West
Length 8 days
Departs on Saturday
from Baltra 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
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 AM
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 1 PM
Santa Cruz Island, Darwin Station - Tortoise Centre account_balance
53%
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 2 AM
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 2 PM
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 3 AM
Floreana Island, Black beach account_balance
36%
Floreana Island, Black beach
Black Beach is a point of substantial and infamous historical significance. An unofficial visitor site only visited under special arrangement. Visit the Wittmer pension and small settlement of Puerto Velasco lbarra. It's famous resident, Margaret Wittmer, arrived in Floreana in 1932 (dying there in 2000). Today, the pension is managed by her daughter. Here you can have your post cards stamped with one of four seals, sample the homemade wine. Floreana was the first island in the Archipelago to be inhabited, since it has one of the very few fresh water sources.
Site Rating 36%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 3 PM
Navigation / Whale watching
10%
Navigation / Whale watching
During a long crossing, take advantage of the seascapes and take some time to look for all kinds of marine life - dolphins, whales, leaping rays, and a variety of seabirds.
Site Rating 10%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 4 AM
Isabela Island, Punta Moreno
60%
Isabela Island, Punta Moreno
Step onto the edge of a vast lava field, stretching out to Cero Azul volcano in the distance. The lava is dotted by numerous green lagoons, where flamingoes, paint-bill crakes, white-cheeked pintails and common gallinules can be seen. This young lava flow is in the process of being colonized by several species of interesting pioneer plants. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Flamingo
Site Rating 60%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 4 PM
Isabela Island, Urbina Bay
58%
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 5 AM
Isabela Island, Tagus Cove account_balance
70%
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 5 PM
Fernandina Island, Punta Espinoza
90%
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 6 AM
Santiago Island, Puerto Egas
71%
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 6 PM
Santiago Island, Buccaneer Cove
62%
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 6 PM
Santiago Island, Espumilla Beach
49%
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 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
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 8 AM
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 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: 57%
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 Scalesia forest
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
- check Vermillion flycatcher