Day 1: Saturday
– AM – Baltra
Arrival to Baltra Airport and Transfer to the boat
– AM – Santa Cruz Highlands
Reached by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green contrasting beautifully with much of the dry, lower islands. The dominant vegetation in the highlands is the forest of Scalesia trees creating the lush green color. The lava tubes, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience.
Highlights: Lava tunnels, wild turtles, tortoises breeding center.
Activities: Hike (1.5 miles/ 2 ½ km)
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate (long)
– PM – Charles Darwin Station / Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
The Charles Darwin Research Station is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept until they are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.
Highlights: Giant tortoises in captivity
Activities: Walking
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Easy
Day 2: Sunday
– AM – Tintoreras Islet or Sierra Negra (Isabela Island)
In the morning we will visit the Tintoreras Islet or Sierra Negra. Tintoreras is located a short distance from Puerto Villamil and is the home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by White-Tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.
Sierra Negra boasts the largest volcanic basaltic caldera in Galapagos at 9 x 10km. The site offers impressive views and the opportunity to observe up to 7 species of finches and a rich display of vegetation. The north side of the caldera provides evidence of its most recent volcanic activity in 2005.
Possible Activities: Dinghy ride, hiking, walking
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: None (Tintoreras), Dry Landing (Sierra Negra)
Highlights: White-Tipped reef sharks, penguins, marine turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, finches, basaltic caldera, and stunning views.
– PM – Tortoise Breeding Center
The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves, and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as Common Stilts, Whimbrels, White-Cheeked Pintails, and Gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.
Possible Activities: Hiking
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights: Shore Birds, whimbrels, White-Cheeked Pintails, Common Stilts, lagoons, swamps, and giant mangroves. Interactive experiences with the tortoises in the breeding center.
Day 3: Monday
– AM – Moreno Point (Isabela Island)
In the morning we will visit Moreno Point, located south west of Elizabeth Bay. Here, a dry landing onto what was once flowing lava is possible. The lava has left craters in its wake, which formed crystal tide pools. By looking into the pools, you can peer into another world, as the marine life drifts by. In the brackish pools of this area, you may see pink flamingos, White-Cheeked pintails, and Common gallinules. If you look carefully into the pools you may see White-Tipped reef sharks and some sea turtles.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy ride & hike (1.2 mi / 2km)
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights: Flamingoes, gallinules, Pintail ducks, turtles, and White-Tipped reef sharks.
– PM – Elizabeth Bay
The afternoon visit will take us to Elizabeth Bay, a secluded space lacking any landing sites. We will take a traditional ‘panga’, or dinghy ride, passing the red mangroves and amongst the wildlife of the lively bay. Elizabeth is known for its marine life; you will probably see sea turtles and rays skimming the surface of the water. You may also see the Brown pelicans diving for fish, Galapagos penguins, Blue-footed Boobies and even possibly spot humpback whales.
Possible Activities: Two-hour dinghy ride
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: No Landing
Highlights: Mangrove forest (unique in Galapagos), sea turtles, penguins, rays, herons, and sea lions.
Day 4: Tuesday
– AM – Espinosa (Fernandina Island)
Fernandina Island: No foreign species have ever invaded this island and therefore it is one of the world’s most pristine island ecosystems. Fernandina is the youngest island in Galapagos. Access to this site is extremely restricted by the Galapagos National Park and you will be one of those very lucky visitors. The volcano “La Cumbre”, dominates the land space with lava fields reaching the ocean.
Crossing the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina Islands, we will land at Espinosa Point. After walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, we’ll reach the island’s highlight: the Flightless Cormorant nesting site. This area also provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos Hawk.
Possible Activities: Hike (1.2 mi / 2 km)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry and slippery at low tide
Highlights: Flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, A’A lava, sea lions, penguins, and the active volcano “La Cumbre”.
