Galatrails – Mapping your adventure
Baltra is a basaltic plateau, geologically belonging to Santa Cruz, faulted in an east-west direction. In the distant past, the island was once connected to Santa Cruz and North Seymour.
Baltra Airport was constructed by the Americans during World War II. The army base was intended to defend the Panama Canal against Japanese air raids, but the attack never materialised.
Upon arrival to Baltra Island you naturalist guide will wait for you in the arrivals hall and take you to your first visit on Santa Cruz Island. Before this you will be transferred from Seymour airport by an airport bus (10 min ride) and a ferry ride (5min) to the northside of Santa Cruz in to town of Puerto Ayora which takes around 45 minutes to get to the hotel
In the afternoon, we will visit Charles Darwin Station, where we can check out giant tortoises in captivity and learn about the breeding program of this iconic animal then, return to the hotel for the Welcome Dinner.
During these days, you will have the opportunity to visit any two islands from the list below, with one island visit scheduled per day. The choice of islands may vary based on your departure schedule and availability. Each island offers unique highlights, providing you with an incredible chance to explore the inhabited islands of the archipelago. Your daily tour will include lunch onboard, as well as walking and snorkeling activities to enhance your experience.
AM: North Seymour is a small, flat island with a trail approximately two kilometers long. Palo Santo trees, endemic to the island, stand just above the landing site, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom. Opuntia, the local prickly pear cactus, is the main food source for the land iguanas. Swallow-tailed gulls perch on ledges of cliffs only a few meters high along the shoreline. Among the emblematic fauna of the island, you will be able to see sea lions basking on the lava rock. During the walk, you may also encounter land iguanas and colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds.
PM: Las Bachas, a beautiful coralline beach located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, is the perfect place for snorkeling, swimming, or simply enjoying the soft white sand. Several brackish lagoons, only a few steps away from the sea, serve as feeding grounds for various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos.
AM: The Plazas Islands (North and South), with only South Plaza open to visitors, feature unique vegetation represented by annual plants such as sesuvium and opuntia cacti. Sesuvium serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-brown land iguanas sit patiently beneath, waiting for pears to drop. Depending on the dry or wet season, the island is adorned with a red carpet from May to December. Upon disembarking on South Plazas, you'll be greeted by a colony of sea lions inhabiting the island. The trail gradually leads towards the southern cliff of the island, where you can observe nesting swallow-tailed gulls and several seabirds such as tropicbirds, frigates, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, Audubon shearwaters, and pelicans gliding through the sky. PM: You'll have the opportunity to snorkel in the calm waters of Punta Carrión, where you can observe a variety of tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, yellowtail mullets, and white-tip reef sharks peacefully resting on the sandy bottom. Here's a refined version:
AM Santa Fé offers a beautiful bay where, in the middle of a sunny day, the lagoon turns into an eye-catching turquoise blue. The white sandy bottom is only a few meters below the surface. Upon disembarking on a small sandy beach, you'll witness a colony of sea lions basking lazily in the sun. A trail leads inland to the top of a cliff, offering breathtaking views. One of the archipelago's two species of land iguanas, the endemic, dwells only on Santa Fé; it is larger, with a whitish color, sometimes turning chocolate brown during molting. The Galapagos hawk often overlooks the beach. The island is also characterised by its forest of giant prickly pear cactus, or radiate-headed scalesia, an attractive bush with white flowers and exquisite fragrance. PM: After the land visit, you'll be taken to enjoy snorkeling in the clear waters of the anchoring site of Santa Fé. Here, you'll have the opportunity to observe a variety of tropical fish, and there's a possibility of swimming with sea lions, sea turtles, small white-tip sharks, spotted eagle rays, and round stingrays, common to the small bay.
AM: Bartolome is a very impressive little island located in front of Sullivan Bay, featuring a landscape of real volcanic desolation: tuff cones, spatter cones, scoria formations, and black volcanic sand. A 600-meter trail with stairs leads to the summit of the central volcano. From the top, the view is extraordinary and offers one of the most emblematic scenes of the Galapagos Islands. To the east, a field of spatter cones punctuates the island, while to the west, one is amazed by the isthmus of Bartolome, covered by mangroves and bordered by two small coves of golden sand in the shape of half moons. Pinnacle Rock stands like a finger pointed to the sky on the north beach. PM: Depending on the boat's permission, you may also have the opportunity to snorkel in one of both places: either in the north cove under Pinnacle Rock or in Sullivan Bay, which is clear evidence of the volcanic past of the islands. Both places offer a unique experience.
