Itinerary D

AM: Baltra 

Departure for the Galapagos Islands. Arrival at Baltra Airport, where you will find our National Park Naturalist Guide.

PM: Santa Cruz: Highlands

You can choose to start this tour from Baltra, or Puerto Ayora. A bus will then take you up to the mountains stopping at one of several reserves along the route to see the Galapagos giant tortoises. The Galapagos is the perfect place to view these gentle giants. They can reach over 300 kg/600 pounds! They can be seen grazing in the freshwater ponds and taking a rest. The area is home to a wide variety of bird species, which are not common in the lowlands. These include finches, flycatchers, and waterbirds. Visit a lava tube (depending on your itinerary) to learn about the volcanic eruptions that created these amazing formations.

AM: Moreno Point
Moreno Point has a beautiful landscape with a lot of lava, which at first glance appears to be lifeless. Once you reach the inland area, you will find scattered lagoons with flamingos, swans, herons, and gallinules. We will search for sea birds, blue-footed boobies, flightless Cormorants, penguins and marine iguanas along the coast.

Snorkel: While snorkeling, we will see many different species of fish and sea turtles. You might even find one if you look carefully at the seaweed.

PM: Elizabeth Bay
Elizabeth Bay has a beautiful bay that is protected by mangroves. It also features lava fields and barren terrain. You will need to take a boat tour in order to see the many coves, channels and pools teeming full of life. Galapagos Penguins can be seen here in abundance, though don't count on seeing thousands, since the population is just 3,000. In the same area, flightless cormorants nest and blue-footed boobies and pelicans fish. There are many rays and turtles.

AM: Urbina Bay

The dramatic uplift that occurred in the 1950s is what makes this place famous. The coast has been pushed upwards, which exposed many acres of land that was previously under water. You will see small corals and shells along the trail, which prove that this area used to be underwater over sixty years ago. You can see giant tortoises and land iguanas on the trail during specific seasons. Galapagos Hawks are nesting in this area. They can be seen perching on trees or flying.

Snorkeling: From the beach, you can snorkel to observe sea turtles and cormorants. The area is also awash with fish.

AM: Espinoza Point

This site, located at the foot of an active volcano in the Galapagos Islands is one of Galapagos National Park's jewels. You will immediately be surrounded with hundreds of marine Iguanas as it is the biggest colony. While their pups are playing in tide pools, sea lions sunbathe on the beach. You will find flightless cormorants along the coast, but they are only found in the western parts of the archipelago. Punta Espinosa, surrounded by plankton rich waters and herons as well as pelicans oystercatchers sea turtles shorebirds is the home of many species. Galapagos Hawks are often seen perched in mangroves to hunt for prey.

Snorkeling: The waters surrounding Punta Espinosa are rich in nutrients, which attract a large number of sea turtles and fish. This is the place to see marine iguanas as they feed underwater. One of the best snorkeling experiences is to follow a cormorant as it hunts for fish in the coral reef.

PM: Albemarle Point

The place has a lot of wildlife and is also a historical landmark. The Americans constructed a radar station during WWII to monitor the approach of Japanese ships. The radar is still visible. This area, which is surrounded by lava, has a barren landscape. However, along the coastline, you can find the Galapagos Penguins, shorebirds and some of the biggest marine iguanas on the island.

Snorkeling: There are a few sheltered coves where you can snorkel and see cormorants (cormorant birds), penguins, or many different species of fish.

AM Egas Port

Puerto Egas is not a port, despite its name. However, you may see some remains from the 1960's colonization attempts. There are many species of wildlife along this trail, including Galapagos Sea Lions, Galapagos Iguanas, Herons, Oystercatchers, and shorebirds. The endemic Galapagos Fur Seal lives in a small area at the end of this trail, called the "grottos". It is much harder to spot up close than its cousin. Land iguanas were reintroduced into the area as recently as 2019. Look around to see these reptiles that had been extinct in Santiago for more than a century.

Snorkeling: From the beach, you can explore an area with rocky bottoms that is ideal for turtles, reef sharks, and fish. Sea lions will often be present, and they are willing to engage with divers.

PM:

Espumilla Beach

Espumilla, a 1km beach of rusty brown sand on the north coast of Santiago, is located at the end. The beach is located in a dry native forest with large mangroves, and is surrounded not only by Galapagos Hawks, but also a variety of doves, finches and mockingbirds. Check the saltpan during rainy seasons, there may be ducks or flamingos.

Buccaneer Cove

The site was named after the fact that pirates, buccaneers and other pirates used it to get tortoises and freshwater during the 18th and 19th centuries. This place has beautiful cliffs with interesting rock formations. The trail is not there, so you can take the dinghy and look out at the wildlife.

Snorkeling: In a bay that is sheltered, you can snorkel with a variety of underwater life, including schools and large numbers of fish, such as angelfish, parrotfishes, snappers or grunts ...), but also sea lions, reek Sharks, and turtles.

AM: Dragon Hill

Dragon Hill is located on the north coast of Santa Cruz. This area has the largest population of land iguanas in all of Santa Cruz. This population of land Iguanas has recovered rapidly thanks to an extremely successful breeding program. It was on the verge of extinction in the 1970's and 1980's. A small lagoon of saltwater is where you can see shorebirds like flamingos, stilts or sandpipers.

Snorkeling: You will be able to see schools of parrotfish and surgeonfish as well as rays, reef sharks, and tropical fish.

PM: Black Turtle Cove

The name Black Turtle Cove comes from its abundance of Green Sea Turtles. Locally, they are called: " Tortugas Negras". You will explore shallow coves and channels surrounded by mangrove forest on a dinghies. There is no landing. This beautiful area is home to reef sharks, turtles, and many species of rays. It's also an important area for turtles mating and for sharks. Here, you can also see a lot of boobies, herons and pelicans as they hunt in the schools of anchovies.

AM: Rabida

Rabida, a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea is famous for its rich reddish-orange lava rock (rich with iron), which lends it an unique appearance. A small sea lion colony lives on the beach, which is red. A small lagoon with saltwater is where you can see stilts, ducks, and flamingos. You will be taken inland for beautiful views of both the lagoon and beach. Watch for Darwin finches and flycatchers. You can see Nazca and blue-footed boobies, the brown noddy heron, and two sea lion species: Galapagos & fur seals.

Snorkeling: From the beach, you can explore an area of sheltered rocks, where there are many fishes, sea lions, and reef sharks. You can see a wide variety of invertebrates on the vertical wall.

PM: Chinese Hat

The small island is made up of a perfectly symmetrical volcanic cone. The narrow channel that separates it from Santiago creates one of the best bays on the island. The area has a tropical feel with its turquoise water, coral-sand beach and dark lava rock. It is even more amazing to find penguins in these rocks. You can follow the trail along the coast, which takes you past a colony of small sea lions.

Snorkeling: You will be mesmerized when you see the colors and sleek shapes of the reef sharks. It is also not unusual to spot a penguin chasing small anchovies through the water.

AM: Seymour

You can observe magnificent frigatebirds as well as great frigatebirds displaying red balloons in order to attract females. The blue-footed and swallow-tailed geese perch along the edge of the cliffs, nesting in the earth. They perform their dances in open spaces. Inland, land iguanas can be seen, while marine iguanas rest on the rocks near the ocean, where they are often found with sea lions who like to surf the waves.

Snorkeling: The snorkeling is excellent here, with a great variety of fish and sea life, including turtles, sharks, and rays.