Beaches and Bay Southern & Central Route

Upon arrival at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (SCY) on San Cristóbal Island, our guides will meet you and escort you to your designated vessel. After a short bus ride and a Zodiac transfer to the anchored yacht in the bay, you will be shown to your cabin and treated to a delightful buffet lunch. Following a brief safety demonstration, you'll have the opportunity to choose your snorkeling gear. As the yacht begins its journey, you can relax in the library with a selection of guidebooks or fiction, or head up to the sundeck for a cruise around "Kicker Rock" (Leon Dormido), an ancient volcanic formation sculpted by erosion over millennia, rising from the open ocean.

Later on, weather permitting, join your guide on deck for a stargazing session to explore the Southern skies. If you're aboard the Evolve, your adventure starts with a tasty buffet lunch followed by a visit to San Cristóbal's Breeding Center. Here, you'll discover the National Park's giant tortoise breeding program, aimed at conserving these endangered species. The visitor center offers insights into tortoise evolution and conservation challenges, emphasizing threats posed by invasive species and habitat loss. Along the trail, you may encounter unique species such as the San Cristóbal mockingbird and Calandrinia plant, found only on this island.

After returning to the yacht, join the captain and crew for a cocktail reception and briefing on the next day's activities. With a small number of passengers, you'll have the chance to dine with the captain later in the week. Tonight, socialize with fellow travelers and enjoy a delicious multi-course dinner prepared by our kitchen staff, accompanied by fine wines.

Today's adventure kicks off with a Zodiac trip to Cerro Brujo (Wizard Hill) to spot wildlife. Your guide will help you identify a diverse range of birds, such as brown pelicans, brown noddy terns, and blue-footed boobies diving for fish. You'll learn to recognize birds by their distinctive color patterns based on age, like the mature brown pelican's white neck. Colorful Sally light-foot crabs will be scuttling around the rocks, transitioning from black when young to vibrant hues as adults. Your guides will also point out interesting geological formations like the Cathedral, humorously nicknamed "Darwin’s Pants". After the Zodiac excursion, enjoy some relaxation on the beautiful coral sand beach. Take a leisurely stroll, swim alongside sea lions, or try beginner-friendly paddleboarding or kayaking. It's a great chance to get comfortable with snorkeling equipment before exploring deeper waters. Guides will share insights about the fish species you encounter and help identify fish in your photographs.

Return to the yacht for a barbecue lunch on the sun deck (weather permitting), then head to Punta Pitt for a hike. The trail, though rocky with some uphill sections, provides exceptional opportunities for birdwatching, showcasing all three species of boobies: blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca. You'll also get to see baby blue-footed boobies, fluffy and white until their feathers fully develop over a few months. Guides will point out frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels, and brown pelicans. At Pitt Rock, snorkel among sea lions and colorful marine life like King Angel and Surgeon fish. A Zodiac ride will bring you back to the yacht for a briefing and dinner. Later in the evening, unwind with guidebooks or fiction from the library, or head up to the top deck for a distant view of "Sleeping Lion". Weather permitting, join your guide for stargazing and explore the Southern skies.