Western Islands

Baltra is a small island, the only of the Galapagos that is not included in the National Park's area. The Americans built Baltra's airport in 1941-1948, using it as their air force base in the Pacific during the Second World War. The airport and harbor are now Ecuadorian military territory. Unfortunately, both of the military presences have left their traces. Even if people always speak about Baltra, the airport's official name is South Seymour, and its air code is GPS. With an essential reduction of energy consumption for lighting and ventilation, rainwater recovery, waste recycling, and more, the new building of 2013 has been promoted as the first ecological airport worldwide.

Las Bachas is a white coral beach in the north of the island of Santa Cruz and a genuinely lovely place to begin your tour. The first visit starts with a wet landing. Wet landing means that you will get your feet wet while exiting the zodiac. Seawater and sand between the toes, what a feeling! The walk along the beach is easy. There are small brackish water lagoons behind the dune where it is possible to observe coastal birds like black-necked stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintail ducks, and, occasionally, flamingos. Important: Take care and do not walk on top of the dunes because it is a favorite nesting site of sea turtles. After the walk, can swim and enjoy the beach.
Activities: Hiking, Swimming

Mosquera is a small sandy island located between North Seymour and Baltra and is the home of one of the more significant sea lion colonies of the Galapagos, with several harems. It is an excellent place o observe their behavior. Depending on the tide, the wet landing is sometimes a little bit difficult. You also may see endemic lava gulls and other coastal birds. Find marine iguanas and sally lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks and, sometimes, even scorpions under the stones. First snorkeling off this week! Fantastic and recommendable, even if you never did it before. Snorkel equipment is included in cruise prices. If you need a wetsuit, you can rent it onboard.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

The name Cerro Dragon means Dragon Hill, and it is a very scenic visiting point. The hike passes first a flamingo lagoon behind the beach vegetation and leads through an impressive forest of prickly pear cactus. The following loop trail goes to a small hill where land iguanas live and nest. The view from this little peak over the surrounding landscape is spectacular.
Activities: Hiking

Tagus Cove is a protected cove that was a favorite resting site of early pirates and whalers in the 19th century. They carved and painted their names on the high cliffs of the bay; it is emotive to see this historic testifies. Start with a dry landing, and then the scenic hike leads uphill through the Dry zone vegetation to Darwin Lake, a saltwater crater lake. At the end of the trail, go up to a parasitic spatter cone and have a fantastic view of the Darwin Volcano's lava field. Later, enjoy a fantastic panga ride along the cliffs to look out for Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants. If the water is clear, Tagus Cove is a fascinating snorkeling place to discover many marine invertebrates in the vertical walls if the water is clear.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island: This visit to one of the youngest islands of the Galapagos is undoubtedly a highlight of a cruise in Galapagos. The terrain of Fernandina is rocky due to its volcanic nature. It depends on the tide if the dry landing is on the pier in the mangroves or directly on the lava. On the hike in this pleasant marine environment of the Galapagos, find large colonies of marine iguanas. Take care to stay strict on the pathway because the dunes are their nesting areas. On the lava coast, close to the shoreline, are the nesting places of the flightless cormorant, one of the most enigmatic Galapagos birds. Also, watch out for lava lizards, the Galapagos hawk, marine turtles, snakes, and the Galapagos penguins. And, obviously, more Galapagos sea lions. Enjoy the largest groups of the endemic lava cactus that are to find on the lava flow. A short trail inland on a lava field leads to the edge of a large aa lava flow.
Activities: Hiking

Urbina Bay, Isabela Island is another exclusive site! It is an area that was uplifted out of the sea, at the foot of Volcan Alcedo. The wet landing is on a steep beach, which is sometimes a bit difficult because of the high waves. But do it with caution. Along the shore, occasionally, find flightless cormorants and huge marine iguanas. On the trail leading inland, watch out to see the colorful land iguanas. If you are lucky, cross with a Galapagos tortoise along the pathway! Then, have time for snorkeling at this remarkable place.
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Elizabeth Bay: This afternoon, you do not walk but drive into the protected mangrove cove with the zodiacs. The entrance through a very narrow channel is not always easy, but your experienced crew manages it carefully, and so you find yourselves in the midden of this peaceful lagoon. In the small and far-away little corners, the motor is turned off to noiselessly observe sea turtles. In Elizabeth Bay, find the tallest red mangrove trees of the Galapagos.
Activities: Panga Ride

