Golondrina 8 Days - Itinerary D

Upon your arrival to the airport in Baltra Island, you will be transferred to the Golondrina Yacht. After lunch, we visit Mosquera Islet, consisting of a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach, where a great colony of sea lions resides, and where you can also observe several species of shore birds. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/golondrina-8-days-d

After breakfast, start the morning with a visit to Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island), this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. You will also have the opportunity to see penguins, blue footed boobies and Nazca boobies. After lunch, head to Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island, a site rich in wildlife, such as sea lions, penguins, flightless cormorants, crabs & herons, living in the native mangrove forest. This site is also home to one of the largest populations of marine iguanas.

Early start at Urbina Bay, located on the west of Isabela Island, at the foot of Alcedo Volcano. Walk through a 1km path to observe a large colony of iguanas, Darwin’s finches and giant tortoises. After the walk, you may snorkel along the shoreline. During the afternoon visit Tagus Cove, this used to be a place where whaling ships and buccaneers landed in the 1800s. Head back to the yacht and have dinner.

First activity of the day will be a wet landing at James Bay, also known as Puerto Egas. An easy walk takes you to observe iguanas and sea lions along the coast line. We may also swim or snorkel here. During the afternoon, head to Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a volcanic cone that forms an islet off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. You may also see Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas.

After breakfast we visit the famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos, and a great place to see land tortoises. After lunch, we take a bus ride to Santa Cruz Highlands, which is a moisturerich area with fertile volcanic soils & lush vegetation. The main highlight here is to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat, & you may also spot bird species such as Darwin Finches, Yellow Warblers, and Bright Red Vermillion Flycatchers.

Early in the morning visit to the Tintoreras Islet, where you may be able to see sea lions, Galapagos Penguins, and also White tipped reef sharks (depends on season). After lunch, we visit the Breeding Center Arnaldo Tupiza, a captive breeding program for tortoises. Next the wetlands (Humedales), where you can see four species of mangroves and species like blue winged teals, ospreys, Wilson’s phalaropes, blue winged teals and others.  End of the day and dinner.

After breakfast, you will disembark at Rabida Island, where lavas rich in iron have turned the sand red. There is a Galapagos sea lion nursery, and nesting area for brown pelicans. You can also practice snorkeling at the beach. During the afternoon, you will head to Dragon Hill, named like this because of the land iguanas species that reside there. We follow a trail that leads to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach, frequented by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. After these activities head back to the yacht for dinner.

After breakfast, you will have a dinghy visit to Black Turtle Bay, to see sea lions and pacific green turtles. After this visit transfer to Baltra Airport and take your flight back to the continent.