Private Charter - Western Islands

Welcome to the Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, meet your certified naturalist guide and begin your transfer to the Itabaca Channel. Take a short ferry across to Santa Cruz Island while passing through Baltra’s dry terrain. Learn about the island’s role as a U.S. military base during World War II and begin to understand the region’s layered history.
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking

Whether starting from Baltra or Puerto Ayora, continue by bus into the Santa Cruz highlands. Stop at a local reserve and walk through dense forest that only grows at higher elevations. Search for giant tortoises roaming freely in the wild. These massive reptiles—sometimes weighing over 600 pounds—graze in open fields and rest in freshwater pools. Look for bird species uncommon in the lowlands, including tree finches, vegetarian finches, woodpecker finches, Galápagos flycatchers, and white-cheeked pintails. Depending on your route, enter a lava tunnel and examine rock formations created by ancient volcanic flows.
 
Highlights: Lava tunnels, Darwin finches, Galapagos flycatchers, Giant tortoises, Barn owls, White-cheeked pintails
Trail: 1-1.5 km / 0.6 - 0.9 mi
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking

At Moreno Point, walk across hardened lava flows shaped by past eruptions. Though the terrain appears barren, shallow brackish lagoons inland attract wildlife. Watch for flamingos, gallinules, herons, and ducks feeding in the pools. Along the coastline, scan the rocks for Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, and other shorebirds.

Snorkel Experience: Enter the water near the shore to swim alongside sea turtles, reef fish, and diving cormorants. Check the long seaweed beds carefully—seahorses sometimes hide there.

Highlights: Stunning Views, Galapagos mockingbirds, Darwin finches, American flamingoes, Flightless cormorants, Marine iguanas, Ducks, Gallinules
Trail: 1.6 km / 1 mi
Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, panga ride

At Elizabeth Bay, explore by dinghy since no trail is available. Navigate narrow channels, shallow lagoons, and rocky coves bordered by mangroves and volcanic terrain. This site offers one of the best chances to spot Galápagos penguins, though fewer than 3,000 live across the islands. Look for nesting flightless cormorants and watch blue-footed boobies and pelicans diving for fish. Rays and sea turtles are often visible in the calm, clear water.

Highlights: Mangroves, Rays, Herons, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, Flightless cormorants, Sea turtles
Trail: 1.4 km / 0.8 mi
Level: Easy
Activities: Panga ride, paddle board, kayak

This place is known for the dramatic uplifting that happened here during the 1950’s. A large portion of the coast was pushed up, exposing many hectares of previously submerged land. Look carefully along the trail and you will find small shells and corals, a proof that the area was underwater more than sixty years ago. The trail will give the opportunity to see land iguanas and, during certain seasons, giant tortoises. Galapagos hawks nest in the area and are often seen flying or perched on the trees.
 
Snorkel Experience: You can snorkel from the beach to see sea turtles, cormorants and penguins. Fish are also abundant in the area.

Highlights: Stunning Views, Galapagos mockingbirds, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, Galapagos flycatchers, Galapagos land iguanas
Trail: Short trail: 1.2 km / 0.7 mi. | Long Trail: 3.0 km / 1.8 mi
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking and Snorkeling

Tagus Cove is steeped in history, once visited by Charles Darwin during his Galapagos exploration. A scenic trail winds through dry Palo Santo forests, where Darwin’s finches and mockingbirds can be spotted. At the top, breathtaking views of Lake Darwin and Isabela’s towering volcanoes await. A boat tour along the shore provides a chance to observe Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, and the elusive Galapagos martin, one of the rarest and most endangered birds in the archipelago.

Snorkel Experience: The nutrient-rich waters of Tagus Cove attract sea turtles, tropical fish, and penguins feasting on anchovies. Flightless cormorants can often be seen chasing fish underwater, creating a truly unique snorkeling experience.

Highlights: Stunning Views, Herons, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, Flightless cormorants, Marine iguanas, Sea turtles, Sea stars
Trail: 2.6 km / 1.6 mi
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, panga ride, paddle board, kayak

Located at the base of an imposing volcano (the most active in the Galapagos islands) this site is one of the jewels of the Galapagos National Park. As soon as you disembark you will be surrounded by hundreds of marine iguanas, as this is the largest colony for the species. Sea lions bask in the beaches while their pups play in tide pools. Along the shore you will see   flightless cormorants, which are restricted to the western areas of the archipelago. Surrounded by cold plankton-rich waters, Punta Espinosa is home for an array of species, including herons, pelicans, oystercatchers, sea turtles, shorebird and many more. Look up in the mangroves as Galapagos hawks often perch to look for their prey.

