Galapagos Circumnavigation

Departing from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island in a 2:30 hour flight.  Upon arrival in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our Natural Guides and taken to a 10-minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz - Here, you can find four species of mangrove in the extensive tidal lagoon system that stretches for almost a mile inland. During your dinghy ride through the labyrinth you will spot many turtles, herons of several species, sharks and rays. The experience is otherworldly and seems to transport you back to the beginning of time.
Highlights: Four species of mangrove, declared a “Turtle Sanctuary.” 
Physical Condition: low  
Activities: 1 hour 30 min dinghy ride

Riding your dinghy to the far side of the caldera, red-billed tropicbirds display vociferously overhead while Galapagos fur seals can be seen on the shoreline. Once at the top of the rocky stairway you are immediately met by Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches that line your way through a palo santo forest until you arrive at an expansive open lava field. Wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm above the lava where you keep your eyes peeled for short-eared owls.
Highlights: Dried lava field, red-footed bobbies, short-eared ow, Nazca boobies’ nesting site.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 2-hour hike / 45-min dinghy ride

From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island you set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. Your short, flat, trail leads you past stands of mangroves and saltbush on which you have your best possible looks at nesting red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds. At the tidal lagoon you may also see the rarest gull in the world, our very own, endemic lava gull.
Highlights: Sandy coral beach, swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 45 min kayaking / 45 min glass-bottom boat or 1-hour deep or beach snorkeling / 1 hour 15 min hike
 

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 succulent studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, you spend time watching birds fly past at eye level in the up draught. These include, frigatebirds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters and of particular note, flights of displaying red-billed tropicbirds. Back at sea level, you once again encounter land iguanas, some of which have hybridized with their resident marine cousins.
Highlights: Large colony of sea lions, endemic cactus forest, land & marine iguanas, Nazca & blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 2 hour 15 min hike

After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay you may have enjoyed time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing onto a sandy beach you are immediately distracted by the abundant sea lions there with you. You begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti. Here you 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.
Highlights: Endemic Santa Fe land iguana, Galapagos hawk, mockingbirds, sea lions
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 30 min glass-bottom boat ride / 45 min kayaking / 1-hour hike / 1-hour deep snorkeling
 

Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers 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.
Highlights: Giant tortoises, Darwin finches, pricky-pear cactus, Interpretation Center, lava tubes, Scalesia forest and Chato Reserve
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: flat
Activities: 2 hour bus ride round trip / 2 hour 30 min hike and visit

Charles Darwin Research Station 
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 Darwin’s finches such as the woodpecker, cactus and vegetarian finches.
Highlights: One of the main nesting sites of sea turtles, flamingoes, snorkeling to see sharks, rays.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 1-hour hike / beach time    

Mosquera Islet
This tiny, low lying islet, covered in coral sand, is set between North and South Seymour Islands. It is home to a group of sea lions that come to laze on the soft white sand. It is a good spot to observe shorebirds as well as herons, lava gulls and boobies. Snorkeling or diving here one can often see sharks, rays and barracudas.
Highlights: White sandy beach, large colony of sea lions.
Disembarking: wet landing    
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 1-hour hike / 1-hour beach snorkeling

The black volcanic sand sets this landing apart from most. It is best known for the dramatic shoreline where you meet 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 your walk. Other species of note include American oystercatchers, sea lions, waders, herons, lava lizards and even Galapagos hawks. An optional visit takes you to an abandoned salt mine famous in its day for supplying salt to mainland Ecuador.
Highlights: Landscape comprised of tuff cone, volcanic ash, and petrified lava flows, Galapagos fur seal.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: flat & semi-rocky
Activities: 2 hour 15 min hike / 1 hour 30 min beach snorkeling

Lying at the heart of the archipelago this dramatic island, with its distinctive red-sand beach, is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves and vermillion flycatchers. A walk takes you through a forest of palo santo and cacti to a beautiful overview of the bay. Snorkeling here can be excellent, often with large schools of black-striped salemas, sea lions and the ubiquitous turtles.
Highlights: Incredible landscape, Brown pelicans, nesting spots of seabirds, red sandy beach.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy & grabble
Activities: 45 min kayaking / 1 hour bottom-glass boat or 1 hour deep or beach snorkeling / 1 hour 15 min hike
 