Before heading to Isabela Island, you have two options to visit one site:
Tortuga Bay beach. A 45-minute walk along a cobblestone path (2.5 km each way) will lead you to one of the finest white sandy beaches of the archipelago. A mysterious forest of tall Opuntia Cactus and volcanic rock surrounds the path, offering an overwhelming view. Throughout your walk, you will observe finches, yellow warblers, mockingbirds, and lava lizards. It's an excellent place for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing. Marine iguanas, sharks, sea birds, and sea turtles can occasionally be spotted here. Or The highlands of Santa Cruz, where you'll have a unique opportunity to observe giant tortoises roaming in their natural habitat. Explore a cavernous underground lava tunnel, offering a glimpse into one of the geological wonders of our volcanic islands. We can assist you in organising all the logistics In the afternoon, you will sail to Isabela Island unaccompanied by public speedboat (2 hours). Speedboat rides can be bumpy, so it's advisable to prepare yourself with seasickness medication. Isabela Island is by far the largest island of the archipelago, composed of six main volcanoes, which are relatively young and intermittently active. Five of these volcanoes evolved in calderas, the old stage of a shield volcano. Upon arrival at Puerto Villamil, our representative will meet you at the port and accompany you to your accommodation. Enjoy your free evening on this remote island. Isabela's sunsets are well known for their beauty.
Today you will visit one of Isabela’s most impressive attractions the Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. Sierra Negra is a huge caldera, ten kilometers wide, the oldest on the island. On the rim, the trail divides in two: Towards the west, it heads to Volcan de Azufre, an old sulphur mine that was exploited by the first settlers. Towards the east, the trail leads to volcán Chico on the external slope of Sierra Negra. The weather is often clear and good, once you reach the nothern side of the caldera. Volcan chico has an overwhelming “lunatic” landscape with fascinating lava formations.
This is a 16 km challenging hike on different terrains depending on the climate it can be hot, humid, muddy and/or rocky at times. For this hike its recommendable to have proper hiking boots, sun protection, and 2 liters of water per person. After this excursion you have free time to enjoy some activities (not included) such as: Snorkeling in “Concha y Perla” Bay Surfing Biking Visit Isabela Interpretation center (Giant and babies tortoises from diferent volcanoes) Flamingos lagoon Visit the famous “Wall of tears”. This wall is a proof of the genuine human history of the islands. Around 1944 at foot of a desolated hill, that was erected from big lava blocks by convicts of the penal colony. Two to three hours’ walk from the town, on the way you have beautiful view points and sometimes you can see giant tortoises walking around freely, once at the end of the road you can see the only ruins still remains there.
On our last day in Isabela we explore the well-known islet called Tintoreras, a path alongside a reef that is home to several white tip sharks -you can easily observe them from land. Before setting over to the islet you do a dinghy ride around the bay of Isabela to spot the famous Galapagos penguin, blue footed boobies, sea turtles and sea lions. The famous attraction in Tintoreras is the shark tunnel, this is where tintoreras (white tip sharks) come in and rest for the day before going out for hunting during the night.
Enjoy a snorkeling activity with high chances to swim with sea turtles, colorful fish and manta rays.
In the afternoon we are sailing back to Santa Cruz Island by public speedboat (2 hours, unaccompanied) for a last night out in town or do some last minute shopping before flying out the next day.
This morning you are transferred back to Baltra airport where you catch your plane back to Ecuador mainland (flight is not included). Please advise 15 days prior to the tour your arrival and departure flight details.
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For your information this trip is not a group tour. You will be guided during activities by various naturalist guides from the Galapagos National Park. During the activities you will meet other passengers from other tour companies which makes a great chance to meet other travelers. Transiting in the speedboats from island to island you will be on your own but your well looked after as we take the hassle out of all the logistics. Tour Operations in Galápagos, are subject to space availability and itineraries may change, due to weather conditions, operational and logistical matters, so the number of excursions and visits are limited, so not specific excursion can be guaranteed.