Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure

DAY 1: Arrive Baltra Airport. Puerto Ayora.

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra’s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy  lunch at the harbor, after taking a short break you will visit the Charles Darwin Station.

At the Charles Darwin Station, you will be able to see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises in captivity. You will watch their different size and ages, and learn more about the Islands they originally come from.

Here you will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the entire Galapagos environment. After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 2: Sailing Tour

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel’s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the yacht.

Depending on availability, you will visit one of the following islands:

North Seymour Island: Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery.

After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigate bird loop. The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread.

Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here. Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor. Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigate birds nest.

Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs. A side trail goes inland to the breeding area. Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step.

Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest. During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest. The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano.

The palo santo trees here are an endemic species. During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight. Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium.

On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush. They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.

 

Bartolome Island: The beach landing is wet. Take some repellent. A short ten-minute walk across a sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless black-tipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.

Snorkeling is banned here to protect the marine life. Ghost crabs creep over the sand and disappear as you approach.

Look up at the sky and often you may see a juvenile Galapagos hawk hovering overhead. From January to March you may see marine turtles coming ashore to nest in the sand.

The summit trail begins with a dry landing, though sea-lions make the purpose-built dock more exciting. The trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash. The only vegetation is the “pioneer plants”, grey Tiquilia and greenish Chamaesyce.

These are vital in binding the ash that fans down from the hill. The park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion by humans. The reddish spatter cones were minor eruptions of highly viscous material that cooled rapidly.

The summit is such a cone; it seems higher than 114m as you climb the steps. The eastern side has many small lava tubes. The hike is better before 10h00 or after 16h00, when the light is softer.

If you look carefully you can make out sunken craters in the sea below. In the distance you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north.A good snorkeling place lies at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay.

The cliff is an eroded tuff cone. A small family of Galapagos penguins lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle. A dingy ride is usually taken to locate the penguins. Recommendations: walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, beach towels, and bottles of water.

 

South Plaza Island: The landing is dry, the dock is often taken over by large male sea-lions and their young, so before it is safe to land the guides have to shoo them away by clapping.

Step carefully over the white guano and crab-covered rocks. As your eyes get used to the glare, you’ll spot the land iguanas under the shadows of the Opuntia. These are one of the smallest subspecies of land iguanas.The trail heads up a gentle incline to a steep cliff.

The vegetation belongs to the arid and littoral zones; half the island covered with saltbush, leatherleaf (Maytenus), and thorn scrub (Scutia pauciflora).

The side with the trail is treeless, but covered with a rock-garden-like mat of the endemic sea purslane whose succulent leaves turn red from May to December.

The similar-looking Portulaca howelli (yellow flowers) is relished by the vegetarian land iguanas. This is a good place to get started on recognition of Darwin’s finches; only the medium, small and cactus ground finches live here.

The cliff is surprisingly windy, and a great place for red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the odd frigate bird.

The trail snakes along the cliff edge for a few hundred meters. Offshore can be spotted Audubon’s shearwaters, brown noddy terns and schools of mullet and surgeonfish. Farther out, dolphins, mantas and even killer whales have been seen.

The trail turns at a well-worn platform of polished lava, known as the “bachelor sea-lion colony”: a motley collection of mainly elderly male sea-lions who have lost their territories.

Amazingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Many wear battle scars and shark bites. Heading back down to the channel, the trail runs behind one of the most concentrated sea lion colonies in the islands.

About 1000 shift around as males continually vie for “harems” of about 20 females. The pups are endearing and will often approach you, but you must not go up to them.

Keep your eye out for migratory waders like sander lings, knots, plovers and kelp gull. Snorkelling off South Plaza is not allowed because of the number of sea-lions. Currents can be strong.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 3: Sailing Tour

On this day, you will sail to another island, depending to availability you will choose one of the tours mentioned above.

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included on board the yacht. In the afternoon you will return to the port.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 4: Santa Cruz. Depart Baltra

Early in the morning you will be transfer to the airport in Baltra. On the way you will make a short stop to visit the twin craters. The route to the airport will take approximately 1 hour.  From there, you will take the flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight: – 

DAY 1: Arrive Baltra Airport. Puerto Ayora.

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra´s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy lunch at the harbor.

After taking a short break the guide will take you to enjoy the well-known Tortuga Bay. Is an approximately 45 minutes walk, through a cactus trail on to the first beach, which is called “Playa Brava” due to its strong currents. On this beach you will see a lot of marine iguanas, marine birds and pelicans.