At the far end of a long, level hike you 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 you hope to run into a few very impressive land iguanas as well as some of the volcano´s endemic Galapagos giant tortoises during the wet season.
Highlights: land iguanas, giant tortoises, seabirds, flightless cormorants.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: flat
Activities: 1 hour 45 min hike / 1 hour beach 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 you past an overview of Darwin Lake and on to a stunning volcanic landscape revealing Isabela island´s 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 dinghy ride or kayak!
Highlights: Pirates’ history, calm waters, seabirds, blue-footed boobies, Brown noddy-terns, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguin (seasonal), marine iguanas.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: steep & eroded tuff
Activities: 1 hour hike / 45 min dinghy ride / 45 min kayaking / 1 hour glass-bottom boat / 1 hour deep water snorkeling 
 

The youngest island of Galapagos and one of the most pristine in the world. Fernandina is simply the ‘marine iguana capital of the world´, 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 you also have the exciting opportunity to snorkel with marine iguanas feeding underwater, penguins, turtles and the bizarre, endemic, flightless cormorants.
Highlights: Largest colony of marine iguanas, whales (seasonal), pahoehoe and AA lava formations, endemic lava cactus.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky & lava
Activities: 1 hour 45 min hike / 45 min glass-bottom boat or 45 min deep snorkeling

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, you  will enjoy them in close proximity from your 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.
Highlights: one of the richest marine havens, marine turtles, sunfish, rays, landscapes, seabirds, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, flightless cormorants.
Physical Condition: low / high
Activities: 1 hour glass-bottom boat or 1 hour deep snorkeling / 1 hour 15 min dinghy ride
 

In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, you have your 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 highland species, especially several species of the famed finches.
Highlights: Giant tortoises, tree & ground Darwin finches.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: low

Dry landing. Not far from Santa Cruz, North Seymour is located. This landmass was formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which deposited layers of lava on the ocean floor. An approximately two-hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in-depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles and sea lions. You will also encounter land iguanas, and on a lucky day, you might even come across the endemic Galapagos Snake.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 2-hour walk, 30 minutes snorkeling
 

Dry or wet landing. Discover a fascinating landscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones —lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones — that resemble the moon. Going up to the summit there will be an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. You also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and blue-footed boobies. Beach time is a great opportunity to do snorkeling and see the famous Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles and White-tipped Reef Sharks among a great variety of colorful fish. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best snorkeling experience. Crystal clear water is the perfect spot to appreciate the incredible marine life it has to offer. Due to its geographical location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable however, there are pioneer plants including the endemic Tiquilia nesiotica and Chamaesyce (known as sand mat or spurge in English), lava cactus, and Scalesia bushes.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: trail made of 372 steps.
Activities: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

Sullivan Bay
Wet landing. 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 photographer´s dream. The importance of pioneer plants such as the tiny Mollugo will be discussed as you hike over the lava. After your land visit, you can enjoy a refreshing snorkel in the company of sea lions, turtles, and rays.
Difficulty level: demanding
Type of terrain: flat volcanic lava
Activities: 1 hour 30 min walk / 1 hour snorkeling/beach time
 

Wet landing followed by a high-intensity hike on rocky terrain. The trail includes a 90 meters long, olivine beach, and a path that climbs to the top of volcanic tuff, through several magnificent viewpoints. This is probably the only site where the three booby species of the Galapagos can be seen together, as well as, two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony. It is also excellent for dinghy rides and snorkeling, where a good range of sea birds can be observed.
Difficulty level: difficult
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 2½-hour walk/ 40-minutes snorkeling or kayaking

Wet landing. Cerro Brujo is an eroding tuff cone that at several locations is composed of AA lava formations and a beautiful white sandy beach, great for snorkeling and sunbathing. There is a lagoon visit where migratory bird species can be seen: Black-necked Stilts, Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrels, other sandpiper species, and White-cheeked Pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal, and the adjacent coast.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 1-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Passengers visit the San Cristobal Giant Tortoise Breeding Center to learn about the National Park’s conservation programs. Enjoy a beautiful landscape on the way to the Reserve. Passengers will also have the opportunity to visit the village’s port, have a drink or shop for arts and crafts and other souvenirs.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of Terrain: sandy
Activities: 40-minute bus drive to the Reserve / 1-hour visit

Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands. Passengers visit the Interpretation Center, an excellent place to learn about islands’ history in The Museum of Natural History which displays information about the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species, and their colonization, among other points of interest. Human history is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant t events related to the discovery and the island’s colonization.
Difficulty level: easy /intermediate 
Type of terrain: flat/stairs
Activities: 1-hour visit / 1-hour walk

Frigatebird Hill involves a high-intensity walk amidst beautiful landscapes and a magnificent view at the foot of a frigate bird nesting colony.
Difficulty level: difficult
Type of terrain: Rocky
Activities: 1-hour visit

