Transfer and Other Charges:

PM – Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz Island)
Dry landing. In the mountains of Galapagos is possible to admire different kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets (usually standing on the tortoises’ shell). The journey to the reserve offers great opportunities to see the contrasts that the island offers in reference to the variety of ecosystems. The road goes from the coast through the agricultural zone and straight up to the dense humid forests. Often, Galapagos Giant Tortoises are also seen on the way, wandering through pastures in the paddocks. This spot is a bird watchers’ haven since almost every land bird present on the island lives or migrates here.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: flat & muddy sometimes (seasonal conditions)
Duration: 45-minute drive / 1 ½-hour walk

Day 2: Tuesday
AM – El Barranco, Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa Island)
Be marveled at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the lava cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropicbirds fly overhead, switching between their nests and the bay, 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. At the plateau, the trail continues inland allowing you to see more nesting booby colonies in the thin Palo Santo forest. Near the end of the trail, over a rocky lava plain, Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels can be observed flying in all directions. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Type of terrain: rocky – lava
Duration: 45-minute walk

PM – Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
Disembark onto a small sand and coral beach. A short trail heads west along a tidal lagoon and then up a rocky hill that leads to a point overlooking the cliffs and Darwin Bay. Along the trail near the tidal lagoon, visitors will see pairs of Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Yellow-crowned and Lava Herons. The trail continues through Palo Santo trees, Opuntia cacti, and Saltbushes inhabited by Great Frigate birds and Red-footed Boobies. This is one of the few places in the islands where visitors are guaranteed to see Red-footed Boobies. It is estimated that more than 200,000 Red-footed Boobies live in the trees and bushes of Genovesa.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Type of terrain: Sand & Lava
Duration: 2 ½-hour walk aprox.

Day 3: Wednesday
AM – Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island)
Dry landing. Walk by a brackish lagoon to see flamingos. The trail leads across typical dry zone vegetation. Keeping up until Dragon Hill, see an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, offering lovely views of the anchored boats and neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and Galapagos doves.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2-hour walk

PM – Santa Fe Island
Wet landing. Santa Fe shows white sand beaches surrounded by sea lion colonies; through the island path, an endemic cactus forest is passed, home the Santa Fe land iguanas (the largest in the islands). This island is the habitat for a number of species, including the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snakes, rice rats (one of the few endemic Galapagos rodents), a variety of finches and one of the four mockingbird species of the archipelago.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour deep-water snorkeling

Day 4: Thursday
AM – Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island)
Wet landing. On the north side of Santa Cruz; behind the beach lies two small flamingo ponds were iguanas sunbathe, see coastal birds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and gulls, as well as interesting native vegetation like red and black mangrove, salt bushes. This beach is one of the main sea turtles nesting sites in the Galapagos. A turtle can lay eggs 3 or 4 times per season with an average of 70 eggs each time. At this paradisiacal site, we will also find the remains of barges that sank a long time ago, when the United States Navy operated a base during World War II on Baltra Island. Local people modified the word barges to “Bachas”.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Duration: 1-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling/ beach time

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





EAST ITINERARY

Day 1: Monday
AM – Baltra Airport
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (2 ½ hours flight). Passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the Galapagos Legend.

Galapagos Facts Month by Month

You will be in a sunny year round destination; the warmest months are from December to June. January to March can be hot and humid, but also mostly green at this time. The months from July to November are cooler. The average year-round temperature is 24°C. (76°F).

January
Espanola’s Island : Adult male marine iguanas become brightly colored to attract mates.
Green sea turtles start laying eggs on beaches.
Land birds begin to nest.
Hatching of Giant tortoises’ eggs.
Weather: wet and humid.

February
Greater flamingos start nesting on Floreana Island.
Penguins migrate away from Bartolome Island to cooler waters of Isabella and Fernandina Island.
Nazca boobies end their nesting season.
In Santa Cruz Island, marine iguanas start nesting.
Weather: water and air temperatures rise due to the rainy season.

