Galapagos Angel


5-day Cruise "C"

(Santa Cruz, Española, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz)

Day 1: Thursday
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning: 

Baltra Airport Arrival

Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra, Galapagos Islands. After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Galapagos Angel staff member and brought into a private bus to start your adventure in Galapagos.

Please note: Your first excursion in the Galapagos will be after being picked up at the airport upon arrival to the islands, before boarding the cruise. It is essential for you to arrive in the Galapagos wearing comfortable clothes, good closed-toe shoes suitable for an excursion, a long-brimmed hat, sun lotion, sunglasses, and to ensure you have your camera handy.


In the afternoon: 

Highlands

Accessible by bus from Puerto Ayora, the highlands of Santa Cruz are a deep green which contrast beautifully with the dry, lower part of the islands. The predominant vegetation in the highlands are Scalesia trees which create a lush green forest. The lava tunnels, over half a mile long, are underground and walking through them is a unique, surreal experience. At this place you’ll have lunch.


Highlands, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:
Lava tunnels, Finches, wild tortoises, tortoise nesting site.
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking

Day 2: Friday
Española Island

In the morning: 

Gardner Bay, Gardner Islet & Osborn Islet

This excursion takes you to the spectacular Gardner Bay. After landing, you can walk across a lovely white-sand beach amongst a busy sea lion colony or dive into the water to swim with sea lion pups. You may also see curious mockingbirds on the beach.


Gardner Bay, Gardner Islet & Osborn Islet, Española Island
Highlights & Animals:
White sandy beach, sea lions, mockingbirds; snorkeling: colorful fish, sea lion nursery
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

In the afternoon: 

Suarez Point

On the trail to Suarez Point you will have the chance to spot blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies. This island is the breeding site of nearly all of the world’s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. You will also visit a beautiful site on the ocean front where there is a cliff that the large albatrosses use as a launching pad! You will have the chance to see the famous blowhole that spurts sea water into the air. The landscape is great for photography.


Suarez Point, Española Island
Highlights & Animals:
Hood mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, waved albatrosses (approximately from the last week of April until the last week of January), red-billed tropicbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, blowhole, amazing landscape and maybe blue-footed boobies.
Difficulty:
Difficult
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking

Day 3: Saturday
Santa Fe and South Plaza Islands

In the morning: 

Santa Fé Island

Santa Fe Island (Barrington) is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails: one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest.


Santa Fé Island, Santa Fe Island
Highlights & Animals:
Land iguanas, giant Opuntia cacti
Difficulty:
Moderate
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking

In the afternoon: 

South Plaza Island

This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.


South Plaza Island
Highlights & Animals:
Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon’s shearwaters, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies, amazing landscape with cliffs
Difficulty:
Moderate
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking

Day 4: Sunday
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning: 

Black Turtle Cove

Visit Black Turtle Cove in the northern part of Santa Cruz. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a haven for young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.


Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:
Baby hammerhead shark, rays, sea turtles, sea birds.
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
No Landing
Possible Activities:
Dinghy ride

In the afternoon: 

Dragon Hill

Situated on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.


Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:
Land iguana nesting spot, Galapagos flamingos, common stilts, palo santo trees and cacti forest
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Dry Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

Day 5: Monday
Santa Cruz Island

In the morning: 

Bachas Beach

Bachas Beach is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz and is a beach for swimming. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest on the beach.


Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island
Highlights & Animals:
World War II remnants. Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, whimbrels, sea turtles.
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of Landing:
Wet Landing
Possible Activities:
Hiking, snorkeling

Afterwards: 

Baltra Airport Departure

After this final visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.