EAST EXPEDITION (C)

Day 1 - Monday

MORNING:

✈ Baltra Airport. Departure from either Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island is a 2 ½ hour flight. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, passengers are greeted at the airport by our knowledgeable guides who will accompany them on a short ten-minute bus ride to the pier where they will board the Galapagos Legend.

AFTERNOON:

North Seymour Island. This flat, uplifting, island is an important spot to see both magnificent and great frigatebird males  courting the females and, we will also likely see courting blue-footed boobies too. Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, crashing surf and distant views of the Daphne Islands top off a great visit.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Rocky & Sandy
• Duration: 1 hour 45 min hike, 1 hour glass-bottom or 1 hour deep snorkeling

Day 2 - Tuesday

MORNING:

Bartolome Island. Considered the most iconic landscape of the entire archipelago the view from the top of Bartolome Island, overlooking the famous Pinnacle Rock and the austere Santiago Island, Our subsequent snorkel here might put us face to face with Galapagos penguins, whitetipped reef sharks, and playful sea lions.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Wooden path of 372 stairs
• Duration: 45 min hike, 30 min dinghy ride,  45 min beach snorkeling or 45 min glass-bottom boat

AFTERNOON:

Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island). Visitors are always totally enthralled by the amazing beds of pahoehoe lava from the recent flow on the island. It is a landscape and macro photographer´s dream. The importance of pioneering plants such as the tiny Mollugo will be discussed as we hike over the lava.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Flat volcanic lava
• Duration: 1 ½ hour walk, 1 hour snorkeling or 1 hour beach time 

Day 3 - Wednesday

MORNING:

Punta Pitt (San Cristobal Island). This is the only place on the islands where we will enjoy the chance to see all three of the booby species in the same place. The red-foots will be perched on the Cordia lutea and small trees, the Nazca´s on the ground near the cliff edge while the bluefoots will be a little further inland. Frigatebirds will be all around and the views are breathtaking.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Rocky
• Duration: 2 hour hike,  45 min kayaking or 1 hour beach snorkeling

AFTERNOON:

Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island). From our dinghy ride, as we head to shore, we are first humbled by the immensity of the stunning cliffs of the Sorcerer's Hill. You can enjoy simply sharing the beach with sea lions, snorkelling from shore, or taking a walk to a hidden lagoon where you
might spot black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, and white-cheeked pintails.

• Difficulty level: Low
• Type of terrain: Sandy
• Duration: 45 min dinghy ride, 45 min kayaking or 1 ½ hour beach snorkeling

Day 4 - Thursday

MORNING:

Cerro Colorado (San Cristobal Island). In the moist highlands of San Cristobal, we will visit the giant tortoise breeding center “La Galapaguera” to witness the most iconic creature of the archipelago in its various life stages. The aim of the reserve is to help restore populations of the threatened San Cristobal tortoise back into the wild. In town, there are shops to purchase local handicrafts and souvenirs.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Sandy
• Duration: 1 hour 15 min visit, 1 ½ hour bus ride round-trip

AFTERNOON:

Baltra Island Airport. After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.