An ecological paradise populated by a unique cast of fascinating animals, the Galápagos will be a richly rewarding experience for anyone lucky enough to visit for any length of time. In fact, there’s so much to see that you won’t want to squander a single minute. With this in mind, even if you have a week or more in the Galápagos, travelling between islands at night is definitely the best approach. Then, after breakfasting on your own version of The Beagle, you can board a Zodiac (also known as a ‘Panga’) and skim off to explore another incredible island.
If you take this sail-by-night approach, even a four-day itinerary in the Galápagos will enable you to tick off some of the highlights of the islands. You could fly into San Cristobal – the easternmost of the major islands – then hike its characteristic volcanic landscape to view the boobies and frigatebirds before letting your feet sink into the sand of Cerro Brujo. From San Cristobal you could head southwest to the birder’s paradise of Española, where snorkelling with sea lions is also a possibility. From here, a northwest bearing will take you to Santa Cruz with its giant tortoise centre and iguanas on Tortuga Beach.