Galapagos Island Hopping (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabela)

Day 1 San Cristobal - Kayaking to Frigate Bay

1. 1

   3 hours

   Arrive to San Cristobal’s airport, your guide picks you up at the airport and will take you to the hotel. After your lunch, with the guide, you will meet your guide and have some instructions about doing a kayak tour along the coast of San Cristóbal

2. 2

   Playa Mann

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We leave the port towards Man Beach where we can match sea lions.

3. 3

   3 hours

   We continue towards Darwin Bay which was the place where the scientist Charles Darwin disembarked when he came to Galápagos. We will continue along the coast where we can watch more seals, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, and other birds. Our last place to visit will be Frigate Bay where it’s possible to swim with sea lions.

Day 2 Lobos Island / San Cristobal

1. 1

   Isla Lobos

   4 hours

   Isla Lobos name is given because it is home to several sea lions that frolic on the beach and his fur brown highlights on the white sand. He is also the ideal place to watch nesting frigates and blue-footed boobies.

Day 3 San Cristobal diving experience – Hiking in El Junco

1. 1

   Cerro Tijeretas

   3 hours

   Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you will have instructions and an explanation about diving with an experienced divemaster. Then you will go to Tijeretas Bay to experience the incredible sensation of Scuba Diving.

2. 2

   Lagoon El Junco

   3 hours Admission ticket included

   After lunch, we will be leaving towards the highlands of this island where we will visit the breeding center of the Giant Turtles where the species Geochelone chatamensis (endemic of this island) is taken care of and bred. Afterward, we will continue towards El Junco Lagoon which is the only place in Galápagos with freshwater. This lagoon is within a volcanic crater that stores the rainwater inside and that way creates a lake where the frigate birds submerge in order to clean the salt off their bodies. You can expect to see marine iguanas on the way! Once At the cliff you will spot swallow-tailed gulls, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, tropicbirds, and petrels.

Day 4 Santa Cruz – El Chato – Bike Ride in Charles Darwin

1. 1

   Reserva El Chato

   3 hours Admission ticket included

   Breakfast at the hotel. At 6:30 pick you up and take you to the harbor 7:00 speedboat to Santa Cruz (approx. 2-hour ride). A local guide will receive you at the harbor. Your guide drives up to the ranch in the highlands to see giant tortoises in their native environment!

2. 2

   Charles Darwin Research Station

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   For decades CDRS has worked on conservation, restoration, and sustainable development projects to ensure that the archipelago is well-managed. More than a hundred scientists, educators, research assistants, support staff and volunteers from all over the world have participated in this effort. Currently, the organization’s staff is composed of more than 75% Ecuadorians and is committed to the professional training of the permanent residents of the Galapagos.

Day 5 Isabela Kayaking – Self-guided bike ride to wetlands

1. 1

   2 hours

   At 6:30 am, you will take the speed boat to Isabela, (2 hours). At arrival, a guide will transfer you to your hotel and you will have the rest of the morning free to go biking to the “Muro de las Lagrimas”/ “Wall of Tears” by yourself. This route is beautiful with beach view, chance to see Flamingo’s at the lagoons, and of course the chance to see giant tortoises next to the dirt road that takes you to the Wall of Tears.

2. 2

   Puerto Villamil

   3 hours

   After lunch, a guided private kayak tour in the bay of Villamil where you can observe penguins, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, iguanas Marinas, sea turtles, sea lions, eagle rays, and sometimes sharks "Tintoreras" juveniles.

Day 6 Isabela – Sierra Negra Volcano - Hiking

1. 1

   Sierra Negra

   5 hours Admission ticket included

   Today you will walk through spectacular lava landscapes and have views of the northern volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina. The hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano and Volcano Chico is 16 km long (duration approx. 6 hours), but worth every effort. You see the second-largest volcanic crater in the world and explore different vegetation zones It is not a difficult hike, though the sun can be very strong and hot, making it feel more difficult. Bring loads of sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) even if the day looks like it is going to be nice.

Day 7 Isabela - Cabo Rosa Tuneles - Snorkel - Santa Cruz

1. 1

   5 hours

   Departure by boat to Cabo Rosa (45 min by boat), where lava flowed into the ocean and formed beautiful lava tunnels. There you will see penguins, blue-footed boobies, and sea turtles. However, the highlight is diving. You have the opportunity to see sharks, turtles/sea lions, sea lions, rays, seahorses, and many tropical fish. The tour to Cabo Rosa lasts approximately 5 hours. Then, take the speedboat back to Santa Cruz.

Day 8 Transfer to Baltra

1. 1

   Canal de Itabaca

   3 hours

   Transfer to Baltra, on the way we will cross by Itabaca Channel