Itinerary
DAY 1
Transfer in Baltra/ Santa Cruz: Highland, Trapiche
Arrival at the Baltra Island airport, reception by our National Park guides, on the way we visit the UPPER PART. This tour covers the main attractions of the northern part of Santa Cruz Island where we will visit RANCHO PRIMICIA, in this spectacular place we can find giant tortoises in their natural state and take great photographs. We will continue towards THE LAVA TUNNELS of volcanic formation, we will walk inland at a distance of approximately 100 m, and our guide will give you an explanation about the types of volcanic eruptions that formed the islands. We will have time for lunch. We will make a short stop at LOS GEMELOS DE SANTA CRUZ.
These are two craters that were formed when the islands had a lot of volcanic activity that generated several eruptions. These sinkholes have very green areas. The view from this point is impressive and you can admire the great size of these and where at some point millions of years ago there was lava.
On the way to our hotel we will visit a mill and taste a delicious cane juice. Nearby we will visit the EL DIBUJO craft center to learn how wooden figures are made.
DAY 2
Isabela Island: Galapaguera, flamingo pit, wetlands, concha y perla beach
We start the tour at 06:45 AM at the Puerto Ayora dock to board the ferry that will take us to Isabela. Once there we will go to the breeding center and visit the flamingo lagoon.
We continue with a visit to Concha y Perla beach, an ideal place to practice sports such as swimming or snorkeling. Concha y Perla is a bay with shallow, calm and transparent water that allows you to observe the fascinating marine fauna of the Galapagos.
We have the chance to swim with sea lions and penguins, something that cannot be experienced in any other tropical area in the world. It is a beautiful natural pool 15 to 20 meters deep that is a passage area for turtles, stingrays , sea lions and a variety of fish. We will have free time to get to know the town of Isabela. Return to the hotel.
DAY 3
Isabela tunnel tour, Wall of Tears
We start this adventure at 07:30. The journey to the tunnels takes approximately 1 hour. Once in this sector, we travel the different paths through the tunnels where you can clearly see the landscape that is the highlight of this site. We will visit Roca Unión, a small islet located in the open sea where you can see, with luck, pelicans, Nazca boobies and blue-footed boobies and the occasional sea lion resting on the rocks.
After this brief stop, we will sail for about 45 minutes to reach one of the most beautiful landscapes of the lava rock formations of the Galapagos Islands, they are called tunnels, since in ancient eruptions, the lava passed under the tunnels of the formed earth that then collapsed and gave rise to these arches in the water where you can clearly see the vegetation coming out of the rocks, the crystal clear water, the sea lions that flutter between the arches. There is a hike in this place and it is ideal for taking photographs. Then we will go to the site known as Finados to dive with sea turtles, sharks, golden rays, eagle rays, seahorses, surgeon fish, damselflies . We will have a light lunch on the boat after having completed the two activities. After lunch we prepare for a great bicycle excursion , which will take us through a wide variety of environments and ecosystems.
Along the way, we’ll pass white sand beaches, mangrove forests and brackish lagoons, and a lava tube cave. During the journey we will be able to see giant tortoises, flamingos and other wild animals. At the end of our trip, we arrived at The Wall of Tears . After this visit, we will take our bikes back to the town.
DAY 4
Ferry to Santa Cruz – Bahia Tour
We leave very early to take the ferry that will take us back to Santa Cruz. In the afternoon we will enjoy the Bay Tour, which consists of visiting 5 different sites around it. The first of them is La Lobería, a small islet located 10 minutes from Puerto Ayora, where a colony of sea lions lives. It is a good opportunity to swim with the babies and juveniles who are very playful. Afterwards, we will visit the tunnels of love and the blue shark tunnels, which are very good places for snorkeling and observing blue-footed boobies nesting in the rocks. We continue with the visit to the dog beach, where we will enjoy a walk along the rocks among opuntias and we will be able to observe large groups of marine iguanas and sea turtles feeding on the shore. The last place is Las Grietas, an inlet of brackish, fresh and crystalline water, characteristics that make it a good place for snorkeling.
DAY 5
Tortuga Bay – Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
Breakfast, in the morning we visit the beautiful Tortuga Bay beach, which is among the 25 best beaches in the world. We will take a walk of approximately 45 minutes to the beach.
It is a beach approximately 2 km long, white sand formed by fish bones and white coral; considered a sanctuary for iguanas, sea turtles and other species where you can swim and do activities such as snorkeling and beach games. The return to the hotel can be on foot or we can take the boat that will leave us at the dock.
In the afternoon we visit the FAUSTO LLERENA CRIANZA CENTER. It is a research and conservation center for biodiversity in the Galapagos Islands, which plays a fundamental role in the protection of natural resources and in the education and dissemination of information about the unique fauna and flora of the islands. Next door is the Charles Darwin Station, named in honor of the British naturalist who visited the Galapagos Islands in the 19th century and whose observations of the local fauna and flora led him to develop his theory of evolution by natural selection.
You visit the VAN STRAELEN Interpretation Center, learn about the endemic species, observe the reproduction of giant tortoises, participate in field activities and take guided walks along trails where you can observe the flora and fauna. We arrived at the hotel.
DAY 6
Transfer Out
At the agreed time our transportation will take us to the Itabaca Channel to cross to the airport and take the flight that will allow us to return to the continent and then to Europe.
SCHEDULED HOTELS
TOURIST CLASS HOTELS
Santa Cruz: Ninfa or Pelican Bay
Isabela : San Vicente or Cally
SUPERIOR TOURIST HOTELS
Santa Cruz: Sun and Sea (Rooms with sea view)
Isabela : The Lagoon
- Reception and dispatch at Baltra airport
- Hotel accommodation of your choice and double and/or triple accommodation
- Breakfasts
- Maritime and land transport in shared service
- bilingual guides of the Galapagos National Park
- Visits and excursions according to itinerary in shared service
- Hotel taxes.
- International air tickets.
- Air ticket to Galapagos UIO – GYE / Baltra / UIO – GYE
- Lunches and dinners
- PNG Admission: Foreigners: $100.00
- TCT tourism transit card : $20 per person.
- Services or activities not specified in the program. Personal expenses and tips.
- Snorkeling equipment $5, short wetsuit $10, long wetsuit $15.
- Water taxis $1.00 each way to other islands
- Lobito bus $10.00 both ways
- Dock tax in Santa Cruz $1.00 when arriving from other islands.
- Admission to Isabela $10.00