Punta Moreno: Early in the morning, start a hike on Punta Moreno's rough lava field. It is a place where you can see all three cactus species: candelabra cactus, prickly pear cactus, and lava cactus. This lava field also has many pioneer plants. The lava field turns out to be fantastic scenery, with oases with brackish water pools with flamingos, common gallinules, white-cheeked pintail ducks, and paint-billed crakes. You also may see the flightless cormorant. The Galapagos surprises never end! Snorkeling at this great place is, once more, unique!
Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling

Navigation to Puerto Villamil: At approximately 10:30 in the morning, start your longer navigation. It usually takes about 6 hours, and it is a beautiful part of your cruise along the shoreline around the Volcano Cerro Azul. Sometimes, this navigation may be a little bit rough, but it is easier to enjoy on the sun deck to watch out for dolphin schools and whales. Hope to be lucky today too! Just before the dark, arrive in the small harbor of Puerto Villamil. Villamil is the main settlement in the south of Isabela Island. The village has grown up in the last few years but is still small and calm with its scenic beaches and peaceful ambiance.
Activities: Navigation

Today, discover a totally different Galapagos! By bus, go uphill approximately 17 miles/(27.3 km, to arrive close to the caldera of the Vulcan Sierra Negra. You can observe the changes in the different vegetation zones of the volcano. The Sierra Negra (Spanish: Black Mountain) is a massive shield volcano, and it is one of the most active in the Galapagos, with the most recent eruption in June 2018. Often it is a little bit rainy or misty and foggy, but it is therefore why here it is so unexpectedly green. On a hike of about one hour, go to the volcano's rim to appreciate the large caldera measuring 6.2 miles/10 km from North to South and 5.6 miles/9 km from East to West. If the weather allows, it is impressive scenery! You also can see the vast new lava field from the eruption of 2005.
Activities: Hiking

Lagoons of Villamil: In the afternoon, make an excursion to the lagoons of Villamil. Start at the Tortoise Breeding Centre to discover different subspecies of the Galapagos Giant Tortoises and the station's efforts to restore the endangered populations. Take a beautiful trail going from lagoon to lagoon on the walk back to town, watching out for flamingos, common gallinules, white-cheeked pintail ducks, and black-necked stilts. There also is a forest of button mangroves.
Activities: Hiking

Punta Cormorant: The wet landing is on the Green Beach of Punta Cormorant. If the light conditions are the correct ones, the sand shines green due to the high percentage of olivine crystals. It is unique! On the easy walk through the Arid Zone, come to a big saltwater lagoon with flamingos, white-cheeked pintail ducks, black-necked stilts, and, depending on the season, more migratory shorebirds. On a short walk, you find yourselves at the White Flour Sand Beach, named because of the fineness of the sand of white corals. It is a famous nesting beach for marine turtles, so it is crucial not to walk on the dune. Often, you can see many stingrays in shallow water.
Activities: Hiking

Devil's Crown or the Corona del Diablo, a leftover of a volcano looking like a black crown emerging from the sea, is one of the most famous snorkeling places in the Galapagos. The experience is utterly unique, but it is essential to know that this snorkeling place is only for experienced snorkelers due to the strong currents.
Activities: Hiking

After this visit, navigate to Puerto Ayora on the Island of Santa Cruz to arrive there at approx. 5 pm/17:00. Puerto Ayora is a small charming town, the largest in the Galapagos, and the head of tourism with several hotels, bars, restaurants, a hospital, banks, and many small shops. You can go out for a moment and walk around, drink a coffee, or buy souvenirs. During this time, Angelito's staff is busy with the food supply and all the other necessary things to be ready again to continue the cruise.

Daphne Panoramic: Daphne is a tuff cone with little vegetation. This island is famous for the studies by Peter and Rosemary Grant about the Darwin Finches. The perfect literature to read about: The Beak of the Finch, written by Jonathan Weiner. Enjoy panoramic navigation around the small tuff cone, respecting the regulation of distances to avoid the introduction of insects.
Activities: Panoramic navigation

Unfortunately, after this, it is time to say goodbye, to your home of the last days, and crew. Disembark at the harbor of Baltra.

Drive back to the airport for a morning flight back to the continent. The guide takes care until the last minute!