We have worked out this package thinking about: Couples on a honeymoon or wanting to travel alone, small groups of friends or familiars, someone doesn’t like to sail all day long, to sleep on a boat or suffering seasick, naturalist and nature photographers who like to have their own time, not pressured by people with different interests, someone does not like to be subjected to the dates of cruises, someone likes to live Galapagos Islands from different points of view, the sea but even mainland with its social life.
This way of visiting Galapagos Islands is even a responsible one, because the visitors help directly the activities of residents (hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, sailors, etc.), that doesn’t happen so much when cruising with large international tour operators
The programs can be tailored, of course!
Day 1: Guayaquil/Quito to Galapagos.
Flight to Baltra on the Galápagos Islands from where we will take a short ride through the narrow straits of Itabaca by the ferry and cross the highlands of the Island Santa Cruz to Puerto Ayora by bus (guided transfer). In the afternoon visit of the Charles Darwin Station: The famous „Lonesome George“, the last male-tortoise of its kind is an obligatory stop for all passengers, mostly connected with shopping and a coffee break on the Charles Darwin Avenue water front. Welcome lunch and overnight stay at the two-star Hotel Estrella del Mar with view from balcony onto Academy Bay. (if available rooms with bay view). Dinner at your own expense, we will give some good hints. Includes: (L).
Day 2 – Galapagos, Santa Cruz.
In the morning a private tour to the giant-tortoise reservation El Chato in the tropical green highlands of Santa Cruz island. Here you can observe Charles Darwin´ s favorites in their natural habitat. We also pay visit to an amazing lava tunnel and enjoy the panoramic views of the islands. Box-Lunch around midday. In the afternoon swimming, sea kayaking and relax at the beautiful white sandy beach at Tortuga Bay. Dinner at your own expense. Overnight stay at Hotel Estrella del Mar. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 3 – Galapagos, Isabela
Lunch menue in Puerto Ayora. At about 2 p.m. ride with a fast “Lancha” (boat) to Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. With some luck we can not only observe lots of seabirds but also dolphins and exhausted sea turtles during the two-hour transit. The wonderful rock-islands of Los Cuatro Hermanos and the enchanted Isla Tortuga can be seen in the blue Ocean as well. The relaxed fishing village is home for about 1.500 persons and thus home for nearly all inhabitants of the island, which are mostly descendants of the former detention center “Alemania”. With a size of 4.500 square kilometers, the isolated island of Isabela occupies more than half of the Galapagos area. Overnight stay at the simple but cozy two-star Hotel San Vicente or similar. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 4 – Galapagos, Isabela
In the morning we will visit the famous „Wall of Tears“, an 8 meter high fortress built out of basalt-rocks, which is the last sad testimony of the former detention center, that was built by punished prisoners in shackles. The detention center was broke down in 1959, after a revolution. Today there are just running lots of lava saurian on the stones. Going up to the observation-rock El Mirador, detour into a lava tunnel, and straight through the mangrove-everglades (Wetlands), to the flamingo-lagoon and later on to the “monster” breeding station: Here are living the biggest Elephant-turtles of all. In the afternoon a short boat-trip to Las Tintoreras: Sleeping sharks, blue-foot boobies, pelicans, penguins, sea lions and marine iguanas. Overnight stay at Hotel San Vicente. Includes: (L).
Day 5 – Galapagos, Isabela
Hiking- or if you wish riding excursion in the highlands along the 1.400 meter high crater of the Sierra Negra, which is one of the biggest active volcano-craters of the planet with a diameter of 10 km. Going down through moon-like and cold down lava-fields to reach the smoking side-crater of the Volcán Chico. Fantastic island- and ocean panorama with picnic. Versified drive back to Puerto Villamil, going firstly through tropical plantations, then through lava fields. Overnight stay at San Vicente. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 6 – Galapagos, Isabela
In the morning very spectacular private boat trip to a rarely visited mangrove bay called Los Tuneles, a hot tip and one of the must Galápagos highlights, even though we don´ t like to tell everyone about. Here you can snorkel among sunken lava bridges in transparent waters, with coltish sea lions, sea turtles, rays, sharks, marine iguanas and colorful ornamental fish. In the afternoon swimming in the Pacific Ocean at Puerto Villamils´ long sandy beach and swinging in hammocks among palm trees. This is just the right spot to let yourself go. Overnight stay at San Vicente. Includes: (B).
Day 7 – Galapagos to Guayaquil/Quito.
We head back via lancha to Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz. Going through the highlands via taxi to the Itabaca Canal and further on to the airport to Baltra. Flight to Quito at around one p.m. Includes: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Price per person USD 2200 in double bedroom from/to Guayaquil or Quito.
Price Includes:
- all overnight stays in standard tourist class hotels;
- breakfast on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7;
- lunch on days 1, 2, 3 and 5;
- table or mineral water, juice or soft drink for included meals;
- roundtrip airfare Quito / Guayaquil – Baltra – Guayaquil / Quito;
- all boat rides in between and around the islands;
- all transfers on the islands;
- professional English speaking nature guides;
- local transfer assistance;
- all excursions and activities as described in the program;
- snorkel equipment without wet suit;
- one bottle of selected Argentinean or Chilean white wine per couple;
- all legally required VAT and service taxes;
Price Excludes:
- lunches on days 4, 6 and 7;
- all dinners;
- alcoholic and additional non-alcoholic beverages;
- Galápagos entrance fee, Galápagos transit tax;
- tips and personal spending.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Ecuador
Nature & Wildlife
National Parks
Marine Biology
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