Day 1
San Cristobal Island
Hiking on the Frigate Hill and Snorkeling in Punta Carola
Today, arrive at San Cristobal Island where you will be met by your guide and escorted to your hotel on San Cristobal. Leaving your luggage safely at the hotel, we will go for lunch before visiting the Interpretation Center on the island. Here we will learn more about the origin of this archipelago, its fauna and flora, and the history of its first inhabitants.
This afternoon we will hike (approximately two and a half hours) until we reach the Frigate Hill where we will be able to appreciate the endemic vegetation and a great view of the island and its surroundings. The main attraction of this place is the observation of the different species of frigate birds and other birds that build their nests on the hillsides.
Before ending the day, we will go to the Punta Carola Beach where you will have the chance to swim and snorkel and spend the rest of the afternoon with the seals. This evening we will return to the hotel to relax and enjoy dinner.
Day 2
San Cristóbal Island
Snorkeling in Sleeping Lion and Kayaking on Darwin Bay
After breakfast this morning we will leave early for our first activity of the day, a boat ride to the famous Sleeping Lion Rock, considered to be one of the best snorkel and diving spots in the Galapagos. We will do some snorkeling where we may see sharks, different types of rays, and other species of fish.
On the way back, we will pass by Wolf Island where we have the opportunity to swim and snorkel with the seals. This is one of the few places where you will have the chance to be so close with these extraordinary mammals. Today we will have lunch on board the boat before returning to the port.
In the afternoon, we will kayak along the coast of San Cristóbal toward Man Beach where we can watch the seals. We will continue towards Darwin Bay, the place where Charles Darwin disembarked when he originally came to Galápagos. Continuing along the coast we will watch for seals, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and pelicans. In this region, the currents are a little stronger and we will have to paddle a bit harder. We return to the port either in our kayak, or aboard the boat that is traveling with us, and return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 3
San Cristóbal Island
Hiking in El Junco and Bicycle Ride in El Progreso
After breakfast we will be leaving early in the morning traveling toward the highlands of San Cristobal where the climate is usually foggy and damp. We will walk toward the Breeding Center of the Giant Turtles where the species Geochelone chatamensis, an indigenous species, is located. Here we will learn about the history of this turtle and the relation and difference that they have to the other turtles that populate the other islands.
Leaving the Breeding Center we will continue towards El Junco Lagoon, the only place in the Galápagos where you can find fresh water. This lagoon is located within a volcanic crater that stores rain water inside creating a lake where the frigate birds can submerge in order to clean the salt off their bodies. After a walk around the lagoon, seeing a miconias forest, we will travel toward a hacienda located nearby for lunch.
A short break allows us to rejuvenate before we begin our pleasant bike ride descending to the village of El Progreso. On the way, enjoy the local flora and notice the climate change as we pass through some rural zones. The approximate distance is 15 km, almost always downhill which makes the route very pleasant.
Reaching the village, we have time to relax and explore learning the history of this village that began the colonization of the archipelago in 1879, with workers who were exiled prisoners from Ecuador´s mainland. At the end of the afternoon, we will return by bike, stopping by La Lobería where we can swim at this nice coral-white beach full of seals. The name of this place comes from the great numbers of seals that rest on the rocks or on the sand. Here we will also be able to encounter botanic species like the “magic stick” and different types of mangroves. Additionally to the seals, you can also watch marine iguanas eating in the surroundings and also some bird species like the frigate bird and Darwin´s finches. Leaving the beach we return to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 4
Santa Cruz Island
Kayaking in Academia Bay – Hike Tortuga Bay
This morning after breakfast we will transfer to the port of San Cristóbal to take the boat to Santa Cruz Island (2 ½ hour ride) arriving to Puerto Ayora. Here you will be met by a guide and transferred to your hotel to store your luggage and relax.
We will have lunch today in Puerto Ayora before kayaking in the Bay of Puerto Ayora and its surroundings including Punta Estrada beach. On the way we will stop to see different species of rays, reef sharks and oceanic white tip sharks, blue-footed boobies, seals, frigate birds, and pelicans. We will return to the port and take a boat to Tortuga Bay, located just minutes from the port.
After the arrival to Tortuga Bay, we will find two beaches: one is a rough beach where we can watch marine iguanas entering and leaving the sea (not appropriate for swimming) and another quiet beach much like a natural swimming pool where we can relax and take a swim.
At the end of the afternoon, we will enjoy a 45-minute hike on a trail connecting the beach with the city of Puerto Ayora. On the way we will be able to watch Darwin´s finches, lava lizards, and the vegetation of the transition zone, arid zone, and the coastal zone. Upon arrival to Puerto Ayora, we will return to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 5
Santa Cruz Island
Horseback-Riding on Butterfly Ranch and Bicycle Tour El Chato
After breakfast, we will take a walk to the highlands of the island to the Butterfly Ranch where we can see the Giant Turtles in their natural habitat. At the highlands we will enjoy a horseback- ride where we can view the vegetation and the climate change.
Afterward, we will walk to the dark lava tunnels where we will be able to learn more about the formation of Santa Cruz Island. Here we will have lunch and then continue to the “Twins”, two volcanic craters surrounded by a scalesias forest. From here we will begin our bicycle ride descending on a paved road passing the village of Santa Rosa, then continuing on a dirt road past haciendas where we can see colonies of giant turtles. At the end of the ride we will reach the Chato Lagoon to relax. This evening we will return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 6
Charles Darwin Station – Isabela Island – Wall of Tears and Turtle Breeding Center
After breakfast, we will visit the Charles Darwin Station to see the breeding center of the turtles. The station breeds and takes care of different species of turtles from the other islands. The Station is also home to famous Lonely George, who is the last turtle of his kind that inhabited Pinta Island.
We will transfer to the port to board a speed boat to Isabela Island, the largest and youngest island of the archipelago. The boat trip will take about 2 1/2 hours. Arriving at Isabela Island, we will visit the “Wall of Tears” and the Turtle Breeding Center of Isabela where to see the Geochelone guntheri species which originate from the Sierra Negra Volcano. Leaving the Center we will transfer to our hotel on Isabela Island for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 7
Isabela Island
Hiking and Horseback-Riding on the Sierra Negra Volcano
This morning after breakfast we will transfer to the Sierra Negra Volcano, considered the oldest volcano of Isabela. We will walk for about 40 minutes to meet our horses to begin our horseback-riding tour, enjoying spectacular views and with a little luck, we might even be able to spot the Galapagos Sparrowhawk.
We will make a stop for lunch before boarding the boat to Shell Pearl. Here we will do enjoy snorkeling amongst the various species of fish, corals and sea turtles. Continuing on our boat ride along the coast, make sure to watch for blue-footed boobies, penguins, pelicans, and frigate birds as we head toward Islete Tintorera. This location is well known for its blue sharks that use the island´s canals to rest when there are cold waters. Also we may see iguanas and seals. The major part of the route is formed by type AA lava. Here we can see and compare the difference of the volcanic formation of this island with the one of the other ones. This evening we will return to the hotel.
Day 8
This morning we will transfer to the port early in the morning. The boat ride back will take about 2 ½ hours. After arriving to Santa Cruz, a guide will be awaiting us to transfer to the airport for your return flight to Ecuador’s mainland.
Ecuador
