This isolated group of volcanic islands (www.galapagos.com) is located on the Equator about 600 miles west of Ecuador. The most recent eruption on Fernandina was in 1995. Spread over roughly 30,000 square miles, there are 13 major islands. Most of the island have two or three names since the earliest charts gave both English and Spanish names, later supplemented by official Ecuadorian names.

Isla San Cristobal
Our first point of embarkation, we will tender out the ship from this charming town of just 4,000 residents. We will visit the Interpretation Station and hike to one of the highest points in the island, Frigatebird Hill.

Isla Bartolome
Today our dry landing will lead us to see the numerous Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and a gaudy variety of tropical fish.

Isla Santiago
Also known as Isla San Salvador, we will visit Puerto Egas on James Bay. The long black lava shoreline is a great place to see colonies of marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs

Isla Isabela
Occupying over 50% of the archipelago land mass, it is a relatively young island with 5 intermittently active volcanoes. At Tagus Cove, following the steps of Charles Darwin, you can still see the names of early vessels scratched into the cliffs around the cove. One of the most picturesque vistas in the islands is atop Volcan Darwin overlooking a saltwater lagoon framing the cove.

Isla Fernandina
This is the island on which you are most likely to see a vocanic eruption. The last one in 1998 led to the airlift of land turtles off the island. The new lava led to new black land mass for the propagation of marine iguanas.

These 3-4 foot long vegetarian iguanas are found sprawled atop one another on the lava to soak up the heat from the sun and warm each other from the frigid Humboldt current coming from Antarctica.

Isla Rabida
Also know as Jervis, our wet landing onto a dark red beach where sea lions haul out and pelicans nest. Home of pink flamingos and a sea lion bachelor colony.

Isla Santa Cruz
The main town of Puero Ayora on the south coast is reached by tender in Academy Bay. Here we can visit the Darwin Station to see the rehabilitation of Galapagos land turtles, shop and dine in town or hike to the Highlands.