Tour The Galapagos Combined

On this day you are offered a navigable tour to one of the nearby islands of Santa Cruz. Kindly note these tours are subject to availability. If they are not available, a similar navigable day tour will be offered. Please see the following options that will be operated: BARTOLOME ISLAND Early in the morning you will be transferred to Baltra Island to board a speedboat for the navigation to Bartolome Island + Sullivan Bay near Santiago Island. Upon arrival you will walk up a boardwalk that will provide views of a spectacular landscape of two beautiful bays that join to form a crescent. There is a great view of the iconic Pinnacle Rock, a massive black lava formation that has eroded over time. Afterwards, snorkeling will be done at a coral beach where sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, tropical fish, sea lions and many other marine species can be found. This is also a perfect area to observe Galapagos penguins, the only penguin species found north of the Equator, endemic to the Galapagos. Meals: Breakfast at hotel and lunch onboard boat Activities: Snorkeling + Hiking + Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Dry landing on Bartolome / Wet landing at Sullivan Bay Transportation: Early departure time between 5:30 and 6:00am. Transfer from hotel to Itabaca Channel – about 45 minutes. Return transfer in the afternoon from Itabaca Channel to selected hotel. Tour Duration: 8 to 12 hours. OR NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND You will be transferred to the Itabaca Channel to take a speedboat to North Seymour Island where a 2-mile hike takes you through some of the largest seabird colonies in Galapagos along a rocky coast and within the interior of the island. You’ll find blue-footed boobies and frigate birds nesting throughout the year, as well as land iguanas and lazy sea lions here and there. This tour is combined with a visit to Las Bachas beach either at the beginning or after the North Seymour visit. Located on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island, this quiet little beach is the perfect spot to unwind. It got its name during World War II when the American army abandoned its barges. Two of those barges found their way to the shore of the Galápagos. The locals couldn’t quite wrap their heads around the word “barge” and called them “bacha” instead. This pristine white-sand beach is known for its incredible wildlife. Home to flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and countless birds, this is a nature lover’s paradise. It is also one of the top sea turtle nesting sites on Santa Cruz Island. It is also a good idea to durable shoes if you want to go exploring because there are a few spots with sharp rocks. The waves are gentle here, so we will go snorkeling. You may spot sea turtles and many colorful, tropical fish along the rocky surfaces below. Meals: Breakfast at selected hotel and lunch onboard boat Activities: Snorkeling + Hiking + Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Dry landing on North Seymour / Wet landing at Las Bachas Beach Transportation: Early departure time between 6:45 and 7:30 8:00 am. Transfer from hotel to Itabaca Channel – about 45 minutes. Return transfer in the afternoon from Itabaca Channel to selected hotel Tour Duration: About 8 hours. OR SOUTH PLAZAS & CARRION POINT On speedboat you will arrive to South Plazas Island, located to the east of Santa Cruz. South Plazas was formed by lava pushed upwards from the bottom of the ocean and is bordered by a steep embankment. When you disembark, you’ll see the small dock occupied by sea lions. Once on the island the tour will continue through a small forest of prickly pear cacti with yellow flowers where land iguanas wait for the fruit and flowers to fall to the ground to eat. Your guide will explain the significance of the land iguanas and their relationship to the island. When the top of the cliff is reached along the trail you will then be in the best location to observe swallow-tailed gulls, red- billed tropic birds, frigate birds, and pelicans in flight. On the eastern end of the island is a colony of male sea lions who can often be found in a struggle to become the beach master. This tour is combined with a visit to Carrion Point. Carrion Point provides opportunities to see various sea birds nesting on the rock cliffs. In addition, Carrion Point creates a sheltered lagoon with beautiful, turquoise water. During this visit you may be able to snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white-tip reef sharks. The point is on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. Meals: Breakfast at selected hotel and lunch on boat Activities: Snorkeling + Hiking +Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Dry Landing Transportation: Early departure time between 6:45 and 7:308:00 am. Transfer from hotel to Itabaca Channel – about 45 minutes. Return transfer in the afternoon from Itabaca Channel to selected hotel. Duration of Tour: About 8 hours.

