Itinerary A5
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 Island, Sierra Negra55%
Isabela Island, Sierra Negra
Sierra Negra’s caldera is the second largest in the world. A 45-minute drive from Villamil, followed by a 30 minute walk or horseback ride will take you to the rim. On the rim of the volcano, you can follow the the trail for another hour. It divides into two: to the west, it heads to an old sulfur mine; toward the east, the trail leads to Chico Volcano. Great vistas (on a clear day). Landing: None. Difficulty: Difficult.
Site Rating 55%
public Iconic Species -
Day 2 PM 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 2 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 3 AM 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 3 PM 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 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 Santiago Island, Espumilla Beach49%
Santiago Island, Espumilla Beach
This beach is fringed by beautiful palo santo forest and is a sea turtle nesting site. It is a good place to see marine iguanas and colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs and it is an excellent place to snorkel and see octopi, moray eels, and sharks. Take a loop trail inland to a seasonal lagoon where flamingos are sometimes spotted. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy.
Site Rating 49%
public Iconic Species -
Day 4 PM Santiago Island, Buccaneer Cove62%
Santiago Island, Buccaneer Cove
In the 1600s and 1700s, Buccaneer Cove was a haven for pirates, who would anchor in the protected bay to stock up on tortoises and firewood and to repair their ships. This is often a cruise-by point, due to the sometimes wet and unsafe landing conditions. But keep an eye on the cliffs above for sea birds. The cove is home to sea lions and can be a good place to snorkel. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Sea lions
Site Rating 62%
public Iconic Species -
Day 5 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 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 Fur seals
- check Galapagos hawk
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Land Iguana
- check Nazca booby
- check Rays
- check Sea lions
- check Sharks