Welcome to the Galapagos! A province of Ecuador, this remarkable archipelago of volcanic islands is home to some of the world’s most unique, highly evolved wildlife.

Your sightseeing begins today with a visit to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, the Highlands are a natural reserve for giant tortoises. These enormous, slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island’s name and approaching them in their humid, forest abode is always an inspiring adventure. They weigh between 250 and 300 kilograms and can live between 150 and 200 years. You’ll enjoy a short walk with these impressive creatures, and also have the chance to spot some of the other highland species, including several species of the famed finches.

Riding pangas to the far side of the caldera, red-billed tropicbirds display vociferously overhead while Galapagos fur seals can be seen on the shoreline. Once at the top of the rocky stairway you will be met by Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches that line your way through a palo santo forest until arriving at an expansive open lava field. Wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm above the lava, and you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to sport the short-eared owls.

From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island you will set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. The short, flat, trail leads you past stands of mangroves and saltbush on which you’ll have your best possible chance of sighting nesting red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds. At the tidal lagoon you may also see the world’s rarest gull, the Galapagos’ very own, endemic lava gull.

Arriving at a small lava dock, your first encounter of the day will be with the marine iguanas that blend-in perfectly to the dark rock, with Dragon Hill standing in the distance. A walk will take you on a circular path, past a shallow lake where flamingos frequently come to feed. Waders such as stilts, turnstones and sandpipers work the muddy edges frenetically looking for food as you continue inland to a dry, forested habitat where land iguanas nest and burrow.

Be greeted by a sea lion colony this afternoon on Santa Fe Island. Enjoy a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay, sharing the sea with the sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing onto a sandy beach, you will wander past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti. Here you’ll search for the Santa Fe land iguana, paler than its cousins on other islands. Galapagos hawks and even endemic rice rats are also species to look out for.

Enjoy a lovely walk along the shore of Bachas beach, named after the barges left by the United States after World War II ended. The beach is a popular nesting ground for green turtles (keep your eye out for the tell-tale, tractor-like marks they leave in the sand during nesting season). The walk will also take you to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingos. A fascinating way to finish your memorable visit to the Galapagos Islands!