A2: Santa Cruz and Isabela
You will be picked-up at the airport by your private certified guide. Then, you will take the public bus to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. Subsequently you will go with the taxi to a ranch in the highlands to see giant tortoises in free environment. You will continue to Garrapatero Beach where you will have the opportunity to swim. In the evening, you will be free to wander around Santa Cruz. You can choose among a lot of restaurants close to the pier for dinner. The “Kioskos” in the center of Puerto Ayora are a great option as well: every night the street is closed to traffic and restaurants put tables and chairs on the street where you can enjoy a typical local meal surrounded by locals. We recommend to walk by night at the pier where you can often spot juvenile sharks swimming!
Visits with a private guide this day
Meals included: lunch
At 6:30 am we will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the harbor, where you will take the shared speed boat at 7:00 am to Isabela (approx. 2-hour ride). Our staff will welcomes you and accompany you to your hotel for check-in. Morning free, you can walk to the tortoise breeding center or to the flamingo lagoon. After lunch you will visit the Island Tintoreras islet for a short hike and snorkeling. You can spot penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and reef sharks, which are resting there in the lava channel. Snorkel then in turquoise water and spot different fishes, sea turtles, rays and penguins. The evening is at your free disposal. You can have a drink at the beach front bar “de Beto”, for sunset, or at the “Casa Rosada”. For dinner we recommend the Coco Surf, Red Lobster and Isabela Grill, but you have several options in town to choose from
Shared boat to Isabela. shared boat tour (max 16 on board) in the afternoon
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
You have the choice between two different tours. Please let us know your choice when booking.
Tour 1 – Sierra Negra Volcano: You walk through spectacular lava landscapes and have views of the northern volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina. The hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano and Volcano Chico is 16 km long (duration approx. 6 hours), but worth every effort. You see the second largest volcanic crater in the world and explore different vegetation zones. You get a lunch box for the hike. Shared tour max 16 people on the tour
Tour 2 – Cabo Rosa (“Tuneles”): You go by boat to Cabo Rosa (45 min boat ride), where lava has flowed into the ocean and formed beautiful lava tunnels. There you may see penguins, blue-footed boobies and sea turtles. However the Highlight is snorkeling. You have the chance to see sharks, sea turtles, sea lions, rays, seahorses and many tropical fishes. The tour to Cabo Rosa takes about 5 hours.
Shared tour max 10 people on board
The rest of the day is at leisure. You can enjoy the beautiful beach in Isabela or you can snorkel in the Concha de Perla Lagoon (snorkel equipment in the free time is not included, but can be hired locally).
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
At 5:30 am we will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the pier, where you will take the shared speed boat at 6:00 am to Santa Cruz (approx. 2-hour ride). At the harbor our staff will welcome you and accompany you for breakfast. Afterwards, your driver will bring you to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. For the last part of your trip to the airport, you will take the public bus. Your driver will accompany you to the check-in at the airport, where your programs ends with the flight back to the mainland. Please take in account that your flight does not depart before 12:30 pm. There is the option to take a small plane straight to Baltra for an additional cost, let us know if you are interested.
Shared boat to Santa Cruz. Private transfer to airport Meals included: Breakfast
