Eastern Islands

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, meet your guide and transfer via a short bus ride to the port of Seymour. Please note: A park entrance fee of $100 is charged at the airport inspection point.

Embark the Darwin Yacht and meet the Captain and crew. In the afternoon, visit Las Bachas, located in the northern part of Santa Cruz Island. Las Bachas consists of two beaches that have a combined length of about 1 km long. The predominant vegetation is of the coastal zone. This site represents one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) on Isla Santa Cruz. It is a good place to see flamingos, as well as migratory and aquatic birds.

In the morning, visit Punta Pitt, located at the east end of San Cristóbal Island. The trail includes an olivine beach of approximately 90 meters and a trail that ascends to the top of a volcanic tuff hill passing through several natural viewpoints. The trip is 1,400 meters long with an estimated time of two hours.

Punta Pitt is composed of volcanic tuff substrate. High winds present there have led to natural erosion. This is the only site in the Galapagos Islands where you can watch the three species of boobies and two species of frigates nesting in the same area, as there is enough food so there is no competition between them. The blue footed boobies nest in the interior (rare in the cliffs), red-footed boobies nest on bushes, and masked boobies nest in the cliffs. Another added attraction is the presence of sea lions.

This afternoon explore Cerro Brujo, located on the north coast of San Cristóbal Island. The trail at this visitor's site can be done in about three hours, including the panga ride. Its main attraction is the powder-like sandy beach, other than multiple species of flora and fauna. It is an eroding tuff cone that at several locations is composed of lava type a – a. It is formed by low-viscosity lava that contains little gas, breaks while it solidifies, and is pushed by lava continuing to flow from behind. Cerro Brujo offers an excellent landscape, where you can see Kicker Rock (geologic formation), the southern part of Upper San Cristobal, and the coast adjacent to Cerro Brujo.

Leon Dormido, also known as Kicker Rock, is a rocky formation or cone eroded volcanic toba of about 114 meters in height. It is a refuge for many sea birds, such as blue-footed boobies, as well as for sea lions. The waters around the rock are home to numerous species of fish, sea turtles, stingrays, and hammerhead sharks.

Next head to Isla Lobos, about an hour by boat from Port Baquerizo Moreno. The length of the trail is 850 meters and the estimated travel time is one hour. There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and common frigate birds nesting on this site. You can observe the two species of sea lions present in the archipelago. During the tour you go through a dry vegetation zone, substrate of volcanic rocks, and a sandy area. On the panga tour brown pelicans and several species of shorebirds can be observed. While snorkeling, it’s common to see juvenile sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles.

Your tour starts at the information booth and continues to the Van Straelen Interpretation Center. Proceed to the breeding center and from there begin an elevated circular path made of wood, where you can see tortoises of Española Island, ending in the tortoise exhibit corral. Tortoises of this corral are accustomed to humans; it is an excellent spot for visitors to be photographed with them. The path continues to the CDRS facilities and then to the town of Puerto Ayora.

Return to Baltra for disembarkation.