Northern Itinerary
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
-
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 PM
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 2 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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 2 PM
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 3 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 3 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 4 AM
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 4 PM
Isabela, Punta Vicente Roca
86%
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 Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 5 AM
Bartolomé Island
68%
Bartolomé Island
Bartolomé Island has two visitor sites that are usually combined into one visit. The first is a swim and snorkel off a nice beach, around the iconic Pinnacle Rock; the underwater world there is really impressive. Snorkelers are in the water with the penguins, marine turtles white-tipped reef sharks, rays and other tropical fish. The second site is accessible via a long staircase leading up to a spectacular view point from which you can see the manifestations of recent volcanic activity. Landing: Dry. Difficulty: Moderate
Wildlife Sightings
- check Galapagos penguin
- check Sharks
- check Rays
- check Sea turtles
Site Rating 68%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 5 PM
Santa Cruz Island, Bachas Beach
57%
Santa Cruz Island, Bachas Beach
Wildlife Sightings
- check Flamingo
- check Sea turtles
Site Rating 57%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 5 PM
Daphne Major circumnavigation account_balance
61%
Daphne Major circumnavigation
Daphne Major is a volcanic island just north of Santa Cruz island and just west of the Baltra Airport. Very difficuilt to access, this is where Peter and Rosemary Grant, over several decades of reasearch, observed natural selection in action. See the book "Beak of the Finch" for the fascinating story. The island consists of a tuff, devoid of trees, whose rim rises 120 m (394 ft) above the sea.
Site Rating 61%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 6 AM
Genovesa Island, Prince Phillip's Steps
84%
Genovesa Island, Prince Phillip's Steps
This site is notable for its variety and abundance of birdlife including red-footed and Nazca boobies, short-eared owls, red-billed tropicbirds, Galápagos swallows and Galápagos doves. Upon landing on a steep rocky stairway, visitors are treated to the site of small fur seal colony and a variety of marine life clinging to the rocks. There are great views of lava plains near the end of the trail. Landing: Dry (with slippery rocks). Difficulty: Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Red-footed booby
- check Fur seals
- check Nazca booby
Site Rating 84%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 6 PM
Genovesa Island, Darwin Bay
76%
Genovesa Island, Darwin Bay
After landing on a white-sand, coral beach, you follow a short trail (800m) that meanders through mangroves to the tidal pools where sea lions are often found frolicking, and up a rocky hill that leads to a point overlooking the cliffs and Darwin Bay. This is one of the few places in the islands where you are pretty much guaranteed to see red-footed boobies, along with other tidal lagoon birds. Landing: Wet. Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
Wildlife Sightings
- check Nazca booby
- check Red-footed booby
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
Site Rating 76%
public Iconic Speciespets Biodiversityphoto Striking vistasbeach_access Beach quailtypool Snorkeling quality -
Day 7 AM
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 7 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 8 PM
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: 69%
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 Red-footed booby
- check Sea lions
- check Sea turtles
- check Sharks