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San Cristobal Express
Visit: San Cristobal - Interpretation Center - Frigate Hill - Kicker Rock - Espanola Island
This 4-day tour is perfect for those with a limited amount of time.
These itinerary visits San Cristobal and nearby islands, taking you to some of Galapagos' most precious visitor sites.
Tour Begins At: San Cristobal
Tour Ends At: San Cristobal
You will arrive to San Cristobal where a representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel to check-in and freshen up before the first activity. After check-in a naturalist guide will be waiting to take you to the nearby
Interpretation Center and Galapaguera; this useful point of information was opened in 1998 with the purpose of informing visitors about the origins and geography of the Galapagos Islands. The center has different sections
depicting both the natural and human history of the Galapagos as well as the present efforts in conservation.
From the center, the tour continues to Tijeretas Hill, named after the frigate birds that are usually found here, known as “Tijeretas” by the locals. This hill provides three natural and amazing viewpoints. It is a perfect area is for observing Magnificent frigate birds and Great frigate birds nesting in the same colonies.
After this visit, the day comes to an end at “La Loberia”, a beach known for swimming and snorkeling in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here, you have some time to swim and practice snorkeling. After this you will return to your selected hotel.
Meals: None
Activities: Hiking + Bird watching + Snorkeling + Wildlife Observation
Accommodation: Selected Hotel
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Tour: Private
Landing Type: Dry landing
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will then depart to San Cristobal’s main pier to board a speedboat for the day’s tour. The first visit will be to Kicker Rock, it is located Northeast of San Cristobal Island. This islet is formed by two eroded rocks of volcanic tuff that emerged from the water to reach an altitude of 148 meters / 485 feet. The rocks resemble a sea lion from certain angles, hence the name “León Dormido” or sleeping sea lion as the rocks are known in Spanish. To begin the tour, you will be brought close to the rocks to observe the wildlife, as it is populated by blue-footed and Nazca boobies, frigate birds, and pelicans since they rest and nest on the upper parts of the rock. After this, your guide will instruct you on the snorkeling activity upon entering the channel between the two rocks to observe the abundant marine life such as sea turtles, rays, sharks, sea lions, schools of fish, and many other tropical fish species.
This tour is also combined with a visit to a beautiful beach such as: Puerto Grande, Manglecito or Cerro Brujo where you will disembark to observe the different bird species and to swim, snorkel, or relax on the beach. In the afternoon, you will return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to be dropped off at your selected hotel.
Meals: Breakfast – Box Lunch
Activities: Snorkeling – Hiking – Bird watching – Wildlife Observation
Accommodation: Selected Hotel
Difficulty: Average
Type of Tour: Shared
Landing Type: Wet landing
Transportation: This tour may depart in the morning at 8:00 am or in the afternoon at 1:30 pm. You return will return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno around 12:30 pm if you leave in the morning or 5:30 pm if you leave in the afternoon.
Due to its isolation, Española Island is home to a large percentage of endemic species. There are two visitor sites on this island, Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay. At Punta Suarez you may see the Waved Albatross, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, swallow-tailed gulls, snakes, lava lizards, Galapagos doves, marine iguanas, and sea lions. On this island there is a volcanic feature called the blow hole, it was formed over time by erosion creating a tunnel, spouting water into the air up to 20 meters or 60 feet.
Once the loop of this trail is complete you will head back to the boat as the tour moves toward Gardner Islet. This is a good time to get your snorkel equipment ready to explore the waters of Gardner Bay. Here you can swim alongside playful sea lions, Galapagos sharks, tropical fish, and marine iguanas. A box lunch will be served onboard as these parts of the islands are not populated and food is not allowed onto the island for its protection. You will return to San Cristobal once the snorkeling and swimming activity is complete.
Meals: Breakfast – Boxed Lunch
Activities: Snorkeling – Hiking – Birdwatching – Wildlife Observation
Accommodation: Selected Hotel
Difficulty: Easy at Gardner Bay - Moderate on Española due to uneven terrain
Type of Tour: Shared
Landing Type: Wet and dry landings
Transportation: 2 hours of navigation on speedboat to Española – 2 hours each way. The tour itself lasts around 4 hours. Total tour is about 8 hours. Departs at 7:30 am and will return about 3:30/4:30 pm.
On the last day of your island-hopping itinerary, you will have breakfast in the morning then be transferred to the San Cristobal Airport. Assistance will be provided for your flight departure check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
Transportation: Transfer from selected hotel to the San Cristobal Airport.
Inclusion
Accommodations in selected hotel. • All meals noted within itinerary. • Transfers & ground transportation with assistance. • Snorkeling equipment (fins, snorkel, and mask). • All excursions within itinerary. • Certified Galapagos National Park Bilingual Naturalist Guide for activities detailed in itinerary.Exclusion
Internal Flights • Galapagos National Park entrance fee • Tourist transit card • Alcoholic beverages/ additional drinks not included with meals. • Wet suits • Travel Insurance • Personal expenses / souvenirs • GratuitiesNote
HOTELS - Casa Blanca (Ocean view) or similar Cost for upgrade to higher category hotel is available on request Tours only depart with a MINIMUM of 6 passengers. If tour cannot operate, an alternative tour of Isla Lobos + Highlands will be offered *When arriving to Galapagos your guide will let you know what kind of footwear is appropriate for the afternoon tour. *Bright colored clothing can attract unwanted animals and insects, such as wasps. This is because bright colors look like flowers to these animals and insects. Try to pack light colored clothing such as beige, white, brown, or grey. Cost for Galapagos National Park entrance fee & Tourist transit card is available on request IMPORTANT NOTES *Activities within this itinerary are subject to change due to Galapagos National Park decisions made by park authorities, new regulations, weather changes, and/or guide decisions regarding safety. *Due to a recent increase in volcanic activity near Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela Island, certain areas of Sierra Negra may be declared off limits to visitors. *Please consider that in order to protect the environment of the Galapagos Islands, the Government of Ecuador has banned the use of plastic shopping bags, plastic straws and polyethylene containers. Therefore, all passengers visiting the islands are not allowed to bring in these types of objects. This measure is effective as of May 2018. Special Reminders • Keep a safe distance of at least 2 meters between yourself and the wildlife. • Do not touch the wildlife. • Do not bring any food or drink other than water onto the visitor sites. • Do not feed the wildlife. • Always stay with your guide. • Always stay on the trail or walking path. • Do not leave any trash or other belongings on the island. • Do not use the flash on your camera when taking pictures of the wildlife. PACKING LIST • Hiking boots • Water Shoes – or shoes you can wear in and out of the water • Sunglasses • Sunscreen 75+ • Hat • *Lightweight and quick drying long-sleeved shirts or t-shirts • *Lightweight and quick drying shorts or pants in light colors • Bathing suit • Camera (Waterproof camera also) • Reusable water bottleTour Category
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