Itinerary B
Length 8 days
Departs on Wednesday
from Baltra Island Airport
Ends on Wednesday
at Baltra Island Airport
Visitor Sites
Click on each site for more information
-
Day 1 AM
Baltra Island Airport account_balance
28%
Baltra Island Airport
The first airport here was built by Americans during the 2nd World War - remnants of that military base can be easily observed. The latest airport here touts itself as the world’s first “green” airport. It opened in December 2012. The terminal consists of recycled steel tubes taken from oil drilling operations in the Amazon. It spreads over 6,000 square meters and required an investment of just over $24 million. The new complex uses clean, renewable technologies such as solar energy, wind farms, and seawater desalination, among other environmental innovations. It is kept cool(ish) simply by design - no air conditioning is required.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Land Iguana
Site Rating 28%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 1 PM
Santa Cruz Island, Los Gemelos - Highlands
62%
Santa Cruz Island, Los Gemelos - Highlands
Los Gemelos (The Twins) are a pair of large pit craters on the road from Puerto Ayora to Baltra. They were created when the surface material covering empty magma chambers collapsed. You can walk along the rim of the craters and enjoy breathtaking views. The trail around the larger crater passes through a Scalesia forest and is good place to see a variety of bird species. Landing: None. Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Scalesia forest
- check Vermillion flycatcher
Site Rating 62%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 2 AM
Floreana Island, Post Office Bay account_balance
37%
Floreana Island, Post Office Bay
In the eighteenth century, a group of whalers set up a wooden barrel to collect mail at this site, now known as Post Office Bay. A trail behind the barrel leads through palo santo and palo verde trees to a cave, which is actually a lava tube running down to the sea. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy.
Site Rating 37%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 2 PM
Floreana Island, Punta Cormorant - Devil`s Crown
60%
Floreana Island, Punta Cormorant - Devil`s Crown
Between two tuff cones, the Punta Cormorant landing is on a beach with green, olivine sand. Trails allow you to explore a brackish lagoon where greater flamingoes wade through the water, sifting shrimp with their curved bills. Stingrays can be seen in the shallows. You may also see pintail ducks, stilts, large-billed flycatchers, and several species of finches. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Flamingo
- check Rays
Site Rating 60%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 3 AM
Española Island, Punta Suarez
90%
Española Island, Punta Suarez
A wet landing onto a beach with Sea Lions and colourful Marine Iguanas leads on to a 2km trail through Masked and Blue-Footed Booby colonies (be careful not to step on them!) to some magnificent cliffs with a blow-hole. Beyond here is the Galapagos' only Waved Albatross colony (Apr-Dec) - watch their somewhat clumsy attempts to take-off and land. Other animals including the Large cactus finch and Galapagos Hawk may also be seen.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Galapagos hawk
- check Giant opuntia cactus forest
- check Mockingbirds
- check Nazca booby
- check Red-billed tropicbirds
- check Sea lions
- check Waved albatross
Site Rating 90%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 3 PM
Española Island, Gardner Bay
79%
Española Island, Gardner Bay
A wonderful white sand beach with a myriad of sea lions, perfect for relaxing. Famous for the Española mockingbirds, which like to pick at your laces. Great beach relaxation and swimming.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Mockingbirds
- check Sea lions
Site Rating 79%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 4 AM
San Cristóbal Island, Leon Dormido
69%
San Cristóbal Island, Leon Dormido
Rising several hundred feet above the water, this majestic volcanic monolith is one of the most photographed sites in the islands. Keep an eye on the cliffs for blue-footed and Nazca boobies and frigatebirds. While there are no landing sites, Kicker Rock provides excellent snorkeling opportunities. You may see Galápagos and hammerhead sharks, spotted eagle rays, turtles and tropical fish. Landing: None. Difficulty: Easy.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Rays
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
- check Sharks
Site Rating 69%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 4 PM
San Cristóbal Island, Interpretation Centre account_balance
35%
San Cristóbal Island, Interpretation Centre
The center, which is just outside of the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, was opened in 1998 and features exhibits showcasing the natural and human history of the Galápagos and the ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the islands. Landing: None. Difficulty: Easy
Site Rating 35%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 5 AM
Santa Fe Island
78%
Santa Fe Island
