SAT EC-004

Day 1: Arrival on Baltra Island – Santa Cruz Island (Charles Darwin Station)
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 to your hotel in Puerto Ayora. After lunch at a typical local restaurant, we visit 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. 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 (Coastal Boat Tour and Tortuga Bay Beach)
Today, you will explore the island coast on a boat tour, visiting the Punta Estrada, the “German Bay”, the Channel of Love, and Grietas. You will be able to observe marine birds and sea lions and even get a close-up look through a snorkeling mask. You will return to Puerto Ayora for lunch to refuel for an afternoon hike to Tortuga Bay, one of the island’s most pristine white sandy beaches. B/L/D

Day 3: 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 4: Santa Cruz Island (Highlands – Garrapatero Beach)
This day brings an interesting nature opportunity in the highlands because we may well encounter some giant tortoises as we hike to Primicias Ranch. We also visit the lava tunnels and have lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon takes us to the beautiful white sandy beaches of Garrapatero Beach, where you will once more have an opportunity to snorkel in the turquoise ocean and to observe flamingos and other marine birds up close. In the evening, you will return to your hotel. B/L/D

Day 5: Santa Cruz Island – Isabela Island (Wall of Tears – Orchid Lookout)
You may spend the morning at your own leisure before a speed boat takes you to Isabela Island, one of the largest and prettiest islands of the Galapagos archipelago. The boat ride to the picturesque harbor town of Puerto Villamil takes about two to three hours. From the harbor you will be accompanied to your hotel. In the late afternoon, we will visit the Wall of Tears (Muro de las Lagrimas), which was constructed by the inmates of the first Ecuadorian prison. Finally, we will hike to the mangrove forest and to a lookout point that offers expansive views of the southern part of the island. B/L/D

Day 6: 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 7: Isabela Island (Seven Trails – Breeding Center – Flamingo Lagoon)
After breakfast, we venture on a nature hike of Isabela Island, hiking along seven interconnected trails and through mangrove forests to learn more about the island’s interesting flora. During a visit to the giant tortoise breeding center, which is home to turtles of every age and size, you will learn much about the reproductive process and the 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/Box Lunch/D

Day 8: 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 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/.

Accommodations in standard hotels (Hotel Castro or Palmeras in Puerto Ayora and Hotel Sierra Negra in Isabela):

Program with one free day (2. day)* and accommodations in standard hotels (Hotel Castro or Palmeras in Puerto Ayora and Hotel Sierra Negra in Isabela):
Accommodations in superior-class hotels (Hotel Mainao or Fernandina in Puerto Ayora and Hotel Wooden House or Volcano in Isabela):
Program with one free day (2. day)* and accommodations in superior-class hotels (Hotel Mainao or Fernandina in Puerto Ayora and Hotel Wooden House or Volcano in Isabela):
*On your free day (2. day), you can explore Santa Cruz Island on your own. You could, for example, take a short hike to Tortuga Bay, one of the island’s prettiest white sandy beaches.
Minimum 2 persons

Included in the price:

• Accommodations in the specified hotels
• All meals as specified in the itinerary (box lunch on Day 3)
• Private transportation on the islands
• All excursions and boat rides as specified in the itinerary
• Bilingual guide on each island (English/Spanish)
• Admissions during tours
• One day trip on Day 3 (destination to be determined)

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)
• Snorkeling equipment (diving mask, fins, and snorkel)
• Single supplement
• Beverages
• Wetsuit (USD 10/day)
• Personal expenses
• Tips

Program flexibility:

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

Andean – Mosaic