Fly early to the Galapagos Islands, then transfer to Puerto Ayora to board the Eden. Enjoy the afternoon exploring the lava tunnels and seeing giant tortoises roaming free in the 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 tunnel entrances.
Before visiting the wall made of tears by prisoners of war after the Second World War, stop in Puerto Villamil. Visit the Puerto Villamil area's wetlands and tortoise breeding center in the afternoon.
To visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre, you can walk through the town's wetlands. This program was created to save these magnificent creatures, as the giant tortoise was on the verge of extinction in the 1950s.
Spend time exploring Isabela's natural wonders. You can take a stroll to the Galapagos' largest lagoon, which is also a major breeding ground for flamingos. You can stop at lookout points along the route to see natural pools, beaches, mangrove swamps, and other places along your journey.
Visit the haunting 'Wall of Tears,' a historical site which pays tribute to prisoners of an island penal colony who were forced to construct a wall from huge blocks of volcanic lava. Between 1946 and 1959, many prisoners were killed during construction of the wall.
Morning visit to Punta Moreno, on the southwest coast Isabela, to view lava formations and flamingos as well as amazing views of three of the most active volcanoes of the Galapagos Islands. Visit Elizabeth Bay for amazing marine and bird life viewing opportunities. Take the pangas to explore the shallows, mangroves and look for penguins and sea turtles.
Explore Punta Moreno's fascinating landscape. It is home to blacklava flows and a unique system brackish lagoons which attract a wide variety of wildlife. You can spot Darwin's finches and Galapagos doves as well as penguins. For stunning shots of the island's incredible scenery, bring your camera. Punta Moreno offers a view of three of Isabela’s most imposing volcanoes, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul.
You can explore the area by panga, but keep an eye out for wildlife hidden in the mangroves. In the protected waters, look out for flightless cormorants, marine turtles, and rays. You can also spot blue-footed bobies and penguins in the sheltered waters.
To get stunning views of the bay, stop at Tagus Cove. You can still see graffiti from pirates and whalers that once inhabited the cove. Continue on to Fernandina's Punta Espinoza. This is the youngest Galapagos Islands. You will be amazed at the number of marine iguanas as well as the variety of birdlife.
Tagus Cove is an Isabela Island anchorage location that was very popular with pirates and whalers. For stunning views of Darwin Lake (a spherical, saltwater crater), and the bay as well as Darwin and Wolf volcanoes, you can walk around the area. Follow the trail through dry vegetation after landing. Continue climbing to a promontory with spatter cones (small volcano cones).
This is a must-see landing spot that houses some of the most important colonies of seabirds and marine iguanas. There are many trails to explore. For a rare opportunity to see one of the most remote areas of Galapagos, follow the path that runs along the beach and crosses lava flows.
Take a morning trip to Puerto Egas for a visit to the salt crater, dark sand beaches and tidal pool. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the turquoise waters. The protected bay is home to sea turtles and fish. You can visit Rabida Island later to see a saltwater lagoon or sea lion colony.
The stunning shoreline of Puerto Egas is also known as James Bay. You will find a variety of reptiles and shorebirds on the beach.
To explore Puerto Egas' underwater world, grab a snorkel and dive right from the beach. While snorkelling, keep your eyes open for turtles, rays, and reefsharks. The large tidal area is home to marine iguanas as well as Sally Lightfoot crabs.
To explore the trails, you can arrive at Rabida's red sand beach. One trail takes you to a saltwater lagoon. Another trail takes you 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 the squawking young.
North Seymour is a great place to go on guided walks and observe wildlife, including large sea lion colonies. Fly to Quito from Baltra after disembarking.
North Seymour Island is home to amazing wildlife experiences. 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 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 precariously in low bushes to look after their chicks. The excursion can be completed with a snorkeling trip among sea lions or rays.
