Galapagos Island Hopping Tour

GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING

5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

DAY 1: QUITO – GALAPAGOS

This day you will travel to one of the most amazing places in the world, The Galapagos Island. This group of 13 major islands and dozens of smaller islets and rocks, all the result of volcanic activity, certainly appears to be out of this world.

These islands are in fact, an unpredictable wilderness, a living laboratory of evolution filled with an extraordinary population of unique species, which have developed apart from human influence. For nature lovers, the perfection is even greater, birds and more birds, playful sea lions, exotic plant life, volcanoes, and haunting land seascape.

Early in the morning, you will have to be at the National airport in order to board your Galapagos flight, (2 ½ hours approximately).

At your arrival, you will have to pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee. Outside, your guide will be waiting for you in order to transfer you to your hotel. Some time to get ready and then you will be transferred to the pier for your first wildlife encounter in the Archipelago, you will navigate to Wolf Islet, this islet is a seasonal nesting location for the Blue-footed booby, frigate birds, marine iguanas although it is named for the sea lions found there.

Box lunch on route, later you will continue navigating to Kicker Rock, a vertical tuff cone that abruptly juts up almost 500 feet out of the ocean. Erosion has split the rock and given it its characteristic shape.

The boat will cruise around the cliffs looking for Blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and sea lions that line the shore, and then you will have the chance to snorkel in one of the best places of Galapagos. With high possibilities to observe Galapagos shark, Pacific green turtle, spotted eagle ray and if you are lucky hummer heads shark, late in the afternoon return to the hotel to diner and overnight.

(BL.D)

DAY 2: SAN CRISTÓBAL – ISABELA

Early in the morning, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Isabela Island. Transfer to your hotel, some time to relax, and departure to LOS TUNELES a beautiful place formed by lava tunnels eroded by the ocean, here you can snorkel or swim in this unique habitat and you will find hundreds of marine iguanas, penguins, sea lions playing and relaxing in the sun on the sandy beaches and if you are lucky it is possible to see flightless cormorants.

This is one of Isabela's most beautiful visitors' sites. Box lunch on route and return to the hotel to the dinner and overnight.

(B.BL.D)

DAY 3: ISABELA HIKE TO SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO

After breakfast your guide will be waiting for you in order to visit Sierra Negra, the volcano that is located at the southern end of Isabela Island, it is one of the most impressive volcanoes of the Archipelago. Its caldera measures 10 Km across from north to south. You will travel by bus for 45 minutes approximately and then you will hike for around 3 hours.

Return to Puerto Villamil, the route you will stop in Campoduro where a delicious lunch will be waiting for you. Arrival at the hotel, some time to relax, and then you will continue your trip to TINTORERAS, a beautiful small island located just a few minutes away from Isabela where it is possible to see the endemic Galapagos penguin, white tippet sharks, and hundreds of baby iguanas, time to enjoy of the beach and snorkel, return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

(B.L.D)

DAY 4: ISABELA – SANTA CRUZ

Early in the morning, you will be transferred to the pier of Pto. Villamil to take a speed boat in order to arrive in Santa Cruz Island (2 ½ hour approximately), transfer to the hotel, some time to rest and departure to the highlands of Santa Cruz, here you are able to see the Giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Visit two big craters known as “Los Gemelos” or twins.

Lunch on a local farm and in the afternoon you will visit Tortuga Bay, a nice beach with soft sand and clear water, great to rest and enjoy the sun and the water. Return to Puerto Ayora where you will have time to buy souvenirs, mail postcards, and absorb some local color in the social heart of the islands. Dinner and overnight.

(B.L.D)

DAY 5: SANTA CRUZ – BALTRA – QUITO

After breakfast, our guide will drive you to Charles Darwin Research Station where you will learn firsthand of the conservation and research efforts in the islands seeing the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. After this visit, you will be transferred to Baltra airport in order to board your flight back to Quito.

(B.L)

A NOTE ON THE ORDER OF THE ITINERARY:

Itinerary subject to change based without previous notice due to local conditions and Galapagos National Park regulations

PRICE INCLUDE:

Transportation on the islands (boat, bus, aircraft), transfers airport – hotel – airport, bilingual local naturalist guide (in case of groups of 6 or more passengers a local naturalist guide plus a bilingual naturalist tour leader), accommodation based on the double room (single supplement under request), all excursions, meals as described on the itinerary, snorkel gear, Isabela taxes, Ingala card.

NOT INCLUDE:

Local flights: Quito- Galapagos – Quito, Galapagos National Park entrance fee, wetsuit; meals not specified, alcoholic drinks, tips, and personal expenses.