Southern Islands

Fly into Baltra from one of the first flights in the morning and the meeting is at 11:30 am at the harbor of Puerto Ayora.

Puerto Ayora is a small charming town, the largest in the Galapagos, and the head of tourism. There are several hotels, bars, restaurants, a hospital, banks, and many small shops. The airport Baltra is in the north, linked by a road to cross the island.

The Galapagos National Park's offices and the Charles Darwin Research Station are in Puerto Ayora.

After lunch, visit Highland Santa Cruz: The drive up to the highlands takes approximately a half-hour. In this short time, you can observe the changes between the different vegetation zones, from the Arid zone to the Transition zone and up to the Scalesia zone, which is also agricultural. Here, the problems of introduced animals and plants are noticeable. On the road's highest point, the National Park area starts again. In the highlands,  visit the Rancho Primicias to enjoy the Galapagos tortoises living here in liberty; these are easy to view on this small farm, refreshing in the water pools or snoring in the shadow.

Española belongs to the oldest islands of the Galapagos. Because of its geographic isolation, many endemic species are to find the island, making the visit especially attractive. Additionally, Española is the only place worldwide where the endemic waved albatrosses come for breeding from April to December.

Wet landing on Playa Gardner, a splendid, long, white beach of coral sand. For this visit, you do not need shoes. There is no trail, and the open beach offers the opportunity to observe finches and mockingbirds in the saltbush vegetation, as Galapagos sea lions sleeping in the sun. It is an excellent place for swimming and snorkeling from the beach!
​Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Punta Suarez: Loop trail with a smooth, dry landing on a jetty. The walk on stony, rocky ground is longer and more challenging. Even at the first steps of the trail, the colorful Española marine iguana and Galapagos sea lions welcome you. Everywhere the curious Española mockingbird approaches the visitors. The path leads through the nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and waved albatrosses. Also, the big Española lava lizards are to find everywhere.
​Activities: Hiking

The low cliff of the whole south coast is an ideal nesting place for the endemic Galapagos albatross; here, it is the only place in the world where, from April to December, you can see these big, beautiful birds. Then, another resting spot close to a cliff with an incredible landscape offers the observation of all the different marine birds flying along the coast. An albatross during his ungainly landing or the spectacular take-off from the cliff, to start its elegant flight, are fantastic events to witness. The next stop is at the blowhole: the waves push the seawater through a fissure in the cliff, depending on the strongness and tide level, till 80 feet/24m high in the air!

Santa Fe has a large colony of sea lions living in this beautiful bay. After the wet landing on the beach, the trail leads through the dry vegetation of the Arid zone to a beautiful cliff with notably high prickly pear cactus, then back to a second beach. Only very attentive visitors may detect the endemic land iguanas of Santa Fe because their camouflage is perfect, and their territories are quite significant! Who wants, can end the morning with snorkeling at this new special place?
​Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

South Plaza is a small uplifted island with a cliff of 25 meters altitude on the island's southern side. The whole flat, rocky northern coast has a big colony of Galapagos sea lions and, on the East-point, lives a colony of bachelor sea lions. The loop is easy, with a dry landing on a jetty. Incredibly attractive are the beautiful prickly pear cactus trees and, of course, the big colony of land iguanas. Depending on the season, the sesuvium ground vegetation changes its color from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.
​Activities: Hiking

Black Turtle Cove: Before breakfast, leave the boat to enjoy a beautiful panga ride into the big, protected mangrove cove. In the far away, small corners, the motor is turned off to row noiselessly and observe the marine turtles: many of them are in this cove during their mating and nesting season from December to February! But even out of season, you can always find some turtles staying back in the mangroves. So early in the morning, there is high activity, and we observe golden rays, spotted eagle rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and young Galapagos sharks. After breakfast on board, it is time to say goodbye to the staff and leave the Angelito.
​Activities: Panga Ride

Disembark at the harbor of Baltra. With the bus, drive to the airport for a morning flight back to the continent. The guide takes care until the last minute!