Itinerary D
Visitor Sites
Click on each site for more information
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Day 1 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 -
Day 1 PM Mosquera Island56%
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 2 AM Isabela, Punta Vicente Roca86%
Isabela, Punta Vicente Roca
Here, the remnants of an ancient volcano form two turquoise coves with a bay that is well protected from ocean swells. This is a popular anchorage from which to take panga rides along the cliffs or to explore a partially sunken cave at the water’s edge. Blue-footed and Nazca boobies perch along the sheer walls, while flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline. One of the top rated snorkeling spots in Galapagos. Landing: None: Difficulty: Easy.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Rays
- check Red-billed tropicbirds
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
Site Rating 86%
public Iconic Species -
Day 2 PM Fernandina Island, Punta Espinoza90%
Fernandina Island, Punta Espinoza
Only a few hundred thousand years old, and free of invasive species, this is likely the most pristine island you'll see in your lifetime. Its central volcano dominates the landscape, spreading lava fields all the way to the shore. The island's highlight features the flightless cormorant nesting site, "marine iguana city", penguins and if you're lucky, the Galapagos hawk. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Flightless cormorant
- check Galapagos hawk
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Sea lions
Site Rating 90%
public Iconic Species -
Day 3 AM Isabela Island, Urbina Bay58%
Isabela Island, Urbina Bay
A trail leads away from a pleasant beach and into the arid zone of the island. Surprisingly, this flat, scrubby area contains old corals on land - the result of a major uplift in 1954. You might encounter land and marine iguanas and giant tortoises. Closer to the water you may see flightless cormorants. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Flightless cormorant
- check Giant tortoise in the wild
- check Land Iguana
Site Rating 58%
public Iconic Species -
Day 3 PM Isabela Island, Tagus Cove account_balance70%
Isabela Island, Tagus Cove
A deep water cove frequented by whales and pirates as attested by old graffiti on shoreline cliffs. A short steep hike leads to the salt water Darwin Lake, lying within a tuff cone. With nice vistas, you can spot a variety of finch species, hawks, yellow warblers, Galapagos flycatchers. A panga ride along the cliffs may reveal flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, and Galápagos sea lions. Landing: Dry, with slippery rocks. Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Flightless cormorant
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
Site Rating 70%
public Iconic Species -
Day 4 AM Santiago Island, Puerto Egas71%
Santiago Island, Puerto Egas
This is the jumping off point for two trails. The first leads to fur seal grottos – a stretch of rocky coastline that offers them shade and protection. The second trail leads to the Salt Mine Volcano, a small crater that features a seasonally flooded lagoon, where flamingos and Galapagos hawks can sometimes be spotted. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Fur seals
- check Galapagos hawk
- check Flamingo
Site Rating 71%
public Iconic Species -
Day 4 PM Sombero Chino Island67%
Sombero Chino Island
The landing site is at a small crescent-shaped white-sand beach. A trail runs from the landing site — where you may see penguins, sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs — to the rocky shore of the western part of the island. Here, you’ll enter a primeval world of volcanic rubble, sharp outcroppings, and lava formations. A visit usually includes a snorkel/swim. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Galapagos hawk
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Sea lions
Site Rating 67%
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 PM Santa Cruz Island, Los Gemelos - Highlands62%
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 Species -
Day 6 AM Isabela Island, Tintorera64%
Isabela Island, Tintorera
This is a group of small islets just a few hundred metres off the coast of Villamil that are only accessible by boat. You may spot sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, and other species in the tranquil waters of the bay. A famous shark viewing lagoon is usually on the agenda at low tide. You may be offered to go snorkeling. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Rays
- check Sea lions
- check Sharks
Site Rating 64%
public Iconic Species -
Day 6 PM Isabela Island, Villamil Tortoise Centre account_balance50%
Isabela Island, Villamil Tortoise Centre
There is a 1.6km (1 mile) interpretive trail that leads from town, goes past the lagoons, and ends at the Tortoise Center. This well laid-out breeding centre, with plenty of shade, houses tortoises from the populations of southern Isabela. Landing: N/A. Difficulty: Easy
Site Rating 50%
public Iconic Species -
Day 6 PM Isabela Island, Wetlands61%
Isabela Island, Wetlands
Located just outside of Villamil, the Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps, sometimes using elevated boardwalks. Landing: N/A. Difficulty: Easy
Site Rating 61%
public Iconic Species -
Day 7 AM Rábida Island67%
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 Species -
Day 7 PM 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 8 AM 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 8 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: 65%
public Iconic speciesWildlife Sightings
- check Flamingo
- check Flightless cormorant
- check Fur seals
- check Galapagos hawk
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Giant tortoise in the wild
- check Land Iguana
- check Mockingbirds
- check Nazca booby
- check Rays
- check Red-billed tropicbirds
- check Scalesia forest
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
- check Sharks
- check Vermillion flycatcher