Day 1: Wed: Baltra - Santa Cruz
Arrive at Baltra airport and Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable): Charles Darwin Station
Charles Darwin Station
Visit the Charles Darwin Station is a research facility and National Park Information center. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation center.
Day 2: Thu: South Plazas - Santa Fe
South Plaza Island and Santa Fe (Barrington)
Plazas
Plazas consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.
Santa Fe Island (Barrington)
Santa Fe is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.
Day 3: Fri: San Cristobal
San Cristobal Island (Chatham): Cerro Brujo, Galapaguera and El Junco
San Cristobal is the easternmost island of Galapagos and also one of the oldest.
Cerro Brujo
Cerro Brujo is a white sand beach on the west side of San Cristobal. Highlights include: Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas, and sea lions, Chatham mockingbird, lava lizards
Galapaguera & El Junco
The lagoon is the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristobal. Rainwater has collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon.
Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment.
Day 4: Sat: Español
Española Island (Hood): Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez
Española is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved here
Gardner Bay
Located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies.
Punta Suarez
The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Nascar boobies, and Española lava lizards.
Day 5: Sun: Floreana
Floreana Island (Charles): Punta Cormorant, Devils Crown and Post Office Bay
Floreana is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.
Punta Cormorant
Punta Cormorant has two contrasting beaches and a large inland lagoon where pink flamingoes can be seen.
Devils Crown
This is a snorkeling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged volcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown.
Post office bay
This is one of the few sites visited for its human history. Visit the wooden mail barrel where letters are dropped off and picked up and remains of the Norwegian fishing village.
Day 6: Mon: Santa Cruz - Dragon Hill
Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable): Dragon Hill and Santiago: Sullivan Bay
Dragon Hill
Dragon Hill is located in the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island. Some highlights include small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees, and Opuntia cactus.
Santiago Island (James)
Santiago Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals.
Sullivan Bay
This site is of great geological interest. Highlights: 100 hundred year old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations, lava bubbles
Day 8: Wed: Turtle Cove - Baltra
Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove) and Baltra airport
Turtle Cove is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat.
Baltra
Return flight to Quito or Guayaquil
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