Hermes Mega Catamaran

Afternoon Activities | Highlands of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through pastures in the agricultural zone and in the transition zone of adjacent El Chato Tortoise Reserve.

Morning Activities | Dragon Hill - Santa Cruz Island

Here you'll find various species of flora and fauna and the endemic land iguana. To the northwest of Santa Cruz Island, there is Dragon Hill, where you will find various species of flora and fauna. Behind the beach, you shall enjoy the pond that is often home to flamingos. Along the trail, you can see a variety of reptiles, especially land iguanas, which look like dragons because of their claws and spiky crests. Young iguanas are easily preyed upon predatory birds and snakes; otherwise, they can live up to 60 years of age. You will see extensive vegetation such as a forest of holy stick trees (burseras), whose appearance changes depending on the season. The forest is home to a variety of birds, such as mockingbirds, Darwin finches, yellow warblers and Galapagos doves.

Afternoon Activities | Chinese Hat Island

This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet’s summit. Chinese Islet is a great location to view many geological formations such as lava tunnels and lava flows. Some of the lava flows were formed underwater and subsequently raised above sea level. The presence of coral heads on the lava flow indicates this phenomenon. This is an excellent place to learn more about volcanism, lava bombs and lava tunnels.

Morning Activities | Darwin Bay - Genovesa Island

Arrive at this horse-shoe shaped island and step ashore the white sand and coral beach that was formed by a submerged volcanic crater. This is an ideal place to snorkel in calm, sheltered waters amongst hammerhead sharks, rays and a plethora of colourful reef fish. A short trail leads past a tidal lagoon and mangroves, home to a variety of land bird species, including Nazca and red-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. The top of the craggy hill provides the perfect viewpoint to pause and look down on the bay below.

Afternoon Activities | Prince Phillip's Steps - Genovesa Island

Begin your expedition at the bottom of the rocky stairway where you may be lucky enough to spot a small colony of seals. As you ascend the steep steps up the 25-meter cliff face, be sure to look out for the sea life nestled in the crevices and flocks of storm petrels, short-eared lava owls, and Galapagos doves. Catch your breath at the top and take in the dramatic view before continuing along a rocky lava plateau that is a popular nesting spot for red-footed boobies and frigates.

Morning Activities | Black Turtle Cove - Santa Cruz Island

This morning you make a panga ride on Black Turtle Cove, series of mangrove-surrounded coves and islets. Here you can observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays. You return to the Yacht for dinner and navigation to the next destination in the islands.

Afternoon Activities | Bachas Beach - Santa Cruz Island

Prepare to be welcomed ashore by a stunning white sand beach which is known as a popular nesting site for turtles. You will surely be guaranteed to see an array of vibrant red Sally Lightfoot crabs and hermit crabs and may even be lucky enough to spot some flamingos in the lagoons behind the beach. The remnants of a rusted barge, that was likely to have been abandoned by the Americans during WWII, also provide an insight into the human history of the island.

Morning Activities | Elizabeth Bay Point - Isabela Island

This is an exclusive area teeming with wildlife, that is only accessible by dinghy. It is surrounded by a number of islets, where blue-footed boobies and penguins can be sighted on the rocks, and the bay itself features an unusually high and colourful mangrove forest. The cool, calm waters attract schools of fish, and make it a popular place for turtles, rays, sea lions and even sharks to gather, giving rise to a thrilling location for snorkelling and swimming.

Afternoon Activities | Urbina Bay - Isabela Island

Located at the foot of the Alcedo and Darwin volcanoes, the Urbina Bay is a product of a major volcanic uplift that occurred in 1954. As a result, the shore is strewn with corals and remains of marine life. However, in a relatively short space of time, endemic plant species and wildlife have already started to thrive. It will certainly be hard to miss the impressive giant land iguanas (the largest in the Galapagos), but also keep an eye out for Galapagos hawks, giant tortoises and the Darwin’s cotton plant.

Morning Activities | Tagus Cove - Isabela Island

Known to have been a popular anchorage site since the 1800s, here you will be able to see where the names of ships have been carved into the rocks, providing an intriguing historical record. A scenic trail will lead you around Darwin Lake, and if you choose to continue up to the top of the hill you will be rewarded with a majestic view back over the crystal clear waters of the lagoon; an unmissable photo opportunity.

Afternoon Activities | Epinoza Point - Fernandina Island

This untouched area of natural beauty is home to a booming population of iguanas and is known as a key nesting site for flightless cormorants. The combination of beautiful beaches and mangroves contrasted with the stark black lava flows create a memorable landscape. This is also one of the best locations to see the remarkably resilient lava cactus. To top it off, you will find several good snorkeling spots where you can be entertained by the fearless and playful sea lions and penguins.

Morning Activities | Espumilla Beach - Santiago Island

The name Espumilla, literally meaning ‘meringue’, refers to the dream-like trail of foam left by the waves that lap this picturesque white sand beach. Here you will encounter an abundance of the brightly coloured Sally Lightfoot crabs, which attract predatory birds such as hawks, herons and pelicans. This peaceful setting on the northern coast of Santiago island provides an unmissable opportunity for snorkelling and swimming amongst a raft of marine life, including species of octopi, eels and sharks.

Afternoon Activities | Buccaneer Cove - Santiago Island & Rabida Island

Buccaneer Cove was frequented over the centuries by pirates, buccaneers and whalers. Now, it is an important nesting site for turtles, and is also popular with sea lions and sting-rays. Intriguing formations in the rocks, caused by erosion, can also be observed. The arid Rabida island is characterised by steep volcanic hills and a red sand beach. The surrounding salt brush is home to nesting pelicans, and common stilts and flamingos can be seen feeding at the lagoon. Inland, keen birdwatchers can also observe mockingbirds, yellow warblers and Darwin finches.

Morning Activities | North Seymour Island

This islet is one of most visited sites, and it is teeming with birdlife. An easy circular path takes you through the archipelago’s most extensive colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. At the beginning of the breeding season, adult frigatebird-males blow up their vivid red pouches to impressive football-sized balloons. This is one of the few spots where you can compare the magnificent and the great frigatebird breeding next to each other.

After your visit, you'll depart and head back to the mainland to travel home or continue your trip.