Explore the Wonders of Southeast Galapagos

AM: BOARDING TO GALAPAGOS ISLANDS – SAN CRISTÓBAL AIRPORT

Unfurl the sails of adventure and embark on an unforgettable journey to the Galapagos Islands. You will arrive at the bustling San Cristobal airport, where you will be met by an experienced naturalist guide, custodian of this ecological gem. Feel the thrill of anticipation as you begin your exploration of this amazing world heritage site.

PM: WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER ON THE ISLAND OF LOBOS

Venture to Isla de Lobos, a quiet islet set apart from San Cristobal by a narrow channel. This cradle of nature, in the middle of a serene bay, is the playground for sea lion pups frolicking in the tide pools. The island may be modest in size, but it is teeming with life, particularly with “sea lions” or sea lions. Upon landing, welcoming committees of sea lions would greet you, only to be outraged by the male frigatebirds inland, presenting their inflamed red balloons amidst the green foliage. Keep an eye out for blue-footed boobies nesting along the trails, ready to treat you to a display of their whimsical courtship dance.

Snorkeling experience: Immerse yourself in an underwater ballet at this famous snorkeling spot, sheltered by the calm waves. Playful sea lions enthusiastically show off their acrobatic skills. By contrast, sea turtles and rays find solace resting on the sandy bottom of the resting on the sandy bottom of the sea, allowing him a glimpse of the harmonious marine life that thrives beneath the surface.

Reflections: Galapagos sea lions, marine iguanas, magnificent great frigate birds, blue-footed boobies and San Cristobal lava lizards.

_{^{explore the wonders of southeast galapagos}}

AM: A TROPICAL PARADISE – GARDNER BAY

Enjoy the morning at Gardner Bay, a pristine paradise in the Galapagos archipelago. Sugar-white coral sands merge with crystal clear turquoise waters, creating a tropical oasis. Watch as the beach becomes a theater, starring sea lions basking in the sun in a playful performance. This idyllic setting invites you to stroll along the shore, immersing you in an enlightening experience as you delve into the biology of the endemic fauna, from the melodious Española mockingbird and unique marine iguanas to the majestic Galapagos hawks.

Snorkel experience: Dive beneath the blue waves to witness a spectacular performance choreographed by marine life. Swim alongside playful sea lions, graceful reef sharks and gliding rays. Discover a variety of fish, including the vivid angelfish, the charismatic parrotfish, and the ever-active surgeonfish that color the underwater landscape.

Highlights: Coral sand beach, sea lions, Galapagos hawks, Hispaniolan mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, marine iguanas.

PM: A WALK THROUGH THE NATURE GALLERY – PUNTO SUÁREZ

Transition into the afternoon with an exciting adventure to Punta Suarez. This rocky trail presents a natural gallery of the Galapagos Islands, teeming with an impressive variety of wildlife. Upon landing, you will be greeted by sea lions and marine iguanas, your first hosts in this carnival of nature. As you proceed, you will encounter a mosaic of seabird colonies, from striking Nazca birds and blue-footed boobies to graceful gulls and tropical birds. The highlight of this trip will bring you face to face with the waved albatross, the largest bird on the island (present from April to January). This majestic creature, unique to Española, will captivate you with its powerful flight and intricate courtship display.

Reflections: Sea lions, waved albatross, Galapagos hawks, Spanish mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, marine iguanas, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, herons, lava lizards, egrets.

_{^{explore the wonders of southeast galapagos}}

AM: MAIL FROM THE PAST – POST OFFICE BAY

Start the day by stepping in the footsteps of the past at Post Office Bay, located on enigmatic Floreana Island. This place is filled with stories from the late 1920s and 1930s involving German settlers, a baroness, unsolved mysteries and captivating intrigue. The bay was a historic anchorage for whalers, who traveled to the highlands in search of fresh water and turtles. A mail system more than two centuries old was established as a hub for visiting ships centered around a barrel near the beach. This system survives today and offers a unique opportunity to send postcards from this remote part of the world. In addition to its rich history, Post Office Bay features natural attractions such as a scenic beach, a lava tunnel and sea tours that can reveal sea lions, green sea turtles, shorebirds, small sharks and, if luck permits, Galapagos penguins.

