Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 1: Arrival in Quito (D)

Arrive in Quito, Ecuador, where your lodging for the evening is included. Guests can settle in before meeting the group at 5:00 PM for our trip orientation. We’ll review the adventure ahead, discuss photography and eclipse preparation, and make sure everyone is ready for our journey to the Galápagos the following morning.

Day 2: Fly to the Galápagos & Bachas Beach (B, L, D)

This morning we’ll fly from Quito to Baltra Island, where we’ll meet our Galápagos naturalist team and transfer to our private yacht. After boarding, settling into our cabins, and enjoying lunch, our first exploration takes us to Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island.

The brilliant white coral sand here provides our introduction to the remarkable wildlife of the Galápagos. Sea turtles use these beaches as nesting habitat, while a nearby brackish lagoon can attract flamingos, black-necked stilts, whimbrels, and other coastal birds.

Day 3: Ring of Fire Eclipse & Southern Isabela (B, L, D)

Today is the centerpiece of this special-edition expedition: the January 26, 2028 annular solar eclipse.

Our yacht will be anchored just offshore from Isabela Island, near Puerto Villamil, and we have received special permission to go ashore early so our group can be in position well before the eclipse begins. From a nearby beach, we’ll be able to set up our equipment on land and photograph the event from a stable vantage point.

This gives us the opportunity to photograph the entire eclipse sequence, including the dramatic annular phase when the Moon passes in front of the Sun but does not completely cover it, leaving the brilliant “Ring of Fire” visible around its edge.

After the eclipse concludes, we’ll return to the yacht and continue exploring southern Isabela, including Whitetip Reef Shark Channel, where wildlife can include Galápagos penguins, sea lions, herons, whitetip reef sharks, and large concentrations of marine iguanas. We’ll also visit Isabela’s wetlands and giant tortoise breeding center, with additional opportunities for flamingos and other birdlife.

Day 4: Moreno Point, Fernandina & Tagus Cove (B, L, D)

We continue deeper into the western Galápagos with a morning exploration of Moreno Point on Isabela. Here, young lava flows are punctuated by coastal lagoons and mangroves that attract a variety of birdlife.

Later, we enter the productive waters of the Bolívar Channel, exploring Mangle Point on Fernandina and Tagus Cove on Isabela. A zodiac excursion along the cliffs can provide opportunities to photograph Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and other seabirds, while those who wish can hike above Tagus Cove for views of Darwin Lake and the surrounding volcanic landscape.

Day 5: Fernandina & Vicente Roca Point (B, L, D)

This may be one of our strongest wildlife photography days of the entire expedition.

We’ll land at Espinoza Point on Fernandina, one of the most pristine islands in the Galápagos and an exceptional location for marine iguanas. Huge numbers can gather along the shoreline and lava formations, and this is also important habitat for the endemic flightless cormorant.

In the afternoon we cross back toward Vicente Roca Point on Isabela, where dramatic cliffs, caves, and sheltered coves create another excellent wildlife setting. The surrounding waters can hold penguins, sharks, pufferfish, seahorses, and other marine life, with snorkeling opportunities depending on conditions.

Day 6: Santiago Island (B, L, D)

Today we explore Santiago Island, beginning around Espumilla Beach and Buccaneer Cove. Espumilla is an important sea turtle nesting area surrounded by mangroves and volcanic scenery.

Later, we visit Egas Port, where black volcanic coastlines, natural arches, caves, and lava formations create a beautiful backdrop for wildlife photography. Galápagos fur seals and sea lions utilize the shoreline, while brightly colored Sally Lightfoot crabs stand out dramatically against the dark basalt.

Day 7: Rábida & Chinese Hat (B, L, D)

Our morning takes us to Rábida, one of the most visually distinctive islands in the archipelago. Iron-rich volcanic material gives the beach its deep reddish color, creating a striking setting for wildlife photography. The island supports aquatic birds, songbirds, brown pelicans, and occasionally flamingos around its lagoon.

Later we explore Chinese Hat, a small volcanic islet near Santiago. Here we can encounter Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, and potentially Galápagos penguins among young lava formations and white coral beaches.

Day 8: Santa Cruz & Return to Quito (B, L, D)

Our final morning in the Galápagos brings us to Santa Cruz Island and the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we’ll learn more about the conservation work protecting the archipelago and have another opportunity to see Galápagos giant tortoises.

Afterward, we’ll transfer back to Baltra Airport for our flight to mainland Ecuador. Upon arrival in Quito, we’ll transfer to our included hotel for our final overnight and enjoy dinner together.

Day 9: Departure (B)

Today is primarily a travel day. After breakfast at the hotel, guests can depart for home according to their individual flight schedules.