Upon your arrival to Baltra Airport, you will be transferred to the Darwin yacht. After lunch, we take a bus ride to Santa Cruz Highlands to visit El Chato Reserve, a moisture-rich 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. In the late afternoon we return to Puerto Ayora.
Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/darwin-adventure-5-days
Early in the morning we visit Tintoreras Islet, a small bay of completely calm turquoise waters, where you can appreciate sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, and reef sharks called tintoreras, hence the name of this island. During the afternoon, you will head to the Wetlands, and walk through a trail to Cerro Orchilla, a lookout from where you will see all Puerto Villamil and Sierra Negra / Cerro Azul Volcanos from afar. After this activity, head to the Tortoise Breeding Center, to learn about conservation efforts to improve the status of the population of Isabela giant tortoises.
Early start after landing at Rabida Island, where we walk a short trail to a water lagoon, home to wading flamingos. We also visit a Palo Santo Forest. During the afternoon, you will visit 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.
Early breakfast, and the day begins a visit 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 lunch, you will have a dinghy ride through Black Turtle Cove, which is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz, and home to sharks, rays & turtles. After this activity return to the yacht for dinner.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, the boat will take you to Daphne Island, Major and Minor, and you will sail around them to admire their ecosystem and the species that inhabit it. After this activity you will disembark at Baltra Island to take your flight back to the continent.
Breakfast