Wet landing on a beautiful white coral sandy beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. There are no trails, so you stay along the shore where you can spot Galapagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galapagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin’s finches: a subspecies of the Large Cactus Finch, which is similar to the large ground finch, the Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the Warbler Finch (Certhidea Olivacea), another endemic subspecies. Swimming and snorkeling viewing a great variety of the Galapagos’ marine wildlife: king angelfish, Creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 1-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

Dry landing. An island of geological interest, we explore volcanic formations and riveting wildlife: large sea lion colonies and seabirds including the Española mockingbird, Nazca Boobies, and the spectacular Red-billed Tropicbird. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs. A somewhat lengthy hike will bring you among Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies, right up to nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail. Other birding favorites include the Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Hawk, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and the world’s largest colony of Waved Albatross, an unequivocal highlight during mating season (May-December). Admire the island’s dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous “Soplador”, a seaward blowhole that shoots up water up to 23 m (75 ft) in the air.
Difficulty level: difficult 
Type of terrain: rocky 
Activities: 2 ½-hour walk

A very short walk from the beach leads you to the famous Post Office Barrel. Claimed to have been first setup in 1793 by Captain James Colnett it remains the oldest functioning ‘post office´ in the Pacific. The system was that whalers and fur sealers would leave addressed letters in the barrel to be picked up by homeward bound colleagues. In the spirit of maintaining tradition visitors today will often take letters and hand-deliver them in their home countries.
Highlights: Darwin finches, green Pacific turtles, historical place since 1793.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy & rocky
Activities: 45 min dinghy ride / 45 min visit / 1 hour 15 min beach snorkeling / 30 min kayaking

On arriving, the observant visitor will notice that olivine, a volcanic crystal, has proffered a subtle green hue on the dark beach. Your walk takes you past island-endemic Scalesia plants to a large, shallow, lagoon often inhabited by a variable number of shockingly pink greater flamingoes. You continue through a forest of palo santo trees to arrive at a powdery white beach, a nesting area of green turtles. As you paddle barefoot in the shallow water you will spot diamond stingrays and white-tipped reef sharks. This coral-sand beach marks the end of your trail, and you head back to the olivine beach you landed on, to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well.

One of the favorite snorkeling sites in the islands. Devil’s Crown, an eroded volcanic cone, is home to an abundance of fish and marine animals. You will swim with big schools of yellow-tailed surgeonfish, salemas and creole fish and with luck may spot turtles, spotted eagle rays, parrotfish, and even hammerhead sharks! The jagged ‘crown’ is a roosting area for boobies, noddies, tropicbirds, and frigates.
Highlights: White & black mangrove, flamingoes, sea lions and sea turtles. / Sting rays, white-tipped shark, and colorful fish.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy & flat
Activities: 45 min glass-bottom boat or 45 min deep or beach snorkeling / 1 hour 45 min hike
 

Arriving to a small lava dock your first encounters are with marine iguanas that blend-in perfectly to the dark rock. As you walk past large prickly pear cacti you arrive to one end of a long, sickle-shaped, beach with Dragon Hill standing in the distance. Your walk takes you on a circular path, past a shallow lake where flamingoes frequently come to feed. Waders such as stilts, turnstones and sandpipers work the muddy edges frenetically looking for food as you continue inland to a dry, forested habitat where land iguanas nest and burrow.
Highlights: Dry vegetation zone, endemic land iguana, Darwin finches, mockingbirds.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 2-hour hike / 1-hour beach snorkeling

Feel the indescribable feeling of being where no one else has. Relax on a powdery beach. Snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals. Be one of the first humans –to visit Punta Bowditch at Legend´s South itinerary D  
Highlights: Nice beach for swimming, marine iguanas, seabirds, a nesting area for sea turtles / Marine wildlife. 
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 30 minute walk /1 hour snorkeling 

In the mountains of Galapagos is possible to admire different kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint–billed crakers, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets (usually standing on the tortoises shells) The journey to the reserve offers great opportunities to see the contrast that the island offers in reference to the variety of ecosystems. The road goes from the coast through the agriculture zone straight up to the dense humid forests. Often, Galapagos giant tortoises are also seen on the way wandering through pastures in the paddocks. this spot is a birdwatcher’s haven since almost every land bird present on the island lives or migrates here.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: flat –muddy (depending on the season) 
Activities: 45-minute drive/ 1 ½ hour walk.

After the visit, passengers will be transferred to Baltra Island Airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.