Eastern Islands

Departing from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra for a 2:30 hour flight. Upon arrival passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

Dry landing. Off of Baltra Island and 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.