After visiting Playa Brava, you will continue with an additional 15 minutes walk to reach Playa Mansa. This second beach is a natural lagoon visited by blue footed boobies and pelicans. It is also a beautiful place to swim and sunbathe. After all these activities you will have dinner at night.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 2: Sailing Tour

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the yacht.

Depending on availability, you will visit one of the following islands:

North Seymour Island: Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery. After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigate bird loop.

The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread. Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here.

Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor. Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigate birds nest. Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs.

A side trail goes inland to the breeding area. Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step. Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest.

During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest. The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano.

The palo santo trees here are an endemic species. During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight.

Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium. On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush. They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.

 

Bartolome Island: The beach landing is wet. Take some repellent. A short ten-minute walk across a sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless black-tipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.

Snorkeling is banned here to protect the marine life. Ghost crabs creep over the sand and disappear as you approach. Look up at the sky and often you may see a juvenile Galapagos hawk hovering overhead.

From January to March you may see marine turtles coming ashore to nest in the sand.The summit trail begins with a dry landing, though sea-lions make the purpose-built dock more exciting. The trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash.

The only vegetation is the “pioneer plants”, grey Tiquilia and greenish Chamaesyce. These are vital in binding the ash that fans down from the hill. The park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion by humans.

The reddish spatter cones were minor eruptions of highly viscous material that cooled rapidly. The summit is such a cone; it seems higher than 114m as you climb the steps. The eastern side has many small lava tubes.

The hike is better before 10h00 or after 16h00, when the light is softer. If you look carefully you can make out sunken craters in the sea below. In the distance you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north.

A good snorkeling place lies at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay. The cliff is an eroded tuff cone. A small family of Galapagos penguins lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle.

A dingy ride is usually taken to locate the penguins. Recommendations: walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, beach towels, and bottles of water.

 

South Plaza Island: The landing is dry, the dock is often taken over by large male sea-lions and their young, so before it is safe to land the guides have to shoo them away by clapping.

Step carefully over the white guano and crab-covered rocks. As your eyes get used to the glare, you’ll spot the land iguanas under the shadows of the Opuntia.

These are one of the smallest subspecies of land iguanas.The trail heads up a gentle incline to a steep cliff.

The vegetation belongs to the arid and littoral zones; half the island covered with saltbush, leatherleaf (Maytenus), and thorn scrub (Scutia pauciflora).

The side with the trail is treeless, but covered with a rock-garden-like mat of the endemic sea purslane whose succulent leaves turn red from May to December.

The similar-looking Portulaca howelli (yellow flowers) is relished by the vegetarian land iguanas. This is a good place to get started on recognition of Darwin’s finches; only the medium, small and cactus ground finches live here.

The cliff is surprisingly windy, and a great place for red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the odd frigate bird. The trail snakes along the cliff edge for a few hundred meters.

Offshore can be spotted Audubon’s shearwaters, brown noddy terns and schools of mullet and surgeonfish. Farther out, dolphins, mantas and even killer whales have been seen.

The trail turns at a well-worn platform of polished lava, known as the “bachelor sea-lion colony”: a motley collection of mainly elderly male sea-lions who have lost their territories. Amazingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Many wear battle scars and shark bites.

Heading back down to the channel, the trail runs behind one of the most concentrated sea lion colonies in the islands. About 1000 shift around as males continually vie for “harems” of about 20 females.

The pups are endearing and will often approach you, but you must not go up to them. Keep your eye out for migratory waders like sander lings, knots, plovers and kelp gull. Snorkelling off South Plaza is not allowed because of the number of sea-lions. Currents can be strong.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 3: Sailing Tour

On this day, you will sail to another island, depending to availability you will choose one of the tours mentioned above.

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included on board the yacht. In the afternoon you will return to the port.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 4: Santa Cruz. Depart Baltra

Early in the morning you will visit:

• Charles Darwin Station: You will see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises. You will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the Galapagos environment.
• Gemelos: It is a short stop to visit two sunken “holes”, similar to craters, known as “Los Gemelos” (Twins).

Transfer Puerto Ayora to the Baltra Airport will takes approximately 1 hour. At the airport, you will take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight: –

DAY 1: Arrive Baltra Airport. Puerto Ayora.

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra’s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora.

On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy  lunch at the harbor, after taking a short break you will visit the Charles Darwin Station.

