Arrival at Baltra Airport. Then you will take a bus ride to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island at the National Park boundary, to visit the Twin Craters and a local ranch to observe the giant tortoise of Santa Cruz Island in its natural habitat. After these activities you will be transferred to the catamaran to settle in and rest.
Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/archipel-ii-b5-a4
First activity of this day, will be heading to Cormorant Point, where you will have the opportunity to visit a white sand island that is like flour and an olivine sand island, which looks amazing and is a nice place to rest or swim from the shore. After lunch, you will head to Post Office Bay, which is a barrel that was placed here by whalers during the 18th century to post their mail for it to be send to other destinies, adn it remains here so tourists can post their letter too, as a tradition. After this activity head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.
Early in the morning head to Gardner Bay at Española Island, that is an important breeding site for pacific green turtles. But the main attraction is the Galapagos sea lion colony. After lunch, head to Suarez Point, that is a basaltic cliff which forms a blowhole where water sprays high into the air. The trail also passes nesting sites of blue footed boobies & waved albatross.
The first activity of the day will be the visit to Pitt Point, which was the first sight of land that Charles Darwin spotted when we first arrived at the Archipelago in 1835. You will see a group of Galapagos sea lions, a male colony. From here you will take a trail that leads up to a tropical dry forest vegetation, and after a bit of walking you may spot various species of boobies, such as blue footed, red footed and Nazca boobies. After lunch, head to Witch Hill. Its main attraction is a coral sand beach, which is an excellent place to swim and snorkel. This place was one of the first that Darwin visited, and you may also see coastal and migratory birds. Return to the yacht and dinner.
Early in the morning, the yacht will land at San Cristobal Island, where you will visit the Interpretation Center, and you will learn about the natural history and colonization of the Islands. After lunch you will make a visit to Lobos Islets in San Cristobal Island, where a colony of Galapagos sea lions lives, in particular nurturing mothers with their babies. You may also spot male blue footed boobies and great frigate birds.
Early in the morning you will visit South Plaza, located to the east of Santa Cruz Island, that forms a pair of islands known as “Islas Plazas”, where you will see outstanding species such as land and marine iguanas and hybrid iguanas too. After lunch you will visit Santa Fe Island, where you will see some endemic species such as the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, and land iguanas. You will also see one of the many sea lion colonies. You will have the possibility to snorkel here. After this activity return to the catamaran and dinner.
Early in the morning you will visit Chinese Hat, a 52 /170ft high volcanic cone, that forms an islet of the rocky coast of Santiago and where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. You will also witness how this barren islet has been colonized by pioneer species. Galapagos sea lions, and marine iguanas are also present in this place. After lunch, you will go to Dragon Hill at Santa Cruz, this place consists of a trail that leads to a hyper-saline lagoon, and is frequently visited by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. Return to the catamaran and dinner
Cerro Dragon
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Begin with an early visit to Charles Darwin Station to learn about the protection and conservation of the island, you will see the Breeding and Rearing Centre for young tortoises and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity. After this activity transfer out to Seymour Ecological Airport for taking your flight back to the continent.
Breakfast
