ITINERARY
Please note that itineraries can be changed last minute for the following reasons:
Day 1: Welcome to the Galapagos! let’s have a first dip in the Pacific ocean
You will be picked up at the airport by our staff who will take you to the hotel. After lunch, you will meet your guide and have an introductory talk about kayaking and the area you will explore. Then, you will go for a fun kayak session in the bay, a good way to get introduced to the playful and curious sea lions. The tour will last approx. 2 hours and includes a snorkeling session, After the kayaking and snorkeling a boat will take you back to the pier. Dinners are not included; you can ask the guides for their favorite restaurants.
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: Fish and Bird watching day
This morning your will have a dive discovery in the bay. First, you will have a talk and explanation about diving with an experienced dive master. Then you will go to experience the incredible sensation of breathing underwater – if you are already certified this will be a great dive too!
After lunch, you will go biking to the Loberia. The ride is not difficult. Once arrived you will begin a hike up to the Barranco Cliff. You can expect to see marine iguanas on the way and at the cliff, you will spot swallow-tailed gulls, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, tropicbirds, petrels…as a former guest said: it’s a true aerial meeting! You will just sit and enjoy it. Back to the beach, those who want can go for a snorkel session in the bay. This is a famous place to spot Pacific green turtles.
Meals included: breakfast and lunch+ Shared tour in small group in the morning. -Tour with a private guide in the afternoon
Day 4: 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. In the afternoon you will go for a “Stand Up Paddle” tour in the bay. Exploring the bay this way is nice because you can spot wildlife in a smooth way, without the noise of a boat motor. You may spot during this tour sea lions, pelicans, maybe spot rays and turtles near the paddle. Note that if the weather is too windy the SUP may be changed to kayaking. 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 5: Sierra Negra, hiking on a volcano
Today you will leave the ocean behind and reach the highlands of Isabela, where you will begin an amazing hike that takes you from greenish and fertile lands to arid and moonlike sceneries. 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 as you won’t be back until early-mid afternoon.
Note: this is a long hike and you need to keep up with the group rythm. If you do not feel like doing it, let us know and we will offer you an alternative visit this day.
Meals included: Breakfast and box lunch – Shared tour max 16 people
Day 6: The tunnels, where the lava meets the ocean
Today you go by boat to Cabo Rosa (45 mn 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 and can take place morning or afternoon (according to the National Park schedule). Rest of the day free.
Meals included: Breakfast and box lunch – Shared tour max 12 people on board
Day 7: Biking in the highlands of Santa Cruz
This day will begin early as at 5:00 (yes, AM) we will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the pier, where you will take the shared speed boat to Santa Cruz (approx. 2-hour ride) -and before you ask no, there is no later boat in the morning ;)- . At the harbor, our staff will welcome you and accompany you for a well deserved breakfast. The guide will drive you to a ranch in the highlands to see giant tortoises in their native environment! After lunch, you will grab bikes and continue to Garrapatero Beach enjoying beautiful views along the way. Once at the beach you will have the opportunity to swim and refresh, then we will drive back to the port. In the evening, you will be free to wander around Santa Cruz. You can choose among a lot of restaurants in town for dinner. As it is the biggest town of the archipelago, this is also the best place for souvenir shopping. We recommend you a walk at night along the pier where you can often spot juvenile blacktip sharks swimming!
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch – Shared boat to Santa Cruz and then visits with a private guide
Day 8: Baltra airport and saying goodbye to this incredible place!
If there is enough free time until your transfer to the airport we suggest that you visit the Charles Darwin Station (entrance free) .Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take 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 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. If you want to mix accomodation or include hotels you have spotted on your own just let us know so we can customize your tour!
