ITINERARY
Please note that itineraries can be changed last minute for the following reasons:
Day 1: Arrival on San Cristobal island, meet the sea lions!
You will be picked-up at the airport by your private certified guide and he will take you to the hotel. After your lunch with the guide you will visit the Interpretation Center, where the guide will talk to you about the formation, colonization and actual situation of the islands. Then you will follow the trail to the Frigate bird hill, a viewpoint from which you have a beautiful view over the island. You will be able to snorkel the shallow waters of Tijeretas Bay or Carola beach (according to the tide your guide will take you to the best spot), where you can see sea lions, various tropical fishes, and turtles. Your small hike will finish at Carola beach from where you will go back to the hotel and have evening free.
For Dinner, you have several options in town to choose from, ask our guides or staff for their currents favorite spots 🙂
Meals included: Lunch – Tour with a private guide
Day 2: Kicker Rock- snorkeling at the foot of the volcanic tuff cone
You will navigate approximately 45 minutes to the famous Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido – sleeping Lion), a volcanic formation amid the ocean. There you have chances to snorkel with sharks, rays, turtles and if you are lucky even hammerhead sharks! Every day is different so let nature surprise you. The wall of the rock itself is amazing with lots of tropical fishes, starfishes, corals.. The boat also takes you to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you will have time to relax and swim. you will be back in the mid afternoon. The rest of the afternoon will be at your leisure.
Note: To do this excursion you need to be a confirmed swimmer. If this is not your case, we can offer you an alternative excursion.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch – Shared tour max 12 on board
Day 3: from San Cristobal to Isabela: Flying to the youngest of the poblated islands of Galapagos
In the morning we will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the airport, where you will do your check-in for the flight to Isabela (estimated elapsed time: 40 min.). Our staff will welcome you and accompany you to your hotel. As the plane schedule can change some day, we let the morning free, just in case. But you can easily walk to the Flamingo Lagoon or just enjoy the stunning front beach. For the afternoon we offer you 2 different activities (you will need to choose at booking):
The evening is at your free disposal. Sunset can be pretty amazing on Isabela, also called “La cuna del sol” (literally: the sun’s crib)
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch – Shared plane to Isabela and shared tour max 16 people in the afternoon.
Day 4: Volcanic Sceneries on land or in the water- on to Santa Cruz
You have the choice between two different tours. Please let us know your choice when booking.
Tour 1 – Sierra Negra Volcano: You will go by bus to the highlands and hike to Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. Sierra Negra has the second largest active crater in the world, around 10kms, it is very impressive. As you continue to Chico Volcano, you will pass through impressive lava sceneries, and you will have breathtaking views of the north side of the island and of Fernandina Island. In total, it’s a 16kms hike (not steep but long hike, duration approx. 6 hours). A small lunch box is provided.
Shared tour max 16 people
Tour 2 – Cabo Rosa (“Tuneles”): is a beautiful site 45 minutes boat ride from the port. This site is a lava formation of tunnels going under and over the sea level, in a shallow bay where you can usually spot the Galapagos penguins and sometimes some blue-footed boobies. However, the highlight is snorkeling. You will have a chance to see sea turtles, reef sharks, rays, sea lions, seahorses, and many tropical fish. This is one of the most beautiful sites of the archipelago. The tour takes about 5 hours.
Shared tour max 12 people on board
The tours finish at max 1PM approximately- At 2PM you will go to the pier to take the boat to Santa Cruz island. The boat ride lasts 2h30 approximately. At arrival our staff welcome you and take you to the hotel, and brief you about the next day schedule.
Meals included: breakfast and lunch
Day 5: Baltra airport with a stop to visit the giants of Galapagos
IMPORTANT: Your flight needs to be at midday or later this day. Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to a tortoise ranch to see the biggest tortoises of Galapagos. You will stay approximately one hour there and then the taxi will drive you to 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 until the check-in point where your program ends with your return flight to the mainland. Baltra used to be an american military basis during WW2 and the first airport of the islands.
Meals included: Breakfast -Private car to Itabaca channel and then shared ferry + bus
ACCOMODATION:
Accomodation is a huge part of the success of a trip.We offer 3 categories of hotels/price. We use the hotels listed below OR SIMILAR, according to the availability. We will always give you the names of the hotels as soon as you book so you can check them.
Had a blast in Galapagos, due entirely to these guys and a company they work with ‘Natural Selection’ (on Isabela).
Everything taken care of – from hotels and tours to taxis and boat fares. So much covered in 5 days, it would’ve been impossible without them. 10/10
