On arrival at Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. There is a pre-departure meeting in the evening at 6:00pm where you meet others travelling on your cruise to the Galapagos Islands. Note: Quito is located at 2850 metres above sea level. At this altitude you may possibly experience some of the milder effects of altitude sickness, such as dizziness, insomnia and a shortness of breath. If this is the case we recommend that you avoid any strenuous activity.

This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight to the Galapagos Islands. Lunch is normally served on the flight. On arrival at Baltra Airport in the Galapagos you must pay the US$100 arrival tax for entry to Galapagos National Park. This is best done using cash, as using credit cards can be a time consuming process. We are met in the arrival hall of the airport and transferred to the 'San Jose'. Once settled on board, our cruise departs for Las Bachas. The sandy, white beaches on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island are a nesting site for the Pacific green turtle, and marine iguanas are also commonly seem. The rocks provide a great snorkelling experience and are the perfect habitat for the Sally Lightfoot crabs, which are plentiful on the island.

The volcanic rocks of Rabida are covered with palo santo trees, opuntia cacti and low, scrubby bushes. Sea lions abound on the red sand beach and there is a lagoon inhabited by flamingoes. There are also several species of Darwin finches. The shoreline of Puerto Egas on Santiago is an ancient lava flow and the beach is a breeding ground for large numbers of marine iguanas. The beach provides a home to many shore birds including ruddy turnstone and American oystercatcher. Sugarloaf Mountain serves as a magical backdrop to the area and a natural bridge leads to the inlets where endemic fur seals are found on the rough lava shores.

Bartolome is a relatively new island in the chain and traces of its volcanic past can be seen everywhere, as evident by the amazing lunar-like landscape. The Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos. Here we can hike to the top of a once-active volcano and enjoy superb views across to Sullivan Bay, on nearby Santiago Island. Later in the day we visit the bay, which will be of great interest to those keen on geology. We see much evidence of a violent volcanic past with pahoehoe lava, ropy lava and gigantic lava tubes seen everywhere.

Today we visit Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, whilst the island is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. There will be time to explore the station and observe the tortoise research and breeding programs. We also head up into the highlands for a total change of scenery. Here it is a lush humid zone containing miconia bushes, scalesia and inactive volcanic cones. We can visit a pair of large pit craters called 'Los Gemelos' (if lucky, we may spot a vermilion flycatcher) and the largest lava tunnels found in the Galapagos. Santa Cruz has more endemic plants than any of the other islands and we may even see Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

The town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal is the capital and administrative centre of the Galapagos Islands. There is a good interpretation centre here that is well worth a visit. The centre focuses primarily on the history and geography of the archipelago, from its volcanic origins to the present-day ecosystem. We pass through Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), which is a magnificent rock in the middle of the sea, set in a shape resembling a sleeping lion. The rock rises 150 metres above the surface and is divided into two parts by a narrow channel navigable by small vessels. We also visit Cerro Brujo, where there is a chance to go hiking, swimming and snorkelling. The sandy beach is home to Sally Lightfoot crabs, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies.

Today we cruise to the island of Espanola - the southernmost island of the Galapagos. Because of its remote location this place has a large population of endemic fauna. It is the breeding site for nearly all of the world's 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses and also home to colonies of blue-footed and masked boobies. We also visit the beautiful white sandy beaches at Bahia Gardner, which are great places for swimming and relaxing. The rocks off the coast provide excellent snorkelling opportunities, with reef sharks, turtles and many species of tropical fish, including surgeon and angelfish, often seen. The small white-tipped reef sharks are also often spotted resting under the rocks. We also pay a visit to Punta Suarez, one of the most attractive locations in the Galapagos and home to large and varied wildlife population.

Our destination is the island of Floreana, where we go ashore at Punta Cormorant. Here, the sand is made up of fine olivine crystals, a glassy volcanic mineral, giving the beach its olive-green colour and it is the best place to we see Galapagos sea lions. Today is also our best opportunity to see pink flamingos and other water birds wading in the lagoons, including pintails and stilts. Devil’s Crown is an old eroded volcanic cone and a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans and frigates. Red-billed tropicbirds can also be seen nesting in the rocky crevices. The centre of the cone is an outstanding snorkelling spot, full of sea lions and colourful fish. Floreana is also home to Post Office Bay, where 18th Century whalers used a barrel as an unofficial mail drop. This custom continues to this day with visitors to the Galapagos!

Today we take an early morning excursion to Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) - a mangrove swamp on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. In the smaller corners of the cove we paddle a dinghy for a wonderfully peaceful journey through this beautiful and unique area. This is often an excellent place to see green turtle, golden ray and Galapagos shark. There is also abundant birdlife, such as yellow warbler and lava heron. It is not uncommon to see turtles mating. This is our final excursion before we return to the airport in Baltra for our flight back to Quito. As you will be leaving the boat this morning, please remember that if you have enjoyed the services provided by your guide and crew, a tip would be very much appreciated by them. As a guideline we recommend each passenger consider US$15 per day for the crew and US$7-10 per day for your guide. You can leave tips in envelopes that are placed in your cabin on this last day of your journey. Upon arrival in Quito Airport you are transferred back to our hotel for an overnight stay.

Your 'Galapagos In Depth' adventure ends today after breakfast.