PASSION Itinerary East - 8 days
ITINERARY EAST - 8 DAYS
SATURDAY
AM: Baltra Airport: Arrival and Transfer to the boat
PM: Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove (SN/PR)
SUNDAY
AM: Genovesa: Darwin Bay (HK/SN)
PM: Genovesa: El Barranco (HK)
MONDAY
AM: Bartolome: Sombrero Chino (HK/SN)
PM: Bartolome: Pinnacle Rock. (HK/SN)
TUESDAY
AM: Rabida Island: (HK/SN)
PM: Santa Cruz: Dragon Hill (HK)
WEDNESDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Highlands (HK)
PM: Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station (HK)
THURSDAY
AM: Espanola: Suarez Point (HK)
PM: Espanola: Gardner Bay (HK/ SN)
FRIDAY
AM: Santa Fe Island: Santa Fe (HK/ SN)
PM: South Plaza Island: (HK)
SATURDAY
AM: Santa Cruz: Twin Craters (HK)
Baltra: Transfer to the Airport
HK: HIKE / SN: SNORKEL / PR: PANGA RIDE / KY: KAYAK /
PB: PADDLE BOARD
DAY 1: SATURDAY
AM: BALTRA ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO THE BOAT
Arrive at Baltra Airport / Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) IslandSanta Cruz Island: The largest of the central islands, Santa Cruz is home to many tourist visitor sights and the largest human settlement, Puerto Ayora.
PM: SANTA CRUZ: BLACK TURTLE COVE
Turtle Cove is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. You will have the opportunity to see sea turtles, rays, sharks, and sea birds.
DAY 2: SUNDAY
AM: GENOVESA: DARWIN BAY
Tower Island (Genovesa): Tower is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island.
The steep cliffs of this area dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, Noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin’s finches.
PM: GENOVESA: EL BARRANCO
There is a good possibility of seeing the unique “Short eared owl” at this site. During the dinghy rides along the cliffs fur seals and several species of seabirds can be spotted.
DAY 3: MONDAY
AM: CHINES HAT
Is a small volcanic island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. The name of the island describes the shape of the island. Fauna includes Sea lions, marine iguanas and the Galapagos penguin.
PM: BARTOLOME ISLAND
A hike will take you to the highest point on Bartolome for a spectacular view. Sea lions and penguins can be seen around Pinnacle Rock. There is a sandy beach with great swimming and snorkeling.
DAY 4: TUESDAY
AM: RÁBIDA ISLAND
Rábida is a small island with a dark red coral sand beach. Highlights include the lagoon with flamingoes, pelican nesting site, sea lion bachelor colony, and a snorkeling site at the end of the beach.
PM: DRAGON HILL
Dragon Hill is located in the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island. Some highlights include small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees, and Opuntia cactus. As well Land Iguanas.
DAY 5: WEDNESDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS
Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz
PM: SANTA CRUZ: CHARLES DARWIN STATION
Visit the Charles Darwin Station is a research facility and National Park Information center. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation center.
DAY 6: THURSDAY
AM: ESPANOLA: PUNTA SUAREZ
Hood Island (Espanola): Hood is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved here
The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and Española lava lizards.
Located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies.
PM: ESPANOLA: ISLOTE GARDNER AND ISLOTE OSBORN
These islets are snorkeling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks, and turtles.
DAY 7: FRIDAY
AM: SANTA FE ISLAND
Santa Fe is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.
PM: SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND
Plazas consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.
DAY 8: SATURDAY
AM: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: TWIN CRATERS / BALTRA FOR RETURN FLIGHT TO QUITO
Surrounded by the endemic Scalecia trees, these two sunken craters are known as the twins. They are naturally beautiful and home to yellow warblers and finches.
