8-Day Galapagos Adventure: San Cristobal - Santa Cruz - Isabela

***Snorkel + Short Hike*** You can arrive to the Galapagos 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 you will be taken to the hotel to check in to your rooms and leave your bags. After checking in, we will eat lunch in a local restaurant that serves “menu of the day” style lunches (not a la carte). After lunch we will head to the San Cristobal Interpretation Center where our 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 will make our way to “Cerro Tijeretas”, or “Frigate Hill”. Here you can do some snorkeling to see colorful fish species, starfish, sea urchins, or to simply enjoy the crystal clear waters. 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 a local restaurant specified by the guide).

The Highlands + El Progreso: (standard interary) After breakfast the day begins with a short bus or truck ride (depending on the size of the tour group) to visit the Highlands of San Cristobal. Along the way we will make a stop at the Mirador de la Soledad, where we will be given a magnificent view of the island. Afterwards we will make our way to the Laguna del Junco, the only freshwater lagoon on San Cristobal, and also where frigate birds come to wash their wings. We will then make a short stop at Playa de Puerto Chino before eating lunch at a local farm in the Highlands. On the way back we will visit “El Progreso” in the highlands, where we will be able to see how the people of the island cultivate their food and the famous Galapagos coffee. We will then return to the hotel to rest and eat lunch at a local restaurant specified by the guide. OR choose between options A or B. NOTE: The following options are subject to availability and last minute changes. Option B has an additional cost of USD $92 per person. Please, let us know what you prefer beforehand so we can arrange the excursion and advice on availability. OPTION A: Isla Lobos + Ochoa Beach / Lunch on board. (Site subject to availability) Hike + Snorkel (navigation to this spot is subject to availability) The short navigation towards Isla Lobos will begin after breakfast around 9:00am. Los Lobos is a small islet separated from the main by a narrow channel. In this site you can find 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. The snorkeling in the clear waters of the channel is unforgettable, it is perhaps the best site to swim side-by-side with sea lions. A stop will be made afterwards at Playa Ochoa to relax at the beach and enjoy the great view. We return to Puerto Baquerizo between 2:30pm - 3:00pm. After a rest, you will have dinner in the restaurant specified by the guide. OPTION B: Kicker Rock Islet: Kicker Rock + Beach hike. (Additional cost per person) Hike + Snorkel This site is also knows as Sleeping Lion or “León Dormido”. Getting to this spot takes a 1hr navigation. The first stop will be right before we arrive Kicker Rock (going down of Cerro Tijeretas) for some fine swimming and snorkeling. However, Kicker Rock itself is considered 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, as this part of the islands are inhabited. Afterwards, we will make our way towards a deserted beach to observe wildlife and relax. We will head back to the boat and return to San Cristobal. Return time to Puerto Baquerizo is scheduled around 4pm. After a rest, you will have dinner in the restaurant specified by the guide.

***FULL DAY HIKING*** At 6:00 a.m. we will prepare ourselves to go to the dock (wake-up at 5:00am). We will take the Public speedboat, which leaves at 7:00am. (subject to change), to Puerto Ayora (2 hour estimated travel time). Once on Puerto Ayora we will have breakfast and take a short rest before making our way to towards the Highlands of Santa Cruz. After a short car ride we will start our 2 ½ hrs hike towards along Cerro Chato Reserve. The adventure starts at Santa Rosa through endemic vegetation, rocks, and some mud lagoons. This reserve is the best location to spot Giant Tortoises, also known as the Galapagos, in their natural environment. We will also check out some incredible lava formations on the way. Galapagos Finches, Bird Wizards will accompany during our hiking adventure. After this incredible encounter with the Giant Tortoises, we will return to Puerto Ayora for lunch. On the afternoon, after a short rest, we will meet again with our guide at the indicated hour and begin right away our 45 minute hike to the beautiful white sand beach called Tortuga Bay. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos, and here we can enjoy the white sand, cool surf, pelicans, fish, sea iguanas and other species of wildlife. Return to the hotel to rest before heading to dinner at a local restaurant indicated by the guide.

After breakfast, we cannot miss a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we will find a variety Giant Tortoise as representatives of specie inhabiting each island on 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 we will make a short visit to the Art Galleries of Puerto Ayora and then eat lunch. Return to the hotel to rest before heading to dinner at a local restaurant indicated by the guide. Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice. After lunch, we will embark once again on the Public speedboat towards Isabela Is. (at 2:00pm), for approximately two and a half hours. Once at Isabela, we will take a brief rest at the hotel and then head to the Flamingo Lagoon, the largest coastal lagoon found in the Galapagos and one of the main reproductive sites for the majority of flamingos. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel class of your choice.

This day you may choose ONE of the following options. Option 1: AM. Hike Volcan Sierra Negra + Volcan Chico PM. Snorkel Concha Perla Hiking + Snorkel Early in the morning (8:00am), after breakfast, you will 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! A box lunch will be prepared by yourself 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 (appx. 3 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, and 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 reach Volcan Chico before heading back, which should provide a spectacular view of the incredible moonlike terrain. Once we get back to the hotel we will take a short break to rest. On the afternoon you will get to do some fine snorkeling in Concha Perla. There you can 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: Full Day: Visit Cabo Rosa aka. Tuneles (additional cost per person) Navigable Tour + Snorkel 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), trumpetfish and surgeon fish. 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 will be provided for this day. Return to Isabela Island is programmed at 15h00. Dinner will be served at the local restaurant specified by the guide.

***Snorkel + Biking + Hiking*** After breakfasts, get ready to visit Tintoreras Islet. First we will make our way to the dock of Puerto Villamil in order to embark on small speedboats (12 passengers capacity). After a short ride (appx. 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-fin Tintoreras 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 will 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. We will return to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, we will 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 breed and raised to endangered subspecies of giant tortoise. Afterwards, we start a long hike in Humedales Complex. Fist will stop at 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 construct this wall out of the sharp and hard volcanic rocks. The wall is 100 meters long and 7 meters high, and the name is derived from the arduous and painful nature of the conditions in which the prisoners were forced to work. On the way back we will make a visit to a Lava Tunnel near the Wall, Mirador Orchilla, Estero de Isabela, and Playa del Amor. Return to the hotel to rest before heading to dinner at the local restaurant specified by the guide.

***Biking + Hiking + Kayaking*** After breakfast and depending on the tide, we will make our way to the dock and get ready for the kayaking excursion. After listening to the instructions and safety precautions, and once equipped with lifejackets and oars, we will begin rowing towards along all the seas of Puerto Villamil bay and reaching Tintoreras Islet where we will be able to observe a variety of fauna from our kayaks, including Penguins, Blue-footed Boobies, and Marine Iguanas. We will make our way up to El Faro before heading back to shore (appx. 2 hours). After this we will return for a well-deserved lunch. In the afternoon we will grab our bikes again to visit the Highlands of Isabel. We will ride to specifically Campo Duro where we can see approximately 42 Giant Galapagos Tortoises in a semi-natural protected environment. On the way we will also visit the Mirador del Mango, La Cueva de Sucre (Lava formations). After our bike adventure, we will then return to the hotel to rest before eating dinner at a local restaurant indicated by the guide.

On the final day we recommend waking up at 5:00am to get ready to hit the dock. From there we will take the public speedboat that leaves at 6:00am (subject to change) to Puerto Ayora (approx. 2 – 3 hrs navigation). After breakfast at Puerto Ayora we then depart for Baltra Airport to catch the returning flights to either Quito or Guayaquil. Our unforgettable experience now ends at Baltra Airport