Pablo Sachún N47-66 y Samuel Fritz, Quito-Ecuador
Our journey begins with giants, of the tortoise kind. After landing at Baltra airport, we will soon be among these lumbering creatures in their natural, highland habitat. The next day takes us to the beautiful coast of Santiago Island, home to sleepy fur seals and where there’s a chance to snorkel alongside marine iguanas, before an afternoon visit to the sandy beach of Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat Islet). Overnight we sail up to “Bird Island”, Genovesa, where we spend the entire day enjoying its remote colonies of nesting birds, including the rare red-footed booby, and explore its cliffs, shoreline, and beaches. Returning to the central islands, Santa Fe offers glimpses of the islands’ top avian predator, the Galapagos hawk, while in the afternoon, we can hope to observe sea lions and sharks in the waters off South Plaza. From tortoises to boobies, hawks to sea lions, our northern itinerary makes for a truly memorable 5 days in the Galapagos.
