SAT EC-003

Day 1: Arrival on Baltra Island–Santa Cruz Island (Highlands—Charles Darwin Station—Tortuga Bay)
In the morning, you fly from either Quito or Guayaquil to the Island of Baltra, where your tour guide will meet you to take you through the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to Puerto Ayora. From there, it’s a short trip to the famous Charles Darwin Station, which offers a very informative program about its scientific research and turtle breeding efforts in the Galapagos archipelago. You will have the opportunity to admire “Lonely George,” the most famous giant tortoise. After lunch, we will visit Tortuga Bay, one of the island’s most pristine beaches. You are free to plan your own evening meal and/or entertainment at one of the local establishments. /L/D

Day 2: Santa Cruz Island—Day Trip to either Plazas, Seymour, Bartolomé, or Floreana Island*
After breakfast, you will take a boat ride to one of the islands listed above. All of them offer fascinating insights into the plant and animal life of the Galapagos Islands. In the evening, you return to your hotel. (*The day’s destination depends on availability.) B/L/D
Day 3: Santa Cruz Island—Isabela Island (Breeding Center—Flamingo Lagoon)
You may spend the morning at your own leisure. After lunch in Puerto Ayora, a speed boat will take you in a two-to-three hour ride to Isabela Island, one of the prettiest islands of the Galapagos archipelago. From the harbor, you will be accompanied to your hotel. Later in the afternoon, we will tour the giant tortoise breeding center, which is home to turtles of every age and size. You will learn a lot about the reproductive process and breeding of these endangered Galapagos giants. The visitor center also features a souvenir shop. The culmination of your day will be a walk to Flamingo Lagoon and to a lookout point that offers a panoramic view of the southern part of the island and the surrounding ocean. B/L/D

Day 4: Isabela Island (Sierra Negra Volcano—Chico Volcano—Tintoreras)
Today will be a memorable day as your guide accompanies you from your hotel to one of the most scenic volcanoes in the world. The crater of the Sierra Negra volcano has a diameter of just over four miles. On a four-hour horseback ride, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery almost effortlessly. Your ride will take you past a gigantic, caved-in crater (about 6 miles wide) to the still active Chico volcano. From the edge of the volcano, you can peer down to the bottom of the crater and study the trail of the most recent lava flow in August of 2005. Lunch will be served at a picturesque farm in the highlands, after which you will have a chance to observe giant tortoises. In the afternoon, you will be able to go snorkeling near the small island of Tintoreras, surrounded by sea lions and white-tip sharks. B/L/D

Day 5: Isabela Island—Santa Cruz Island (Puerto Ayora—Twin Craters Los Gemelos—Baltra (Airport)
It’s time for goodbyes. We take the public speed boat from Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island and drive through the highlands from Puerto Ayora to the airport in Baltra. On the way to the airport, we will stop at the twin craters Los Gemelos. From Baltra, you will depart for Quito or Guayaquil. We wish you a pleasant flight! B/L/.
Program with accommodations in standard hotels (Hotel Crossman or Palmeras in Puerto Ayora and Hotel Sierra Negra in Isabela):
Program with accommodations in superior-class hotels (Hotel Mainao or Fernandina in Puerto Ayora and Hotel Wooden House in Isabela):
Minimum 2 persons

Included in the price:

• Accommodations in the specified hotels
• All meals as specified in the itinerary
• Private transportation on the islands
• All excursions and boat rides as specified in the itinerary
• Fares for public speed boats as outlined
• Bilingual guide on each island (English/Spanish)
• Admissions during tours

Not included in the price:

• Admission fee to Galapagos National Park (currently USD 100)
• Airline ticket to/from Galapagos
• Tourist card (currently USD 10)
• Isabela harbor tax (currently USD 5)
• Single supplement
• Beverages
• Wetsuit (USD 10/day)
• Personal expenses
• Tips
• Snorkeling equipment (diving mask, fins, and snorkel)

Program flexibility:

Activities can be custom-tailored to the participants’ preferences
Program can be booked with standard, superior-class, or first-class hotels, depending on room availability on the various islands.