Day 1: Galapagos
Santa Cruz
- Meals: Breakfast
- Flight Quito – Galapagos Islands (not included)
- Transfer airport Baltra – hotel in Puerto Ayora
- Visit the Santa Cruz Highlands
- Visit to Charles Darwin Station
Today you will take your flight to the Galapagos Islands. You arrive at Baltra Island. From the airport you take a bus to the Itabaca Canal where you head by ferry for the other side of the Island Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is located in the middle of the archipelago and is the second largest island. Colonized since the 1920’s. After Isabela Island, Santa Cruz is home to the second largest population of giant tortoises (about 3000). Discover the island’s beautiful beaches and bays with sea lions, marine turtles, and seabirds. Or, take your adventures off the beaten track to its remote highlands and verdant landscapes. Extinct volcanoes and astonishing endemic plants characterize the Santa Cruz Highlands. Admire unique flora like ferns and meter-high Miconia shrubs in the Scalesia forest or spot different bird species like the Galápagos rails, cattle egrets, and flycatchers.
Later on, continue to the Giant Tortoise Reserve “El Chato” in the Santa Cruz highlands is one of the few places you can see these giants in their natural habitat. The large, pre-historic looking animals can be seen as you walk along the trails during their migration from the coast to the highlands. “El Chato” is also one of the best sites to observe the short-eared owl, another endemic specie from the Galápagos. Later drive to Puerto Ayora to visit Charles Darwin Station.
In 1964, the Charles Darwin Research Center was inaugurated in Puerto Ayora. Over 200 scientists and volunteers are active in the conservation and research projects for the most famous resident of the Galápagos: the Giant Tortoise. Stroll around the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest or visit the baby turtles that are affectionately cared for until they can be repatriated. Learn about the tortoises’ different life stages: from incubation, hatching, and growth periods.
Overnight in a Hotel in Santa Cruz Island.
Day 2: Galapagos
Santa Cruz - Isabela
- Meals: Breakfast
- Transfer to the pier in Puerto Ayora
- Transfer Santa Cruz – Isabela by speedboat (Sharing Basis)
- Visit to Flamingos ‘Lagoon in Isabela and Breeding center
- Visit to Tintoreras (Sharing Basis)
Early in the morning, you will go to the pier of Puerto Ayora to take the public speedboat to Isabela Island. The ride to Isabela takes approximately 2 hours. Your guide will be waiting for you for the transfer in Isabela, and start a walk to the Breeding center. On the way stop at a Flamingos ‘lagoon and admire these elegant, bright pink birds. Then continue in the trail through different ecosystems until you arrive at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre. Here, learn about these endemic creatures and their different life phases: reproduction, breeding, and development. Get up close and personal with giant tortoises and understand how the center is helping to protect and recover the species. During the afternoon, take a short boat ride to a small rocky islet known as “Las Tintoreras”, one of the island’s most beautiful sites. Here, sharks can be seen resting in the lava canals. Observe marine iguanas and playful sea lions on the sandy beach. Put your mask and snorkel on to explore the underwater world filled with colorful fish, sea turtles, and much more. Overnight in a Hotel in Isabela Island.
Day 3: Galapagos
Isabela - Santa Cruz
- Meals included: Breakfast, Box lunch
- Visit to Sierra Negra Volcano & Volcan Chico (Sharing Basis)
- Optional with extra cost: Visit to Tunnels
- Transfer Isabela – Santa Cruz by speedboat (Sharing Basis)
The Sierra Negra Volcano’s caldera 10km x 8km (6mi x 5mi) is the largest of the Galapagos Islands. It is located in the south of Isabela Island, between the Alcedo and Cerro Azul volcanoes. From Puerto Villamil, drive about 33km (20mi.) until you reach the trail’s starting point. Walk up to the crater for about 6km (4mi.) and appreciate the native plants and unique landscapes. At the top, the views are spectacular and you could see fumaroles inside the crater. Continue your journey and descend the short trail from the Sierra Negra Volcano rim to the Chico Volcano. Here, appreciate the petrified lava formations with many different colors and textures as well as the fumaroles scattered throughout the area. On a clear day, you can enjoy the views of the Perry Isthmus and the surrounding islands. Box lunch will be included for this activity.
Optional excursion with extra cost, replacing Sierra Negra:
Visit from Puerto Villamil, take a 60min boat ride to “Los Túneles”. The shallow, clear, and calm waters make this spot ideal for snorkeling and observing colorful fish, sea turtles, and sharks. Explore the marine sanctuary characterized by its unique geologic formations with arches and tunnels formed by lava flows.
After this visit, take a public speedboat in the pier of Isabela to go back to Santa Cruz. The ride to Puerto Ayora takes approximately 2 hours. After arrival, transfer to hotel in Puerto Ayora. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in a Hotel in Santa Cruz Island.
Day 4: Galapagos
Santa Cruz Island
- Meals: Breakfast
- Optional excursion: Full day boat excursion to Seymour North or South Plazas or Bartholomew including lunch – on shared basis
Day at leisure to explore on your own Puerto Ayora.
Optional excursion with extra cost (includes box lunch): Full During a full day boat excursion, you’ll visit one of the islands Seymour North, South Plazas, Bartholomew or Santa Fe or the Dragon Hill. Each of the islands has its own significant beauties to offer and regardless which you’ll visit, you’ll definitely enjoy your stay.
Remark: The excursion is shared with international travellers and accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
Lunch on board. Overnight in a Hotel in Santa Cruz Island.
Day 5:
Santa Cruz Island
- Meals: Breakfast
- Transfer hotel – Baltra airport
- Flight Galapagos Islands – Quito (not included)
Early in the morning, transfer to Baltra airport – only with Spanish speaking assistance - and flight back to Ecuador mainland.
