From $2495 pp/dbl occ
Incl. inner island transfers, hotels, tours, breakfast and m
OVERVIEW
Day One
Arrive in Galapagos - See Tortoises, Lava Tunnels and settle in at hotel
Day Two
LAND OPTION - Head to Seymour Island or Bartolome Island, to see the birds and do some snorkeling in the afternoon.
SEA OPTION - Morning dives at one of the premier dive sites - afternoon at Charles Darwin Station
Day Three
LAND OPTION - Charles Darwin Center- afternoon at the beach for snorkeling
SEA OPTION - Morning dives at one of the premier dive sites - afternoon at the beach for snorkeling
Day Four
Transit by speedboat to Isla Isabela - afternoon boat tour of Los Tunneles.
Day Five
Tintores = Fly to San Cristobal
Day Six
Dive/Snorkel Kicker Rock
Day Seven
Espanola Island Tour for Albatross
Day Eight
Early morning flight out to connection flights to home.
8 days/ 7 nights by land and sea
Arrival Day
Our guide will be at the airport with your tourist card and will assist you to the line for the Galapagos.
You will need either a vaccination certificate OR a negative PCR test within 72 hours of flight.
At the Baltra Airport you will come through their checkpoint and pay the $100 Park Fee (cedula holder is $6). At the same place, you can get the Lobito bus ticket ($5).
Take time at the Baltra airport to notice endemic Galápagos Doves (on the ground near or at the only restaurant) just outside of the Baltra airport. Also airport área on Baltra is easy and a great place to see and photograph the yellow Land Iguanas before Lobito Bus (every 10 minute departures) to Itacaba canal.
You'll ride the bus to the ferry dock, where you and your luggage will be loaded onto the ferry. Don't worry about your luggage, the luggage handlers will load it onto the ferry for you.
On board, the ferry staff will collect a $1 fee.
When you depart the ferry, look for your name on a sign - this is the taxi driver who will take you to the Tortoise Reserve and, after, to your hotel.
Galapagos Tortoises
The name "Galapagos" comes from the Spanish word "galapago" which means "saddle", from the name of the dorsal tortoises. A giant Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis Chathamensis) can weigh up to 250 kg and measure 150 cm above the curve of the carapace.
Along with the Aldabra tortoise of the Seychelles, they are the largest living tortoises: "Some grow to immense size...several so large that they required six or eight men to lift them from the ground" (Darwin 1845).
These islands have been famous for their giant tortoises since their discovery, and these enormous creatures remain the best known of the Galapagos animals.
The Galapagos giant tortoises played an important role in the development of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, although he did not pursue the matter during his visit.
"These huge reptiles, surrounded by black lava, leafless bushes and large cacti, seemed to me to be pre-Flood animals." (Darwin 1845)
DAY TWO
BY LAND
BY LAND
BY LAND
NORTH SEYMOUR TOUR
• A large resident colony of blue footed boobies make it a great spot to see their famous mating dance (usually from June to August).
• Magnificent & Great frigate birds Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nest in the bushes, inflating their red pouches to attract a female mate (best month for this spectacle is June). You'll learn how to tell the difference in them.
• One of the largest sealion colonies in the Galapagos makes it's home on Seymour.
• Camoflauged by the scrub brush of the island, you'll have to look close to catch glimpses of the land iguanas. .
• In the afternoon, you'll get the opportunity to snorkel with the colorful fish of the Galapagos, and if you're lucky, maybe sealions, turtles or marine iguanas might grace your presence.
BY SEA
BY LAND
BY LAND
DIVE DAY #1
Based on the weather, tides and sealife reports, our Galapagos dive guides will take us to two awesome dive sites this morning, where you have the opportunity to swim with thousands of colorful fish, turtles, white tip sharks, hammerheads, sealions, dolphins....so much life is possible here!
In the afternoon, you can choose to take a nap after your dive, or wander to the Charles Darwin Station to learn more about the Galapagos. Be sure to catch the fish mongers as they attempt to clean the fish without the pelicans and sealions feasting on the catch.
DAY Three
BY LAND
BY LAND
BY LAND
CHARLES DARWIN STATION
After breakfast, we will start the journey to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we can find pens with giant Galapagos Tortoises among other most representative species of the archipelago. An educational talk will be received on evolution and research carried out within the station for the preservation of the archipelago. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
BY SEA
BY LAND
BY LAND
DIVE DAY #2
Based on the weather, tides and sealife reports, our Galapagos dive guides will take us to two awesome dive sites this morning, where you have the opportunity to swim with thousands of colorful fish, turtles, white tip sharks, hammerheads, sealions, dolphins....so much life is possible here!
In the afternoon, you can join the LAND group for souvenir shopping in the boutiques and relax in Puerto Ayora.
DAY FOUR
Heading to Isabela
This morning, your driver will pick you up to make your way to the speed ferry to island Isabela. You'll need to cross by water taxi to the speed boat. Speed boat takes approx 2 hours to cross - and if you get seasick, now is the time for dramamine.
