Galapagos trip | Aqua Mare yacht on a private basis

Isabela Island has no fewer than five volcanoes for which Volcano Wolf is the highest at over 1,700 metres, making it the highest point in Galapagos. The largest turtle population houses near the volcano Alcedo. Near Villamil are saltwater lakes where flamingos, among others, come to feed.

The westernmost island of the Galapagos, Fernandina (Narborough) is the youngest and most active volcanic island with several eruptions per year. The island boasts an amazingly pristine landscape with all kinds of lava flows and some spectacular mangrove forests. The island is home to a diversity of different wildlife, including the famous cormorants, Galapagos penguins, pelicans, Galapagos sea lions and the largest colony of iguanas. Punta Espinosa is the only place on the island where the unique Lava Cactus can be seen as well as the breathtaking mass of iguanas.

Northeast of Santa Cruz Island lies the elongated Santiago Island, also known as San Salvador Island or James Island. The island's best spot is undoubtedly Puerto Egas, where you will find a long lava coast with rock formations with an impressive variety of wildlife, including iguanas and fur seals. While geology lovers should head to Sullivan Bay to explore the black lava flow, diving enthusiasts can enjoy the Cousin's Rock dive site. This site is home to a triangular rock that rises about 10 metres above the water and consists of layers of volcanic rock.

Rabida Island has red sandy beaches and rich green vegetation. The island is known for its volcanic landscape with red and brown colours. Here you can swim and snorkel well and get a close look at marine life such as turtles, seals, dolphins, rays, sharks and tropical fish.

Santa Cruz is centrally located and also the second largest island in the archipelago. Puerto Ayora is located here which in turn is the largest city in the Galapagos. Here you will therefore find everything else you could possibly need (from ATMs to bars and internet cafés). For visitors, it is a very varied island where all kinds of things can be undertaken.

Despite its small size, North Seymour Island is well worth a visit for its amazing amount of wildlife. You will be treated to sea lions, iguanas basking in the sun and pelicans flying along the shore. The island is also famous for the Blue-footed John of Ghent. At Bachas, you can enjoy some excellent snorkelling spots and the lagoon where you are likely to see swarms of flamingos. With its extraordinary abundance of wildlife and proximity to Santa Cruz, North Seymour Island makes an ideal destination for an adventurous day trip.

A pristine piece of land between the Baltra and North Seymour Islands, Mosquera Island is a small, low-lying island covered with black lava rocks, sparse vegetation and a white sandy beach lapped by the vibrant blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Just 160 metres in diameter and about 600 metres long, Mosquera Island is the tiny home of one of the Galapagos' largest colonies of sea lions. Marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs and Lava Gull also populate the shore, and orcas have occasionally been seen off the coast. The abundance of marine life in the coral reefs attracts snorkellers to the Galapagos rays, sea turtles, reef sharks, barracudas, moray eels and schools of colourful fish, including hawkfish.

Surrounded by the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific Ocean, the volcanic Daphne Island is one of the Galapagos Islands listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island is known for its bowl-shaped volcanic crater and other fascinating features, which have attracted the attention of important scientific researchers, including Charles Darwin. The island is home to several bird species, including the blue-footed booby, magnificent frigate birds, Galapagos swallows, red-billed tropicbirds, short-eared owls and the Nazca booby. Visitors can look forward to a wide range of activities, including diving, snorkelling, boat trips and birdwatching.

Located in the central part of the Galapagos archipelago, the small, flat island of Baltra (South Seymour Island) is the only island that is not part of the Galapagos National Park, being a military base and home to the local airport. With its extremely dry landscape and sparse vegetation, it can seem like another planet. Since the island is designated as a non-visitor site, travellers arriving in Baltra will be immediately bused to one of two ports, where they will board a cruise ship that will take them to Santa Cruz island.

The archipelago that inspired Charles Darwin to formulate his theory of evolution. On these remote volcanic islands, a thousand kilometres off the Ecuadorian coast, you’ll find extraordinary biodiversity. Many animal species are found nowhere else in the world. Here you’ll find marine iguanas, giant Galápagos tortoises and blue-footed boobies. Sea lions, penguins and albatrosses also call this place home. Beneath the surface of the sea, just as on land, life teems. Marine mammals and fish, including whales, manta rays and hammerhead sharks, inhabit the ocean.
Please note: The Galápagos Archipelago is a protected nature reserve where strict regulations must be observed during your visit; always follow your guide’s instructions to ensure you do not cause any damage to this very special and unique ecosystem.

Quito averages 2,850 metres above sea level in the Andes mountains. The colonial downtown was one of the first city centres to be inscribed on the World Heritage List and is beautifully maintained. Quito is ranked among the continent's most beautiful cities. It also has one of the largest colonial centres in Latin America; only Havana in Cuba has a larger historic core, but is not nearly as beautifully restored. Outside the old city centre, Quito also has modern neighbourhoods.... On a clear day, Quito offers stunning views of the snow-capped summit of the Cotopaxi volcano. And where Rio de Janeiro has the famous statue of Christ, in Quito a stone Maria looks out over the city from the 'Panecillo' hill.

Featuring a giant tuff cone, the volcanic Daphne Major Island is located near Ecuador's Santa Cruz Island. It is a famous nesting site for hundreds of blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropicalbirds and Nazca boobies. It is also a scientific research site used by Rosemary and Peter Grant to study the evolution of Darwin's finches.

The spectacular Galápagos National Park is situated approximately 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos archipelago. The park is often referred to as a ‘living museum’ due to its phenomenal melting pot of species.
The area inspired Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution and is regarded as a living laboratory where evolution is still taking place. The park is home to a variety of animals and plants found nowhere else. These factors, together with ongoing volcanic and seismic activity, have earned the park its UNESCO status.
Visitors can spot animals such as land iguanas, giant tortoises, a variety of finches and many other animal and plant species. Situated at the confluence of three ocean currents, there is also an incredibly rich and abundant marine life off the coast.
Please note: The Galápagos Archipelago is a protected nature reserve where strict regulations must be observed during your visit; always follow your guide’s instructions to ensure you do not cause any damage to this very special and unique ecosystem.

With a dramatic landscape of soaring peaks, numerous volcanoes and exuberant cloud forests are the Northern Andes, a long, narrow plateau looming over Ecuador's western region. Visitors to the area can lose themselves in the wide variety of things to do on the mountain slopes, ranging from exciting outdoor activities to fascinating cultural experiences. Highlights include a scenic hike and canopy tour along the verdant landscape of Mindo Cloud Forest and a stroll along the cobblestone streets of Quito's Old Town to see the beautiful colonial architecture. Don't miss a visit to the small town of Otavalo, home to the hugely popular Otavalo Market, known as the largest market for traditional jewellery, textiles and handicrafts in South America.