Snorkeling experience: Dive beneath the waves directly from the beach, opening up a fascinating world of sea turtles, rays and a variety of fish. Keep your fingers crossed for a special appearance of the elusive Galapagos penguin.

Highlights: Sea lions, sea turtles, finches, shorebirds, marine iguanas and penguins.

PM: THE MARVEL OF NATURE – PUNTA CORMORANTE / DEVIL’S CROWN

Head north to Cormorant Point, famous for its extensive coastal lagoon teeming with American flamingos, white-cheeked ducks, black-necked stilts and other shorebirds. This natural paradise also boasts a pristine white sand beach, a crucial nesting site for green sea turtles and a newly established breeding site for blue-footed boobies near the trailhead. Amidst this vibrant wildlife, also take the opportunity to admire the island’s unique flora.

Snorkeling experience: At Devil’s Crown, a small eroded volcano adjacent to Floreana Island, dive into what many consider one of the best snorkeling sites in all of the Galapagos. Corona currents channel plankton, attracting a spectacular congregation of marine life, including snappers, creolefish, parrotfish, angelfish, angelfish, reef sharks, sea turtles and rays.

Highlights: American flamingo, blue-footed booby, frigate birds, tropical birds, Galapagos shearwaters, sea lions, sea turtle nesting site, finches, shorebirds, coral sand beach.

_{^{explore the wonders of southeast galapagos}}

AM: THE CONTRASTING BEAUTY OF SANTA FE

Begin the day with the raw beauty of Santa Fe, where the towering figures of giant prickly pear cacti contrast strikingly with the rugged landscape of lava rocks. Tucked inside one of the Galapagos’ most impressive bays, Santa Fe’s turquoise waters and white sandy beaches form a cozy residence for an important colony of sea lions that you’ll find resting. As you venture inland, remember to look down to see Santa Fe’s endemic land iguanas, but also look up to see Galapagos hawks perched on cacti, on the lookout for prey. You will probably find Darwin’s finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and lively lava lizards along the trail.

Snorkeling experience: after your exploratory walk, the protected bay offers you a choice: paddle through serene waters in a kayak or dive below the surface to snorkel with playful sea lion pups and reef sharks. Also, keep an eye out for graceful sea turtles, gliding rays and the swirling colors of tropical fish, including large schools of surgeonfish and parrotfish.

Highlights: giant cacti, Santa Fe Bay, Galapagos sea lions, Santa Fe land iguanas, Galapagos hawks, Galapagos doves, reef sharks.

PM: WILD WONDERLAND – SOUTH SQUARES

Your afternoon destination is South Plazas, one of a pair of twin islands where the northern sister is reserved exclusively for scientific research. Although small in size, this islet teems with a fantastic variety of wildlife. Upon landing, Galapagos land iguanas will welcome you from beneath the prickly pear cacti, eagerly awaiting their fruit.

Sea lions populate the island in large numbers, allowing you to observe their fascinating social dynamics, from playful pups splashing in tide pools to formidable males protecting their territories. Your trail will eventually lead you to a cliff, a vantage point to observe a variety of seabirds, including frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds, boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and pelicans. A green carpet of reddish succulent vegetation dotted with scattered cacti covers the island, giving South Plazas a genuinely unique personality.

Highlights: Galapagos land iguanas, sea lions, tropical birds, pelicans, boobies, Galapagos shearwaters and swallow-tailed gulls.

_{^{explore the wonders of southeast galapagos}}

AM: THE CRADLE OF CONSERVATION – CHARLES DARWIN STATION

Begin your day with an in-depth encounter at the Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with the Galapagos National Park to safeguard the unique biodiversity of the archipelago. This visit provides insight into the collaborative efforts of these institutions to protect native species and combat invasive species that threaten the delicate balance of the Galapagos ecosystem. One of their flagship undertakings includes the captive breeding of giant tortoises, an integral part of the conservation strategy. In the midst of the educational adventure, enjoy an open-air native dry forest environment adorned with towering cacti and a rich variety of fascinating endemic flora. This is an ideal place to discover several endemic Darwin finches, as well as vivacious flycatchers and melodious mockingbirds.

Highlights: Giant tortoise and Galapagos land iguana breeding program, Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, Galapagos flycatchers, yellow warblers.