Snorkel Experience: The nutrient-rich waters around Punta Espinosa attracts great numbers and diversity of fish and sea turtles. Seaweeds are also abundant, making this place the best for seeing marine iguanas feeding underwater. Following a cormorant underwater as it chases fish through the reef is one on the most amazing snorkel experiences you may have on your trip.

Highlights: Stunning Views, Herons, Galapagos penguins, Oystercatchers, Galapagos hawks, Marine iguanas, Sea turtles, Shorebirds
Trail: 1.6 km / 1 mi
Level: Moderate
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling, Panga ride

In the afternoon, visit Albemarle Point, where military history meets Galapagos wildlife. During WWII, the U.S. built a radar base here to monitor potential Japanese threats, and remnants of this structure remain visible today. Despite its stark, lava-covered landscape, the coastline is rich in wildlife. Some of the largest marine iguanas in the archipelago reside here, alongside Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and various shorebirds, making this a fascinating blend of history and nature.

Snorkel Experience: Swim among flightless cormorants, penguins, and schools of tropical fish in crystal-clear waters, experiencing the vibrant marine life of this historic Galapagos site.
 
Highlights: Galapagos penguins, Land and marine iguanas, Flightless cormorants, Sea turtles, Sally light-foot crabs
Trail: 1 km / 0.6 mi
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking, panga ride, paddle board, kayak

Puerto Egas is a fascinating destination where history and wildlife intertwine. While there is no actual port, remnants of 1960s colonization attempts still stand. The coastal trail is teeming with marine iguanas basking in the sun and sea lions resting on the rocks. Herons, oystercatchers, and shorebirds complete this thriving ecosystem. Towards the end of the trail, the grottos are home to a small colony of the elusive Galapagos fur seal. Additionally, land iguanas were reintroduced to the island in 2019 after over a century of absence.

Snorkel Experience:  A snorkeling session from the beach will lead you to an area of rocky bottoms, excellent for observing fish, turtles, and reef sharks. Sea lions often frequent this area and are typically open to interacting with divers.
 
Highlights: Stunning Views, Herons, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos fur seals, Oystercatchers, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, Marine and land iguanas, Galapagos doves, Shorebirds
Trail: 2.3 km / 1.4 mi
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Espumilla Beach, on Santiago’s northern coast, is a stunning one-kilometer stretch of rusty-brown sand. Surrounded by mangroves and dry forest, it hosts Galapagos hawks, finches, and mockingbirds, while flamingos and ducks may appear in the salt pan during the rainy season. Then, at Buccaneer Cove, discover a historic pirate hideout from the 17th and 18th centuries. Towering cliffs and striking rock formations create a breathtaking landscape. Although there's no trail, a dinghy ride offers a unique chance to observe wildlife and delve into the archipelago's history.

Snorkel Experience: Snorkel into a sheltered bay and explore a vibrant underwater world. Swim among schools of angelfish, parrotfish, and snappers while spotting reef sharks, sea turtles, and playful sea lions in their natural habitat.
 
Highlights: Herons, Boobies, Galapagos hawks
Trail: 2.3 km / 1.4 mi (plus an extra loop 1 km - 0,6 mi)
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, panga ride, paddle board, kayak 

Explore one of the two remarkable sites in Galápagos: Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz, where land iguanas roam and flamingos gather at a saltwater lagoon, and Daphne Major, home to nesting seabirds and groundbreaking finch evolution research. Both offer unique, unforgettable wildlife experiences.
 
Highlights: Herons, Darwin finches, Galapagos flycatchers, American flamingoes, Galapagos land iguanas
Trail: 2.2 km / 1.4 mi
Level: Easy
Activities: Hiking, snorkeling

Your Galapagos adventure comes to an end. Today, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport, where your National Park naturalist guide will assist you with final details before your flight back to mainland Ecuador. As you bid farewell to this paradise, take with you the unforgettable memories of one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.