Nature and photography trip to the Galapagos Islands: San Cristobal and Española
Sir David Attenborough had us sitting at the edge of our seats with his fabulous BBC documentaries on the Galapagos Islands: waved albatrosses, marine iguanas and flightless cormorants against a spectacular backdrop of volcanos, dramatic coast lines and various islands. Does this sound like music to your ears? Add a good dash of STARLING, knowledgeable guides and high-quality photography at the best locations of the archipelago, and this will – without a doubt – result in an unforgettable experience! Join us during this nature and photography tour to the Galapagos.
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After Darwin
The Galapagos archipelago represents extremes: the cold Humboldt Gulf Stream provides the supply of cold and nutrient-rich water that supplies a huge ecosystem with food. Due to ‘El Niño’, the sea currents temporarily change every 3 to 7 years, causing a large mortality of fish and sea lions and the absence of seabirds. Thanks to these climate changes, new species emerged and Darwin formed his first ideas for his theory of evolution through natural selection!
A dream for landscape and nature photographers
The Galapagos Islands have a lot to offer for photographers and never disappoint. Impressive landscapes and spectacular plants and wildlife unite on this archipelago of which 95% has been designated as National Park and which has been protected by Ecuador since 1968. A measure which has been of paramount importance for the conservation of many unique species.
Thanks to the expedition ship the Samba, we experience all this beauty from the front row. The spacious deck allows maximum nature experience at sea. The small number of participants ensures that you have plenty of room to move at sea. STARLING makes the difference through the length and planning of the excursions. We use the maximum allowed time on land and time the landings as much as possible at sunrise and sunset. Everything in function of the most beautiful light for the most unique images!
Crazy animal species
There are many wildlife species that live on the Galapagos Islands which you won’t find anywhere else in the world. For instance, the famous Galapagos iguana. His black skin colour heats up his body after a session of eating algae in the cold waters of the ocean. And then there is the iconic blue-footed booby, a pacific species of gannet, one of the symbols of this island group.
You will encounter one or more species of the famous Darwin finches on most of the islands. They are the ones that are best-known, but certainly not the only ones who differ so much. No less than 4 types of mockingbirds are part of the possibilities. And don’t forget the black lava gull. In short, a trip also birdwatchers will enjoy immensely and for which they should not hesitate to register.
In addition, other animals will provide us with lots of entertainment. There is the Galapagos giant tortoise, the largest species of tortoise in the world, which lives here. And we haven’t even mentioned the rich marine life around the island archipelago or the fact that we will certainly not get bored by the interesting vegetation either!
Our guides: top class photographers
As well as the STARLING guides, we can also call on the expertise of the very experienced local crew. The expedition leader is Juan Manuel Salcedo, who has been studying life on the archipelago for years and who obtained his Ecology diploma with Biology and Geology as specialities at Quito. He is perfectly familiar with the rules of this unique National Park. The area is very fragile and conservation must be monitored carefully. This way we are absolutely sure that we will be guided around the best-preserved island complex of the tropics in a correct way.
Want to discover all the islands of the Galapagos?
During this trip we mainly explore the eastern side of the archipelago with San Cristobal en Española. Can it be a little more? Which can! With the two consecutive STARLING trips we let you discover all the islands of the Galapagos. You get a 10% discount on the total amount if you do the two trips.
What makes this nature and photography trip to the Galapagos so special?
- You will meet animal species that are unique in the world.
- You travel on the Samba, a modified expedition ship that STARLING chartered and that guarantees an unprecedented sea experience.
- Both a nature and photography guide will accompany you on this photography and nature trip to the Galapagos Islands of San Cristobal and Española.
- A local nature guide also travels with us.
Get to know your tour guides
Is this nature and photography trip to the Galapagos something for you?
- You always wanted to be part of a small expedition to this incredible destination.
- You are fascinated by the beautiful wildlife and want to learn how to creatively portray it.
- You have some patience and don’t mind waiting for the best moments.
- You are looking for a trip where you can combine nature observation with relaxing and photography (so partners are welcome!).