Today’s tour will start with a boxed breakfast to take with you as you depart with a representative to Puerto Ayora’s pier. Here you will be assisted onto the ferry that will depart to Isabela Island. Once you have arrived at Isabela Island you will find a guide waiting for you. You’ll be assisted with a transfer to your selected hotel to check-in and to leave your belongings. The first visit of the day will be the Flamingo Lagoon. The trail here is approximately 1.2 mi/2km. The guide will explain the various vegetation and geology of Isabela, one of the youngest and most active islands in the Galapagos. Arriving to Flamingo Lagoon you may be able to see flamingos feeding or performing their breeding dance within the artificial lake or “lagoon”. It was originally formed by excavations for construction purposes and was later filled by rainfall. After this visit, the tour continues to the Arnold Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center. It is one of the most important breeding centers in the Galapagos. Here you’ll learn more about the reproduction and breeding of the tortoises, their threats, and conservational projects in action from the guide while observing the various tortoise pens and hangouts. Afterwards, you will return to your hotel. You’ll have some time to eat lunch before continuing to afternoon’s next activity, snorkeling at Tintoreras Islet. Tintoreras is located a short distance from Puerto Villamil. It is home to a great variety of aquatic wildlife. The turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos Penguins, marine sea turtles and sea lions. One of the beaches are surrounded by mangroves and is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully. Most of this area is composed and formed by AA lava. Once the snorkeling activity is done you will be brought back to your selected hotel and the tour will be done for the day. Meals: Boxed breakfast to go Activities: Hiking +Birdwatching +Wildlife Observation + Snorkeling Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy Type of Tour: Private Landing Type: Dry landing Transportation: Pick up at selected hotel between 6:15 and 6:30 for transfer to Puerto Ayora Pier. About 2 – 2.5 hours on the ferry in order to arrive to Isabela depending on sea conditions. Transfer to Breeding Center with about 2.5 hours for tour. Pick up hotel for Tintoreras – guide will advise pick up time. About 30 minutes to Tintoreras from your hotel. Tintoreras includes a one hour walk and one hour for snorkeling.

After driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trailhead of Sierra Negra, you will have a moment to prepare your backpack for the hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. On the trail you can see Darwin finches, flycatchers, mockingbirds, and occasionally the Galapagos hawk. The destination of the trail is the rim of the Sierra Negra crater, one of the largest in the world. This is an active volcano that last erupted in June of 2018, which in turn left a dramatic new layer of volcanic lava upon the landscape. When the crater is finally reached, you’ll find magnificent views and the opportunity to explore the circumference of the massive, lava-filled crater that is over six miles long at its widest point. After this, the hike will continue to Volcano Chico, a secondary crater that has an interesting landscape of puffing fumaroles and colorful lava formations, all great examples of the dramatic geological events that have formed the Galapagos Islands over millennia. Afterwards, you’ll head back with the guide to the viewpoint of the Sierra Negra to have a box lunch and then transfer back to Puerto Villamil. Meals: Breakfast at selected hotel/ Boxed lunch on trail Activities: Hiking + Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation + Impressive Landscapes Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Moderate Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Dry landing Transportation: Pick up at hotel will be confirmed the night before. Normally the Sierra Negra tour lasts for about 3.5 hours, however it is important to keep in mind that the schedule can vary due to the Galapagos National Park regulations and availability.

On the last day of your island hoppingisland-hopping itinerary, you will be transferred to the Isabela pier for the ferry ride back to Santa Cruz on speedboat in the early morning. As soon as you arrive to Puerto Ayora, a representative will be waiting for you to provide a second transfer to the Itabaca Channel where you will cross back over to Baltra Island on ferry. They willThey will also assist you with your arrival to Baltra Airport and check-in for your departing flight. Meals: Breakfast at selected hotel Transportation: Transfer to the Isabela Pier from selected hotel. Speedboat ferry of about 2 – 2.5 hours back to Santa Cruz Island. Another transfer to Itabaca Channel of about 45 minutes and ferry back to Baltra Island, with transfer to airport.