntingly barren landscape steals the spotlight, as the volcanic terrain is largely inhospitable to plants and animals. After a dry landing, climb the summit of a once-active volcano for amazing views. Then, swim or snorkel crystal-clear waters amid schools of tropical fish and Galápagos penguins. Return to your yacht for dinner and an insightful lecture on Charles Darwin’s legacy

Among the smallest of the Galápagos Islands, South Plaza is also known as the “red island” due to its brightly tinged sesuvium (seasonal flowering ice plants). Come ashore to watch as Galápagos land iguanas munch on the lowlying leaves of a succulent forest while Nazca and blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds jockey for position along the water’s edge. Next, sail to North Seymour Island to encounter frigatebirds as they puff out their red chests in search of mates. Take one last opportunity to snorkel the deeper waters offshore, home to sharks, rays, sea turtles and vibrant schools of fish. Back on board, gather for the Captain’s farewell celebration.

Disembark your yacht on San Cristóbal to visit the local Interpretation Center. Later today, catch your charter flight to Guayaquil or Quito to connect with your homeward departure. Or, extend your Galápagos adventure with our Volcanic Wonders expedition.