8-day Galapagos Island Tour Magic of Isabela

You arrive on the Galapagos Islands, at San Cristóbal Airport, by flight from either Quito or Guayaquil. Our guide waits for you at the Airport, where the tour starts.

From the airport, we drive to the hotel to check-in and get your accommodation.
After checking in, you have lunch in a local restaurant that serves “menu of the day” style lunches (not a la carte).
After lunch, we visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center. The guide explains how the Galapagos Islands were formed, the evolution of species, the migration of the animals, and the human settlements within the Galapagos.
After the visit to the Interpretation Center, we make our way to “Cerro Tijeretas”, or “Frigate Hill”. On this place you have a close up with the Galapagos marine life and do some snorkeling. You can see colorful fish species and the starfish. Sea urchins inhabit the crystal-clear waters in this area.
The afternoon we continue with a visit to Playa Carola, where you have time to enjoy the beautiful beach before returning to the hotel to rest and have dinner (at the local specified restaurant).

Accommodation in the hotel class of your choice

Hike on the Highlands: (standard itinerary)
After breakfast, we visit the Highlands of San Cristobal. The first stop is “Mirador de la Soledad”, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of San Cristobal Island.
After this visit we go to the Junco Lagoon; the only fresh water lagoon in San Cristobal. Lunch will be served in the Highlands and will be followed by a short stop at Playa de Puerto Chino. On the way back we will pass-by the spot where island’s locals cultivate their food and the famous Galapagos coffee.
We arrive at the hotel to rest and have dinner at a local restaurant specified by the guide.

* or choose one of the options below *

NOTE: The following options are subject to availability and last minute changes.

OPTION B has an additional cost per person. Please, let us know which one you prefer in advance, so we can arrange the excursion and advice on availability.

OPTION A – Isla Lobos + Playa Ochoa (navigation to this spot is subject to availability):

Lobos Island is a small islet separated from the main island by a narrow channel.
Here we find nesting blue-footed boobies (according to season) and of course a large colony of sea lions that rest and play on rocky shores.
Many birds inhabit the place; frigates, brown pelicans, lava gulls, common boobies, yellow warblers and finches earth.
The snorkeling activities in the clear waters of the channel are amazing, with the opportunity to swim with sea lions.
After the visit to Lobos Island, it´s time to enjoy Playa Ochoa.
We return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno between 2:30 and 3 PM. After a rest, we have dinner in the restaurant indicated.

OPTION B – Kicker Rock + Beach Time

Kicker Rock is also known as Sleeping Lion or “León Dormido”. Getting to this spot takes 1 hour navigation. The first stop of our journey will be right before Kicker Rock (going down of Cerro Tijeretas) for some fine swimming and snorkeling activities. Kicker Rock itself is considered as one of the most outstanding snorkeling sites in the Galapagos. The excursion consists of two snorkel immersions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon after lunch. A box lunch will be served in the boat.

After the snorkeling and swimming activities, we make our way towards a deserted beach to observe wildlife and to relax.
We will head back to San Cristobal. Return time to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is scheduled around 4pm.
After a rest, you have dinner in the restaurant specified by the guide.

Accommodation on San Cristobal Island in the hotel class of your choice.

At 6:00 a.m. we get ready to go to the dock (wake-up at 5:00 AM). We take the Public speedboat, which leaves at 7:00 a.m. (subject to change), to Puerto Ayora (2 hour estimated travel time).

Upon arrival in Puerto Ayora and after breakfast, the guide will have indicated the hour to start the visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station; home of a large variety of Giant Tortoise representing of each island in the archipelago. We hear about the ongoing conservation efforts directed at preserving the Giant Tortoises, as well as the environment of the whole archipelago. After this visit, we make a short visit to the Art Galleries of Puerto Ayora and then we have lunch.

In the afternoon we make our way to the Highlands of Santa Cruz. Here you may observe the famous Giant Tortoises in their natural environment, and from where the name of the Islands derives.

Also catch sight of the famous Galapagos Finches, Bird Wizards, as well as endemic vegetation. After this encounter with the Giant Tortoises, we return to Puerto Ayora for dinner.

 Accommodation in the hotel class of your choice

In the morning the guide indicates the meeting time for a 45-minute trip to the beautiful white sand beach called Tortuga Bay. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos; here we enjoy the white sand beach and observe pelicans, fish, sea iguanas and other species of wildlife.

After lunch we start the trip from Puerto Ayora to Isabela Island.The public speed boat departs around 2 PM (approx. travel time 2 ½ to 3 hrs.).
The guide waits for you in Puerto Villamil and brings you to the hotel, to check in.  

After a brief rest we take a short walk to the Flamingo Lagoon, one of the natural breeding sites of the Galapagos flamingos.
Return to the hotel to rest and have dinner at the local specified restaurant.

 Accommodation in the hotel class of your choice

Today you can choose between 2 options:

OPTION 1: Sierra Negra Volcano + Chico Volcano

Early in the morning (8:00 am), after breakfast, we get ready for the Sierra Negra Volcano hike (comfortable clothes, walking shoes and a light rain jacket are recommended). Make sure your camera is stored in a waterproof bag, put some sun screen on and bring water and a hat with you!
You prepare your box lunch at the hotel with the foodstuff of your choice.

