See written descriptions below or visit Cornell Geology Link  -  still under construction but most links are active with additional photos and lots of information.

PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO
Landing: Airport The Capital of the Galapagos Islands (population 4,000) and the oldest settlement. In 1985, an airstrip was built for flights to the mainland serviced by San Airlines. A small naval museum, souvenir shops and houses make up this small bayside village. All our vessels begin and end their journey here.

LEON DORMIDO (kicker Rock)
Landing: None (panga ride) A vertical tuff cone, abruptly rising almost 500 feet from the ocean. Erosion has split the rock and given its characteristic shape. Blue footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds and sea lions line the shore.

EL JUNCO LAKE
When weather permits, we visit the highlands of San Cristobal by bus to reach the only sizeable fresh water lake in Galapagos where we find stilts, white-cheeked pintail ducks and common gallinules. We pass through several vegetation zones and the farming community, El Progreso.

ISLA LOBOS
Less than an hour from San Cristobal, Lobos Islet is a seasonal nesting location for the blue footed boobie, although it is named for the sea lions sometimes present there.

PLAYA OCHOA
Landing: Wet A small Island just an hour from San Cristobal. A subtle introduction to the Galapagos with a short trail leading to a sand beach good for swimming. Pelicans and other Galapagos sea birds fly up overhead.

ESPANOLA (HOOD)

PUNTA SUAREZ
Landing: Wet Notes: Wear good walking shoes This rocky point of land sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea, for a spectacular view of soaring birds and the famous blowhole. You値l meet a multitude of blue footed boobies and masked boobies protecting eggs and young chicks. So awkward on land, the waved Albatross perform a strange courtship ritual.

GARDNER BAY
Landing: Wet Notes: Bring bathing suit, towel, snorkeling equipment Located on the Northeastern portion of Espanola facing Gardner Islet, we find a good spot for swimming and snorkeling. On shore, we walk along the brilliant white sand beach. This site is favored by sea turtles for nesting, sea lions for snoozing and visitors for taking long peaceful walks.

FLOREANA
(CHARLES)

PUNTA CORMORANT
Landing: Wet We land on a beach with olive-colored sand due to volcanic crystals of magnesium and iron. The trail leads to a brackish lagoon where there are flamingos (the pinkest in the world) are surrounded by palo santo trees. Pass through a rich variety of PLANT LIFE to reach a soft coral sand beach where sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand dunes. Spotted eagle rays swim along the shallow water so watch where you step.

DEVILS CROWN
Landing: By panga for snorkeling A shallow sunken crater makes for one of the best snorkeling sites in Galapagos. This almost completely submerged volcano offers snorkelers the chance to play in the water with sea lions. See a wide variety of colorful fish in the clear blue water. One must be a good swimmer as currents can be very strong.

POST OFFICE BAY (Offered Only on 7-night Continuous Itinerary)
Landing: Wet Not the most scenic of the visitor sites, but probably one of the most famous sites in Galapagos. Here is where a post barrel was placed and put into use in the late 18th century by English whaling vessels. You are invited to leave a post card and to pick up any mail from your home area. Take a short visit to the remains of a Norwegian commercial fish drying and canning operation and a lava tube that extends to the sea.

BLACK BEACH
landing: Dry An unofficial visitor site only visited under special arrangement. Visit the Wittmer pension and small settlement of Puerto Velasco Ibarra. Its famous resident, Margaret Whitmer, arrived to Floreana in the 1930's and still lives here today with her daughter. Here you can have your post cards stamped with one of four seals, sample the homemade wine. Items for sale include Floreana t-shirts and signed copies of her book, Floreana.

SANTA FE
(BARRINGTON)

Landing: Wet, wear sport sandals Walk through a forest of giant Opuntia Cactus to find the special land iguanas, different from the species found on South Plaza. There is time for a swim in crystal clear water with colorful fish, sea turtles and schools of manta rays.

SANTA CRUZ
(INDEFATIGABLE)

PUERTO AYORA (Academy Bay)
Landing: Dry Note: Bring money for souvenirs, etc. Home of the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park headquarters. You値l learn first hand of the conservation and research efforts in the islands. See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. Tour the Van Straelen Exhibit Hall. For most, this will be your only opportunity to see the giant tortoises. Stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora (population 8,000) to buy souvenirs. Tourism, boat repair, fishing and agriculture are the major trades. For passengers on our 7- night cruises, you will have an opportunity to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz. The scenery continually changes as we ascend through different vegetation zones. Visit a pair of large pit craters called "Los Gemelos" Spanish for twins and the largest lava tunnels found in Galapagos.

SOUTH PLAZA
Landing: Dry You値l be greeted by numerous sea lions as you come ashore as this Island is occupied by 1,000 bulls, cows juveniles and pups. A large population of land iguanas are found eating pads and flowers from the Opuntia cactus. Along the high Southern edge, you値l see various sea birds and the bachelor sea lion colony. Snorkeling is possible although visibility is inconsistent.

