Tuesday: San Cristobal (Airport) / Lobos Island
Upon arrival to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, SAN CRISTOBAL Island, the guide will be waiting at the airport to escort you to the yacht.
LOBOS ISLAND: located north of San Cristobal. Here it is possible to find see lions on the lava shores. (snorkeling)
Highlights: Sea lions, Blue footed Boobies, Great Frigatebirs.
Wednesday: Santa Fe Island / Caleta Tortuga Negra or Bachas
SANTA FE: Santa Fe's opuntias are the tallest of their type in the archipelago; the Island is covered with arid-zone vegetation and the trail takes to a place where endemic land iguanas can be seen. The island offers one of the best places to enjoy the time with the sea lions, most of sea lions pups born in garua season. Highlights: Juvenile Galapagos sea lions, land iguanas, one of the best places for Galapagos hawks, forest of giant Opuntia Cactus, sea turtles (occasionally)
CALETA TORTUGA NEGRA (Black Turtle Cove): It stands out as one of Santa Cruz best costal sites, this is one of the best sites to see schools of spotted eagle and golden rays, red white and black mangroves, herons and pelicans are also there. The place is accessible only by panga. Landing is not allowed.
BACHAS: It is a white sand beach where we have the major egg – laying site for sea turtles. Marine iguanas can be seen on the shore and in the lagoon some flamingos (occasionally)
Thursday: Genovesa Island: El Barranco / Darwin Bay
DARWIN BAY: Genovesa is geologically young; it is formed by the remaining edges of a large sunken crater that forms Darwin Bay. Lava gulls will probably be the first birds you will see and you will be surprised by seabird activity around the cliffs (Red Footed Boobies). Highlights: Swallow – tailed gulls, galapagos mockingbirds, Red Footed Boobies, sea lions, Lava gulls, frigate birds, Darwin Finches (large ground finch and large cactus finch), herons, marine iguanas.
EL BARRANCO (Prince Phillip´s Step): Usually we referred to as Prince Philip´s Steps or El Barranco, here you will climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. You will come across Red – Footed Boobies nesting on the Palo Santo trees, Genovesa supports some 140.000 pairs of red footed boobies. The trail passes through of Palo Santo and Muyuyo trees, you also will see many Galapagos storm – petrels nesting in holes and flying all over. Short – eared owls can be seen if you are lucky, they actively hunt during the day for storm petrels and young red footed boobies. Highlights: Great frigatebirds, Red footed Boobies, Swallow tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, Galapagos storm – petrels, short – eared owls.
Friday: Sullivan Bay / Bartolome Island
SULLIVAN BAY: Sullivan Bay on the east coast marks the edge of a vast lava flow which was formed about 100 years ago. It is interested for its evidence of volcanism; the lava you will see is of the pahoehoe type. Other important attractive are the Mollugo, a small pioneer plant that grows in the lava fissures. Highlights: Pahoehoe lava field, reddish spatter cones hornitos.
BARTOLOME: famous for its PINNACLE ROCK that is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the archipelago.
You can climb to the highest point of the island, the main reason to climb the cone is get up close with the volcanic phenomena packed into this small island, lava tunnels and lava flows, the view is spectacular. Galapagos penguins live at the shores of the island; you can also swim around the Pinnacle Rock and see them. Highlights: Galapagos penguins, sea lions, brown pelicans, sharks, Galapagos lava lizards, sea turtles.
Saturday: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Station / Gemelos - Highlands
CHARLES DARWIN STATION: It makes a great introduction to see how the programs of conservation are; here you will find the giant tortoises that give the name to the archipelago and also the famous Lonesome George, the last survivor of the Pinta Island. You will also see the Galapagos land iguanas. Highlights: Giant tortoises, Lonesome George, Darwin Station exhibits, Opuntia Cactus, souvenirs shopping.
SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS: The green landscape of this area gives you a good contrast with the blue of the sea and the small islands that you can see in the horizon. This area is dominated by Scalesia Trees, and Giant tortoises could be encountered almost anywhere on the trail inside or outside of the second biggest Giant Tortoise Reserve.
LOS GEMELOS: The road that connect with Puerto Ayora to Baltra passes between Los Gemelos (Twins) two large craters formed by the collapse of empty magma chamber. Highlights: Scalesia Trees, Giant tortoises, Galapagos and vermilion flycatchers.
Sunday: Floreana Island: Punta Cormorant / Devils Crown/Post Office / Mirador de la Baronesa
PUNTA CORMORANT: At Punta Cormorant the landing is on a beach with green olivine sand. A short trail leads to the lagoon where the flamingos wade through the water.A longer trail then goes over the hill to a white beach of ground coral, the beach is a nesting area for Green Sea Turtles. Highlights: Flamingoes (occasionally), water birds, Darwin finches, marine turtles
POST OFFICE: A large wooden barrel was place at Post Office Bay in the 18th century by a group of British sailors to leave messages; the barrel has been replaced many times. From that time tourist have used it as a post office, Visitors can check into the barrel, if they find one letter or post card that they can hand deliver they can take it.
This is a non traditional post office service.
DEVIL´S CROWN: This site is a volcano crater which has been eroded by the waves.
The shallow water provides one of the best places for snorkeling in the islands, the inside of the crown is a perfect environment for coral reef and marine life.
Monday: Española Island: Gardner Bay / Punta Suarez
PUNTA SUAREZ: is on a promontory of lava boulders that protect the sandy bay from rolling wavers.
The trail passes a small beach with sea lions, further along the low cliffs inland Nazca and blue footed Boobies nest almost right on the trail.The trail continues toward the cliffs and the blowhole, a fissure in the lava where water spurts high in the air like a geyser. Further up the cliff is the place where the Waved Albatross nests (Breed from March to January). Highlights: Blue footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Waved Albatrosses, tropicbirds, Galapagos Doves, Swallow – tailed gulls, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, Española mockingbird, lava lizards, and marine iguanas.
GARDNER BAY: features one of the longest beaches in the Galapagos, 2 km of white coral sand; this is a good opportunity to enjoy some beach time. The activities that this place offers to you are: walking, lie down and relax watching sea lions, swimming and a fantastic opportunity for snorkeling. ighlights: Sea lions, tropical fish, mockingbirds, Galapagos hawks (occasionally).
Tuesday: Interpretation Center / San Cristobal (Airport)
This morning, we drop anchor in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, SAN CRISTOBAL. We visit the Interpretation Center opened in 1999. Here we gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the Islands. Afterwards, we head straight to the airport for the fight back to the mainland. |
