Danubio Azul Cruise: The Best of the Galápagos Underwater Sanctuary – Baltra to North Seymour

Overview

Highlights

• Dive at legendary sites including Darwin’s Arch, El Arenal, Cape Marshall, Shark Bay, El Derrumbe, Cape Douglas and Cousin’s Rock
• Look for hammerhead, whale and Galapagos sharks
• Encounter sea lions, marine iguanas, penguins, turtles and rays
• Experience exciting drift dives, volcanic walls and underwater landscapes
• Experience the Galapagos aboard the Danubio Azul liveaboard

Itinerary

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   Day 1: Baltra – Carrion Point

   AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport PM: Carrion Point Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, meet our team and transfer to Danubio Azul, your home for the expedition. Begin your Galápagos adventure with a dive at Carrion Point, known for its relatively calm waters and diverse marine life. Depending on conditions, you may encounter colorful reef fish, Galápagos gobies and other fascinating species.

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   Day 2: Cape Marshall

   AM: Cape Marshall PM: Cape Marshall Explore the volcanic underwater landscapes of Cape Marshall, where ancient lava flows created dramatic basalt formations descending into deep waters. This area is known for drift diving and offers opportunities to encounter stingrays, devil rays, green turtles, sea lions and several shark species.

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   Day 3: El Arenal & Darwin’s Arch

   AM: El Arenal PM: Darwin’s Arch Dive at El Arenal, one of the most active areas near Darwin’s Arch. Look for schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, green turtles, garden eels and rays. Continue to Darwin’s Arch, one of the most celebrated dive destinations in the Galápagos. Cleaning stations attract large numbers of marine species, while the deep blue waters offer the possibility of encountering hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, particularly during the cooler months.

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   Day 4: El Arenal & Shark Bay

   AM: El Arenal PM: Shark Bay Return to the waters of El Arenal before exploring Shark Bay near Wolf Island. This site is renowned for its shark activity and cleaning stations, where hammerheads, rays and turtles can often be observed. An additional evening dive at Darwin’s Arch offers another opportunity to experience the incredible marine life of this iconic area.

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   Day 5: Shark Bay, El Derrumbe & Darwin’s Arch

   AM: Shark Bay PM: El Derrumbe Continue exploring Shark Bay, where rocky formations create natural viewpoints overlooking the deep blue. Keep an eye out for hammerhead, Galápagos and silky sharks, rays and schools of pelagic fish. Later, dive at El Derrumbe and finish the day with another memorable dive around Darwin’s Arch.

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   Day 6: Vicente Roca Point & Cape Douglas

   AM: Vicente Roca Point PM: Cape Douglas Explore the dramatic coastline of Vicente Roca Point, where volcanic formations create caves and sheltered waters. Snorkeling opportunities may include encounters with penguins, sharks, pufferfish and seahorses. Continue to Cape Douglas, an exceptional location for observing Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, cormorants and other unique species both above and below the surface.

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   Day 7: Cousin’s Rock & Fausto Llerena Breeding Center

   AM: Cousin’s Rock PM: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center Dive at Cousin’s Rock, a spectacular volcanic formation surrounded by underwater walls and terraces. With nutrient-rich waters and moderate to strong currents, the area attracts a wide variety of marine life. In the afternoon, visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Discover ongoing conservation efforts and observe giant tortoises at different stages of development.

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   Day 8: North Seymour – Baltra

   AM: North Seymour Island PM: Baltra – Flight to Quito or Guayaquil End your Galápagos adventure with an early visit to North Seymour Island. Walk through one of the archipelago’s most important blue-footed booby colonies and observe magnificent frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls and other seabirds.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Practical Information

Frequently Asked Questions