Galaxy Diver II Itinerary

Galapagos Naturalist

Day 1: Arrival at Baltra airport, where our naturalist guide will be waiting to transfer you to the vessel. Your first excursion will be to Bachas Beach, where you will see the iron skeletons of two large boats discarded during WWII. From November till May, this place is also one of the most important sea turtle nesting grounds in the entire Galapagos Islands. There are also several small saltwater lagoons where we often see flamingos, herons and other aquatic birds. After the walk, you will have the option to swim or snorkel from the beach. The area is rich in some of the most common fish species of the Galapagos, but you can also find white-tipped reef sharks and rays.

Day 2: This morning’s activity involves a hike along a preserved lava flow. You will also have the option to swim or snorkel from a coral sand beach or from the dinghies. Our next stop is Rabida, famous for its red lava rocks which give it a unique look. The beach is also red and hosts a small colony of sea lions. There is a small saltwater lagoon where we will see ducks and stilts and sometimes flamingos. The trail will take you inland to get beautiful views of the beach and the lagoon. Look for Darwin finches, flycatchers and mockingbirds. In the cliffs along the coast you can find Nazca and blue-footed boobies, brown noddy, and herons, as well as Galapagos sea lions and fur seals.

Day 3: As you disembark at Espinoza Point, you will be surrounded by hundreds of marine iguanas. Sea lions bask on the beaches while their pups play in tide pools. Along the shore you will see flightless cormorants, which are restricted to the western areas of the archipelago. Surrounded by cold plankton-rich waters, Punta Espinosa is home for an array of species, including herons, pelicans, oystercatchers, sea turtles, shorebird and many more. Look up in the mangroves as Galapagos hawks often perch here to look for their prey. The nutrient-rich waters around Punta Espinosa attract great numbers and diversity of fish and sea turtles.  Seaweeds are also abundant, making this place the best for seeing marine iguanas feeding underwater.  

In the afternoon, we will visit Tagus Cove. Here, a trail will take you through dry palo santo forests where you can see Darwin finches and mockingbirds. You will get great views of Darwin’s lake and the large volcanoes of northern Isabela. A boat tour along the shore will give you chances to see penguins, cormorants, marine iguanas and a very unique species, the Galapagos martin. This small endemic bird which is one of the most endangered species on the island.

Day 4: This morning we will start the day at Urbina Bay, where the trail will give the opportunity to see land iguanas and, during certain seasons, giant tortoises. You can also snorkel from the beach to see sea turtles, cormorants and penguins. In the afternoon, we will head over to Elizabeth Bay, a beautiful sheltered bay surrounded by large mangroves and barren lava fields. There is no trail here so you will take a dinghy tour to explore many channels, pools, and coves teeming with life. This is one of the best locations in the islands to see Galapagos penguins.

Day 5: Wake up to the rich wildlife of Tintoreras, named after the Spanish word for reef shark. There are extensive colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions and you will see rays and sea turtles in the shallow channels. In the afternoon, we will explore the wetlands of Villamil, including a large area of lagoons, channels and coves located near the town. The saltwater lagoons are surrounded by mangroves and are rich in bird species, sheltering American flamingo, white-cheeked pintails, gallinules, stilts, herons, and other shorebirds. The main trail starts at the town and ends at the Tortoise Breeding Centre.

Day 6: Check the mail at Post Office Bay - a site once used by whalers to anchor their ships and go up to the highlands to get freshwater and tortoises. A unique system of mail was established more than 200 years ago here and can still be used by tourists today. Aside from a small beautiful beach and a lava tunnel, the area is great for dinghy tours to look for sea lions, green sea turtles, shorebirds, small sharks and, with some luck, Galapagos penguins.

The afternoon excursion takes us to Punta Cormorant - known for its large coastal lagoon with American flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, black-necked stilts and other shorebirds. There is a beautiful white sand beach which is an important nesting ground for green sea turtles where we can also see rays and reef sharks. 

Day 7: This morning we will be exploring the Santa Cruz Highlands. A bus will take you to the highlands stopping along the way at one of the reserves to visit the lush highland forests where you will look for Galapagos Giant tortoises in their natural environment. This is the best place in the Galapagos to see these gentle giants casually grazing and resting in freshwater ponds. This is also home for a great diversity of birds rarely found at the lowlands, including finches, flycatchers and several species of water birds. 

The Charles Darwin Station can be visited in the afternoon. During this visit you will learn about the projects that both institutions carry together to protect the native species and eradicate the invasive ones which are threatening the Galapagos environment. One of the most important and emblematic projects has been reproducing giant tortoises in captivity. The visit is mostly outdoors in a beautiful dry native forest with giant cactus and many other interesting native plants. 

Day 8: Our final excursion will be to see the large colonies of both magnificent and great frigatebirds on Seymour Island. Blue-footed boobies also nest in the ground and perform their famous dance in the open areas, while swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Land iguanas are common inland while their marine cousins bask in the rocks by the sea, close to sea lions, which often like to body surf in the waves. After this, you will transfer back to the airport to take your flight back to continental Ecuador.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.