Islands Circumnavigation

Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz.

Visit the Charles Darwin Station a research facility and National Park Information Center. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation center.
Activities: Walking

South Plaza Island or Plazas consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, a rocky cliff that looks out towards the open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.
Activities: Walking

Santa Fe Island is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

San Cristóbal Island (Chatham) is the easternmost island of the Galapagos and also one of the oldest.

Witch Hill (Cerro Brujo) is a volcanic cone that looks over a beautiful white sandy beach that has plenty of sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, waders, and marine iguanas.
​Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

El Junco Lagoon is the only freshwater reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristóbal. Rainwater has been collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon.
​Activities: Walking

Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment.
​Activities: Walking

Hood Island (Española) is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location, a unique range of endemic species evolved here

Gardner Bay is located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. 
​Activities: Snorkeling

Islote Gardner and Islote Osborn islets are snorkeling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks, and turtles.
​Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Snorkeling

The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff, visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and Española lava lizards.
​Activities: Walking

Floreana Island is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.
Punta Cormorant has two contrasting beaches and a large inland lagoon where pink flamingos can be seen.
​Activities: Walking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Devil’s Crow is a snorkeling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged volcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown.
​Activities: Panga ride, Snorkeling

Post Office Bay is one of the few sites visited in its human history. Visit the wooden mail barrel where letters are dropped off and picked up and remains of the Norwegian fishing village.
​Activities: Snorkeling

Dragon Hill or Cerro Dragon has hyper-salinic small lagoon behind the beach, often frequented by flamingos
​Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

James Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas, and fur seals.
Sullivan Bay site is of great geological interest. Highlights: 100-hundred-year-old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations, and lava bubbles.
​Activities: Walking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Tower Island (Genovesa) is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island.
Darwin Bay's steep cliffs of this area dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, Noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels, and Darwin’s finches.
​Activities: Walking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

In El Barranco, there is a good possibility of seeing the unique “Short-eared owl” at this site. During the dinghy rides along the cliffs fur seals and several species of seabirds can be spotted.
​Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove) is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat.
​​Activities: Panga ride

Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the Highlands of Santa Cruz. Visit the Charles Darwin Station a research facility and National Park Information Center. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation center.
Activities: Walking
 

Sombrero Chino or Chinese Hat is a small volcanic island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. The name of the island describes the shape of the island. Fauna includes Sea lions, marine iguanas, and the Galapagos penguin.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Rábida Island is a small island with a dark red coral sand beach. Highlights include the lagoon with flamingoes, a pelican nesting site, a sea lion bachelor colony, and a snorkeling site at the end of the beach.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Isabela Island (Albemarle) is the largest of the Galapagos Islands formed by five active volcanoes fused together. Wolf Volcano is the highest point in the entire Galapagos at 1707m.

Volcan Sierra Negra has a caldera with a diameter of 10km. View recent lava flows, moist highland vegetation, and parasitic cones.
Activities: Walking

Puerto Villamil is a charming small town on a white sand beach. Highlights include the Tortoise Breeding Station and the flamingo lagoon. Other visits (depending on conditions) are the Tintoreras or Los Humedales.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Punta Moreno is located on the central southwestern coast of Isabela Island. The site has spectacular views of volcanoes Alcedo, Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul. Some highlights include impressive lava flows, desolate and pristine landscapes, and varied and unusual arid zone vegetation.
Activities: Panga ride, Kayaking

Elizabeth Bay is only accessible by dinghy. It is possible to see penguins on the small islets in the bay. The end of the bay is long and narrow surrounded by three species of mangroves. Galapagos Sea Turtles and rays can usually be seen in the water.
Activities: Walking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Urbina Bay is located on the central-west coast of Isabela Island at the foothills of the Alcedo and Darwin volcanoes. Highlights include the colorful land iguanas, Galapagos Giant tortoises and the coral uplifting from 1954.
Activities: Walking

Tagus Cove is a natural harbor where centuries ago whalers and pirates left their ship’s names painted or carved on the rocks. A walk uphill to Darwin’s Crater salt-water lake will provide an excellent view.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Fernandina is the youngest volcanic island and is still active.
Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake, among others.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

Punta Vicente Roca is visited by dinghy rides along the cliffs or the partially sunken cave at the water’s edge. Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline.
Activities: Panga ride, Snorkeling

James (Santiago) Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas, and fur seals.
Playa Espumilla or Espumilla Beach has a beautiful contrast between the golden beach and the green mangroves. It is also a great site to see flamingos, pintail ducks, green sea turtle nests, and the Galapagos Hawk. It is also a good site to go for a cool-off swim or a snorkel.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Buccaneers Cove was Charles Darwin’s home for 9 days. As well as a resting site for many whalers and pirates. With this rich history, Buccaneers Cove is a must-see. Enjoy a panga ride or snorkel looking for Galapagos Fur Seals, Brown Noddies, Pelicans, and Swallow-tailed Gulls

Bartolome Island is famous for its pinnacle rock and penguins.
A hike will take you to the highest point on Bartolome for a spectacular view. Sea lions and penguins can be seen around Pinnacle Rock. There is a sandy beach with great swimming and snorkeling.
Activities: Walking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

North Seymour Island is a flat piece of land that originated after an uplifting event thousands of years ago. The island is home to endemic Palo Santo trees, colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and magnificent frigate birds.
Activities: Walking, Panga ride

Return flight from Baltra to Quito.