WEST & EAST EXPEDITION (B+C)

Day 1 - Thursday

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:

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 2 - 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 3 - 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 4 - 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 5 - 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.

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

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 6 - 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 7 - 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 8 - 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:

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