Baltra.-This is a small military base belonging to Ecuador, and it is also the main airport for the Galapagos Islands since it is the point of arrival and departure for both tourists and colonists. Baltra is also known as South Seymour and its dock is only five minutes from the air terminal.

Bartolome.- On this island it is possible to see interesting formations of lava and ash cones. After a 30 to 40-minute climb to the high part, a wooden stairway goes to the top where there is a beautiful view of the nearest bays. This island is one of the most visited and photographed because of its Pinnacle Rock and the sea lions and penguins around its base. Dry landing.

Santiago (James).-
Sullivan Bay.- Here you can swim and scuba dive with sea lions and penguins. Deboarding is on a beautiful white sand beach where you can see lava formations. Wet landing.

Puerto Egas.- This site is characterized by its black rock lava landscape. There are also natural pools where you can swim or scuba dive with sea lions and marine iguanas. Tourists can hike to observe Darwin's finches, Galapagos hawks and fur seals. This site is excellent for diving. Wet landing.

Rabida (Jervis) .-
This site has a dark red sand beach where you can observe colonies of fur seals. On the far side of the beach there is a lagoon with flamingos, and you can also see brown pelicans and boobies. There are nine types of Darwin's finches here. This is an excellent place to dive. Wet landing.

Mosquera Islet.- This islet has a white sand beach where you can see colonies of seals lying in the sun.

North Seymour.- On this island there are blue-footed boobies, colonies of magnificent frigate birds, fork-tailed seagulls, sea lions and marine iguanas. The Palo Santo trees are here also. Wet landing.

Plaza.-This island is full of life. There are colonies of sea lions and land iguanas. On the steep banks it is possible to see a great number of birds such as nesting tropic birds and fork-tailed seagulls, but most of all, enjoying the beautiful view from atop the steep banks or strolling along the base of the cliff is an extremely pleasurable experience. The Opuntia cacti grow here too and the vegetation changes color according to the season of the year. Dry landing.

Santa Fe(Barrington).- There are colonies of sea lions and land iguanas, fork-tailed seagulls, and the opportunity to see terns and petrels on this island. Hikking on into the island you can see a forest of giant cacti and Palo Santo trees. After walking around on land, there is time for a swim or scuba diving. Wet landing.

Floreana (Charles).-

Punta cormorant.- This site has a beach of green olivine crystal sand. The island has a lagoon filled with flamingos. Walking on towards the other side, there is a fine white sand beach where marine turtles nest from December to May. Wet landing.

Corona del Diablo.- This site is an excellent place for scuba diving. The beautiful coral formations offer a wonderful underwater panorama. You can also easily see schools of multi-colored fish, sharks and marine turtles at a depth of only 6 meters.

Post Office Bay.- Here you will see the famous barrel that served as the mailbox for eighteenth century whaling ships. Now tourists leave their unstamped letters or postcards for the next passengers to mail.

Santa Cruz (Indefatigable).-

This is the most heavily populated island in the archipelago. Its port, Puerto Ayora, is an obligatory stop for all ships, so there are many hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, discotheques, bars, internet coffee shops and other stores where tourists can spend their time shopping or getting to know other people. The most important site on this island is the Charles Darwin Scientific Station. An excellent way to begin learning about the islands and their origin and formation is to visit the Station. You can also see how the Galapagos turtles are raised and meet Jorge, the famous solitary turtle. The Scientific Station has its own beach that receives many visitors on weekends. A 45-minute walk from Puerto Ayora takes you to one of the most beautiful beaches in Galapagos, Tortuga Bay. This beach is special because the sand is extremely white and fine. You can swim or scuba dive here. Some boats include a visit to the high part of the island. Santa Rosa, the lava tunnels, the Chato turtle reserve and the Gemelos are well liked by tourists. There are also other important sites on Santa Cruz, but it is necessary to take a boat to reach them easily: Caleta Tortuga Negra, Bachas Beach, Cerro Dragon, Conway Bay and Whaler Bay.

Caleta Tortuga:: It is on the north side of Santa Cruz. You have to go by panga (motorized canoe) to reach it and see its mangrove swamp where there are nesting marine turtles during certain seasons of the year, and also sharks and rays.

Bachas Beach.- This beach is also on the north side of Santa Cruz. It is an excellent place to swim.

Española.-

Punta Suarez.- This bay is a 45-minute boat ride from Punta Suarez. It has a white sand beach and there is a small colony of sea lions. The possibilities for swimming or scuba diving are excellent here.

Gardner Bay.- This bay is a 45-minute boat ride from Punta Suarez. It has a white sand beach and there is a small colony of sea lions. The possibilities for swimming or scuba diving are excellent here.

San Cristóbal:
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.- This is the capital of the archipelago. The airport has the same name. It is possible to stop here to shop for souvenirs. Dry landing.

Lobos Island .-This island has the most important colony of sea lions and blue-footed boobies. The scenery is beautiful. Wet landing.

Leon Dormido.- This is really a gigantic rock formed by a volcanic eruption. It is divided by a narrow canal that small boats can pass through. This rock is home for a great number of sea birds. It is also a good spot for diving.

Punta Pitt.- This place is on the north of San Cristobal. Here there are endemic species such as lava lizards and red-footed boobies. The view is impressive when you walk up to the high part of the island.

Fernandina.-
Punta Espinoza.- This site has a beautiful backdrop of black rock and lava. Here there are colonies of marine iguanas, a great number of penguins, colonies of flightless cormorants and pelicans. You can swim or snorkel among sea lions. The vegetation is quite different because of the lava and in certain places the plants are dry. Dry landing.

Isabela.-
This is the largest island in the archipelago. It has 6 active volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf. The enormous amount of lava expelled by these volcanoes formed this island. Each volcano has its own species of giant turtles. On this island it is possible to visit several sites authorized by the National Park. Their description follows.

Punta Vicente Roca.-The visit here is in panga through the bay in order to observe hundreds of sea birds. The scenery is spectacular because of the cliffs and caverns

Tagus Cove.- This site was a natural port where whaling ships arrived and left their names written in 1800. You can climb up to the highest part to see the crater with its salt-water Darwin Lagoon and a spectacular view. Walking through the cliffs, we will encounter penguins, flightless cormorant birds, boobies, pelicans and Sally lightfoot crabs.

Urbina Bay.-: This bay is off the east coast. From here it is easy to reach the Alcedo and Darwin volcanoes. You can see large colored land iguanas here and the possibility of seeing giant turtles, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, penguins and marine iguanas is excellent.

Punta Moreno.- It is on the southwestern side of Isabela. From here there is a spectacular view of the Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. Here there are a number of lagoons with different kinds of birds such as frigate birds, flamencos and pelicans.

Other interesting places to visit are Elizabeth Bay, Punta Garcia, the Sierra Negra Volcano and Puerto Villamil.

Genovesa.- This island is known as the Island of the Birds. It takes 8 to 10 hours to reach the island by boat, sometimes navigating all night. There are two important places to visit here.

Escalera del Principe.-. Walking through the lava rocks here is astonishing. There is a Palo Santo forest and many nesting red-footed boobies. This island is full of life. There are frigate birds, red-footed boobies, lava gulls, doves, tropicbirds, petrels and many other kinds of birds. It is possible to scuba dive next to the cliff.

Darwi´s Bay.- This enormous bay dominates the island and like Escalera del Principe, it is the home for large colonies of frigate birds and many other kinds of sea birds.