Itinerary A2
Visitor Sites
Click on each site for more information
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Day 1 AM San Cristóbal Island Airport10%
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 Dormido69%
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 Island78%
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 Santa Cruz Island, Punta Carrión56%
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 3 AM North Seymour Island83%
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 Santa Cruz Island, Black Turtle Cove63%
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 Species -
Day 4 AM Santa Cruz Island, Cerro Dragon54%
Santa Cruz Island, Cerro Dragon
Wildlife Sightings
- check Mockingbirds
- check Rays
- check Sharks
- check Land Iguana
- check Flamingo
Site Rating 54%
public Iconic Species -
Day 4 PM Santa Cruz Island, El Eden Islet44%
Santa Cruz Island, El Eden Islet
A highly eroded volcanic tuff cone just off the coast of Santa Cruz island - typically visited via panga ride. It is common to spot blue footed boobies diving for prey, and sea turtles, rays and sharks in the waters below, near red-mangrove shores. Landing: Panga ride. Difficulty: Easy
Wildlife Sightings
- check Rays
- check Sharks
- check Sea turtles
Site Rating 44%
public Iconic Species -
Day 5 AM Santa Cruz Island, Darwin Station - Tortoise Centre account_balance53%
Santa Cruz Island, Darwin Station - Tortoise Centre
The Station is about a ten-minute walk from the center of Puerto Ayora. It has its own staff scientists but also hosts visiting scientists from around the world. The archipelago's first tortoise breeding centre is next door, along with land iguana pens. An open air rest area serves cold drinks and snacks. Visit the station's new "mini-museum" and buy a t-shirt to support the station's work. Landing: No Landing. Difficulty: Easy.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Mockingbirds
Site Rating 53%
public Iconic Species -
Day 5 AM Baltra Island Airport account_balance28%
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: 63%
public Iconic speciesWildlife Sightings
- check Flamingo
- check Giant opuntia cactus forest
- check Land Iguana
- check Mockingbirds
- check Nazca booby
- check Rays
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
- check Sharks