Galapagos Vision
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights
Sunday to Sunday
Day 1
Arrival at San Cristobal Island
Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to San Cristobal. Guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbour. You will go aboard of the Galapagos Vision, which will be anchored at Puerto Baquerizo Morenon. First you will visit the Interpretation Centre at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Then a relaxing stroll in the town of Puerto Baquerizo and board the Galapagos Vision.
Day 2
Punta Suarez / Gardner Bay (Española Island)
Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and being so isolated, a high percentage of its fauna is endemic. Punta Suarez, on the western coast of the island, is one of the most popular and attractive places in Galapagos. Sea lions, the picturesque marine iguana, blue footed and masked boobies nesting next to the trail are found there. This is also the only place in the world where the waved albatross nests. Along the cliffs there is spectacular view of a fantastic blowhole.
Gardner Bay has a beautiful white sand beach to be shared with sea lions and curious mocking birds. Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and being so isolated, a high percentage of its fauna is endemic.
Day 3
Punta Cormorant / Devil's crown / Post Office Bay (Floreana Island)
Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Islands of the archipelago. At Punta Cormorant you land on a green olivine sand beach. Following a 100 m long path you will soon reach a lagoon with flamingoes, white-checked pintail ducks and other shorebirds.
The trail goes on to a white beach made of grinned coral, so it looks like flour. This is the green sea turtle's nesting place. North of Punta Cormorant and eroded volcano, Devil's Crown, is a snorkel's delight. To the west, Post Office Bay keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to send their mail.
Day 4
Puerto Ayora, Darwin Station (Santa Cruz Island) / Santa Fe Island
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, with the largest population of the 4 inhabited islands (approx 16.000). Santa Cruz is also the only island where six different zones of vegetation can be seen: Coastal, Arid, Transition, Scalesia, Miconia, and Pampa Zones. The Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based here. You will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of their kind. Scientists, park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing centre, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this island will probably be Lonesome George. He is the only surviver of the specific turtle species.
Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the islands. A turquoise lagoon with two small white sand beaches are protected by a peninsula where sea lions rest. A trail runs along side the coast and then crosses through an Opuntia Forest. The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are larger and of a paler yellow than on the other islands. After the hike you can swim in the bay in company of sea lions.