Ultimate Galápagos: Southern and Central Route

Youthful, vibrant Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city, drunk on Pacific breezes and crouching on the west bank of the mighty Guayas River. The candy-colored houses bounding down its hills are filled with interesting galleries and community initiatives, but the beating heart of the city is the picturesque Malecón 2000, which essentially operates as a waterfront town square. This breezy boulevard is where you’ll find sleek restaurants serving coconut-rich encocado (fish stew) and university students milling around on the water’s edge.

Catch your charter flight to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galápagos Islands and San Cristóbal's main port. Although merely a few hundreds of 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 your night off 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” because of its brightly tinged sesuvium (seasonal flowering ice plants). Come ashore to watch as Galápagos land iguanas munch the low-lying 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.

Bid your Captain and crew farewell as you disembark your yacht for a final time on San Cristóbal. Visit the local Interpretation Center to learn more about the island's anthropology and natural history. Afterward, take some free time to walk a nearby trail or snap some last-minute photos. Later today, catch your charter flight to Guayaquil or Quito to connect with your homeward departure.