At the Charles Darwin Station, you will be able to see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises in captivity. You will watch their different size and ages, and learn more about the Islands they originally come from.

Here you will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the entire Galapagos environment. After all these activities you will have dinner at night.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 2: Sailing Tour

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the yacht.

Depending on availability, you will visit one of the following islands:

North Seymour Island: Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery.

After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigate bird loop. The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread.

Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here. Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor.

Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigate birds nest. Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs.

A side trail goes inland to the breeding area. Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step. Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest.

During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest. The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano. The palo santo trees here are an endemic species.

During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight. Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium.

On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush. They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.

 

Bartolome Island: The beach landing is wet. Take some repellent. A short ten-minute walk across a sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless black-tipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.

Snorkeling is banned here to protect the marine life. Ghost crabs creep over the sand and disappear as you approach.

Look up at the sky and often you may see a juvenile Galapagos hawk hovering overhead. From January to March you may see marine turtles coming ashore to nest in the sand.

The summit trail begins with a dry landing, though sea-lions make the purpose-built dock more exciting. The trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash. The only vegetation is the “pioneer plants”, grey Tiquilia and greenish Chamaesyce. These are vital in binding the ash that fans down from the hill.

The park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion by humans. The reddish spatter cones were minor eruptions of highly viscous material that cooled rapidly. The summit is such a cone; it seems higher than 114m as you climb the steps.

The eastern side has many small lava tubes. The hike is better before 10h00 or after 16h00, when the light is softer. If you look carefully you can make out sunken craters in the sea below.

In the distance you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north.A good snorkeling place lies at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay. The cliff is an eroded tuff cone.

A small family of Galapagos penguins lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle. A dingy ride is usually taken to locate the penguins. Recommendations: walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, beach towels, and bottles of water.

 

South Plaza Island: The landing is dry, the dock is often taken over by large male sea-lions and their young, so before it is safe to land the guides have to shoo them away by clapping.

Step carefully over the white guano and crab-covered rocks. As your eyes get used to the glare, you’ll spot the land iguanas under the shadows of the Opuntia. These are one of the smallest subspecies of land iguanas.

The trail heads up a gentle incline to a steep cliff. The vegetation belongs to the arid and littoral zones; half the island covered with saltbush, leatherleaf (Maytenus), and thorn scrub (Scutia pauciflora).

The side with the trail is treeless, but covered with a rock-garden-like mat of the endemic sea purslane whose succulent leaves turn red from May to December.The similar-looking Portulaca howelli (yellow flowers) is relished by the vegetarian land iguanas.

This is a good place to get started on recognition of Darwin’s finches; only the medium, small and cactus ground finches live here.

The cliff is surprisingly windy, and a great place for red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the odd frigate bird. The trail snakes along the cliff edge for a few hundred meters. Offshore can be spotted Audubon’s shearwaters, brown noddy terns and schools of mullet and surgeonfish.

Farther out, dolphins, mantas and even killer whales have been seen.The trail turns at a well-worn platform of polished lava, known as the “bachelor sea-lion colony”: a motley collection of mainly elderly male sea-lions who have lost their territories.

Amazingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Many wear battle scars and shark bites.

Heading back down to the channel, the trail runs behind one of the most concentrated sea lion colonies in the islands. About 1000 shift around as males continually vie for “harems” of about 20 females.

The pups are endearing and will often approach you, but you must not go up to them. Keep your eye out for migratory waders like sander lings, knots, plovers and kelp gull. Snorkelling off South Plaza is not allowed because of the number of sea-lions. Currents can be strong.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 3: Santa Cruz Cerro Mesa – Garrapatero Beach

The guide will pick you up in order to go to Cerro Mesa. This place provides an impressive view over the archipelago. It has the most prestigious location and the best view to observe a variety of endemic plants, as well as up to 7 subspecies of finch and the vermillion flycatcher.

The area is known for its characteristic persistent drizzle (‘la garúa’) which falls horizontally throughout 8 months of the year. On the west side of the island you will watch the largest crater on Santa Cruz.

Afterwards, you will visit El Garrapatero, which is a wide bay with multiple sandy beaches. It is a nice area to swim and relax while enjoying the wonderful view.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 4: Sailing Tour

On this day, you will sail to another island, depending to availability you will choose one of the tours mentioned above.

