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Dry Landing at Dragon's Hill

Southern Islands II

Example 5 Day Cruise aboard Galapagos Angel
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Embark on a 5-day cruise in the Southern Islands aboard the Galapagos Angel. Begin with a flight to Baltra in the Galapagos. A Galapagos Angel staff member greets you and transports you on a private bus. The first excursion takes you to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz, characterized by Scalesia trees and extensive lava tunnels. Spot blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies on the trail to Suarez Point. Gardner Bay offers a stunning white-sand beach and the opportunity to swim with sea lion pups. Santa Fe Island boasts scenic viewpoints, prickly pear cactus forests, and diverse wildlife, including sea lions and land iguanas. Dragon Hill, is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands, is your final stop. Conclude your journey with a transfer to Baltra Airport for your return flight to the mainland.
Kate points out an iguana at Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz.Young Nazca Booby with hikersGalapagos hawkBlue-footed boobies perched on volcanic rocksSea lion on the beach of Espanola IslandGiant tortoises in the GalapagosThe fierce land iguana on Dragon Hilllagoon on Dragon Hill which gets more than the avg. rainfallDry Landing at Dragon's Hill
Highlights
  • Explore the highlands of Santa Cruz with lush Scalesia trees
  • Spot blue-footed boobies and albatrosses at Suarez Point
  • Stroll along Gardner Bay's white-sand beach with sea lions
  • Visit Black Turtle Cove, a haven for young marine life
Places Visited
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Baltra | Embark | Highlands

Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra, Galapagos Islands. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Galapagos Angel staff member and brought into a private bus to start your adventure in Galapagos.

*The first excursion takes place right after the airport pick-up upon arriving at the islands, so it is advisable to travel with appropriate clothing and footwear for walking.

Accessible by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green which contrasts beautifully with the dry, lower part of the islands. The predominant vegetation in the highlands are Scalesia trees which create a lush green forest. The lava tunnels, over half a mile long, are underground, and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience. Lunch is served at this location.

Possible Activities: Hiking (1.5 miles / 2 ½ km)
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights & Animals: Lava tunnels, Finches, wild tortoises, tortoise nesting site.

Day 2: Gardner Bay, Gardner Islet & Osborn Islet | Suarez Point

This excursion takes you to the spectacular Gardner Bay. After landing, you can walk across a lovely white-sand beach amongst a busy sea lion colony or dive into the water to swim with sea lion pups. You may also see curious mockingbirds on the beach.

Possible Activities: Snorkeling, panga ride, a short hike (0.6 miles / 1km), and Kayaking
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights & Animals: White sandy beach, sea lions, mockingbirds; snorkeling: colorful fish, sea lion nursery.

On the trail to Suarez Point, spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies becomes possible. This island serves as the breeding site for almost all of the world's 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. Additionally, visit a picturesque oceanfront location featuring a cliff that the large albatrosses utilize as a launching pad. Witnessing the renowned blowhole, which spouts seawater into the air, becomes an option. The landscape offers excellent photography opportunities.

Possible Activities: Hike (1.9 miles / 3 km)
Difficulty: Difficult
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights & Animals: Hood mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, waved albatrosses (approximately from the last week of April until the last week of January), red-billed tropicbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, blowholes, amazing landscapes, and maybe blue-footed boobies.

Day 3: Santa Fe Island | South Plaza Island

Santa Fe Island (Barrington) is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails: one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest.

Possible Activities: Hiking (5 miles / 8 km)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights & Animals: Land iguanas, giant Opuntia cacti

This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. During the rainy season, its color is a greenish to yellowish tone, and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.

Possible Activities: Hike (1.5 miles / 2 ½ km)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights & Animals: Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon’s shearwaters, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies, amazing landscape with cliffs

Day 4: Black Turtle Cove | Bachas Beach

Visit Black Turtle Cove in the northern part of Santa Cruz. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a haven for young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here

Possible Activities: Dinghy ride
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: No Landing
Highlights & Animals: Baby hammerhead shark, rays, sea turtles, sea birds

Bachas Beach is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz and is a beach for swimming. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest on the beach.

Possible Activities: Hiking
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights & Animals: World War II remnants. Sally
 

Day 5: Dragon Hill | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
Situated on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.

Possible Activities: Panga ride & short hike
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights & Animals: Land iguana nesting spot, Galapagos flamingos, common stilts, palo santo trees and cacti forest

After this final visit, transfer to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.

Ship/Hotel

Galapagos Angel

Galapagos Angel Dining Area
Galapagos Angel Lounge
Galapagos Angel Social Area

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$4,245 2-3 travelers
Galapagos Angel - Standard Room
Standard
(152 ft2 / 14 m2) - 6 double cabins in the Main Deck. Each cabin is equipped with private bathrooms, hot water, air-conditioning, panoramic windows, a safety box, a hairdryer, bathrobes, and a TV.
Galapagos Angel - Suite Room
Suite
(196 ft2 / 18 m2) - 2 Suites room in Upper Deck. Each cabin is equipped with private bathrooms, hot water, air-conditioning, panoramic windows, a safety box, a hairdryer, bathrobes, and a TV.

Notes

  • Discount for children under 12 years: 10%
  • Single supplement: 80%
  • Christmas & New Year: special conditions apply.
  • Prices are per person in United States Dollars

Child Discount

10% Discount applies when traveling with two adults. Children must be under 12 years old by the time they cruise. Child discounts are conditional and may not apply on certain departures. Please contact us for more information.

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.
Included
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
  • 4 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Bilingual Naturalist Guide 
  • Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
  • Shore Excursions, Swimming and Snorkeling 
  • Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
  • Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins), wetsuits, kayaks, underwater cameras, and walking sticks are all included in the cruise cost and are available for your use onboard.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12. Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Alcoholic Drinks
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675

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