Galapagos Western Islands

Departing from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island (2½-hour flight). Arriving in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by naturist guides and taken in a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/Y Coral I or M/Y Coral II.

Here, find four species of mangrove in the extensive tidal lagoon system that stretches for almost a mile inland. During the panga ride through the labyrinth, spot many turtles, herons of several species, sharks, and rays. The experience is otherworldly and seems to transport back to the beginning of time.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: none
Duration: 1-hour dinghy ride

This is a spectacular visitor site, surrounded by immense cliffs of the eroded volcano. Studded with resting sea birds such as brown noddies and Nazca boobies, enjoy them in close proximity to dinghies. Snorkeling here is superb, with certain species of fish only found in the west of the archipelago. You also have a very real chance of swimming with penguins and potentially a plethora of green turtles.
Difficulty Level: moderate/high
Type of terrain: water
Duration: 1-hour snorkeling / 1-hour dinghy ride

The youngest island of the Galapagos and one of the most pristine in the world. Fernandina is simply the ëmarine iguana capital of the worldí. This desolate volcanic backdrop is home to a huge concentration of these enigmatic reptiles. Incongruously, sharing the same shoreline, you can find the diminutive Galapagos penguins. Here, have the exciting opportunity to snorkel with marine iguanas feeding underwater, penguins, turtles, and the bizarre, endemic, flightless cormorants.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: flat/semi rocky
Duration: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

At the far end of a long, level hike arrive at a strange phenomenon where large blocks of coral lie completely exposed after a dramatic geological uplift in 1954. Located at the western base of Alcedo Volcano hopes to run into a few very impressive land iguanas as well as some of the volcanoís endemic Galapagos giant tortoises during the wet season.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: flat & rocky
Duration: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

A well-known hideout and deep water anchorage in the days of pirates, Tagus Cove was also one of the few sites visited by Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle in 1835. A beautiful hike leads past an overview of Darwin Lake and onto a stunning volcanic landscape revealing Isabela islandís dramatic northern volcanoes. Once back at sea level the perfect activity is to snorkel along a submerged wall with turtles, lots of fish, penguins and potentially flightless cormorants. You might even be tempted by a panga ride or kayak!
Difficulty level: intermediate/difficult
Type of terrain: steep/steep
Duration: 2-hour walk / 40-minute dinghy ride / 1-hour deep water snorkeling

The black volcanic sand sets this landing apart from most. It is best known for the dramatic shoreline which meets a host of species that chose to live between land and sea. Particular among these are the endemic Galapagos fur seals which maintain a small colony at the end of the walk. Other species of note include American oystercatchers, sea lions, waders, herons, lava lizards, and even Galapagos hawks. An optional visit takes to an abandoned salt mine famous in its day for supplying salt to mainland Ecuador.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: flat & semi-rocky
Duration: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

Although, when viewed from the sea, the site does not look especially interesting visitors are always totally enthralled by the amazing beds of pahoehoe lava from the recent flow on the island. It is a landscape and macro photographerís dream. The importance of pioneer plants such as the tiny Mollugo will be discussed as you hike over the lava. After your land visit, enjoy a refreshing snorkel in the company of sea lions, turtles, and rays.
Difficulty level: difficult
Type of terrain: flat volcanic lava
Duration: 1½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling/beach time

Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers great swimming, a lovely walk along the shore and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingoes. The two beaches are also favorite nesting sites for green turtles which often leave tractor-like tracks in the sand.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Duration: 1-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling/ beach time

In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, you have the best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more species, especially several species of the famed finches.
Type of Terrain: Flat, sometimes the trails can be muddy.
Difficulty level: Easy
Duration: 45-minutes drive / 1 ½-hour hike

This flat, uplifted, island is an important spot to see both magnificent and great frigatebird males courting the females by clicking, bill-clapping, shuddering, and flapping their wings, all while showing off their grossly inflated, bright red, gular pouch. See courting blue-footed boobies displaying their unique feet while ëdancingí to a prospective mate. Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, crashing surf and distant views of the Daphne Islands top off a great visit.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky ground
Duration: 2-hour walk / 30-minute snorkeling

Once home to the famous Lonesome George, the last tortoise of the Pinta race, the breeding and relocation center is named in honor of his long-time guardian. The center is set in the Galapagos National Park Service where various interpretative buildings are available to visit. The grounds, with large stands of native vegetation, are one of the better places to spot some of the seldom seen Darwinís finches such as the woodpecker, cactus and vegetarian finches.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: flat
Duration: 1 ½-hour visit

Wet Landing, Mosquera Islet is located between North Seymour and Baltra Island. This flat, sandy island has a large colony of sea lions. It is also an excellent site to observe shorebirds such as herons and lava gulls. There is no trail on the islet, the visitor can enjoy the open area. Most of the islet is covered with sand and barren lava rock. Very little sesuvium portulacastrum plants grow on the sand.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Duration: 1 ½-hour walk & snorkeling

Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and land iguanas are all present at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of a red succulents studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, spend time watching birds fly past at eye level in the updraught. These include frigatebirds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters, and of particular note, flights of displaying red-billed tropicbirds. Back at sea level, once again encounter land iguanas, some of which have hybridized with their resident marine cousins.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2-hour walk

After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay, you may enjoy time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks, and spotted eagle rays. Land on a sandy beach and be immediately distracted by the abundant sea lions there. Begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti. Here, search for another island-endemic the Santa Fe land iguana, paler than its cousins on other islands. Galapagos hawks and even endemic rice rats are also things to look out for.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour deep-water snorkeling
 

Wet landing: Isla Lobos is approximately 20 minutes by boat from Puerto 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 great frigatebirds nests at this site. You can also find a colony of sea lions. You can see brown the two species of sea lions present in the Archipelago. During the boat ride, you can see brown pelicans and several species of shorebirds.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of Terrain: water 
Activities: 1:30-hour walk
  
After the visit, passengers are transferred to the airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.