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included on board the yacht. In the afternoon you will return to the port.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 5: Santa Cruz. Depart Baltra

Early in the morning you will visit:

• Gemelos: It is a short stop to visit two sunken “holes”, similar to craters, known as “Los Gemelos” (Twins).

Transfer to the Baltra Airport will takes approximately 1 hour. At the airport, you will take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight: –

DAY 1: Arrive Baltra Airport. Puerto Ayora.

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra´s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy lunch at the harbor.

After taking a short break the guide will take you to enjoy the well-known Tortuga Bay. Is an approximately 45 minutes walk, through a cactus trail on to the first beach, which is called “Playa Brava” due to its strong currents. On this beach you will see a lot of marine iguanas, marine birds and pelicans.

After visiting Playa Brava, you will continue with an additional 15 minutes walk to reach Playa Mansa. This second beach is a natural lagoon visited by blue footed boobies and pelicans. It is also a beautiful place to swim and sunbathe. After all these activities you will have dinner at night.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 2: Sailing Tour

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the yacht.

Depending on availability, you will visit one of the following islands:

North Seymour Island: Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery.

After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigate bird loop. The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread.

Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here. Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor.

Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigate birds nest. Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs. A side trail goes inland to the breeding area.

Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step. Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest.

During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest. The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano.

The palo santo trees here are an endemic species. During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight.

Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium. On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush. They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.

 

Bartolome Island: The beach landing is wet. Take some repellent. A short ten-minute walk across a sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless black-tipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.

Snorkeling is banned here to protect the marine life. Ghost crabs creep over the sand and disappear as you approach.

Look up at the sky and often you may see a juvenile Galapagos hawk hovering overhead. From January to March you may see marine turtles coming ashore to nest in the sand.

The summit trail begins with a dry landing, though sea-lions make the purpose-built dock more exciting. The trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash. The only vegetation is the “pioneer plants”, grey Tiquilia and greenish Chamaesyce.

These are vital in binding the ash that fans down from the hill. The park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion by humans.

The reddish spatter cones were minor eruptions of highly viscous material that cooled rapidly. The summit is such a cone; it seems higher than 114m as you climb the steps. The eastern side has many small lava tubes.

The hike is better before 10h00 or after 16h00, when the light is softer. If you look carefully you can make out sunken craters in the sea below. In the distance you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north.

A good snorkeling place lies at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay. The cliff is an eroded tuff cone. A small family of Galapagos penguins lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle.

A dingy ride is usually taken to locate the penguins. Recommendations: walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, beach towels, and bottles of water.

South Plaza Island: The landing is dry, the dock is often taken over by large male sea-lions and their young, so before it is safe to land the guides have to shoo them away by clapping.

Step carefully over the white guano and crab-covered rocks. As your eyes get used to the glare, you’ll spot the land iguanas under the shadows of the Opuntia. These are one of the smallest subspecies of land iguanas.

The trail heads up a gentle incline to a steep cliff. The vegetation belongs to the arid and littoral zones; half the island covered with saltbush, leatherleaf (Maytenus), and thorn scrub (Scutia pauciflora).

The side with the trail is treeless, but covered with a rock-garden-like mat of the endemic sea purslane whose succulent leaves turn red from May to December.

The similar-looking Portulaca howelli (yellow flowers) is relished by the vegetarian land iguanas. This is a good place to get started on recognition of Darwin’s finches; only the medium, small and cactus ground finches live here.

The cliff is surprisingly windy, and a great place for red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the odd frigate bird.

The trail snakes along the cliff edge for a few hundred meters. Offshore can be spotted Audubon’s shearwaters, brown noddy terns and schools of mullet and surgeonfish. Farther out, dolphins, mantas and even killer whales have been seen.

The trail turns at a well-worn platform of polished lava, known as the “bachelor sea-lion colony”: a motley collection of mainly elderly male sea-lions who have lost their territories. Amazingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Many wear battle scars and shark bites.

Heading back down to the channel, the trail runs behind one of the most concentrated sea lion colonies in the islands.

About 1000 shift around as males continually vie for “harems” of about 20 females. The pups are endearing and will often approach you, but you must not go up to them.

Keep your eye out for migratory waders like sander lings, knots, plovers and kelp gull. Snorkelling off South Plaza is not allowed because of the number of sea-lions. Currents can be strong.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

 

DAY 3: Santa Cruz Cerro Mesa – Garrapatero Beach

The guide will pick you up in order to go to Cerro Mesa. This place provides an impressive view over the archipelago. It has the most prestigious location and the best view to observe a variety of endemic plants, as well as up to 7 subspecies of finch and the vermillion flycatcher.