Gallery
Planning is key
Itinerary & Locations
We recommend leaving well in advance with a short stopover in Quito (27/10 – 28/10). This is to rest for a while and to build in margin. Flights and additional nights are not included in the price
Our local guide, Juan Manuel, will be waiting at Baltra airport. He takes care of all the formalities with us, after which we drive to the port and board our ship, the Samba.
On the highlands of Santa Cruz, at about 550 meters, we admire the jungle of the Galapagos. Around the crater you will find Darwin finches, mockingbirds, Galapagos vermillion flycatcher and a rich diversity of native plants. We also visit a nature reserve where we can admire giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Punta Cormorant contains a lagoon of brackish water where flamingos like to forage. Whimbrels, herons and himantopus can also be seen here. On the other side of the point, sea turtles use every corner to deposit eggs. You can also see stingrays and reef sharks.
In the afternoon we go snorkeling and ride the dinghy around the tiny Champion Island, accompanied by playful sea lions. We look from the dinghy for the rare Floreana mocking bird.
We end at Post Office Bay, a legendary beach where pirates, whalers and scientific expeditions landed in the past. Here we go hiking, kayaking and sailing with the rubber boat among the sea lions, mangrove forests and blue-footed boobies. We end at Baroness Lookout, where we discover the legend of “Las Encantadas”.
Punta Suarez is the westernmost peak of Española Island and is really bustling with life. As you walk among the sea lions, you will see marine iguanas in bright colors and elegant red crabs moving sideways over the rocks. On these cliffs you will find the only tropical albatross in the world, along with many other seabirds such as tropic birds, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies and blue-footed boobies.
In the afternoon we will go snorkeling around Gardner Bay, enjoying the pearly white beach and the colorful life above and below the water.
Chatham is the first island that Charles Darwin set foot on when he visited the Galapagos Islands. The volcanic cliffs of Kicker Rock are sometimes over 130m high and large numbers of seabirds breed here. We swim with Galapagos sharks, sea turtles, countless colorful fish and the beautiful eagle rays.
In the afternoon we will cruise to Punta Pitt, where we enjoy the stunning scenery, the many beautiful birds and the beautiful rock coves in the kayak.
Barrington Bay is one of the most picturesque places you can find in the Galapagos: white beaches, a turquoise sea and gigantic cacti. The island was isolated from the other islands for a long time and therefore you will find the endemic Galapagos iguana, a real yellow dragon. He is joined by Galapagos buzzard, mocking birds and finches.
Two hours further north is South Plaza, where iguanas roam the bright red carpet algae, swallow-tailed gulls breed, and red-billed tropics and shearwaters circle the sky.
Chinise Hat is characterized by lava tunnels and white beaches around black cliffs. We snorkel and enjoy the sight of the penguins present.
In the afternoon we climb on Bartolomé Island to the top above 80 meters to admire the beloved view of Pinnacle Rock. Then we walk on the golden beaches where sea turtles nest and swim near the penguins, sharks and lava tunnels.
The next day we wake up at James Bay to enjoy the many shorebirds and reptiles. Oystercatchers, whimbrels, three-toed sandpipers, arenarias, tattlers and other wading birds can be admired, as well as marine iguanas and brightly colored crabs.
The grand finale is the huge lava tunnels that are home to the Galapagos sea bears. You can snorkel here among sea turtles, parrot fish, damselflies, white tip reef sharks and other beautiful things.
On the last day we visit North Seamore in the morning. We walk between the largest colony of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls and tropic birds.
Then we have breakfast and then leave our ship, back to Baltra airport. Goodbye, Galapagos!
Nature and photography trip to the Galapagos Islands: San Cristobal and Española
- insurance guarantee fund
- specialized local guides
- enthousiast guiding by professional STARLING photographer
- enthousiast guiding by STARLING tour guide(s)
- all transport at site
- all nights
- all meals
- all excursions and entrance tickets for parks
- all drinking water
- all boat tours
- personal expenses
- visa fees (if applicable)
- national flights and airport taxes
- international flights and airport taxes
- tips for local collaborators (horeca, hotel,...)
- extra nights
- alcoholic beverages and soda