March
Marine Iguanas nest on Fernandina and North Seymour Islands.
The waved albatross of Española start arriving.
Frigate birds mating season starts on San Cristobal and Genovesa islands.
Perfect time for snorkeling.
Weather: warm and rainy.

April
Sea turtles, marine iguanas and land iguanas nesting.
Waved albatross come back to Española Island and begin nesting.
Waved albatrosses begin their courtship.
Weather: Rainy season comes to an end.

May
Waved albatross lay eggs on Española Island.
Blue-footed boobies begin their world known courtship.
Galalpagos sea lions start mating.
Due to the lack of rain during the months of April and May, the arid zone hanges from green to brown, only the highlands remain green.
Weather: water and air temperatures start getting cooler.

June
Whale sharks may be seen in the northwestern islands toward the end of the month.
Male frigatebirds begin their courtship by inflating their red pouches.
Santa Cruz giant tortoises migrate to lowlands searching for good nesting-places.
Humpback whales can be seen around the islands.
Due to the lack of rain during the months of April and May, the arid zone changes from green to brown, only the highlands remain green.
Weather: rare rain with temperatures getting cooler, the start of the “dry season.”

July
Nesting season for blue-footed boobies begin.
American oystercatchers on Española, and other coastal birds nest on Santiago.
Start of sea lion breeding season.
Greater flamingos begin their courtship with a “dance.”
Nesting starts of flightless cormorants.
Near Darwin and Wolf Islands, whale sharks can be spotted.
On Española, blue-footed bobby’s chicks, eggs and juveniles can be observed.
Lava lizards mating season initiate and continue until November.
Weather: July and August are the months with strongest winds due to cold currents (Humbolt).

August
Sea lions give birth during this time especially on the western and central islands.
On Santiago and Española islands the courtship of the Galapagos hawks start.
Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa.
Frigatebirds’ eggs start hatching.
Giant tortoises go back to the highlands after laying their eggs.
Weather: coolest air and water temperatures.

September
You can spot Galapagos penguins during their courtship on Bartolome Island and continue until December.
Seabirds at nesting sites can be seen.
Near the northwest islands, humpback whales or whale sharks can be seeing migrating.
A good month to see baby sea lions.
Weather: peak of light rainy season.

October
Blue-footed booby chicks can be seen on Española and Isabella.
Lava herons begin to nest.
Galapagos fur sea lions mating season begins.
Weather: windy and dry.

 November
The opportunity of seeing whale sharks in the far northwest of the Islands.
Green sea turtle mating season starts.
Galapagos sea lion pups are born.
Great for swimming and snorkeling with baby sea lions.
Weather: start of the warm season

December
Baby giant tortoises start hatching.
Young waved-albatross migrate to return in March.
Land iguanas begin mating.
Sea lions and fur sea lions breeding.
Great time to observe land birds: finches, doves. Don’t forget binoculars.
Weather: sunshine and hot to enjoy the water.

We have upsized and renamed our biggest and most comfortable cabin; our new Legend Balcony Suite; including a generously large balcony, perfect for sophisticated & distinguished clientele.

• 1 cabin located on the Moon Deck.
• Area 43 m2) / 463 ft2)
• Double & Triple options.
• Exclusive & exquisite decoration.
• Mini fridge & champagne.
• Top of the line amenities & bathrobe.

BALCONY SUITE

One of the most striking aspects of our refurbishments: 16 totally new Balcony Suites, located on the Sky Deck and Moon Deck, measuring an average of 23 m2 (248 ft2), including a huge significant redesign and general upgrades to more than satisfy customers´ expectations.

JUNIOR  SUITE 

4 New Quads are available ensuring that your whole family can rest comfortably. Enjoy the perks of having the family together in private quarters while cruising the Galapagos Islands.

STANDARD PLUS

STANDARD INTERIOR

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart.

Passport Note

Passports must be carried at all times.



Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.

Note: (a) A measles vaccination certificate is required by all nationals travelling from Germany and Italy and must be shown on arrival. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

Extensions of a further 90 days are available through the local immigration authorities.