This itinerary starts in Quito, where after an overnight stay you will fly to Baltra. Prior to boarding the MV Beluga for an 8 day cruise around Tower and Hood Island, spend 2 days at the an amazing lodge exploring the magnificent island of Santa Cruz, getting to know its people and the wonderful fauna and flora of the Highlands.
Highlights
After a full day of activities we board the Beluga in the afternoon to start the Galapagos Tower Cruise. Galapagos Conservation Trust will offer private visits to conservation and research sponsored programmes.
Plazas consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.
Santa Fe is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.
San Cristóbal Island (Chatham) is the easternmost island of Galapagos and also one of the oldest.
Kicker Rock/Cerro Brujo. In the afternoon visit to El Junco Lagoon and Interpretation Center
Hood Island (Española) is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved here.
Floreana Island is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.
Santa Cruz Island
James Island (Santiago) is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals.
Tower Island (Genovesa) is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island.
Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove) is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat.
Baltra
Flight Baltra Quito departs 10:47 am arrives 15:25 pm
The holiday exceeded all expectations. The Galápagos Islands and their flora and fauna are stunning in themselves but being part of a group of only 16 with the most wonderful guide gave a real feeling of camaraderie as we all wondered at our experiences and delighted in them together. An amazing place, boat, crew and superb companions made this a truly magical adventure.
Elizabeth Wood traveled with us to Ecuador and Galapagos.
July 15, 2019
For me, our excursion on Floreana was one of the highlights of our Galapagos trip. It was so encouraging to see the work being done by various charities, hand in hand with the island community, to improve the habitat so as to allow the re-introduction of several species – the Floreana Mockingbird and Floreana Giant Tortoise amongst others.
John and I are both still grinning like Cheshire cats when we think about our Ecuadorean experiences – and have already recommended Ice Tracks / Wild Tracks to several friends and colleagues.
Robin & John Willis traveled with Wild Tracks to Ecuador & Galapagos 2019.
July 19, 2019
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