Itinerary C

Transfer to Baltra Island.

Bachas Beach

The beach is 1km long and located north of Santa Cruz Island. Bachas is the name of the site, which was given to it after the Second World War, when American soldiers left barges on the beach. The first colonizers couldn't pronounce the name barges correctly, so called Bachas.

Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay

Hiking and wet landing. The place is described as follows: the entire road, and island, are composed of lava flow that cover a large area. They still remain virtually undisturbed and do not erode. Lava Colonizers.

Bartolome Island

Activities to be carried out on this island include: walking, swimming, snorkeling and photography. The island has been formed by cones and pipes of lava. The path from the wet landing to south beach is through vegetation and mangrove swamps. North Beach: The activities will include swimming and snorkeling. From the peak of Bartolome, we can see the other islands such as Santiago, Rabida and Isabela. The Rock Pinnacle is home to penguins.

Highlands

After breakfast, we depart for the Highlands of Santa Cruz. We will trek and see giant tortoises living in their habitat. This is an amazing natural spectacle. We recommend sport shoes, long trousers, a raincoat, sunblock and a hut for this tour. Return to Puerto Ayora.

Charles Darwin Station

We will then visit Charles Darwin Station and take the bus to the breeding center where we can see tortoises in captivity. This center is also the primary breeding site for the islands. The animals that are in danger of being extinct in different islands, are kept in captivity. Thanks to the dedicated work of many institutions certain species have been saved. Here was the famous Tortoise Solitary George the last survivor in Pinta Island.

Punta Cormorant

Short trekking, wet landing and snorkeling. The point lies west of Floreana Island. It is known for its dark green beaches due to the large quantity of olivine. There are many marine invertebrates to be seen, including sea iguanas and sea lions. Also, you can spot frigates, pelicans, and sea lions.

The second visit is to Devil's Crown. Activities include a panga trip and swimming. Panga tour around a tiny island. This place used to be a satellite island of Floreana. We will see a cluster of stones that resemble a crown due to constant erosion by the sea. This is a good place to snorkel (superficial dive) around the crown and in its interior. The visibility allows you to see a wide variety of sea creatures and fish.

Post Office Bay

Wet landing. This place is good for: a short walk, swimming and snorkeling. It is located to the North of Floreana Island. Post Office Bay got its name because Capitan James Colnett used an empty Ron barrel to serve as a post office. The whaling ships that visited the Galapagos Islands for many years were able to do this. From here, you can exchange letters or send postcards to friends and family.

Suarez Point

The dry landing was carried out here: Walking; recommended clothing: Sports shoes, Hat, Cap, Solar Lotion. The blue-footed boobies are the most amazing color on this island. They have a unique form of "greeting", and the parade is quite spectacular. This bird can be seen on several islands because nests and food are found in different places near the coast. This is where we can see the Albatross, a creature with an aristocratic appearance and a size of over two meters. It weighs between three and four kilograms. The nests of around twelve thousand pairs are located on the Espanola Island. (A few couples also live in Silver Island, near the main land Ecuador). This species is considered to be unique from the island. During our walk, we can observe this fantastic bird. We will also be part of this beautiful landscape.

Between January and March, it is not possible to observe albatross. We will also see colonies of marine iguanas and zayapas. We will walk on a lava-rock path to see the hollow blowers. This island has a red mangrove vegetation.

Gardner Bay

Activities for this trip: swimming, snorkeling and observing seal colony. Sea lions are one of those animals that attracts the attention of visitors to Galapagos. They are playful and curious, yet can be aggressive at times. We will find many sea lions relaxing on the beach in Gardner Bay. We will snorkel in the vicinity where you can observe them. You will also be able swim with sea turtles and a variety of tropical fish. Then we will sail back to the ship to reach the next island. Visit: Gardner & Osborn Islets.

Interpretation Center

Dry landing. The center is located in the Main Port. We will then proceed to our first stop: the Interpretation Center in San Cristobal. This is the most sophisticated and modern architectural space dedicated to the interpretation of Galapagos' natural history. You can learn about the volcano formation, evolution of species and the historical human settlements.

Transfer out.