Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, travellers pass through anairport inspection point to make sure that no foreign plantsor animals are introduced to the islands, and to pay the parkentrance fee of $100 (unless it has been prepaid). A guidewill meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort youon a short bus ride to the harbour.The road to the highlands leaves from Bellavista, a smallvillage located a 15-minute drive from Puerto Ayora, andpasses through the agricultural zone, near the National Parkboundary, the Miconia Zone, and then goes to the Fern andSedge zone. With clear weather, this area boasts beautifulscenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones coveredwith grass and lush greenery all year round. Here you willvisit the Twin Craters, which are two pit craters, as well as alocal ranch where we can observe the giant tortoise ofSanta Cruz Island in its natural habitat.

“Tintoreras” are small islands in front of the Puerto Villamilcoast. As well as herons on the lookout on mangrove branches, Galapagos Penguins and sea lions often pop out on theshore. White-tipped reef sharks (in Spanish: Tintoreras) arecommon on the archipelago and are very commonly foundresting in the shallow waters.In the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre you can seehundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes. Vulnerablehatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size ofyour hand! This project just outside Puerto Villamil wascreated to rescue the endangered populations of Isabela’sboth southernmost volcanoes. From the almost incredibleestimations of 250,000 giant tortoises in the 16th century,by the 1970s there were only about 3,000 individuals remaining. One thing becomes clear on your visit: it’s hard workto save these creatures from extinction by reproduction incaptivity and repopulation. The good news is that theseprogrammes are successful and have already saved severalspecies from extinction so far.By 2015 their number increased to about 32,000 in all thearchipelago. Don’t forget to visit the native botanical gardenof this breeding centre. It also attracts colourful songbirdssuch as yellow warblers, Darwin’s nches, Galapagos andvermillion ycatchers. Finally there is no greater counterpartto the cumbersome tortoises than the graceful Americanamingos which frequently lter the saline waters of theadjacent lagoon for shrimp and algae. They are joined by ahandful of species of aquatic and shore birds, from whichsome even migrate from Canada and Alaska

Fresh, promising greens of pioneer vegetation contrast strongly with the dead, pitch-black lava flow that once reached the ocean at Moreno Point.At the remote Elizabeth Bay you will enjoy the best dinghy-ride of the Galapagos, which combines a visit to the Marielas Islets in the mouth of the bay, with the highest mangles in its innermost heart.

Tagus Cove is a historical anchorage at the northern entrance of Bolivar Channel (between Isabela and Fernandina).Westernmost Fernandina harbours one of the world’s most virgin, untouched ecosystems, and is another crown jewel of the Galapagos.

These two small beaches are found to the west of TurtleCove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, whichmakes it white and soft, and a favourite nesting site for seaturtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small blackishwater lagoon, where it is occasionally possible to observeamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stiltsand whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two oldbarges that were abandoned during World War II, whenUSA used Baltra Island as a strategic point to protect thePanama Channel.Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crewmembers,the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra Airport,where we will take the shuttle back to the airport.

Itineraries are subject to change.