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Galapagos –
Baltra Airport
We will set out from Quito or Guayaquil
to Baltra airport in Galapagos. Then we
will head for the quay to get on the M/V
Galapagos Legend.
North Seymour
On our first day, we will disembark
at North Seymour Island, where we will
have the opportunity to see seagulls
and sea lions. This island is famous
for the breeding of blue-footed boobies
that takes place here, and for having
the biggest rookery of magnificent frigate
birds. Then we will watch sea animals
and endemic iguana species.
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Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill)
We will visit Dragon Hill. After a dry
landing, we will visit the salt-water
lagoon, situated near the beach which
is often visited by pink flamingoes.
We will cross a lignum vitae forest to
walk along a path to the top of Dragon
Hill, where we can appreciate the unique
view of the whole bay. In this area, the
land iguanas are bred; this species was
introduced by Charles Darwin Scientific
Station.
Floreana (Punta Cormorant)
We will have a wet landing on a green
beach formed by olivine crystal. We will
go along a well-signaled path, right passing
the mangrove swamp of different species,
and will take us to a lagoon where is
one of the biggest flamingo rookeries
of Galapagos.
Floreana Island is famous for its endemic
fauna; for example, lecocarpus, lignum
vitae and scalecia villosa. At the end
of the path, there is a white-sanded beach
where we can find turtles, which come
every year to lay their eggs; we can see
that by the footprints on the sand, and
their nests.
At the green beach, we can do snorkeling
accompanied by sea lions. Here is one
of the most visited places to do this
activity: The Devil’s Crown.
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Española (Punta Suarez)
We will have a dry landing at Punta Suarez.
We will listen to an introduction about
inactive lava holes. This area is famous
for the sea lion rookeries, and is one
of the most important places to watch
many species of animals: Nazca and blue-footed
boobies, tropical birds, marine iguanas,
lava lizards and colorful zayapas.
We will also find Galapagos pigeons,
sparrow hawks and split-tail seagulls.
This is a nesting area; the nest can even
be seen on the path itself. After leaving
the breeding area, we will visit one of
the albatross nesting rookeries; there
are about 15,000 of them around the island.
From May to December, the albatross
mating ritual is something we cannot miss.
We will see the prompter, where the water
stream goes up to 23 meters.
San Cristobal
We will have a dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo
Moreno, where we will visit the Interpretation
Center, and learn about the nature and
history of the inhabitants of Galapagos.
Later we can stroll around the city.
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Santa Cruz (Punta Carrion)
In this visit, we will have the opportunity
to do snorkeling, or watch a wide variety
of fish, manta rays and white pointer
sharks, which are harmless.
From Punta Carrion, we will sail along
the beautiful Itabaca Channel with its
turquoise waters. We will get back to
the ship to check out and go to the airport
and fly to Quito or Guayaquil.
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