8-day Ocean Island Tour (San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, another island & Isabela)

You can arrive to the Galapagos Islands only by flight from either Quito or Guayaquil (air ticket not included). Our guide will be waiting for you at the airport on San Cristobal Island where the tour will begin. From the airport we ride for the hotel to check-in and get comfortable. After checking in, you will eat lunch in a local restaurant that serves “menu of the day” style lunches (not a la carte). After lunch we will visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center where the guide will explain how the Galapagos Islands were formed, the evolution of species, the migration of the animals, and the human settlements within the Galapagos. After visiting the Interpretation Center, we make our way to “Cerro Tijeretas”, or “Frigate Hill”. Here you can have a close up with the Galapagos marine life and do some snorkeling. Colorful fish species, starfish, sea urchins inhabit the crystal-clear waters in this area. The afternoon continues with a visit to Playa Carola, where you will have time to enjoy the beautiful beach before returning to the hotel to rest and eat dinner (at the local specified restaurant)

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice

Hike on the Highlands: (standard itinerary) After breakfast, we will visit the Highlands of San Cristobal, The first stop is “Mirador de la Soledad”, where we you can enjoy a magnificent view of San Cristobal Island. Then we will 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.

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NOTE: The folowing options are subject to availability and last minute changes. OPTION B has an additional cost. Please, let us know what you prefer beforehand so we can arrange the excursion and advice on availability to any of these spots.

OPTION B – Isla Lobos + Playa Ochoa (navigation to this spot is subject to availability): Isla Lobos Island ia a small islet separated from the main by a narrow channel. In this place we find nesting blue-footed boobies (according to season) and of course with 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 in the clear waters of the channel is unforgettable, with the opportunity to swim with sea lions. Time to enjoy Playa Ochoa. We return to Puerto Baquerizo between 2:30 and 3 PM. After a rest, have dinner in the restaurant indicated.

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice

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

Upon arrival and after breakfast, the guide will have indicated the hour to meet to begin the visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to a large a variety of Giant Tortoise representing of each island in the archipelago. We will also listen about the ongoing conservation efforts directed at preserving the Giant Tortoises, as well as the environment of the archipelago as a whole. After this, make a short visit to the Art Galleries of Puerto Ayora and then eat 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, which also known as Galapagos, and from where the name of the Islands derive. Also catch sight of the famous Galapagos Finches, Bird Wizards, as well as endemic vegetation such as Escelacias forests and Matazarnos. After this encounter with the Giant Tortoises, return to Puerto Ayora for lunch.

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice

Depending on the dates and/or navigable site chosen, pick-up from the hotel will be early in the morning (either 5 or 8 AM) to take you to the small vessel (16 passenger capacity) at the embarkation point (either Puerto Ayora dock or Itabaca Channel). The destination will be to any of these islands, all of these sites are inhabited and offer a unique close-up with wildlife and endemic vegetation. The destination can be Santa Fe, South Plazas, North Seymour or Bartolomé. The activities will include hiking, snorkeling, swimming and breathtaking sightseeing. After land and sea excursions, we will return back to the hotel in Santa Cruz where you can relax and later on have dinner at the specified restaurant.

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice

In the morning the guide will indicate 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 can enjoy at the white sand beach and observe pelicans, fish, sea iguanas and other species of wildlife.

Return to the hotel to rest.  After lunch we will begin the journey from Puerto Ayora to Isabela Island at 2:00pm (subject to change) via public speedboat (approx. travel time 2 ½ to 3 hrs.) A guide will be waiting for you in Puerto Villamil and then lead you to check in at the hotel. After a brief rest we will take a short walk to visit the Flamingo Lagoon, one of the natural breeding sites of the Galapagos flamingos. Return to the hotel to rest and eat dinner at the local specified restaurant.

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice

OPTION 1: Sierra Negra Volcano

Early in the morning (8:00 am), after breakfast, 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 waterproof bags, wear some sunscreen, bring water, and a hat! Yourself will prepare your box lunch at the hotel with the foodstuff of your choice. We will then travel approximately 45 minutes by truck or bus to begin 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 ride horses for an additional cost, if interested please let us know beforehand). Sierra Negra Volcano has the second largest crater in the world, measuring approximately 6 miles in diameter and 300 feet deep. We will then reach Volcan Chico, which should provide a spectacular view of the islands.

Once we get back to the hotel we will take a short break to rest. In the afternoon, get to do some fine snorkeling 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 cost)

There are two departure times for this tour, one at 08:00 am with return time at 13:00 pm approx., and one at 11:00 am, with return time at 16:00 pm. approx. The chosen departure time for your tour might vary; hence, you will be notified on the departure time for this day trip on the night before the tour.

Cabo Rosa aka. Los Tuneles is perhaps 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, and crystal-clear turquoise water allows an amazing view of marine vegetation and playful sea lions. The tour begins early at 8:00am via speedboat and the first stop is a small islet in the middle of the ocean, home to pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions. Finados snorkeling site is the next stop, where you can swim next to 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.

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice

After breakfasts, get ready to visit to Tintoreras Islet. 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 will 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, 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 will return to the hotel for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center of Isabela. Here you can observe a variety of species of giant tortoises. You will also hear how this center has successfully bred and raise the giant tortoises to preserve many endangered subspecies. Afterwards, we will 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 the way back we will make a visit to a Lava Tunnel near the Wall- Visits to Mirador Orchilla, Estero de Isabela, and Playa del Amor are also programmed. We will then return to the hotel to rest before heading to dinner at a local restaurant specified by the guide.

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice

Early in the morning (06:00 am), we will take the public speedboat from Isabela to Puerto Ayora, where the guide will be waiting to take you to breakfast. On our way to Baltra Airport we will stop by “The Twins” (a.k.a. “The Gemelos”), which are crater-like formations naturally built from the collapse of the earth and lava flows. The tour will end upon the arrival to the airport where you will catch your plane to Quito or Guayaquil.