The area is known for its characteristic persistent drizzle (‘la garúa’) which falls horizontally throughout 8 months of the year. On the west side of the island you will watch the largest crater on Santa Cruz.

Afterwards, you will visit El Garrapatero, which is a wide bay with multiple sandy beaches. It is a nice area to swim and relax while enjoying the wonderful view.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 4: Sailing Tour

On this day, you will sail to another island, depending to availability you will choose one of the tours mentioned above.

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included on board the yacht. In the afternoon you will return to the port.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 5: Santa Cruz. Depart Baltra

Early in the morning you can chose one of these 2 options to visit:

• Gemelos: It is a short stop to visit two sunken “holes”, similar to craters, known as “Los Gemelos” (Twins).
• Charles Darwin Station: You will see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises. You will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the Galapagos environment.

Transfer to the Baltra Airport will takes approximately 1 hour. At the airport, you will take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight: –

DAY 1: Arrive Baltra Airport. Puerto Ayora.

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra´s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy  lunch at the harbor, after taking a short break you will visit the Charles Darwin Station.

At the Charles Darwin Station, you will be able to see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises in captivity. You will watch their different size and ages, and learn more about the Islands they originally come from.

Here you will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the entire Galapagos environment.

After all these activities you will have dinner at night.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 2: Sailing Tour

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the yacht.

Depending on availability, you will visit one of the following islands:

North Seymour Island: Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery. After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigate bird loop.

The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread. Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here.

Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor. Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigate birds nest.

Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs. A side trail goes inland to the breeding area. Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step.

Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest. During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest.

The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano. The palo santo trees here are an endemic species. During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight.

Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium. On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush.

They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.

 

Bartolome Island: The beach landing is wet. Take some repellent. A short ten-minute walk across a sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless black-tipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.

Snorkeling is banned here to protect the marine life. Ghost crabs creep over the sand and disappear as you approach. Look up at the sky and often you may see a juvenile Galapagos hawk hovering overhead.

From January to March you may see marine turtles coming ashore to nest in the sand.The summit trail begins with a dry landing, though sea-lions make the purpose-built dock more exciting.

The trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash. The only vegetation is the “pioneer plants”, grey Tiquilia and greenish Chamaesyce.

These are vital in binding the ash that fans down from the hill. The park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion by humans.

The reddish spatter cones were minor eruptions of highly viscous material that cooled rapidly. The summit is such a cone; it seems higher than 114m as you climb the steps. The eastern side has many small lava tubes.

The hike is better before 10h00 or after 16h00, when the light is softer. If you look carefully you can make out sunken craters in the sea below.

In the distance you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north.

A good snorkeling place lies at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay. The cliff is an eroded tuff cone. A small family of Galapagos penguins lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle. A dingy ride is usually taken to locate the penguins.

Recommendations: walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, beach towels, and bottles of water.

 

South Plaza Island: The landing is dry, the dock is often taken over by large male sea-lions and their young, so before it is safe to land the guides have to shoo them away by clapping.

Step carefully over the white guano and crab-covered rocks. As your eyes get used to the glare, you’ll spot the land iguanas under the shadows of the Opuntia. These are one of the smallest subspecies of land iguanas.

The trail heads up a gentle incline to a steep cliff. The vegetation belongs to the arid and littoral zones; half the island covered with saltbush, leatherleaf (Maytenus), and thorn scrub (Scutia pauciflora).

The side with the trail is treeless, but covered with a rock-garden-like mat of the endemic sea purslane whose succulent leaves turn red from May to December. The similar-looking Portulaca howelli (yellow flowers) is relished by the vegetarian land iguanas.

This is a good place to get started on recognition of Darwin’s finches; only the medium, small and cactus ground finches live here.The cliff is surprisingly windy, and a great place for red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the odd frigate bird.

The trail snakes along the cliff edge for a few hundred meters. Offshore can be spotted Audubon’s shearwaters, brown noddy terns and schools of mullet and surgeonfish.

Farther out, dolphins, mantas and even killer whales have been seen.The trail turns at a well-worn platform of polished lava, known as the “bachelor sea-lion colony”: a motley collection of mainly elderly male sea-lions who have lost their territories.

Amazingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Many wear battle scars and shark bites.Heading back down to the channel, the trail runs behind one of the most concentrated sea lion colonies in the islands.

About 1000 shift around as males continually vie for “harems” of about 20 females. The pups are endearing and will often approach you, but you must not go up to them.

Keep your eye out for migratory waders like sander lings, knots, plovers and kelp gull. Snorkelling off South Plaza is not allowed because of the number of sea-lions. Currents can be strong.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 3: Santa Cruz – Isabela

After breakfast, the guide will take you to enjoy the well-known Tortuga Bay. Is an approximately 45 minutes walk, through a cactus trail on to the first beach, which is called “Playa Brava” due to its strong currents. On this beach you will see a lot of marine iguanas, marine birds and pelicans.

After visiting Playa Brava, you will continue with an additional 15 minutes walk to reach Playa Mansa. This second beach is a natural lagoon visited by blue footed boobies and pelicans. It is also a beautiful place to swim and sunbathe. Afterwards, you will go back to the port and have lunch.

After a small break you will embark on a speedboat that will take you to Isabela Island (approximately 2 to 2.5 hours of navigation). Upon arrival, you will be transfer to the hotel for check-in, afterwards you will visit the Lake of the Flamingos.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 4: Isabela

Approximately at 7:30 am, the trip to Sierra Negra Volcano will start. You will be taken in a 45 minutes ride to the Galapagos National Park control site in order to record your visit.

Then, you will begin a trek to the Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. During the trek a box lunch will be provided. In the afternoon, you will return to the hotel, after a short break, you will be transfer to the Concha Perla for snorkeling.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 5: Isabela. Santa Cruz. Depart Baltra

At 05:30 am, you will be transferred to the Port for embarkation. Upon arrival at Santa Cruz you will be transfer to the airport in Baltra, so you can take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. On the way, you will make a short stop to visit two sunken “holes”, similar to craters, known as “Los Gemelos” (Twins).

Meals Included: Breakfast 

Overnight: –

DAY 1: Arrive Baltra Airport. Puerto Ayora.

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra´s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy lunch at the harbor.

After taking a short break the guide will take you to enjoy the well-known Tortuga Bay. Is an approximately 45 minutes’ walk, through a cactus trail on to the first beach, which is called “Playa Brava” due to its strong currents. On this beach you will see a lot of marine iguanas, marine birds and pelicans.

After visiting Playa Brava, you will continue with an additional 15 minutes’ walk to reach Playa Mansa. This second beach is a natural lagoon visited by blue footed boobies and pelicans. It is also a beautiful place to swim and sunbathe. After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 2: Sailing Tour

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the yacht.

Depending on availability, you will visit one of the following islands:

North Seymour Island: Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery.

After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigate bird loop. The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread.

Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here. Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor.

Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigate birds nest. Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs.

A side trail goes inland to the breeding area. Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step. Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest.

During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest. The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano.

The palo santo trees here are an endemic species. During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight.

Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium. On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush. They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.

 

Bartolome Island: The beach landing is wet. Take some repellent. A short ten-minute walk across a sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless black-tipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.

Snorkeling is banned here to protect the marine life. Ghost crabs creep over the sand and disappear as you approach. Look up at the sky and often you may see a juvenile Galapagos hawk hovering overhead.

From January to March you may see marine turtles coming ashore to nest in the sand.The summit trail begins with a dry landing, though sea-lions make the purpose-built dock more exciting.

The trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash. The only vegetation is the “pioneer plants”, grey Tiquilia and greenish Chamaesyce. These are vital in binding the ash that fans down from the hill.

The park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion by humans. The reddish spatter cones were minor eruptions of highly viscous material that cooled rapidly.

The summit is such a cone; it seems higher than 114m as you climb the steps. The eastern side has many small lava tubes. The hike is better before 10h00 or after 16h00, when the light is softer. If you look carefully you can make out sunken craters in the sea below.

In the distance you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north.A good snorkeling place lies at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay. The cliff is an eroded tuff cone.

A small family of Galapagos penguins lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle. A dingy ride is usually taken to locate the penguins. Recommendations: walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, beach towels, and bottles of water.

 

South Plaza Island: The landing is dry, the dock is often taken over by large male sea-lions and their young, so before it is safe to land the guides have to shoo them away by clapping.

Step carefully over the white guano and crab-covered rocks. As your eyes get used to the glare, you’ll spot the land iguanas under the shadows of the Opuntia. These are one of the smallest subspecies of land iguanas.

