Itinerary A
Length 5 days
Departs on Tuesday
from San Cristóbal Island Airport
Ends on Saturday
at Baltra Island Airport
Visitor Sites
Click on each site for more information
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Day 1 AM
San Cristóbal Island Airport
10%San Cristóbal Island Airport
The only commercial jet airliner airport we know that is located walking distance from town.
Site Rating 10%
public Iconic Species -
Day 1 PM
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 Species -
Day 2 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 Species -
Day 2 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 Species -
Day 3 AM
North Seymour Island
83%North Seymour Island
From the small dock, the trail leads along the coast — past an area where marine iguanas nest — and then loops into the palo santo forest by the nests of frigatebirds and boobies. The frigatebirds rely on the fishing success of the blue-footed boobies for their survival, stealing their catches. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Easy
Wildlife Sightings
- check Nazca booby
- check Land Iguana
Site Rating 83%
public Iconic Species -
Day 3 PM
Mosquera Island
56%Mosquera Island
Located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour, this sand covered reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds and the curious sally lightfoot crabs. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy
Wildlife Sightings
- check Sea lions
Site Rating 56%
public Iconic Species -
Day 4 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 Species -
Day 4 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 Species -
Day 5 AM
Santa Cruz Island, Punta Carrión
56%Santa Cruz Island, Punta Carrión
This is a great spot to snorkel and swim among rays, sharks and hundreds of colorful tropical fish. No land excursion. Landing: N/A Difficulty: Easy
Wildlife Sightings
- check Rays
- check Sharks
Site Rating 56%
public Iconic Species -
Day 5 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 Species
account_balance Is of cultural or historical significance
Itinerary Rating
Combined score of all sites visited
Rating: 72%
public Iconic speciesWildlife Sightings
- check Fur seals
- check Giant opuntia cactus forest
- check Hybrid land/marine iguana
- check Land Iguana
- check Nazca booby
- check Rays
- check Red-billed tropicbirds
- check Red-footed booby
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
- check Sharks