Essential Land Excursions on our 15-Day Liveaboard

When people think of the Galapagos, they often envision its awe-inspiring underwater realm, teeming with exotic marine life. While the diving experiences are undoubtedly spectacular, the Galapagos Islands hold an equal, if not greater, allure above the water's surface. If you're embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to this natural paradise, you'll want to explore the myriad of land excursions that showcase the archipelago's extraordinary biodiversity.

What sets our 15-day trip apart is its holistic approach to experiencing the Galapagos—blending both aquatic and terrestrial wonders for a comprehensive impression of the islands. Imagine setting foot on Feredina, a jewel among the Galapagos islands and one of the most pristine environments on Earth, completely free of man's introduced species. Or hiking up Tagus Cove to a viewpoint where the dramatic volcanic landscape of Isabela Island unfurls below, crowned by the awe-inspiring Darwin Crater Lake.

North Seymour takes your land adventure to another level, with its open nesting grounds of Blue-footed Boobies and the largest colonies of Great and Magnificent Frigatebirds in the archipelago. Witness the spectacular courtship dance of the Blue-footed Boobies in open areas, observe Swallow-tailed Gulls perched on cliff edges, and keep an eye out for Great Blue Herons, Lava Herons, two species of frigatebirds, and even endemic snakes.

From Blue and Red-footed Boobies performing their quirky mating dances to majestic Flamingos grazing in shallow waters; from the enigmatic flightless Cormorants to playful sea lions—your land adventure in the Galapagos promises a wildlife spectacle like no other.

Read on to learn more about the unforgettable experiences that await you on your land excursions in the Galapagos.

Rabida also called 'The red island'. Result of the oxidation on the moment of its formation this island offers red landscapes with small craters, cliffs and a red sand beaches. Here, hundreds of sea lions formed a settlement together with a nesting colony of pelicans. It is one of the few places where you can find flamingos and the only site in Galapagos where the nine Darwin's finches are found. It offers also a small salty lagoon, Palo Santo forests and endemic cacti.

After our morning dives we will be sailing to Fernandina Island across the Bolivar channel which is an excellent opportunities for whale and dolphin watching. Showcased by many documentaries including BBC’s Blue Planet I & II, Fernandina Island is home to the world’s largest marine iguana colony. The island is also one of the most pristine islands in the world, with none of man’s introduced species to date. The flat jet-black lava of Punta Espinosa is a defining feature of its stark and barren landscape. Other features are lava cacti, black, white and red mangrove, Sally light-foot crabs, Galapagos hawks, and sea turtles. Moreover, the famous flightless cormorant inhabits this island. This a land visit you don't want to miss out!

In the early morning we will offer a beautiful hike in Tagus Cove. Tagus Cove is located on the Northwestern coast of Isabela. It is a historical site visited by Charles Darwin in 1835. The hike will bring us to a view point over the dramatic volcanic landscape of Isabela Island with views of Darwin Crater Lake. In Tagus Cove also can be found 7 different species of Darwin finches.

We will return by the same path for a dinghy ride along a shoreline full of marine wildlife. Here, we will admire a variety of seabirds, such as blue-footed booby, brown noddy, terns, flightless cormorant and Galapagos penguins. The Galapagos penguins are only 1.4 ft. tall (35 cm) and are the only penguin species in the world living in the northern hemisphere, that is, along the Equator. 

After our morning dive we will offer a land visit to the famous Bartolome Island - the most iconic place in the Galapagos! 

We will travel back in time to the formation of lava tubes, spatter cones and the remains of two types of hardened lava: AA and pahoehoe. Beautiful and breathtaking landscapes as you climb up Summit Trail. During the ascent, visitors will see Tiquilia and various cactus species, which add to the unique experience. The tall, leaning spike known as Pinnacle Rock is always something to behold. The Pinnacle Rock, formed by an eroded toba cone, is the most emblematic formation of the archipelago. On its base, a small colony of Penguins cohabit with Sea Lions and Marine Birds. 

After the dive in Cousin's Rock & land visit in Bartolome we will head to Santa Cruz Island. Here we visit the highlands of Santa Cruz to see Giant tortoises in the wild. On our visit we also will make a stop at a lava tunnel and often mistaken for volcanic craters, Los Gemelos – or “The Twins” in English – are actually sinkholes.

This place is the reason for many travellers and ornithologists to observe the spectacular and diverse amount of birds of the Galapagos. 

North Seymour is a fascinating place with open nesting grounds of blue-footed Boobies and the archipelago’s largest colonies of Great and magnificent Frigate birds. Blue-footed Boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas; Swallow- tailed Gulls perch on cliff edges; Great Blue Herons, Lava Herons, two species of frigate birds, and endemic snakes can also be spotted.

You’ll find endemic land iguanas 3.9 ft (1.20 m) in length. Despite the tremendous surf pounding the outer shores, sea lions haul their slick bodies onto the beach and can be found together with marine iguanas. The vegetation is sparse and typical of arid zones.

Due to overwhelming positive feedback and demand, Galapagos Shark Diving is thrilled to announce that it will be offering not just one, but two 15-day Galapagos Conservation Dive Trips in 2024. These extended adventures are designed to offer a comprehensive experience of the Galapagos Islands, both above and below the water.

Dates:

• 30th July - 13th August 2024
• 13th August - 27th August 2024

Itinerary

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To book visit our Booking Page (click here)

You can reach us at info@galapagossharkdiving.com. We are happy to assist you in any question you might have.