The trail heads up a gentle incline to a steep cliff. The vegetation belongs to the arid and littoral zones; half the island covered with saltbush, leatherleaf (Maytenus), and thorn scrub (Scutia pauciflora).

The side with the trail is treeless, but covered with a rock-garden-like mat of the endemic sea purslane whose succulent leaves turn red from May to December.The similar-looking Portulaca howelli (yellow flowers) is relished by the vegetarian land iguanas.

This is a good place to get started on recognition of Darwin’s finches; only the medium, small and cactus ground finches live here.

The cliff is surprisingly windy, and a great place for red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the odd frigate bird.

The trail snakes along the cliff edge for a few hundred meters. Offshore can be spotted Audubon’s shearwaters, brown noddy terns and schools of mullet and surgeonfish.

Farther out, dolphins, mantas and even killer whales have been seen. The trail turns at a well-worn platform of polished lava, known as the “bachelor sea-lion colony”: a motley collection of mainly elderly male sea-lions who have lost their territories.

Amazingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Many wear battle scars and shark bites.

Heading back down to the channel, the trail runs behind one of the most concentrated sea lion colonies in the islands. About 1000 shift around as males continually vie for “harems” of about 20 females.

The pups are endearing and will often approach you, but you must not go up to them. Keep your eye out for migratory waders like sander lings, knots, plovers and kelp gull. Snorkelling off South Plaza is not allowed because of the number of sea-lions. Currents can be strong.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 3: Santa Cruz – Baltra

Early in the morning you can chose one of these 2 options to visit:

• Gemelos: It is a short stop to visit two sunken “holes”, similar to craters, known as “Los Gemelos” (Twins).
• Charles Darwin Station: You will see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises. You will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the Galapagos environment.

Transfer to the Baltra Airport will takes approximately 1 hour. At the airport, you will take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight: –

DAY 1: Arrive Baltra Airport. Puerto Ayora.

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra´s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy lunch at the harbor, after taking a short break you will visit the Charles Darwin Station.

At the Charles Darwin Station, you will be able to see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises in captivity.

You will watch their different size and ages, and learn more about the Islands they originally come from. Here you will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the entire Galapagos environment.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 2: Sailing Tour

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the yacht.

Depending on availability, you will visit one of the following islands:

North Seymour Island: Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery.

After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigate bird loop. The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread.

Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here. Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor. Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigate birds nest.

Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs. A side trail goes inland to the breeding area. Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step.

Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest. During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest.

The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano. The palo santo trees here are an endemic species. During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight.

Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium. On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush. They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.

 

Bartolome Island: The beach landing is wet. Take some repellent. A short ten-minute walk across a sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless black-tipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.

Snorkeling is banned here to protect the marine life. Ghost crabs creep over the sand and disappear as you approach. Look up at the sky and often you may see a juvenile Galapagos hawk hovering overhead.

From January to March you may see marine turtles coming ashore to nest in the sand.The summit trail begins with a dry landing, though sea-lions make the purpose-built dock more exciting.

The trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash. The only vegetation is the “pioneer plants”, grey Tiquilia and greenish Chamaesyce. These are vital in binding the ash that fans down from the hill.

The park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion by humans. The reddish spatter cones were minor eruptions of highly viscous material that cooled rapidly.

The summit is such a cone; it seems higher than 114m as you climb the steps. The eastern side has many small lava tubes.

The hike is better before 10h00 or after 16h00, when the light is softer. If you look carefully you can make out sunken craters in the sea below.

In the distance you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north.

A good snorkeling place lies at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay. The cliff is an eroded tuff cone. A small family of Galapagos penguins lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle.

A dingy ride is usually taken to locate the penguins. Recommendations: walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, beach towels, and bottles of water.

 

South Plaza Island: The landing is dry, the dock is often taken over by large male sea-lions and their young, so before it is safe to land the guides have to shoo them away by clapping.

Step carefully over the white guano and crab-covered rocks. As your eyes get used to the glare, you’ll spot the land iguanas under the shadows of the Opuntia.

These are one of the smallest subspecies of land iguanas. The trail heads up a gentle incline to a steep cliff.

The vegetation belongs to the arid and littoral zones; half the island covered with saltbush, leatherleaf (Maytenus), and thorn scrub (Scutia pauciflora). The side with the trail is treeless, but covered with a rock-garden-like mat of the endemic sea purslane whose succulent leaves turn red from May to December.

