8-DAY
ITINERARY A
East to West
Day 1: Monday - Galapagos
(Baltra Airport)
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra
(2.5 hour flight). You will be picked up at the airport
and transfered to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos
Legend.
North Seymour
Dry landing. You wil encounter swallow
tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is a major
nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and has the largest
colony of the magnificent frigate bird. One may also spot
both the marine iguanas and land iguanas.
Day 2: Tuesday - Santa
Cruz (Dragon Hill)
Dry landing. Walk to a saltwater lagoon
behind the beach, where on occasion many pink flamingos
can be observed. This trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which
offers a lovely view of the bay. This is a nesting
site for reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also a
Holy Stick Forest.
Floreana (Cormorant Point)
Wet landing on a greenish colored sand
beach. You will hike from the black mangrove beds to a
large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest
flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features
endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, Galapagos daisies,
white and black mangrove, and holy stick. Novice snorkelers
can practice on the main beach with the playful sea lions.
Day 3: Wednesday - Española
(Suárez Point)
Dry landing. Here you will have the
opportunity to learn more about the lava terrain and cross
the inactive lava fields.
Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important
site for bird watching. Various bird species such as the
mockingbird of Española, Nazca booby and tropic
bird can be spotted and observed from very close.
You will also see a large colony of marine iguanas, lava
lizards, and rally light foot crabs.
After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of Nazca
and blue-footed boobies.
The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Here one
may also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed
gulls and then reach the world’s largest colony of
waved albatross.
A major highlight is their mating season, from May through
December.
You’ll visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots
into the air about 23 m (75 ft).
San Cristóbal (Interpretation
Center or La Galapaguera)
Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Visit San Cristóbal breeding center and learn
about the National Park’s breeding program with the
giant tortoises.
Enjoy the view of animals in their natural environment.
You will also have the opportunity to the visit the town
and go shopping for souvenirs and arts and crafts.
Day 4: Thursday - Santa
Cruz (Carrión Point)
Today, you may choose either a ride in
an outboard motorboat to observe the Galapagos fur seal,
seabirds and marine wildlife or go snorkeling to see a
variety of tropical fish, manta rays or even harmless white-tipped
reef sharks.
Bartolomé
Dry landing. See the volcanic formations
like lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. During the
hike to the summit, you will often see colonies of marine
iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, lava cactus, Scalecia
tree and others. You will be impressed by the view of the
surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of
Pinnacle Rock.
While on the island you will be able to snorkel and see
the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks
from a safe distance.
Day 5: Friday - Urbina
Bay (Isabela)
Wet landing. Visit the fossil beach and
coral area. Depending on the season you may be able to
observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants.
After the walk you will have time for swimming and snorkeling.
Fernandina
(Espinosa Point)
Wet landing. Visit the volcanic ash beach
and coral area. Depending on the season you may be able
to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless
cormorants. Time at leisure for swimming and snorkeling.
Day 6: Saturday
- Santiago (Egas Port)
Wet landing on a beach of dark sand (volcanic
ash). Most of the landscape is comprised of layers of rocks
and lava flows. Here you can see great blue herons, striated
herons, yellow-crowned night herons and American oystercatchers.
See the marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds alongside
red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seals
swimming in pools of cool water. This is a place where
you can swim, snorkel and look for squid, starfish and
a variety of colorful tropical fish.
Rávida (Jervis)
Wet landing. The volcano-formed beach
is dark red and frequented by sea lions. It’s considered
the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most
diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands.
You’ll hike to a salt water lagoon, where flamingos
can sometimes be found. July through September is a good
time to observe brown pelicans nesting in the salty bushes.
Boobies and 9 species of Darwin’s finches can also
be observed. You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs, where
you can swim and snorkel.
Day 7: Sunday - Santa
Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station)
Here one can observe the giant tortoises
that are part of the reproduction program and the world’s
most famous tortoise, Lonesome George, the last surviving
specimen of his species.
You can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and
many land birds. Later on, youwil have some free
time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.
Santa Cruz
(Highlands)
Trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz
and visit Cerro Chato, where you will be able to observe
the famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Additionally,
you can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.
Day 8: Monday - Santa Cruz (Bachas
Beach)
Wet landing. This beach is located on
north side of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will encounter
many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the
opportunity to swim on the white sand beach.
Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer
to the Baltra’s airport. Board your return flight
to Quito or Guayaquil. |
|
8-DAY
ITINERARY B
West to East
Day 1: Thursday
- Galapagos (Baltra Airport)
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra
(aprox. 2 and half hour flight). You
will be picked up at the airport and transfered to the
pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.
Bartolomé
Dry landing. See the volcanic formations
like lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. During the
hike to the summit, you will often see colonies of marine
iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, lava cactus, Scalecia
tree and others. You will be impressed by the view of the
surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of
Pinnacle Rock.
While on the island you will be able to snorkel and see
the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks
from a safe distance.
Day 2: Friday - Urbina
Bay (Isabela)
Wet landing. Visit the fossil beach and
coral area. Depending on the season you may be able to
observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants.
After the walk you will have time for swimming and snorkeling.
Fernandina
(Espinosa Point)
Wet landing. Visit the volcanic ash beach
and coral area. Depending on the season you may be able
to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless
cormorants. Time at leisure for swimming and snorkeling.
Day 3: Saturday
- Santiago (Egas Port)
Wet landing on a beach of dark sand (volcanic
ash). Most of the landscape is comprised of layers of rocks
and lava flows. Here you can see great blue herons, striated
herons, yellow-crowned night herons and American oystercatchers.
See the marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds alongside
red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seals
swimming in pools of cool water. This is a place where
you can swim, snorkel and look for squid, starfish and
a variety of colorful tropical fish.
Rávida (Jervis)
Wet landing. The volcano-formed beach
is dark red and frequented by sea lions. It’s considered
the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most
diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands.
You’ll hike to a salt water lagoon, where flamingos
can sometimes be found. July through September is a good
time to observe brown pelicans nesting in the salty bushes.
Boobies and 9 species of Darwin’s finches can also
be observed. You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs, where
you can swim and snorkel.
Day 4: Sunday - Santa
Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station)
Here one can observe the giant tortoises
that are part of the reproduction program and the world’s
most famous tortoise, Lonesome George, the last surviving
specimen of his species.
You can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and
many land birds. Later on, youwil have some free
time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.
Santa Cruz
(Highlands)
Trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz
and visit Cerro Chato, where you will be able to observe
the famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Additionally,
you can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.
Day 5: Monday - Santa Cruz (Bachas
Beach)
Wet landing. This beach is located on
north side of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will encounter
many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the
opportunity to swim on the white sand beach.
North Seymour
Dry landing. You wil encounter swallow
tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is a major
nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and has the largest
colony of the magnificent frigate bird. One may also spot
both the marine iguanas and land iguanas.
Day 6: Tuesday - Santa
Cruz (Dragon Hill)
Dry landing. Walk to a saltwater lagoon
behind the beach, where on occasion many pink flamingos
can be observed. This trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which
offers a lovely view of the bay. This is a nesting
site for reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also a
Holy Stick Forest.
Floreana (Cormorant Point)
Wet landing on a greenish colored sand
beach. You will hike from the black mangrove beds to a
large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest
flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features
endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, Galapagos daisies,
white and black mangrove, and holy stick. Novice snorkelers
can practice on the main beach with the playful sea lions.
Day 7: Wednesday - Española
(Suárez Point)
Dry landing. Here you will have the
opportunity to learn more about the lava terrain and cross
the inactive lava fields.
Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching.
Various bird species such as the mockingbird of Española, Nazca booby
and tropic bird can be spotted and observed from very close.
You will also see a large colony of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and rally light
foot crabs.
After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of Nazca and blue-footed boobies.
The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Here one may also find Galapagos
doves, hawks and swallow-tailed gulls and then reach the world’s largest
colony of waved albatross.
A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December.
You’ll visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air about
23 m (75 ft).
San Cristóbal (Interpretation Center
or La Galapaguera)
Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Visit San Cristóbal breeding center and learn
about the National Park’s breeding program with the
giant tortoises.
Enjoy the view of animals in their natural environment.
You will also have the opportunity to the visit the town
and go shopping for souvenirs and arts and crafts.
Day 8: Thursday - Santa
Cruz (Carrión Point)
Today, you may choose either a ride in
an outboard motorboat to observe the Galapagos fur seal,
seabirds and marine wildlife or go snorkeling to see a
variety of tropical fish, manta rays or even harmless white-tipped
reef sharks.
Return to the Galapagos Legend, check-out
and transfer to the airport. Board your return flight to
Quito or Guayaquil. |