– PM – Vicente Roca Point
In the afternoon we will visit Isabela Island once again to Vicente Roca Point. Comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola sunfish.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy ride
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: No Landing
Highlights: Penguins, Blue-Footed boobies, terns, Nazca Boobies, and two types of sea lions, sea turtles, rays, the Mola-mola sunfish, and puffer fish.
Day 5: Wednesday
– AM – Egas Point (Santiago Island)
Egas Port is a well-known site in the Galapagos Islands that is also known as James Bay on the western side of Santiago Island. There are trails that lead to tide pools with lava lizards scattering along the trail and remains of an old salt mine operation that was eventually unsuccessful can be seen on one of the trails. Fur seals and marine birds can be seen nearby and snorkeling can be enjoyed.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, hiking (1.25km/2mi)
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Unique trails abundant with lava lizards; Galapagos Hawks, fur seals and other marine birds; Distinctive underwater formations, marine iguanas, reef sharks, turtles and rays while snorkeling.
– PM – Buccaneer Cove/Espumilla Beach
Years ago Buccaneer Cove was a safe haven where pirates in the 1600 and 1700’s would stake out on the Northwestern side of Santiago Island. Sea turtles now take the pirates place and dig their nests for their eggs near the Mangrove trees. It is a great location for snorkeling and many marine birds and sea lions can be found here.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, hiking
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Historical site, rock formations; tropical fish, sting-rays, turtles while snorkeling.
Espumilla Beach is another famous visitor site in the Galapagos Islands. After a wet landing, find yourself on a large beach where the guide will lead you on a path through a Mangrove Forest. After weaving through the Mangroves, find an inland lake where flamingoes, pintail ducks and stilts reside. The site is mostly inhabited by flamingoes that nest and feed in this location.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, swimming, hiking
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Mangrove Forest hike, flamingoes, pintail ducks, stilts, other marine birds. Snorkeling and swimming at the beach.
Day 6: Thursday
– AM – Bartolome Island
Home of the famous Pinnacle Rock, Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. A trail of stairs leads to the summit of the volcano, boasting one of the best views of the islands. The beach is perfect for snorkeling and possible sightings of the Galapagos penguin.
Highlights: Pinnacle rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus; snorkeling: penguins, reef sharks, rays, and great colorful fish.
Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling & hiking (1.2 miles/ 2 km)
Type of Landing: Dry and wet landings
Difficulty: Moderate/difficult. Walk up to the top of volcano 114 meters, 375 wooden steps
– PM – Sullivan Bay
A coral beach landing leads you towards a lava field as far as the eye can see. Hunt and peck over the two distinguished types of lava, pahoehoe and ‘a’a, for signs of plant life that have managed to emerge over the past 100 years since the most recent volcanic explosion. A truly amazing volcanic experience…up close and personal!
Highlights: Variety of lava formations and landscapes, pahoehoe lava which is found primarily in Hawai’i and the Galapagos islands, ‘a’a lava, and pristine coral sand beach
Activities: Walk, snorkel, swim
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Be sure to wear good solid walking shoes or boots as the ‘a’a lava is very sharp and pointy
Day 7: Friday
– AM – Chinese Hat
This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet’s summit. This small islet is a great location to view many geological formations such as lava tubes and lava flows.
Activities: Hike & snorkeling (1,9 miles / 3 km)
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
– PM – Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragón)
Situated on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.
Highlights: Land iguana nesting spot, Galapagos flamingos, common stilts, palo santo trees and cacti forest
Activities: Walking and hiking
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Easy to moderate: the trail may get muddy at times, and there is uneven rocky terrain.
Day 8: Saturday
– AM – North Seymour
The morning visit will lead us to North Seymour Island. Galapagos Sea Lions, Blue-Footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigate birds are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by series of submarine lavas containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy ride & hiking (1.5 mi/2.5 km)
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights: Land & marine iguanas, frigate birds, Blue-Footed Boobies, and sea lions. Snorkeling: you may see rays, reef shark, fish, and garden eels.
After this final visit, you will be transferred to Baltra’s airport in time to catch your flight back to the mainland.