The similar-looking Portulaca howelli (yellow flowers) is relished by the vegetarian land iguanas. This is a good place to get started on recognition of Darwin’s finches; only the medium, small and cactus ground finches live here.

The cliff is surprisingly windy, and a great place for red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the odd frigate bird.

The trail snakes along the cliff edge for a few hundred meters. Offshore can be spotted Audubon’s shearwaters, brown noddy terns and schools of mullet and surgeonfish. Farther out, dolphins, mantas and even killer whales have been seen.

The trail turns at a well-worn platform of polished lava, known as the “bachelor sea-lion colony”: a motley collection of mainly elderly male sea-lions who have lost their territories.

Amazingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Many wear battle scars and shark bites.Heading back down to the channel, the trail runs behind one of the most concentrated sea lion colonies in the islands. About 1000 shift around as males continually vie for “harems” of about 20 females.

The pups are endearing and will often approach you, but you must not go up to them. Keep your eye out for migratory waders like sander lings, knots, plovers and kelp gull. Snorkelling off South Plaza is not allowed because of the number of sea-lions. Currents can be strong.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 3: Santa Cruz Cerro Mesa – Garrapatero Beach

The guide will pick you up in order to go to Cerro Mesa. This place provides an impressive view over the archipelago. It has the most prestigious location and the best view to observe a variety of endemic plants, as well as up to 7 subspecies of finch and the vermillion flycatcher.

The area is known for its characteristic persistent drizzle (‘la garúa’) which falls horizontally throughout 8 months of the year. On the west side of the island you will watch the largest crater on Santa Cruz.

Afterwards, you will visit El Garrapatero, which is a wide bay with multiple sandy beaches. It is a nice area to swim and relax while enjoying the wonderful view.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 4: Sailing Tour

On this day, you will sail to another island, depending to availability you will choose one of the tours mentioned above.

After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel´s lobby in order to take you to the dock, and start the tour. Lunch will be included on board the yacht. In the afternoon you will return to the port.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 5: Santa Cruz – Isabela

After breakfast, the guide will take you to enjoy the well-known Tortuga Bay. Is an approximately 45 minutes walk, through a cactus trail on to the first beach, which is called “Playa Brava” due to its strong currents. On this beach you will see a lot of marine iguanas, marine birds and pelicans.

After visiting Playa Brava, you will continue with an additional 15 minutes walk to reach Playa Mansa.

This second beach is a natural lagoon visited by blue footed boobies and pelicans. It is also a beautiful place to swim and sunbathe. Afterwards, you will go back to the port and have lunch.

After a small break you will embark on a speedboat that will take you to Isabela Island (approximately 2 to 2.5 hours of navigation). Upon arrival, you will be transfer to the hotel for check-in, afterwards you will visit the Lake of the Flamingos.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 6: Isabela

Approximately at 7:30 am, the trip to Sierra Negra Volcano will start. You will be taken in a 45 minutes ride to the Galapagos National Park control site in order to record your visit.

Then, you will begin a trek to the Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. During the trek a box lunch will be provided. In the afternoon, you will return to the hotel, after a short break, you will be transfer to the Concha Perla for snorkeling.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 7: Isabela

After breakfast you will take the Tintoreras Islet Tour. The guide will escort you to the Puerto Villamil dock in order to embark on small boat.

After a short ride of 15 minutes you will arrive to Tintoreras Islet. Once you hike through the islet, you will have the opportunity to snorkel. You will be able to see starfish, multicolor fish, sea-urchins, and with luck manta rays, sharks, and sea lions that may swim close up with us.

Afterwards you will return to the town for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center of Isabela, where you will be able to see a variety of species of giant tortoises in captivity. Afterwards you will visit the Wall of Tears. The wall has a length of 100m and a height of 7m.

The name is derived from the difficult and painful nature of the conditions in which the prisoners were forced to work. After this activity you will visit a Lava Tunnel near the Wall, as well as a visit to Mirador Orchilla, Estero de Isabela, and Playa del Amor.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight: On boat 

DAY 8: Isabela. Santa Cruz. Depart Baltra

At 05:30 am, you will be transferred to the Port for embarkation. Upon arrival at Santa Cruz you will be transfer to the airport in Baltra, so you can take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

On the way, you will make a short stop to visit two sunken “holes”, similar to craters, known as “Los Gemelos” (Twins).

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight: –