Departure from Quito/Guayaquil to Baltra (approximately 2 hours flight). Arrive at the terminal and meet our staff. Then, take a bus for ten minutes to the pier. Board the Galapagos Legend and settle in your cabin. Enjoy lunch while you travel to the first destination.
This is the archipelago's most famous landscape, with views of Pinnacle Rock and Santiago Island beyond. It's well worth the climb up the wooden boardwalk. This volcanic landscape has been often compared to a lunar one. We might be able to snorkel for 60 minutes here and meet Galapagos penguins as well as curious sea lions or white-tipped sharks.
The tour includes Dry landing in the presence Sea lions, swallowtail gulls, and land iguanas. A red succulent carpet is laid on the small island, topped with Opuntia Cacti. We spend our time at the edge of the cliff watching birds pass by, including frigate birds and flocks red-billed tropicalbirds. We see land iguanas again at sea level. Some of them have even mated with their marine counterparts.
Dry landing on the flat, elevated island with rocky-terrain is a good spot to view both great frigate bird males and females. They click, bill-clap, shudder, flapping their wings, and then show off their brightly colored, grossly inflated gular pouches. It is possible to see blue-footed boobies dancing to potential mates while courting. A great time is had by all, with sea lions, swallow-tailed and gulls, crashing waves, and distant views to the Daphne Islands.
Today's landing is on the beach. Sea lions are expected to greet us. We will be climbing up to the top of the steeply eroded tuff cone. This is the only spot in the islands that we can see all three species of boobies in one place. The Cordia and small trees will have the red-footed, while the Nazca Boobies are a bit further inland. The views are spectacular and there will be Frigate-birds all around.
Wet landing at Cerro Brujo from our panga. As we make our way to shore, we are first struck by the sheer size of the cliffs. The sandy trail leads to the hidden lagoon, where you may spot whimbrels, ruddy turnstones and black-necked stilts.
Our last cruise day takes us to the San Cristobal highlands towards the "La Galapaguera", giant tortoise breeding centre. Here we can see the iconic archipelago creature in all its stages of life in a semi-natural environment that offers great photographic opportunities. The reserve's purpose is to restore the San Cristobal tortoise population back into the wild. There are many shops in town that sell souvenirs and handicrafts from the local area.
Passengers will be taken to the airport to catch their return flight to Guayaquil, or Quito, after the visit.