Visit two uninhabited islands in Galapagos aboard a luxury yacht. This Day Cruise will take you to Santa Fe Island and South Plazas Island. Get aboard a day cruise of unprecedented speed, in wonderful comfort, with catering facilities on board for snacks and lunch, space for everyone to relax, passionate naturalist guide and dedicated crew. Visit lovely Santa Fe island, home to the endemic Barrington land iguana and a amazing spot for snorkelling. Afterwards, sail to South Plazas Island to observe the colorful vegetation and wildlife. Visit two Islands in one day!

Begin the tour early, pick up from your hotel is at 7am. The first destination is Santa Fe Island. This small island is formed of uplifted, submarine basaltic lava, some 4 million years ago. Much of it is a faulted plateau covered with a forest of giant Opuntia cactae.

As you walk through the dense bushes on the short trail, watch out for the Croton bushes, an endemic plant with an indelible stain. The most spectacular plants are the giant prickly pear cactae, unique to Santa Fe (Opuntia echios barringtonensis). The Galapagos dove is common on the trail, as are painted locusts, often pursued by a snake or two. The park monument is often a vantage point to spy a Galapagos hawk. The highlight is the land iguana, a lighter-colored iguana that is endemic to Santa Fe. Santa Fe is also home to a large Sea Lion nursery. You will also take a dip in the sea for some snorkeling among Galapagos marine life on this site.

After a stop for lunch on board, get ready for a dry landing on South Plaza Island. This beautiful island is full of both land life and birds, including Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Frigate birds, Masked boobies, Blue-footed boobies, Pelicans and Red-billed Tropicbirds. It’s easy to wander past a gull’s nest and observe chicks flapping their wings trying to fly.

Created by lava uplifted from the sea bed, South Plaza has resident wildlife and diverse plant life that has progressively taken over the island since its formation. Along its steep cliffs, you will find an amazing variety of birds, while on the lower rocky beach; observe colonies of sea lions and marine animals.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Activity level: Moderate
Tour style: Hiking & Snorkeling
Pick up: 7:00 am
Departure & Return location: Meeting Point
Return time: 17:00