4 day Galapagos central islands liveaboard trip Darwin Yacht

After arriving at BALTRA Airport, travelers go through an inspection point to prevent the introduction of foreign plants and animals to the islands. They also pay the $100 park entrance fee. A guide will then assist in picking up luggage and taking a taxi ride to the port of Puerto Ayora, where the Yacht Darwin will be waiting to set sail with the captain and crew welcoming you aboard.

Twin Craters

Twin Craters, also known as The Pit Craters, were not formed by volcanic action but rather by the sinking or collapse of surface materials into cracks or manholes. A circular path was opened around the largest crater in 1989, which passes through the Scalesia forest, an excellent place to observe land birds such as the woodpecker finch and vermillion flycatcher. The vermillion flycatcher is the most prominent terrestrial bird on most of the islands, and they arrive in large numbers at The Pit Craters during nesting season from January to April. The Galapagos Guava or guayabillo tree also draws attention with its clean and smooth bark and branches covered in epiphytes and brown liverworts. Guided walks and group tours with a naturalist guide are allowed at this site.

Port Egas

Port Egas is a visitor site located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island, known for its black sand beach formed by volcanic tuff deposits from Sugarloaf Volcano to the south. The Crater, situated to the north, contains a saltwater lagoon which turns into a salt mine in the summer dry season.

Espumilla Beach

Located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay, the Espumilla visitor site features a palo santo forest, beach, and landscape as its main attractions. The beach is significant for nesting marine turtles, specifically Chelonia midas agassizi.

Bartolome Island

The Bartolome visitor site is widely known for its stunning landscapes, including its beaches, dunes, and Pinnacle Rock. It is a popular nesting spot for sea turtles and Galapagos penguins. The island has two beaches, North Beach and South Beach, which offer opportunities for swimming and snorkeling. The island is relatively young, and the few plants found there are considered pioneers. The summit of Bartolome Escalera is about 115m high and is accessible by a 795m path. East of the summit are spatter cones, while tuff cones and their eroded remnants are found to the west. The Pinnacle is part of a tuff cone, and a small colony of penguins breeds in the nearby bay.

Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay

Sullivan Bay, located southeast of Santiago Island, is of great geological significance. The area is covered by Pahoehoe lava flows, which formed in 1897 and are relatively young. The lava flows have a corrugated or accordion-like shape due to the rapid cooling and other eruptions. The formations have a thickness of 1.5m and did not cover much of the previous relief, creating islands of vegetation surrounded by newer lava tides. The trail is about 1.5km long and can be accessed from either the rocky shore (dry landing) or the white sand beach (wet landing).

North Seymour is positioned on the north side of Baltra (or South Seymour) and the trail length is 2 miles. The islands of Seymour North, Plaza Sur, Plaza Norte, Baltra, northeastern Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, and part of Española were created by underwater volcanic eruptions. These eruptions happened periodically over a million years to reach their current height. The vegetation on North Seymour is mainly shrubs and it is home to the largest nesting colony of Great Frigatebirds in the Galapagos. It is worth noting that the Galapagos is the westernmost habitat for this species. Additionally, Common Frigatebirds can also be seen. The permitted activities on North Seymour include interpretive group tours with a naturalist guide, guided walks, and snorkeling and panga rides. Our guide will be checked out at Baltra airport. We hope to return to our Darwin yacht for another visit in the future.