Galapagos on Solaris

Your itinerary commences at either Quito or Guayaquil airport with a flight to Baltra airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival our guide will meet you and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour, where we board Solaris. After a warm welcome from the captain and crew, you’ll be shown to your cabin before settling in and enjoying your first lunch on board. This afternoon, you’ll visit Las Bachas, a pair of picturesque beaches located on the western side of Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island. The soft white sand, formed from finely eroded coral, makes this area a favoured nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches lie shallow lagoons where flamingos and other coastal birds, including black-necked stilts and pintail ducks, are sometimes seen. The longer of the two beaches reveals the rusting remains of two abandoned barges, a reminder of the islands’ strategic role during the Second World War, when nearby Baltra Island served as a US military base protecting the Panama Canal. *We strongly recommend you arrive in Quito or Guayaquil at least one day before your scheduled cruise in case of flight delays or cancellations. We strongly recommend that you do not book flights out Ecuador on the day your cruise ends. PLEASE NOTE: The program of this itinerary may vary according to flight schedules, weather, water conditions, etc. Please be aware, while wildlife is abundant in the Galapagos there is no guarantee of seeing specific animals or birds.

Meals:  L,D

This morning, explore Tintoreras, a group of small islets just off the coast of Puerto Villamil and one of the Galápagos’ most iconic visitor sites. Renowned for its extraordinary concentration of wildlife, Tintoreras offers superb viewing opportunities. From the lookout point, watch herons perched in the mangroves, while Galápagos penguins and sea lions rest along the rocky shores. In the shallow tidal channels below, white-tip reef sharks glide through the water — a feature that gives Tintoreras its Spanish name. Another highlight is the remarkable breeding colony of marine iguanas, often seen in astonishing numbers. After lunch aboard, visit the local Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre, home to hundreds of Galápagos tortoises at various stages of development. Here, you’ll learn about conservation efforts to protect endangered populations from Isabela’s southern volcanoes and see the tiny hatchlings, some no larger than the palm of your hand. Later, explore the historical site known as the Wall of Tears, a nationally recognised heritage site built by prisoners as punishment using lava rock — a powerful reminder of the islands’ human history. In the surrounding wetlands, keep an eye out for American flamingos. The afternoon concludes with free time to explore the village of Puerto Villamil or relax on its beautiful beach.

Meals:  B,L,D

Begin the day at Punta Moreno, located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. The trail winds across an impressive pahoehoe lava flow, where smooth, twisted formations lead to a series of coastal lagoons. These lagoons and the surrounding mangrove forests attract a variety of birdlife, making the area particularly rewarding for birdwatching. Later, sail through the Bolívar Channel towards Tagus Cove, passing dramatic volcanic landscapes shaped by explosive eruptions. These forces blew out sections of ancient tuff cones, creating their distinctive horseshoe shapes and forming Tagus Cove itself. A dinghy ride along the towering cliffs offers excellent opportunities to spot Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants and other seabirds. From the landing site, a walk of approximately 30 minutes leads to a clifftop viewpoint overlooking Darwin Lake — an uplifted hypersaline lake that is even saltier than the sea. Sweeping views of surrounding volcanoes add to the sense of scale and isolation. Before leaving the cove, take time to observe the historic graffiti etched into the cliffs, left by pirates, whalers and buccaneers who once sheltered here centuries ago.

Meals:  B,L,D

Fernandina is the third-largest island in the archipelago and features just one visitor site: Punta Espinoza, located at the island’s north-eastern tip. This pristine shoreline is home to the largest concentrations of marine iguanas in the Galápagos. They gather in dense groups to bask on the sand, swim in the shallows and, at times, even block the landing dock. Among the island’s most remarkable residents is the flightless cormorant. Perfectly adapted to life in the sea, this unique bird has evolved powerful legs and feet, reduced wings and strong tails for swimming. Observing these birds in their natural habitat offers a vivid insight into evolution at work. During lunch, the yacht crosses the Bolívar Channel for the final time en route to Vicente Roca Point, located at the mouth of Isabela Island’s distinctive seahorse shape. Entry into a dark cave beneath a dramatic arch is accompanied by the thunderous echoes of the waves, while nearby the collapsed amphitheatre of Ecuador Volcano presents another striking volcanic landscape. Sheltered coves in this area provide excellent snorkelling conditions in cooler waters. Here, you may encounter a variety of marine life, including several species of sharks, Galápagos penguins, pufferfish and, with luck, elusive seahorses.

Meals:  B,L,D

Espumilla Beach lies at the northern end of James Bay on the western coast of Santiago Island. Once affected by introduced wild pigs, the beach has been restored and is again an important nesting site for sea turtles, which return each year to bury their eggs in the distinctive cinnamon-coloured sand dunes. Behind the beach, a mangrove area shelters two scenic lagoons. While this site was once known for its American flamingos and other aquatic birds, changes caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon led to heavy sedimentation, altering the brackish waters and reducing available food sources. A walk up a nearby hill rewards you with sweeping views that reveal the gradual transition from sea and beach to mangrove and dry palo santo forest. Over lunch, the vessel navigates south to Puerto Egas, renowned for its fur seal grottos. Here, enjoy a contrasting guided walk along a dramatically sculpted coastline formed from black basalt and polished, multi-coloured ash layers. Collapsed lava tunnels, natural arches, caves and blowholes — including the famous “Darwin’s Toilet” — create a striking volcanic landscape. At the end of the beach, a colony of sea lions rests in the shade of a grotto beneath a spectacular rock arch, while hundreds of vivid orange sally lightfoot crabs stand out against the dark lava rocks.

Meals:  B,L,D

Rábida Island stands out for its striking red rocks and sand, coloured by oxidised iron particles. A wet landing brings you ashore on the island’s remarkable red beach, followed by two short guided walks that showcase its unique landscapes and wildlife. Set behind the beach is a shallow, green-edged lagoon — the most fertile area on this otherwise arid island. Surrounded by leaf-shedding palo santo trees, the lagoon attracts a variety of aquatic birds, including pintail ducks and, at times, American flamingos. Songbirds can often be seen nesting and feeding among the surrounding mangroves. One of Rábida’s highlights is its large breeding colony of brown pelicans, the only pelican species in the world known to plunge-dive for food. Later, visit Chinese Hat, a 52-metre-high volcanic cone rising offshore from Santiago Island. With its relatively recent volcanic activity, this is an excellent site to learn about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels. A small colony of Galápagos penguins has also made its home here. Along the shoreline, look for unusual pillow lavas topped with coral heads — spherical formations created underwater before being lifted above sea level. White coral-sand beaches are gradually forming, while eroded lava fields collect sand and organic material. The presence of Galápagos sea lions and large numbers of marine iguanas contributes to soil enrichment, allowing hardy pioneer plants such as saltbush and the distinctive sesuvium carpet to take hold.

Meals:  B,L,D

A morning dinghy ride brings you ashore at the main pier of Puerto Ayora, followed by a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This important centre is at the heart of scientific research and conservation management in the Galápagos, playing a vital role in protecting the islands’ unique ecosystems. Interpretation displays provide insight into the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve, while the breeding centre offers a close look at the successful conservation program for giant Galápagos tortoises — often a highlight of the visit. Afterwards, it is time to bid farewell to the Galápagos. Assisted by the naturalist guide and crew, you’ll be transferred by dinghy with your luggage to the pier before continuing by shuttle to the airport. Your cruise adventure concludes on arrival at Baltra Airport for onward flights to Quito or Guayaquil, marking the end of an extraordinary journey through this remarkable archipelago.

Meals:  B