Day 1: Baltra Island – Seymour Island
Once in Baltra, Guides will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbor. Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you to the M/C Seaman Journey and our crew will welcome you on-board. After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.
Is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing.
Day 2: El Barranco – Darwin Bay
The visitor site of El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island. The trail is on volcanic rock that has a length of 1.5 km and the tour can be done in about 2 hours. The cliffs located in the south are composed of very fragile lava. The red-footed booby nests only in the outer islands of the archipelago, Punta Pitt, Gardner (Floreana), Wolf, Darwin and Genovesa. During the “panga rides” along the cliffs fur sea lions can be seen and several species of seabirds.
Darwin Bay has its origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favourite island for birdwatchers: red footed-booby, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, yellow- crowned, and black-crowned lava herons, and yellow warblers can be seen in the area. Bird watching includes sightings of sharp-beaked finches, large cactusand ground finches, Galapagos doves, and swallow-tailed gulls. Reaching the end the trail at the cliff’s edge offers an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.
Day 3: South Plaza & Santa Fe
South Plazas is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas land iguanas are smaller than its relatives found at other islands. Throughout the island are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, they are unique, recognizable at first glance by their black/gray colour, with a land iguana’s crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana.
Located in the southeastern part of the Galapagos, Santa Fe island was formed from an uplift instead than a volcanic origin, this is why is mostly flat. There are some theories which assure this could be the oldest island in the Archipelago. Santa Fe is the home of a number of endemic species like the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats, and one of the two species of lands Iguanas of the islands.After disembarking in the beautiful and clear waters you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well giant Pickly pear cactus, gigantism is a characteristic of oceanic islands. There are great possibilities of snorkelling with playful sea lions and tropical fishes.
Day 4: Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center – San Cristobal Airport
In 2004 the Breeding and Rearing Centre for young tortoises Jacinto Gordillo, named after a famous settler, was inaugurated in Cerro Colorado, San Cristobal Island, in order to take care of young tortoises. In 2008, an assisted reproduction program started on the island with due to the birth of a little turtle in captivity.
After the morning excursion you will be taken to San Cristobal airport for your flight to the mainland.