SANTIAGO
(JAMES)

PUERTO EGAS (James Bay)
Landing: Wet - Santiago is a dramatic island covered with recent lava flows (Pahoehoe and ropey AA), feral goats and wild pigs. At this landing, you値l see the remains of a fish-drying enterprise. Walk along the coast toward the fur seal grottos, once thought to be on the verge of extinction. Here we can swim in deep pools of clear water. Marine iguanas graze on exposed green algae and marine life is abundant. Note: Bring swimsuit, towel and snorkeling equipment.

BARTOLOME ISLAND
Landing: Dry Notes: Wear good walking shoes. One of the most photographed sites in Galapagos is Pinnicle rock, an eroded tuff cone. A 30 minute climb to a summit of a once active volcano offers a panoramic view of Sullivan Bay. The view is educational as well as inspiring featuring lava formation-spatter cones and lava tubes. Landing: Wet Notes: Swimsuit, towel, snorkeling equipment- Afterward, there is time for snorkeling on the beach that lines the northern shore. Frequently, penguins are spotted in this area. Take a walk through mangroves to the southern beach. Here, you may see mating sea turtles and white tipped sharks close to shore.

GENOVESA
(TOWER)

DARWIN BAY
Landing: Wet Located at the northeast portion of the Galapagos, Tower is an outpost for many seabirds and is a favorite amongst birders. Darwin Bay is actually the caldera of an extinct, partially-eroded volcano, with the surrounding cliffs forming he inner portion of the rim. In a forest of salt bush, we find colonies of nesting Great frigate birds and Red footed boobies. A coral beach offers a great snorkeling opportunity.

PRINCE PHILLIPS STEPS
Landing: Dry Note: Wear good walking shoes This tour starts with a panga ride along the base of the cliffs. We see squadrons of frigate birds and red billed tropic birds flying back and forth overhead. Red footed boobies are perched on branches of palo santo trees. Take your time climbing the steep rock staircase. At the top, the trails lead to an open area of nesting Masked boobies and Great Frigate birds. Red footed boobies are perched in a forest of dwarf palso santo trees. Storm petrels are found in the open lava fields at the end of the trail which are prey for the short eared owls.

FERNANDINA
(NARBOROUGH)

PUNTA ESPINOSA
Landing: Dry, easy walk Along the shoreline hundreds of marine iguanas bask in the sun-the largest colony in Galapagos. A large colony of sea lions with resident bulls are present. Flightless cormorants build their nests on the point and often Galapagos hawks fly overhead. This is one of the most pristine Islands with no introduced species to date. See the recent lava flows, AA and Pahoehoe. Active volcano.

ISABELA
(ALBEMARLE)

TAGUS COVE
Landing: Dry Note: Wear good walking shoes Created by the lava of six volcanoes that flowed together, this 1800 square foot Island is the largest in Galapagos. Graffiti dating back to the 1800's is written on the rocky cliff. The trail leads to a salt water lagoon and a great view of the lava fields, volcanic formation and the ocean. A panga ride reveals marine life and Galapagos penguins. Five volcanoes are still active.

DIVING IN THE GALAPAGOS
The marine community of Galapagos is one of the most unique and exotic. One must be an experienced diver with adequate skills as strong currents, thermoclines and swells are common. There are no dive shops in Galapagos so one must bring all their own equipment. The time to dive is between November and June when conditions are best. In order to dive, you must be on a designated dive trip. Itineraries normally consist of two dives per day alternating with shore excursions as well as snorkeling and panga rides. Here are some of the more popular dive sites in Galapagos.

COUSINS ROCKS
To the North of Bartolome, Cousins is an interesting wall dive. Here you値l see huge Moray eels, an occasional school of sharks and invertebrates. Visibility is just fair most of the year. GORDON ROCKS The best dive site in the Central Islands. It is a tough dive with heavy currents, large swells and deep water. One can find Hammerhead sharks, Amberjacks and other large fish.

GUY FAWKES ROCKS
This is an easy, low current dive. Small reef fish abound. The walls are covered with black coral and it痴 a well worth it site for the multi-colored sponges, coral sand other invertebrates.

ROCA REDONDA
Located north of Isabela, Roca Redonda is home to big sharks, big groupers and areas spewing gas bubbles from the floor.

WOLF AND DARWIN
Most experienced divers will agree, this is best diving sites in the world! Sightings of the whale shark is common here. There are no land visitor sites here, just serious diving. At the "Northern Arch" at Darwin, the northern most Island, Hammerhead sharks are not uncommon nor are bottlenose dolphins. At Wolf, three anchorages are possible; the pinnacle, the reef and the south islet channel. The reef contains many warm water varieties of fish found nowhere else in the Islands and is the most consistent place to see hammerheads.