Galapagos Southern Loop Cruise

Day 1 - Baltra, Galapagos Islands

Arrive: Sat 28 December 2024 / Depart: Sat 28 December 2024 at 15:00

During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Now the cactus-strewn landscapes of Baltra are home to the region's main airport and where you will meet the ship. After just a short bus and zodiac ride you will be aboard. Your luggage will be delivered straight to your stateroom, giving you the opportunity to explore the Celebrity Xpedition, a 296-foot mega-yacht and your home for the week.

Day 1 - North Seymour

Arrive: Sat 28 December 2024 at 15:30 / Depart: Sat 28 December 2024 at 18:00

North Seymour Island is just north of Baltra and was formed through a series of sporadic uplifts. It took about a million years for the island to reach its current level. Now above the sea, the layers of lava that originally erupted underwater have created a low-lying island packed with wildlife. The island is home to the largest nesting colony of frigatebirds in the Galapagos along with blue-footed boobies, finches, land iguanas, marine iguanas, and sea lions. A hike along shore and into the island’s interior brings you up close and personal to just about everything the island has to offer. You can also choose to go on a short Zodiac ride along the coast to search for fur seals, sea lions, and red-billed tropic birds. And for the more adventurous and experienced, jump in for a deep-water snorkel.

Day 2 - South Plaza Island

Arrive: Sun 29 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 29 December 2024 at 11:30

Day 2 - Santa Fe Island, Galapagos

Arrive: Sun 29 December 2024 at 15:00 / Depart: Sun 29 December 2024 at 18:00

Santa Fe Island lies to the southeast of Santa Cruz Island; located at the center of the Galapagos archipelago. It is also called Barrington Island, after British Admiral Samuel Barrington. Geologically, it one of the oldest of the volcanic islands, with rock formations beneath the surface of the water dating back almost four million years. Santa Fe Island is home to the Santa Fe land iguana and the Santa Fe rice rat, an invasive species. Large numbers of sea lions reside here as well, and can often be seen “surfing” in the waves along the coast or sunning on the beaches. The island is also home to the longest running research project on marine iguanas, begun in the late 1970’s. There is a single visitor site on the island, and three marine sites. The vegetation here is characterized by a dense forest of the giant Santa Fe cactus. Two trails can be found on Sante Fe Island. One is a short loop that provides an up-close look at the massive Santa Fe cacti. Santa Fe land iguanas and Galapagos hawks can be observed from this trail as well. The second trail climbs a steep cliff, providing a dramatic view of the inland section of the island. Underneath the surface of the waves below, sea lions are the main attraction along with sea turtles, rays and Galapagos sharks.

Day 3 - Punta Pitt (San Cristobal)

Arrive: Mon 30 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 30 December 2024 at 11:30

Pitt Point is located on the northeastern tip of San Cristobal Island. After disembarking onto the small greensand beach, you'll hike up to a plateau, where the view and landscape are so spectacular it is well worth the effort. A steep gully leads up the cliff to a breeding ground for all three varieties of boobies: red-footed, blue-footed, and Nazca. It’s one of the few places in the Galapagos where you can see all three species nesting together.

Day 3 - Puerto Baquerizo, San Cristobal

Arrive: Mon 30 December 2024 at 15:00 / Depart: Mon 30 December 2024 at 18:00

Here we have the opportunity to visit the small waterfront town of Puerto Baquerizo, the administrative capital of the islands. Excursion options include a tour of a local interpretation center and time for shopping or a fast-paced long walk to view scenic vistas, followed by a visit to the interpretation center.

Day 4 - Bahia Post Office, Floreana

Arrive: Tue 31 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 31 December 2024 at 11:30

Day 4 - Cormorant Point

Arrive: Tue 31 December 2024 at 15:00 / Depart: Tue 31 December 2024 at 18:00

Day 5 - Punta Moreno, Isabela Island

Arrive: Wed 01 January 2025 at 07:00

A prized stop along Isabela’s coastline. It is a sheltered inlet and one of the westernmost points in the Galapagos. A scenic zodiac ride offers excellent wildlife viewing and access to a rich mangrove ecosystem. Blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and nesting flightless cormorants perch on small rocky islands in the Bay. Penguins often pop up when you least expect it and nearby blue-footed boobies dive into the sea like missiles. The Zodiacs carefully cruise into the shallower reaches of the ecosystem to look for rays, sea turtles, and schools of fish. Great blue herons and Galapagos hawks can also be seen within the branches of the mangroves.

Day 5 - Punta Moreno, Isabela Island

Depart: Wed 01 January 2025 at 18:00

Punta Moreno is one of the least visited sites on Isabela due to its remote location and difficult access. Stark black volcanic rocks cover the landscape and when juxtaposed with the brilliant green of lush plant growth around ponds, it makes for a spectacular sight. Add a mix of coastal wildlife and it’s a visitor’s delight. Here, you can go on an extended Zodiac ride to view blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and the flightless cormorant while searching in the water for fast swimming penguins, rays, and maybe even a shark or two. Another option is a hike over the black lava rock to observe coastal ponds where sea turtles and sharks often reside and then head inland to what seems like an oasis—an interior lake where flamingos are often found.

Day 6 - Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

Arrive: Thu 02 January 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 02 January 2025 at 18:00

Santa Cruz is the second-largest island in the Galapagos and home to Puerto Ayora (the largest town in the islands). In 1959, the Ecuadorian government declared all the islands, except areas already colonized, as a national park. In the same year, the Charles Darwin Foundation was founded to promote scientific research and ensure the conservation of the Galapagos. In 1992, the waters surrounding the Galapagos were declared a marine reserve. Here, you have the opportunity to visit a giant tortoise reserve in the lushly vegetated highlands, where the animals roam free in their natural habitat. On another excursion, a short drive through town brings you to the Galapagos Park Service giant tortoise breeding station and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Afterwards there is time to wander through the lovely streets of Puerto Ayora for some shopping.

Day 7 - Espanola Island

Arrive: Fri 03 January 2025 / Depart: Fri 03 January 2025

Day 7 - Suarez Point, Espanola Island

Arrive: Fri 03 January 2025 / Depart: Fri 03 January 2025

Day 8 - Baltra, Galapagos Islands

Arrive: Sat 04 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 04 January 2025

During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Now the cactus-strewn landscapes of Baltra are home to the region's main airport and where you will meet the ship. After just a short bus and zodiac ride you will be aboard. Your luggage will be delivered straight to your stateroom, giving you the opportunity to explore the Celebrity Xpedition, a 296-foot mega-yacht and your home for the week.