Galapagos Legend
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights
Monday to Monday
Day 5
Punta Espinosa (Fernandina) / Tagus Cove (Isabela)
After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, passengers will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs. They will also enjoy the flightless cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will note brachycereus cactus, and two kinds of lava formations “pa-hoe-hoe” lava and ”AA”. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea, depicting a healthy and thriving eco-system.
Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos. At Tagus Cove, passengers enjoy a dry landing. Visitors will learn more about the eruption of five volcanoes that flowed together to form this land mass. The marked trail leads to Darwin’s salt water lagoon and an excellent view of the lava fields, scoured with unique volcanic formations. Time allows us to observe marine life from the dinghy. Frequently, visitors will observe marine life from the dinghy and Galapagos penguins at this site.
Day 6
Puerto Egas Port (Santiago) / Rabida
Visit the dark sand beach at Egas Port during a wet landing. Most of the landscape are tuff-stone layers and lava flows, the surrounding area is prime for spotting and observing hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, oyster catchers, and the yellow crowned night heron. Passengers enjoy the sight of marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide sharing space with red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seal swimming in deep pools of cool water called “grottos”. In this beach you can swim and snorkel in search of octopuses, sea horses, star fish and other sea life.
Rabida Island wet landing at the dark red colored beach of volcanic origin frequented by sea lions. It is often considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the Islands. A short trail leads to a salt water lagoon, where you will occasionally find flamingos.
Day 7
Charles Darwin Research Station / Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Travelers will have the chance to investigate the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can also admire giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Travelers can also admire the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. The visit to the station takes around 40 minutes. After this visit, passengers will have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.
One of the options is to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz. Passengers will visit Cerro Chato. In this visit, you’ll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises that gave the name to these islands. Additionally, travelers can literally get into the Galapagos by walking in the dormant lava tubes.
Day 8
Bachas beach (Santa Cruz) / Baltra departure
Wet landing at Bachas beach which is located at north of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will be encountered by different sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and passengers would have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in this white sand beach.
Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to the Baltra airport. Return flight to Quito through Guayaquil.