4 days aboard Galapagos Legend

Departure from either Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island is a 2 ½-hour flight. Upon arrival in the Galapagos Islands, passengers are greeted at the airport by our knowledgeable guides who will accompany them on a short ten-minute bus ride to the pier where they will board the Galapagos Legend.

On the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, accessible only by sea, four species of mangroves crowd form an inland lagoon, turtles visit the calm waters, peaking their heads above the surface while fish, rays circle below. White-tipped reef sharks can be seen beneath the boat, plus sea birds, including pelicans, herons and egrets. This cove has been declared as a “turtle sanctuary”.

Be marveled at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the lava cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropicbirds fly overhead, and a small colony of fur seals may be found near the landing site. You will be dropped off at a steep stairway that begins on rocks at the foot of a path that leads through a seabird colony full of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies.

From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island, we step onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. In the trail we can see at nesting red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds.

Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, and land iguanas are commonly found at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of a red succulents studded with Opuntia cacti. Along the cliffs, watch frigatebirds, Galapagos shearwaters, and red-billed tropicbirds in display flight.

After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay, we may have enjoyed time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing on a sandy beach, we spend time watching the abundant sea lions there with us and . We begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti and we can watch the Santa Fe land Iguana.

In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, we have our best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species of the famed finches.

After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.