Discovery of the famous Galápagos Islands

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Quito and transfer to the Galápagos on Santa Cruz Island.

  In the morning, transfer to the airport. You will do what is necessary to board our flight to the Galapagos. Before check-in, you will pay your INGALA migration card ($20/person). About 3h30 of flight are needed to reach the archipelago from Quito (stopover in Guayaquil). Upon your arrival in Baltra, you will have to pay your entrance fee required by the Galapagos National Park ($100/person) before being welcomed by the driver. Crossing of the Itabaca channel by boat (5 min) and private transfer to the port of Puerto Ayora (about 40 min). Upon arrival at the port of Puerto Ayora, you will drop off your suitcases at the hotel. Lunch and dinner are free. In the afternoon, free time to visit one of the easily accessible sites, without a guide. In order of preference, here are the sites we recommend: Giant Tortoise Reserve: you will take a taxi to the heights of the island where you will visit a reserve of giant land tortoises living in their natural habitat. The entrance costs $5/person and count about $10 for the taxi. (Visit: 1h30 – Round trip walk: 45 min). Tortuga Bay: you can visit the beautiful Tortuga Bay beach. Made of white sands where beautiful waves break, this beach is home to marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and seabirds. It will be a moment of true relaxation where, optionally, you can rent sea kayaks to paddle in the bay. (Visit: 3/4 h – Round trip walk: 2h30). Grietas: located on the same side as the Angermeyer hotel, you will visit the Grietas site, a magnificent volcanic formation located along the bay of Santa Cruz Island. At the end of the walk, you can swim in crystal-clear water. (Visit: 2h30 – Round trip walk: 1h30). Charles Darwin Station: located at the end of the town of Puerto Ayora, the famous Charles Darwin Station is a scientific center on the different endemic species of the Galapagos. Like a zoo, you will observe several species. (Visit: 1h30 – Round trip walk: 1h00).

• day 2

  North Seymour Island and Santa Cruz

  This morning, transfer of about 40 minutes by bus with the other passengers (maximum 20 people) to the Itabaca Canal where you will board your boat with the group. This day will be dedicated to visiting Seymour Island. A recognized nesting site, Seymour has a 1.2 km trail that allows you to closely observe colonies of blue-footed boobies as well as magnificent frigatebirds. Depending on the season, you may observe the famous male frigatebirds inflating their red throat pouch, while the blue-footed boobies will flap their wings and emit a high-pitched call during their courtship display. This time of seduction is incredibly beautiful and impressive! You may also see land iguanas, present only on a few islands of the archipelago. Lunch on board. After another period of navigation, you will reach the magnificent Bachas beach where you can swim. You will certainly see sea turtles, which sometimes lay their eggs, as well as pink flamingos relaxing in the calm waters of the lagoon. Return to the port in the afternoon. Overnight at the port in your beautiful hotel and dinner at your leisure.

• day 3

  Santa Cruz and Isabela Island

  Early in the morning (around 6am), you will take a speedboat to Isabela Island (shuttle: 80 cts/person to reach the boat). Sea transfer of about 2 hours. Upon arrival at Isabela (shuttle: $1/person to reach the port), and after paying the entrance fee ($5/person), the driver will be waiting for you on the dock. Transfer to the hotel where you will drop off your luggage. You will have free time to visit one of the accessible and free sites: Crianza de Tortugas: located at the end of the Humedales, we recommend this site if you have not seen the tortoises on Santa Cruz Island. It is a breeding and rehabilitation center for giant tortoises (several hundred specimens). (Visit: 1h00 – Round trip walk: 1h30). Muro de las lágrimas: visit on foot to the Wall of Tears, which gets its name from its history. Isabela Island was a penal colony until 1959, when officers forced prisoners to build this stone wall. The conditions were terrible, and the prisoners had no choice: "tears or death." (Visit: 2h00 – Round trip walk: 3h00). Concha de Perla: you will walk to Concha de Perla. Here, you can swim with fins, mask, and snorkel (for rent) alongside some sea lions, sea turtles, and many tropical fish. (Visit: 2h – Round trip walk: 0h50). Humedales: walking visit of the Humedales, a mangrove area classified as RAMSAR (an international organization that classifies and protects the world's wetlands). Humedales has a unique biodiversity of plants and animal species such as flamingos, etc. (Visit: 2h – Round trip walk: 1h30). Tintoreras Option ($70/person): 10 minutes by fishing boat, you will visit the Tintoreras islet. Here you will observe an impressive colony of marine iguanas, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and penguins, with the possibility to swim with fins, mask, and snorkel. (Visit: 2h30 / Walk: 1h). Lunch on your own at the port and first night on Isabela Island. Dinner on your own at the port.

• day 4

  Isabela Island

  Early departure. Your driver will pick you up at the hotel to head to the highlands of Isabela Island, where you will begin your 16 km hike, lasting about 5/6 hours, on the slopes of the Sierra Negra and Chico volcanoes, whose last eruption was in 2005. Isabela Island is the largest island in the Galápagos archipelago. It is also one of the islands with the most volcanic eruptions in recent years. The landscapes are often lunar! The spectacle is magnificent. You will walk on a lava desert as far as the eye can see, where only a few cacti grow back. Picnic lunch along the way. After this beautiful excursion, you will return to the port of Isabela in the afternoon. Free time, you can then enjoy the beautiful beach of Puerto Villamil, where a few marine iguanas roam. Dinner on your own at the port and overnight at your usual hotel.

• day 5

  Isabela Island

  This morning, after your breakfast, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to try on your snorkeling equipment. Then, transfer to the port where you will meet your guide and board a small fishing boat to reach the southernmost point of Isabela Island: the Cabo Rosa tunnels. These are the only boats authorized to reach this specific point. Cabo Rosa is one of the most beautiful sites in the Galapagos archipelago! In these places, you will observe extraordinary landscapes shaped by rock formations worthy of Jules Verne's books. These lava tunnels are both submerged and emerged; they undulate on the surface of the sea like a serpent. You will be able to observe, in these places, Galapagos penguins and blue-footed boobies. Return on board and simple picnic lunch on the boat. You will then have time to swim with fins, mask, and snorkel. You will enjoy extraordinary marine life. You will swim among sea turtles, you will be very close to white-tip sharks and you will have the chance to observe seahorses. Return to the port and free time to enjoy your hotel and this beautiful, still wild island. Free dinner in Puerto Villamil and last night on the island in your charming hotel.

• day 6

  Isabela Island and return to the mainland

  In the morning, around 8am, transfer to Isabela Island airport. You will board a small private plane (maximum 10 seats) to reach the main airport of Baltra. Next to the pilot, you will observe the Galapagos archipelago from above during a superb experience. Observation is only possible in clear weather! Arriving at Baltra airport, you will wait for your regional flight. The flight duration is about 3h30 to reach Quito (stopover in Guayaquil). Lunch at your leisure at the airport. Arrival in Quito, transfer to the hotel (not included) and dinner at your leisure.