Itinerary A
Length 4 days
Departs on Tuesday
from Baltra Island Airport
Ends on Friday
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 Species -
Day 1 PM
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 Species -
Day 2 AM
Isabela Island, Tintorera
64%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 AM
Isabela Island, Villamil Tortoise Centre account_balance
50%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 2 PM
Isabela Island, Wetlands
61%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 3 AM
Rábida Island
67%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 3 PM
Santa Cruz Island, Cerro Dragon
54%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 AM
Santa Cruz Island, Black Turtle Cove
63%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
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: 60%
public Iconic speciesWildlife Sightings
- check Flamingo
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Land Iguana
- check Mockingbirds
- check Nazca booby
- check Rays
- check Scalesia forest
- check Sea lions
- check Sharks
- check Vermillion flycatcher