Galapagos, North, Central and South Islands 8 days

Arrive at San Cristobel Airport and transfer to boat. Later, land and walk up to El Junco Lagoon - at 700m above sea level, this is one of the few permanent freshwater lakes in the Galapagos. See your first frigate birds and white-cheeked pintails.

Sail to Floreana Island and land at Post Office Bay, where there is a barrel, originally used by whalers in the 18th and 19th centuries to post messages to be picked up and delivered by later passing boats. Today you can post and collect cards too.

Land at Cormorant Point, where there is a large flamingo lagoon with other birds too. Here also are different coloured beaches - Four Sand Beach, with its white coral and Green Beach named because of the olivine crystals in the sand.

Land for a walk at Suarez Point on Espanola Island, a great place for spotting blue-footed and Nazca boobies as well as the large waved albatrosses, Galapagos hawks and other birds. An attraction here is the landscape and a spectacular blowhole sending water high into the air.

In the afternoon, visit Gardner Bay on the eastern side of Espanola Island.the breeding site for virtually all the world's population of waved albatross during the months of April to December.There is a sweeping white sand beach with hundreds of sealions. Great snorkelling from the beach.

Wake up at Santa Cruz, the main island in the group and travel up to Los Gemelos, the twin craters, a geological feature high up on the island in the native scalesia forest, with super long views.

Later, walk to the Charles Darwin Research Station and see giant tortoises from all over the islands, along with land iguanas. Some great photo opportunities.

After and overnight sail, arrive at the northern island of Genovesa, one of the few islands where red-footed boobies breed. Walk amongst these at El Barranco (also known as Price Phillip's Steps) and enjoy the views from the cliff-top. Stroll through the palo santo vegetation and look out for short-eared lava owls, storm petrels and Galapagos doves as well as frigate birds and Nazca boobies.

After lunch, land at Darwin Bay, a nesting area for boobies and frigate birds. Go snorkelling off the beach and see colourful tropical fish, rays and maybe, hammerhead sharks. Go kayaking beneath the cliffs and see tropic birds swooping from the rocks

Rabida is one of the most colourful and geologically varied island in the archipelago with deep red sandy beach and amazing volcanic scenery. there are nine varieties of finch to be seen here plus the rare large-billed flycatcher, Galapagos hawks and white-cheeked pintail ducks. Snorkelling here too with a great chance of seeing Galapagos penguins.

Chinese Hat is named for its distinctive shape and is a great place to walk amongst lava tubes, lava flows and clamber amongst the rocks.

Overnight, we have returned to San Cristobel island for a visit to Witch Hill on the northern coast, one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos. Kayaking and dinghy rides from here as well as snorkelling - look out for rays, turtles and colourful fish and coral. Mockingbirds, finches and many other birds here.

Land on Lobos (sealion) Island and walk amongst the  noisy sea lions, frigate birds, blue footed boobies etc. Snorkelling and dinghy rides.

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to mainland.