NORTH & WEST EXPEDITION (A+B)

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:

Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz Island). On the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, accessible only by sea, four species of mangrove crowd and form an internal lagoon, turtles visit the calm waters, peaking their heads above the surface while fish, rays circle below. White-tipped reef sharks can be seen beneath the boat, plus sea birds, including pelicans, herons and egrets. This cove has been declared as a “turtle sanctuary”.

• Difficulty level: Low
• Type of terrain: None
• Duration: 1 hour dingy ride

Day 2 - Tuesday

MORNING:

El Barranco Prince Philip´s Steps (Genovesa Island). Be marveled at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the lava cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropicbirds fly overhead, and a small colony of fur seals may be found near the landing site. You will be dropped off at a steep stairway that begins on rocks at the foot of a path that leads through a seabird colony full of Nazca and Redfooted Boobies.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Rocky - lava
• Duration: 30 min kayaking, 1 hour 45 min hike, 1 hour deep snorkeling, 30 min glass bottom boat.

AFTERNOON:

Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island). From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island, we set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. In the trail we can see at nesting red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Sandy
• Duration: 45 min kayaking, 1 hour 15 min hike, 45 min glass bottom boat, 1 hour deep or beach snorkeling.

Day 3 - Wednesday

MORNING:

South Plaza Island. Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, and land iguanas are all present at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of a red succulent studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, we spend time watching birds like frigatebirds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters, and of particular note, flights of displaying red-billed tropicbirds.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Rocky
• Duration: 2 hours hike

AFTERNOON:

Santa Fe Island. After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay, we may have enjoyed time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing on a sandy beach, we spend time watching the abundant sea lions there with us and . We begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti and we can watch the Santa Fe land Iguana.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Rocky
• Duration: 30 min kayaking, 1 hour 45 min hike, 1 hour deep snorkeling, 45 min glass-bottom boat.

Day 4 - Thursday

MORNING:

Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island). Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers great swimming, a lovely walk along the shore, and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingoes.

Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island.) We visit the Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes places as part of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment

• Difficulty level: Intermediate
• Type of terrain: Flat / Semi - rocky
• Duration: 1 ½ hour walk

AFTERNOON:

Mosquera Islet. This tiny, low-lying islet, converted into coral sand, is set between the north and south Seymour Islands. It's home to a group of sea lions that come to laze on the soft white sand, it's an excellent spot to observe shorebirds, herons, lava gulls, and boobies. Snorkeling or diving here, one can often see sharks, rays, and barracudas. 

• Difficulty level: Low
• Type of terrain: Sandy
• Duration: 1 ½ hour walk, 1 hour snorkeling or 1 hour beach time

Day 5 - Friday

MORNING:

Egas Port (Santiago Island). The black volcanic sand sets this landing apart from most, it's best known for the dramatic shoreline where we meet a host of species that chose to live between land and sea. Among these are the endemic Galapagos fur seals, which maintain a small colony at the end of our walk.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Flat / Semi-rocky
• Duration: 1 ½ hour walk, 1 hour snorkeling

AFTERNOON:

Rabida Island. Lying at the archipelago's heart, this dramatic island with a distinctive red-sand beach is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves, and vermilion flycatchers. A walk takes us through a forest of palo santo and cacti to a beautiful overview of the bay. 

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Flat / Semi-rocky
• Duration: 1 ½ hour walk, 1 hour snorkeling, 1 hour dinghy ride

Day 6 - Saturday

MORNING:

Urbina Bay (Isabela Island). At the far end of a long level hike, we arrive at a strange phenomenon where large blocks of coral lie completely exposed after a dramatic geological uplift in 1954. Located at the western base of Alcedo Volcano, we hope to run into a few impressive land iguanas and some volcanoes endemic to Galapagos giant tortoises during the wet season.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Flat / Rocky
• Duration: 1 ½ hour walk, 1 hour snorkeling

AFTERNOON: 

Tagus Cove (Isabela Island). Tagus Cove, a historic pirate hideout and anchorage. Visited by Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle in 1835. Hike past Darwin Lake and stunning volcanic landscape, revealing Isabela island's dramatic northern volcanoes. Snorkel along a submerged wall with turtles, fish, penguins, and flightless cormorants. Enjoy a panga ride or kayak for added excitement!

• Difficulty level: Medium, difficult.
• Type of terrain: Steep
• Duration: 2 hour hike, 30 min kayaking, 1 hour snorkeling, 40 minutes dinghy ride.

Day 7 - Sunday

MORNING:

Punta Espinosa (Fernandina Island). Pristine Fernandina, the marine iguana capital. Its desolate volcanic backdrop hosts a massive concentration of these enigmatic reptiles. Surprisingly, Galapagos penguins share the same shoreline. Snorkeling offers an exciting opportunity to witness marine iguanas feeding underwater, alongside penguins, turtles, and unique flightless cormorants.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Flat / Semi - rocky
• Duration: 1 ½ hour hike, 1 hour snorkeling, 30 min Panga Ride.

AFTERNOON:

Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island). Spectacular site, surrounded by immense cliffs of an eroded volcano. Studded with resting seabirds like brown noddies and Nazca boobies. Superb snorkeling with unique fish species. Swim with penguins and green turtles.

• Difficulty level: Medium
• Type of terrain: Flat / Semi - rocky
• Duration: 1 hour snorkeling, 30 min Panga Ride

Day 8 - Monday

MORNING:

Highlands (Santa Cruz Island). In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, we have our best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species of the famed finches.

• Difficulty level: Low
• Type of terrain: flat & muddy (depending on the season)
• Duration: 1 ½ hour walk, 45 min Panga ride, 45 minute snorkeling

AFTERNOON:

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