When you arrive to the island, look for your name - your guide will be waiting to take you for check in at your hotel.
Then you will take a boat ride toward Los Tuneles, a natural underwater arches and tunnels formations that merge from pristine blue waters. You will explore the brilliant scenery and enjoy a wonderful snorkeling time in this place consider the most beautiful place to snorkel.
This is the most spectacular site for snorkeling in Isabela Island. The water is shallow, calm, and very clear- a sea sanctuary. A series of lava flows have produced unique geological formations, a series of arcs and tunnels underneath and above the water- a habitat for many local Galapagos Species. The entrance to the site is shallow and the waves can be strong, for this reason, the access can be complicated. The best time to visit the tunnels is between January and May.
It is an exciting boat Adventure to a very unique geological site, a snorkeling paradise and home to various species of the incomparable enchanted islands. There is an extension of 800 meters and an average temperature between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.
The large quantities of seabirds such as the Albatros, Flamingos, Blue Footed Boobies, the magnificent frigate bird, are on the banks, where you can also see distinct species feeding such as the tortoises, iguanas, sea lions, manta rays, penguins, lobsters, and sea snakes.
In a geographic context of countless colors and textures due to the different types of volcanic lava, and the colorful desert vegetation which includes Xerophitic plants among: cactus, "Palo Santo" (holy wood), and carob trees.
DAY FIVE - LOS TUNELES
DAY FIVE - LOS TUNELES
DAY FIVE - LOS TUNELES
Las Tintoreras is one of the most well-known places of Isabela Island. This small islet receives its name from the reef sharks also known as white-tip sharks that can be seen swimming along with fish and sea lions in the channels when the tide is low. To get there we will need to navigate approximately 10 minutes from the port. The islet is mainly formed by lava rocks.
We will leave Puerto Villamil Pier heading south for a short sail towards the group of islets known as Las Tintoreras. This site, full of great biodiversity, is home to the famous white tip sharks, sea lions, turtles, iguanas, and many other species.
We will depart from the Puerto Villamil Pier for a 20-minute sail to the Tintoreras Islet. At this snorkeling site, it is possible to see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, zayapas, sea turtles, starfish, tropical fish, rays, sharks, pelicans and Galapagos penguins. This place is also a site for marine iguanas’ nesting, allowing for close encounters with these animals.
After your tour - we will grab your suitcases and catch a charter flight to the island of San Cristobal.
DAY SIX - KICKER ROCK
DAY FIVE - LOS TUNELES
DAY FIVE - LOS TUNELES
One of the best spots for snorkeling, Kicker Rock or Leon Dormido is an amazing rock formation near San Cristobal Island.
This amazing landmark located about an hour and a half to the north east of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Kicker Rock / Leon Dormido is a remnant of a vertical tuff cone formation, rising almost 153 meters (500 feet) from the ocean.
The erosion has given the rock its characteristic shape, which some see as a shoe, hence the name Kicker Rock. Others see it as a sleeping sea lion or Leon Dormido in Spanish.
While we snorkel (or dive - for the divers) around Kicker Rock we can spot sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, Galapagos sharks, tropical fish and if luck is on our side we can even see hammerhead sharks. Besides enjoying the underwater view, we can usually see blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and frigatebirds on the cliffs as well as sea lions along the shore.
Day SEVEN
TINTORERAS
Las Tintoreras is one of the most well-known places of Isabela Island. This small islet receives its name from the reef sharks also known as white-tip sharks that can be seen swimming along with fish and sea lions in the channels when the tide is low. To get there we will need to navigate approximately 10 minutes from the port. The islet is mainly formed by lava rocks.
We will leave Puerto Villamil Pier heading south for a short sail towards the group of islets known as Las Tintoreras. This site, full of great biodiversity, is home to the famous white tip sharks, sea lions, turtles, iguanas, and many other species.
We will depart from the Puerto Villamil Pier for a 20-minute sail to the Tintoreras Islet. At this snorkeling site, it is possible to see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, zayapas, sea turtles, starfish, tropical fish, rays, sharks, pelicans and Galapagos penguins. This place is also a site for marine iguanas’ nesting, allowing for close encounters with these animals.
After your tour - we will grab your suitcases and catch a speedboat back to Santa Cruz, where you'll relax (or explore) for the rest of the day.
DAY EIGHT
FAREWELL
Today you can relax in the morning, and your guide will come to get you at the arranged time to head to the airport.
From Baltra, you will return to Quito to fly home.
If you have an additional day, we can arrange a day at a thermal spa in the mountain to perfectly end your visit to Ecuador.
Though your trip is over, this is just the beginning of the magic of Ecuador.
Be sure to return for our Amazon or Avenue of the Volcanos tour - both very different, highlighting different areas of this magical country.
