Galapagos Ocean Spray: Itinerary Southern Islands (B)

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, our team will welcome you and take you directly to the boat. After a briefing from the guide about your stay on board, you’ll set off for Santa Fe Island.

Santa Fe is home to the exclusive Santa Fe land iguana and the only place where you can find the Opuntia cactus. While giant tortoises once inhabited this island, they became extinct due to overexploitation by pirates and buccaneers. Also known as Barrington Island, named after British Admiral Samuel Barrington, the island boasts a large colony of sea lions and occasional sightings of Galápagos hawks.

Española Island is the southernmost and oldest of the Galápagos, estimated to be around four million years old. Due to its isolation, it hosts a high number of endemic species, making it a perfect spot for wildlife photography and witnessing breathtaking landscapes shaped by erosion.

Gardner Bay features one of the most pristine beaches in the Galápagos, where playful sea lions gather. The area is also home to three species of finches and the friendly Española Mockingbird. Green sea turtles nest here from January to March.

Suarez Point offers a chance to observe Española’s unique wildlife. The trail leads to the only breeding ground of the Waved Albatross, where, if lucky, you may witness young albatrosses taking their first flight. Other notable species include brightly colored marine iguanas, Galápagos doves, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, and Darwin finches.

San Cristóbal, the fifth-largest Galápagos island, is the easternmost of the archipelago. It was where Charles Darwin first landed in 1835 and is home to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital. Conservation efforts on the island combat invasive species such as blackberry and blackfly.

Lobos Island, an hour from San Cristóbal, is a nesting site for blue-footed boobies and, in recent years, frigatebirds. The area is also rich in marine life, with abundant sea lions and marine iguanas.

La Galapaguera, an Interpretation Center established in 1998, provides insights into the archipelago’s history, ecosystems, geology, flora, and fauna. It also serves as a breeding center for giant tortoises, where they roam in a semi-natural habitat.

Located on the easternmost side of the Galápagos, Pitt Point is one of the rare places where red-footed, blue-footed, and Nazca boobies coexist. The site offers stunning geological formations of ancient volcanic rock, and a scenic hike provides breathtaking views of the area.

Witch Hill is a spectacular beach with fine white sand and turquoise waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Snorkelers can spot vibrant tropical fish beneath the waves, and sea lions often join in for a swim. A panga ride along the coast reveals fascinating rock formations carved by erosion over time.

Floreana Island holds a rich human history. It was the site of the first Galápagos resident, an Irishman who lived here from 1807 to 1809. The island’s Post Office Bay dates back to the 1700s when whalers established a unique mail system that visitors continue today by leaving and retrieving postcards for delivery.

Cormorant Point features two beaches—one with green-tinted sand due to olivine crystals and another, “Flour Beach,” with soft, white coral sand. Nearby, a brackish lagoon is home to vibrant flamingos.

Devil’s Crown is one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galápagos, offering an incredible underwater world with submerged volcanic formations and a variety of marine life, including reef fish, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and even hammerhead sharks.

At Post Office Bay, visitors can partake in the centuries-old tradition of leaving postcards in a wooden barrel for fellow travelers to hand-deliver. A short distance away, Baroness Lookout provides a scenic viewpoint linked to the island’s mysterious past involving an Austrian baroness and unexplained disappearances.

Black Turtle Cove, located on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island, is a peaceful mangrove-lined inlet accessible only by boat. This natural sanctuary shelters a diverse range of marine life, including black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, golden cow-nose rays, spotted eagle rays, and young sea turtles. Above the water, pelicans and boobies dive skillfully to catch their prey.

After the final excursion, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure, concluding your unforgettable Galápagos adventure.