Best Of Galapagos

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then the day’s tour will begin at the San Cristobal pier in order to board the speedboat Kicker Rock, located to the 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, hence the name “León Dormido” 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 + Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Average Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Wet landing Transportation: This tour may departure 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.

You will take a public speedboat early in the morning to Santa Cruz. After landing at Puerto Ayora, you will check in to your hotel to leave your luggage and to change in order to get ready for the day’s activities. Private transportation will take you to the highlands of Santa Cruz. This area, in contrast to the coastal areas, has lush vegetation and forest due to the humidity in the higher elevations. Upon arrival you will be able to enjoy a lunch made from local produce and products and the opportunity to see the emblematic giant tortoises of Galapagos in their natural habitat. This is also a great place to see the ground finch of Santa Cruz populating this forest, along with the vermilion flycatcher or the yellow warbler. After lunch, the tour will allow you to explore iconic lava tunnels while learning more about the volcanic origin of the islands. After this, you will be transferred back to Puerto Ayora. You then have the freedom to rest or do some exploring on your own until the next morning’s pick up. Meals: Breakfast – Lunch in Highlands Activities: Hiking + Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Dry landing Transportation: 45-minute transfer into the highlands and 45-minute return to Puerto Ayora.

The following two days will be two different navigable day tours to an island nearby Santa Cruz. These tours are subject to availability. If not available, a similar day tour with open space will be offered. You will be picked up and dropped off at your selected accommodation. The options to be operated are the following: 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 specially built boardwalk that will provide spectacular views of two beautiful bays that join to form a crescent. There is also 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 - Lunch on board Activities: Snorkeling + Hiking + Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy to moderate Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Dry Landing at Bartolome/Wet Landing at Sullivan Bay Transportation: 1.5-hour drive round trip from Puerto Ayora to Itabaca Channel and back. Early departure time between 5:30 to 6:00 am. Tour Duration: 8 to 12-hours total. 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 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’s also a good idea to durable water shoes if you want to go exploring because there are a few spots with sharp rock. The waves are gentle here, so there will be an opportunity to snorkel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch on board 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: 1.5-hour drive round trip to/from Puerto Ayora to Itabaca Channel. 8-hour tour. 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. The island is home to a vast amount of diversity and concentration of wildlife. When you disembark, you’ll see the dock may be 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, Lunch on board Activities: Snorkeling + Hiking + Birdwatching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy to moderate Type of Tour: Shared Landing Type: Dry Landing Transportation: 1.5-hour drive round trip to/from Puerto Ayora to Itabaca Channel. 8-hour tour total.

You will have an early start with a boxed breakfast to take with you. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the main pier with assistance to board a ferry to Isabela Island. Once you have arrived a guide will be waiting for you to transfer to the hotel to leave luggage. Your first visit of the day will be the Flamingo Lagoon. The trail is approximately 2km/1.24 miles. The guide will explain the various vegetation and geology of Isabela, one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos. Arriving to the 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 Giant 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 from the guide while observing the various tortoise pens and hangouts. Afterwards you will be returned to your hotel with time to have lunch on your own before continuing to our next activity at Tintoreras islet. Tintoreras is located a short distance from Puerto Villamil. It is home to a great variety of aquatic wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos Penguins, marine sea turtles and sea lions. One of the beaches is 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. You will be brought to your selected hotel when the tour is complete. Meals: Breakfast Activities: Hiking + Bird watching + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy Type of Tour: Private Landing Type: Dry landing Transportation: 2.5-hour tour for the breeding center. 30 min ride to/from Tintoreras on a speedboat. 1 hour walk at Tintoreras and 1-hour snorkel.

After a filling breakfast the tour will take you to the Cabo Rosa lava tunnels, also known as “Los Túneles”. The path begins on speedboat for about 1 hour until arrival. The tunnels were formed millions of years ago when rivers of liquid lava ran across the island finally reaching the shore. The cold water froze their superficial layers while isolating the interiors, which kept liquid lava flowing into the sea. When the eruption was finally over, a hollow structure was formed and its outer walls later broke allowing water to come inside, creating the tunnels. The guide will snorkel with the group while discovering the tunnels with opportunities to view marine life such as sharks, lobsters, Galapagos penguins, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, sea turtles and varied tropical fish. Returning to Puerto Villamil, you will be dropped off at your hotel with the rest of the afternoon to spend at your leisure. Meals: Breakfast and Box lunch Activities: Hiking + Birdwatching + Snorkeling + Wildlife Observation Accommodation: Selected Hotel Difficulty: Easy to moderate Type of Tour: Private Landing Type: Dry landing Transportation: 4-hour tour schedule may vary due to Galapagos National park regulations and availability. Guide will advise you beforehand so you are prepared.

On the last day of your island-hopping itinerary, you will be transferred to the Isabela pier for a return speedboat ferry back to Santa Cruz in the early morning. As soon as you arrive to Puerto Ayora there will be a transfer waiting for you for your return to Itabaca Channel. You’ll then cross back over to Baltra Island with assistance in order to arrive in time for your departing flight from Baltra Airport. Meals: Breakfast Transportation: Inter-island ferry to Santa Cruz. Transfer of 45 minutes to Itabaca Channel. Ferry crossing to Baltra Airport.