Galapagos Reina Silvia
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights
Saturday to Saturday
Day 1
Baltra Island / South Plaza Island
Flight to Galapagos to the island of Baltra, from which you will depart after a short ride to the harbour and start your cruise.
Located on the east of Santa Cruz, the main characteristics on the small island South Plaza are the Opuntia cacti and the carpets of red sesuvium, a succulent plant that turns green in the rainy season. The cactus is the main food of land iguanas, which are usually found resting at the cactu's shade. The island contains one of the largest sea lion colony of Galapagos, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds nesting, and boobies roosting on the south cliff of the island.
Day 2
El Barranco / Prince Phillips Steps (Genovesa Island)
Genovesa Island is formed by the remaining edges of a large crater that is now mostly submerged. Genovesa is known as "the bird island" and it certainly honors its name. Darwin Bay Beach is filled with Frigate birds and their bustling activity.
Along the trail are pairs of Swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gulls in the world and Red-footed boobies, with their contrasting red feet and blue bills. Lava gulls, Pintail ducks, Yellow Crowned and Lava herons, Whimbrels, and other birds feed near the shores of a tidal lagoon just beyond the rocky edge that faces the bay. A dinghy ride along the walls of the crater reveals the variety of animals that find shelter in the ledges and crevices of the lava. Above, the elegant Red-billed tropicbirds fly in and out of their nests.
Day 3
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island) / Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
The Tagus Cove is renown as a place where many whalers and pirates anchored. At the shore of the deep-blue bay several bird species are breeding such as penguins, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies and pelicans. A steep path leads you over a green, extremely salty lagoon.
The Island Fernandina, which is the most western island of the Galapagos, is a very interesting point to visit. The main attractions of this island are its Lava-Cactuses and the on the surface of the lava growing mangroves as well as numerous animals such as sea lion colonies, penguins, the flightless cormorant and the iguanas. The Punta Vincente Roca is an amazing cliff at the west coast of Isabela and a paradise for divers. In the afternoon you will discover the steep cliffs on a boat trip.
Day 4
Bartolome Island/ James Bay (Santiago Island)
Arriving at Bartholome you will ascend a lookout point from where you can admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous needle shaped rock, the so called Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some fine snorkelling spots from which you can discover the marvellous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles.
From the visitor center at James Bay on the island Santiago a small path leads you in southern direction along the coast.
Passing by the ruins of a former salt mine company and the many inhabitants of the bank area, like Galapagos sea lions, lizards, doves, herons, and cancers, you arrive at the famous fur seal grotto, the best place at the Galapagos Islands in order to observe these elegant animals.