A full experience to enjoy the islands & wildlife with Geo Reisen Boutique
Your journey will begin upon arrival at Baltra airport where a member of our staff will pick you up. You will take a shuttle from the airport to the Itabaca Channel. After a short ferry ride, you will arrive at Santa Cruz Island.
DAY 1 – SUNDAY: TRANSFER-IN SANTA CRUZ – HIGHLANDS – LAVA TUNNELS (L)
On Santa Cruz Island journey across the island into the highlands, where we will be amazed by the island’s variety of wildlife and geology. We will stop at one of the ranches where we will have the chance to lunch surrounded by the iconic tortoise species, which we will be able to watch closely. Afterwards, we will have the opportunity to visit a tunnel formed by lava after an eruption of the volcano, now extinct.
Later on, we will have time to visit Santa Cruz Brewery, an example of entrepreneurship that produces one of the local artisanal draft beers. Here, we will have the opportunity to understand the complex and delicate process that the brewery follows to get tasty and unique types of beers in the isolated Galapagos Islands. After all, there is time for tasting some of the beers before continuing the journey to Puerto Ayora, where we will have the rest of the day for leisure. The accommodation will be in the selected hotel.
DAY 2 – MONDAY: TRANSFER TO FLOREANA ISLAND – LOCAL FARM – HIGHLANDS – BARBEQUE ON THE BEACH (B, L, D)
In the morning, after breakfast, we will head to Puerto Ayora´s pier where we will take our private speed boat to Floreana Island; this ride will take 2h30 minutes approx. Floreana has, arguably, the most interesting human history of all of the Galapagos Islands.
Arriving on the island, we will visit a local farm that will allow us to learn more about people’s way of life on Floreana. This island, which exists far from technology and development, has inhabitants who wish to generate production and optimization of their resources to achieve a very interesting lifestyle. During this visit, we will visit a lagoon where it is possible to observe frigates and will have the opportunity to feed the farm animals and harvest vegetables.
We will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared with the foods harvested from the farm. After lunch, we will continue with our next visit, the Asilo de la Paz at the Highlands and also a Tortoise Breeding Center Accommodation in one of the basic hotels built on the island and run by the second generation of a family that arrived after the Ritter family abandoned the island.
DAY 3 – TUESDAY: SNORKELING “LA LOBERIA” – TRANSFER TO ISABELA ISLAND (B, L)
Today, after breakfast, we will begin our excursion to “La Loberia”, a sea Lion breeding area. We will start our first marine excursion in the bright turquoise water where we might be able to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, manta rays and a variety of colourful coral fish.
We will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared with the foods harvested from the farm. After all, we will head to take our speed boat to Isabela Island; this ride will take us 2h 30 minutes approx. Arriving at Isabela, we will be able to enjoy the Island on our own. Accommodation in selected hotel.
DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY: BREEDING CENTER – FLAMINGO LAGOON – TINTORERAS (B)
After having breakfast, we will have a short ride to the Isabela Breeding Center. Here, we will learn more about the efforts that the Galapagos National Park and the local and international foundations are doing to preserve and promote the reproduction of some of the Giant Tortoises species found in the Galapagos. Later on, we will continue through a mangrove path that connects with a series of lagoons where the flamingos rest and feed. This walk is ideal for understanding the Galapagos biodiversity, and how the species have adapted to the harsh conditions that the Enchanted Islands have. Today, lunch will be on our own.
In the afternoon, we will visit Tintoreras Islets located a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. The turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles, and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully. Once we reach the Isle of Tintoreras, we will get to know a lot of these species. Most of the part of this island is formed by AA lava. Accommodation in selected hotel.
DAY 5 –THURSDAY: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO – SANTA CRUZ (B, L)
Today we will visit the iconic Sierra Negra Volcano with the second widest crater of an active volcano (10 km – 6.21 mi approx.); but first, we will be driven along the highland of Isabela up to reach the checking control point.
We will hike approximately 2 km (1.24 mi) up to the first lookout point of the volcano, where we will have time to enjoy a snack while we recover the strength and let the amazing view amaze us. After our rest, we will continue our hike until reach Sierra Negra furthest lookout point. Later on, we will return to Puerto Villamil, for having lunch and then board the private speedboat, and continue our journey back to Santa Cruz Island.
Once we arrive at Puerto Ayora, we will be free to enjoy and explore this iconic town for the last night in the Enchanted Islands. Accommodation at the selected hotel.
DAY 6 – FRIDAY: CHARLES DARWIN – TRANSFER OUT (B)
After breakfast, we will have a short visit to the Charles Darwin Station. The centre is a reservoir of information on habitats and local conservation as well as other fascinating relevant statistics. The most striking attraction of this station is certainly the Tortoise Breeding Center, where it is possible to view tortoises of different shapes and sizes. Additionally, in order to fully take advantage of our visit to the Galapagos Islands, we will be able to visit the station where the legendary “Lonesome George” is exhibited as the last of his species. In 2012, after his death, he was shipped to New York to the American Museum of Natural History in order to start an embalming process for his conservation. Lonesome George was exhibited in the museum for one year. Now Lonesome George is back in the Charles Darwin research station, as a “symbol” of conservation. Afterwards, transfer to the airport to take your international flight.
Important Note: In case the traveller has an early flight departing from Baltra Airport, they will have to pay a supplement for a private transfer and assistance to the airport, and it implies losing the visit to the Charles Darwin Station.
END OF SERVICES
INCLUDED:
- Transfer Airport – Hotel – Airport
- Accommodation in the selected hotel with breakfast
- Meals noted (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, BL: Boxed Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Excursions mentioned in the itinerary
- Bilingual Naturalist Guide in all Excursions (English/ Spanish)
- Private speed boat for passengers
- Snorkeling equipment
- Contribution to the local community
NOT INCLUDED:
- Airfare to/from Galapagos
- Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$ 100 per person)
- Galapagos Migration Card / Ingala (US$ 20 per person)
- Isabela dock fee entrance (UDS 10 per person)
- Optional excursions as a supplement
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips (not mandatory)
- Travel insurance
- Extra expenses
For more information on this itinerary and alternative options in the Galapagos Islands, please contact sales@georeisen-ecuador.com
