Itinerary A

Lobos Island

Fly to San Cristobal Island. Meet your guide and then transfer to the boat. You can visit Isla Lobos in afternoon to see blue-footed boobies as well as marine iguanas or sea lions.

This tiny island is ideal for wildlife encounters. You can explore it by foot or boat. You can take a panga ride and see the shorebirds nesting and feeding. You will find two types of sea lions and a small colony blue-footed bobies.

You can snorkel right from the beach at Isla Lobos among the sea lions' families and curious pups. You can spot nesting frigatebirds as well as the blue-footed bobies, which are often found on the shore. You should bring your camera so you can capture some great shots at this prime wildlife viewing spot.

North Seymour Island

North Seymour Island is home to amazing wildlife experiences. This island is alive with life. You can follow trails to see the entire action, but you may have to yield to passing sea lions or marine iguanas while walking. Blue-footed booby nests are where mating pairs perform the courtship dance. You can see flocks of pelicans enjoying lunch at a dive bomb feeding frenzy on a rocky shore. Then, head inland to find a large nesting area of majestic frigatebirds. These large, dark acrobats are two metres (6.5 feet) in length and sit in high bushes watching over their chicks. You can also enjoy a snorkeling trip among sea lions or rays to finish off your excursion.

Explore the underwater world at North Seymour's Beach. You will be greeted by large schools and numbers of tropical fish, sea lions, as well as sea turtles and sharks.

Mosquera Islet

Walk along the beach looking for wildlife.

Sullivan Bay

To see the striking and impressive giant lava formations, visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island. Due to the island's harsh environment and new lava flow, very few plants have survived. Take a stroll along the lava formations to reach a white-coral sandy beach where you will find abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs as well as sea lions.

After exploring Sullivan Bay by foot, take a refreshing dip. You will find many species of fish in the shallow water. Grab a snorkel to discover more. You should be on the lookout for turtles, large schools of fish, and rays!

Bartolome Island

For a better view of the islands' volcanic origins, hike to Bartolome's summit. Enjoy a spectacular panoramic view - it's one the most beautiful among the islands!

Pinnacle Rock is one of the most famous volcanic rock formations in the islands. You can snorkel and swim around it. Bartolome, which is home to Galapagos penguins and friendly sea lions and sea turtles as well as a wide variety of fish makes it a great place to discover the natural wonders in the Galapagos.

Charles Darwin Station

Fausto Llerena's Breeding Center is a great place for observing many tortoises in captivity. The famous Galapagos tortoise has been saved from certain death. A corral houses the adult tortoises and a nursery takes care of the young ones until they reach three years old. The Charles Darwin Research Station is also located in this area. This scientific organization was established in 1964 and works to conserve the Galapagos ecosystem through the conservation efforts by scientists, researchers, volunteers, and other individuals. The offices are not open for visitors but the station serves as a study area for international scientists and provides environmental education for the community.

Highlands

Santa Cruz's highlands and El Chato Reserve are the perfect places to view giant tortoises in their natural habitat. You can explore the lagoon and lava tunnels of the reserve, but keep an eye out for the owls that frequent the tunnels' entrances.

Puerto Ayora is a small town with unique shopping options and a fishmarket.

Rabida Island

To explore the trails, you can arrive at Rabida's red sand beach. One trail takes you to a saltwater lagoon. Another trail leads to the interior where the palo santo tree is found. The branches of this tree emit a pleasant aroma when they are burned. They also repel mosquitoes. You can see the prehistoric-looking pelicans nesting in low-lying bushes on the beach. It's an amazing sight to witness the parents returning with their gullets full fish for their squawking young.

Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach

Bachas Beach is a popular spot for nesting sea turtles. The sand here is made from decomposed coral. Sally Lightfoot crabs are abundant along the water's edge, and will eat any object they can reach. You can see many wildlife species, such as flamingos and hermit crabs.

Punta Cormorant

Punta Cormorant is the only landing spot on Floreana Island. Here you will find two amazing beaches. One with green sand coloured by olivine, and one with white sand particles called 'Flour Beach. You can spend the afternoon watching flamingos, and other shorebirds, feeding in the lagoon. Seek out marine iguanas and penguins near the water's edge.

Post Office Bay

Learn about the unique history of Post Office Bay by visiting Post Office Bay. English whaling ships placed a barrel in this area in the late 18th century to serve as a postal office. Tourists use the box mainly to drop off unstamped letters and carry them to distant destinations. Keep the tradition alive: Leave a note and bring it with you to deliver (make sure it reaches the right place).

Champion Islet

Get close to the sea lion colony living on this small island. Be on the lookout for colourful fish, sea turtles, and rays as they pass. This area can have strong currents, so swimmers with the right skills should not attempt this activity.

Punta Suarez

Punta Suarez, Espanola's southernmost island, is the best place to go to see a variety of wildlife species. For stunning photo opportunities, hike to the top of the cliff and enjoy the natural beauty of the island's unspoiled wilderness.

Gardner Bay

Gardner Bay is home to beautiful white sandy beaches and sea lions. You can spot young sea lions as well as large schools of huge tropical fish such as yellow-tailed surgeon fish and king angelfish.

Before you fly back to Quito, visit the Interpretation Centre at San Cristobal Island.

The Interpretation Centre is a great place to learn all you need about the Galapagos, from their natural history to their ecosystems to their flora-and fauna.