M/V Galapagos Legend

Arrive at Baltra airport and transfer to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend. This afternoon, visit Mosquera Islet, a flat, sandy island which is home to a large colony of sea lions. It is also an excellent site to view shorebirds such as herons and lava gulls. (L) (D)

The black volcanic sand beach of Egas Port (Santiago Island) was visited by Darwin in 1835.The first part of Egas Port trail is comprised of volcanic ash (eroded tuff) and the other half is uneven terrain from volcanic basaltic rock along the shoreline. The unique, truly striking layered terrain of Santiago shore is home to a variety of animals including the bizarre yellow-crowned night heron and marine wildlife including lobster, starfish and marine iguanas
grazing on algae beds alongside sally light-foot crabs. You will see colonies of endemic fur seals swimming in cool water volcanic rock pools.

This afternoon visit the distinctive red-sand beaches of Rabida. Lying at the heart of the archipelago, this dramatic island is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves and vermillion flycatchers.  
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Explore the largest island of the archipelago, Isabela Island. This morning you'll land on the volcanic black beaches of Urbina Bay. Depending on the season, you may find giant tortoises, land iguanas and the unusual flightless cormorant. You'll have the chance to swim with sea turtles, sea lions and countless tropical fish. Urbina Bay features a wide variety of plant life that changes depending on the season. You will see the beautiful colours of plants that attract different insects, birds and reptiles and explore the raised coral reef resulting from the 1954 volcanic activity and spectacular views of Alcedo Volcano.

Visit Tagus Cove after lunch. This is a great site to see land birds such as Galapagos hawks, ground and tree finches, large-billed flycatchers and yellow warblers. You will return by the same path for a dinghy ride along a shoreline full of marine wildlife.  You can view a variety of seabirds such as blue-footed booby, brown noddy, terns, flightless cormorant and, depending on the season, a large number of Galapagos penguins which are only 35 cm tall. You will have an opportunity to snorkel in deep water. There is graffiti believed to have been left by 19th- century pirates as a curious reminder of an intriguing past. Many names of the early visitors to this site, pirates and whalers, are written on the cliffs along the shore. (B)(L)(D)

Explore Espinosa Point, the only spot that you will visit on Fernandina, from where you can see the island of Isabela across the Bolivar Channel. This is an area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. The largest, most primitive-looking race of marine iguanas are found mingling with sea lions and sally lightfoot crabs; a wonderful opportunity to encounter flightless cormorants at their nesting sites, Galapagos penguins and the 'king' of predators on the Islands, the Galapagos hawk.

After lunch visit Vicente Roca Point on Isabela Island, and take a dinghy ride along the coast to view the great diversity of sea and coastal birds. The upwelling of cold water currents in this part of the Galapagos enables an abundance of marine life. (B)(L)(D)