Reserva El Chato

In the Santa Cruz Highlands Trip, you will look of the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and its variety of vegetation, weather, and animals. First you will stop in "Los Gemelos" craters or "Twin" craters in English, which are two sink holes formed millions of years ago when the volcanoes on the islands were still active, lava flows would roll down the hills to get to the sea, in the surrounding areas endemic wildlife and vegetation can be appreciated, this is the first stop to better comprehend the geological formation of the islands. Then you will visit a private ranch where you can find Galapagos Giant Tortoises in a natural habitat, you can get a close picture with this iconic reptile of the islands. Learn about this amazing animal and its many species around the archipelago, what they eat, how they mate and more. Another part of the tour is going through a lava tunnel, inside is kind of dark and humid, giving you a sensation of fear.

Bartolome

The Day Tour to Bartholomew Island departs from Itabaca Canal, the sailing is about two hours, this island is located North West of Santa Cruz Island. Bartholomew has the most beautiful and photographed landscapes of the archipelago with the iconic pinnacle rock. The trail is made of wood and all the way to the summit of this extinct volcano for you to admire the landscape and get amazed and you will feel that all those stairs was worth it. The snorkel will take place in Sullivan Bay which is bay located in Santiago Island just five minutes away from Bartholomew Island; here you may expect to spot the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, white tip sharks, rays and more marine wildlife swimming in shallow waters.

South Plaza Island

The Day Tour to South Plaza Island departs from Itabaca Canal, the sailing is about one hour and forty five minutes, this island is located to the East of Santa Cruz Island. First you will visit Punta Carrión, where snorkel take place, which is just five minutes away from pier of Itabaca Canal, here you may spot white tip sharks, variety of fishes, sea turtles, rays, Galapagos sharks and many other marine wildlife. In South Plaza Island, which is partner of North Plaza Island, both create a turquoise water canal that contrast with the red natural carpet (sesuvium) and cactus that the island have as breathtaking landscape; here you you will be greeted by sea lions, and expect to spot land iguanas, marine iguanas, sea lions, Galapagos lizard and finches, also variety of sea birds fishing and flying really close to the cliff of this island like swallow-tailed gull, pelicans and Nazca boobies.

Metropolitan Touring

The Day Tour to North Seymour Island departs from Itabaca Canal, the sailing is about one hour, this island is located to the North of Santa Cruz Island. In this wonderful island you will be welcomed by sea lions in the dock and rocks, the landscape of the island is contrasted by Palo Santo (incense stick) forest and red-colored soil; here you may expect to spot blue footed boobies nesting (or making their courtship dancing, depending of the season), swallowed tail gull sitting in the cliffs and admire large number of frigate birds in their nests. The snorkel will take place in Las Bachas Beach which is located in Santa Cruz Island, you may spot sharks, variety of fishes and maybe flamingos in the beach lagoon. Sometimes, if the ocean conditions permit, and the guide and captain allows it, the snorkel place can take place in North Seymour Island shores and canal.

Santa Fe Island

The Day Tour to Santa Fe Island departs from Puerto Ayora's Main Pier, the sailing is about two hours, this island is located South East of Santa Cruz Island. In this island you will find an endemic land iguana that lives only in this place, sea lions in a white sand beach resting waiting for pictures, they pose to your cameras. The trail starts at the beach and leads you into a giant cactus forest while the Galapagos hawk overfly in the light blue sky. Crabs, nocturnal herons, marine iguanas, mockingbirds and Galapagos doves are often spotted in this unique island. The snorkel will take place in a bay called Fisherman Bay in Santa Fe Island; here you may spot sea turtles, rays, sea lions, fishes, Galapagos sharks and many more in this rocky reef.

Bartolome

The Day Tour to Bartholomew Island departs from Itabaca Canal, the sailing is about two hours, this island is located North West of Santa Cruz Island. Bartholomew has the most beautiful and photographed landscapes of the archipelago with the iconic pinnacle rock. The trail is made of wood and all the way to the summit of this extinct volcano for you to admire the landscape and get amazed and you will feel that all those stairs was worth it. The snorkel will take place in Sullivan Bay which is bay located in Santiago Island just five minutes away from Bartholomew Island; here you may expect to spot the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, white tip sharks, rays and more marine wildlife swimming in shallow waters.

South Plaza Island

The Day Tour to South Plaza Island departs from Itabaca Canal, the sailing is about one hour and forty five minutes, this island is located to the East of Santa Cruz Island. First you will visit Punta Carrión, where snorkel take place, which is just five minutes away from pier of Itabaca Canal, here you may spot white tip sharks, variety of fishes, sea turtles, rays, Galapagos sharks and many other marine wildlife. In South Plaza Island, which is partner of North Plaza Island, both create a turquoise water canal that contrast with the red natural carpet (sesuvium) and cactus that the island have as breathtaking landscape; here you you will be greeted by sea lions, and expect to spot land iguanas, marine iguanas, sea lions, Galapagos lizard and finches, also variety of sea birds fishing and flying really close to the cliff of this island like swallow-tailed gull, pelicans and Nazca boobies.

Metropolitan Touring

The Day Tour to North Seymour Island departs from Itabaca Canal, the sailing is about one hour, this island is located to the North of Santa Cruz Island. In this wonderful island you will be welcomed by sea lions in the dock and rocks, the landscape of the island is contrasted by Palo Santo (incense stick) forest and red-colored soil; here you may expect to spot blue footed boobies nesting (or making their courtship dancing, depending of the season), swallowed tail gull sitting in the cliffs and admire large number of frigate birds in their nests. The snorkel will take place in Las Bachas Beach which is located in Santa Cruz Island, you may spot sharks, variety of fishes and maybe flamingos in the beach lagoon. Sometimes, if the ocean conditions permit, and the guide and captain allows it, the snorkel place can take place in North Seymour Island shores and canal.

Santa Fe Island

The Day Tour to Santa Fe Island departs from Puerto Ayora's Main Pier, the sailing is about two hours, this island is located South East of Santa Cruz Island. In this island you will find an endemic land iguana that lives only in this place, sea lions in a white sand beach resting waiting for pictures, they pose to your cameras. The trail starts at the beach and leads you into a giant cactus forest while the Galapagos hawk overfly in the light blue sky. Crabs, nocturnal herons, marine iguanas, mockingbirds and Galapagos doves are often spotted in this unique island. The snorkel will take place in a bay called Fisherman Bay in Santa Fe Island; here you may spot sea turtles, rays, sea lions, fishes, Galapagos sharks and many more in this rocky reef.

Charles Darwin Research Station

Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and "Tortoise Route"