A visit begins with a wet landing on a small beach. The beaches here are popular with sea lions, which can often be seen surfing the waves. There are two visitor trails here; one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other wending through a forest of massive Santa Fe opuntia cactus. Snorkeling in the radiant blue-green waters is excellent, and you may see a Galápagos green turtle gracefully swim by. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Sea lions
- check Giant opuntia cactus forest
Site Rating 78%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 5 PM
South Plaza Island
78%
South Plaza Island
Various sea birds can be spotted from the top of the sea cliffs. Land iguanas sit patiently, waiting for cactus flowers to drop. Marine iguanas and sea lions are also abundant. South Plaza is also home to the beautiful succulent Sesuvium plant, which changes from bright green in the rainy season to red, orange, and purple during the dry season. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Hybrid land/marine iguana
- check Red-billed tropicbirds
- check Sea lions
- check Land Iguana
Site Rating 78%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 6 AM
Genovesa Island, Prince Phillip's Steps
84%
Genovesa Island, Prince Phillip's Steps
This site is notable for its variety and abundance of birdlife including red-footed and Nazca boobies, short-eared owls, red-billed tropicbirds, Galápagos swallows and Galápagos doves. Upon landing on a steep rocky stairway, visitors are treated to the site of small fur seal colony and a variety of marine life clinging to the rocks. There are great views of lava plains near the end of the trail. Landing: Dry (with slippery rocks). Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Red-footed booby
- check Fur seals
- check Nazca booby
Site Rating 84%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 6 PM
Genovesa Island, Darwin Bay
76%
Genovesa Island, Darwin Bay
After landing on a white-sand, coral beach, you follow a short trail (800m) that meanders through mangroves to the tidal pools where sea lions are often found frolicking, and up a rocky hill that leads to a point overlooking the cliffs and Darwin Bay. This is one of the few places in the islands where you are pretty much guaranteed to see red-footed boobies, along with other tidal lagoon birds. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Nazca booby
- check Red-footed booby
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
Site Rating 76%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 7 AM
Santiago Island, Sullivan Bay
58%
Santiago Island, Sullivan Bay
While it doesn’t boast much wildlife, Sullivan Bay provides visitors with an opportunity to walk across a recent lava flow and examine its otherworldly beauty. Don’t worry; the lava isn’t hot, as it was formed in the late 19th century. The trail here crosses pahoehoe lava, dotted with pyroclastic cones. Inland, striking red and yellow tuft cones rise above the flow. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Easy.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Galapagos penguin
Site Rating 58%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 7 PM
Rábida Island
67%
Rábida Island
On its red sands, spot marine iguanas and a noisy colony of sea lions. Brown pelicans make homes by the beach in saltbushes. Behind the beach is a lagoon where wading birds and white-cheeked pintail ducks feed, while blue-footed and nazca boobies linger in the cliffs. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Sea lions
- check Nazca booby
Site Rating 67%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 8 AM
Santa Cruz Island, Black Turtle Cove
63%
Santa Cruz Island, Black Turtle Cove
The cove is located on the north coast of the island and is only accessible by boat. A quiet boat ride through the mangroves may reveal lava herons, sea turtles, spotted rays, and a variety of shark species, including black and white tipped reef sharks and Galapagos sharks. Landing: None. Difficulty: Easy.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Sharks
- check Rays
Site Rating 63%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 8 AM Baltra Island Airport account_balance
28%
Baltra Island Airport
The first airport here was built by Americans during the 2nd World War - remnants of that military base can be easily observed. The latest airport here touts itself as the world’s first “green” airport. It opened in December 2012. The terminal consists of recycled steel tubes taken from oil drilling operations in the Amazon. It spreads over 6,000 square meters and required an investment of just over $24 million. The new complex uses clean, renewable technologies such as solar energy, wind farms, and seawater desalination, among other environmental innovations. It is kept cool(ish) simply by design - no air conditioning is required.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Land Iguana
Site Rating 28%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality
account_balance Is of cultural or historical significance
Itinerary Rating
Combined score of all sites visited
Rating: 67%
public Iconic speciesWildlife Sightings
- check Flamingo
- check Fur seals
- check Galapagos hawk
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Giant opuntia cactus forest
- check Hybrid land/marine iguana
- check Land Iguana
- check Mockingbirds
- check Nazca booby
- check Rays
- check Red-billed tropicbirds
- check Red-footed booby
- check Scalesia forest
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
- check Sharks
- check Vermillion flycatcher
- check Waved albatross