From Puerto Villamill we travel approximately 45 minutes by truck or bus to start the 12 km hike (approx. 4 hours).
The hike is long in terms of distance, but not very difficult as the inclines and declines are quite gradual. 

(There is an option to do horse riding for an additional cost. If you´re interested, please let us know in advance).
The Sierra Negra Volcano has the second largest crater in the world, measuring approximately 6 miles in diameter and 300 feet deep. After the visit to the Sierra Negra Volcano, we arrive at the volcano Chico. Here you can have a spectacular view of the islands (depending on the weather circumstances).

Once we get back to the hotel, there´s time for a short rest.

In the afternoon, we do some snorkeling activities in Concha Perla. Swim with sea lions, colorful varieties of fish and, with luck, sea turtles and rays.
Return to the hotel to rest before heading to dinner at a local restaurant indicated by the guide.

OPTION 2: (Los Tuneles – extra costs)

There are two departure times for this tour, one at 8 AM with return time around 13 PM.  The other departure is at 11 AM, with return time around 4 PM. The chosen departure time for your tour might vary; hence, you will be notified on the departure time for this day trip, the night before the tour.

Los Tuneles is one of the most beautiful sights in the archipelago.
Continuous volcanic eruptions petrified into tunnel-like lava formations right in the middle of the sea. Crystal-clear turquoise water allows an amazing view of marine vegetation and playful sea lions.

After the speedboat trip, the first stop is a small islet in the middle of the ocean. This islet is home to pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions.
Finados snorkeling site is the next stop, where you can swim with sea turtles, Tintoreras sharks (endemic to the islands), trumpet fish and surgeonfish.
With some luck, eagle and golden rays will come to this site too.
Getting to Los Tuneles will take around 1 ½ – 2 hrs. Once there, the speedboat will navigate through various spots in and around the Lava Tunnels. Here you get the chance to do some more snorkeling and enjoy some short walks while observing the landscape and wildlife inhabiting the area. A box lunch on board will be provided for this day. Dinner will be served at the local specified restaurant.

Accommodation in the hotel class of your choice.

After breakfasts, we get ready to visit to Tintoreras Islet. We make our way to the dock of Puerto Villamil in order to embark on small speedboats (12 passenger capacity). After a short ride (approx. 20 min.) we arrive at Tintoreras Islet.
The name of the islet derives from the sharks that inhabit in the waters surrounding the islet, the famous white-tipped fins Tintorera Sharks. The islet is one of the most fascinating places on Isabela Island.
Galapagos sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, sea turtles, pelicans, and Galapagos Penguins can all be found in this site. It is also one of main breeding sites for marine iguanas, and a great spot to get a close-up with them. After a hike around the islet, we get back on the boat and cool off by snorkeling in the waters nearby. Swimming next to multicolor fish, starfish, sea urchins, and with luck manta rays, sharks, and sea lions, is a major highlight in this excursion. After a fascinating experience we return to the hotel for lunch.

In the afternoon, we visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center of Isabela. Here you observe a variety of species of giant tortoises. You hear how this center successfully breed and raise the giant tortoises to preserve many endangered subspecies.

Afterwards, we visit the Wall of Tears (Muro de las Lagrimas). Between 1946 and 1959 Isabela Island was used as a penal colony by the Ecuadorian government, and the prisoners were obligated to build this wall out of the sharp and hard volcanic rocks.
The wall is 100 meters long and 7 meters high.
On our way back to Puerto Villamil, we visit a Lava Tunnel near the wall of Tears.  Visits to Mirador Orchilla, Estero de Isabela, and Playa del Amor are also programmed. We return to the hotel to rest before heading to our dinner location, in a local restaurant specified by the guide.

 Accommodation in the hotel class of your choice.

After breakfast and depending on the tide, we make our way to the dock and prepare for the kayaking excursion.

After listening to the instructions and safety precautions, and once equipped with lifejackets and oars, you start rowing towards Tintoreras Islet. Here you will be able to observe a variety of fauna from our kayaks, including Penguins, Blue-footed Boobies, and Marine Iguanas. We make our way up to El Faro before heading back to shore (appx. 2 hours).
Return to the hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon we visit the Highlands of Isabela, specifically Campo Duro inhabited by approx. 42 Giant Galapagos Tortoises in a semi-natural protected environment. On our way back we visit the Mirador del Mango and La Cueva de Sucre. We return to the hotel to rest before having dinner at a local restaurant specified by the guide.

Accommodation on Isabela Island in the hotel class of your choice.

Early in the morning, at 6 AM, we take the public speedboat from Isabela to Puerto Ayora, where the guide waits for you to take you to the restaurant, for breakfast.
On our way to Baltra Airport, we stop by “The Twins” Craters. These Twins, are crater-like formations, naturally built from the collapse of the earth and lava flows.

The tour ends upon arrival at Baltra Airport. Here you take your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.