Enjoy Galapagos Islands in 5 days (Santa Cruz and Isabela)
Galapagos Province – Ecuador
Elevation:
Sea level
Difficulty
Easy
Duration
5 days
Itinerary
Our guide will be at the airport waiting for your arrival to start the adventure on the islands, after crossing the Itabaca channel make your first visit to the top of the island, the intense green color forms a unique contrast to the lower and dry part of the island. The Scalesia trees dominate the vegetation of this region, in the place you will have the possibility to visit a ranch where you will be able to observe turtles in natural state, in the same way take a walk through the lava tunnels. You will continue the journey to the hotel (-/L/-)
Pick you up from your hotel at 06:15 am by our staff then transfer to Isabela Island by speedboat (Approx. 2-3 hours) – boat departs 07:00 am Moderate – Strenuous: Bumpy ride any time of year Rough seas June to November – vey bumpy!
After the hotel check-in, beginning with a tour to Sierra Negra volcano is the second longest crater in the world, measuring approximately 6 miles in diameter and 300 feet deep, you will visit Chico volcano where you can feel the warm land as proof that this volcano is active, and enjoy the lava fields, fumaroles and the view of the northern volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina. Hike back down to the bus (3- 4 hours). Please bring shoes with socks, water, hat, sunscreen and protective clothing. Or you have the alternative a tour by boat to the marine tunnels (Cabo Rosa): After a navigation by boat of about 60 minutes, you will reach the famous marine lava tunnels. Here you will get the chance to get out of the boat in order to walk on top of the lava formations, which constitute a unique and spectacular landscape.
This place also is a popular nesting place for the blue-footed boobies, which you can observe from very close during this visit. After this walk, a snorkel activity will take place in order to be able to discover the lava collapses and lava caves from underneath the water. The underwater world at this site is one of the best places for observing the white-tipped reef sharks , sea turtles, penguins and if you are lucky also seahorses.
Then, the boat will move on to a place called “Finado”, where you will get the opportunity for a second snorkel activity with golden rays, aguila rays, sharks and sea turtles.
Return to Puerto Villamil around 04:00 pm approx (B/BL/-)
Pick you up from your hotel at 08:00 am approx. by our guide then transfer to pier of Isabela. You will get the boat to reach La Tintorera Islet where you will walk among marine iguanas and you will see sharks resting. By boat you will be taken to the bay where you will snorkeling among endemic species of Galapagos. After the snorkeling you will get back to Puerto Villamil where, you will be taken to the pier where you will get on board in order to return to Puerto Ayora where you will spend the last night in Puerto Ayora. Arrive to Puerto Ayora around 05:00 pm approx (B/L/-)
The visit to South Plazas to begins with a dry landing. The rocky trail circumnavigates the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. The island is home to enormous prickly pear cactus and the endemic succulent sesuvian. These succulents with almond-shaped leaves are green during the rainy season December – May. Then, become red during the dry season giving the island an unusual appearance. Box Lunch Included. South Plaza has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the Galapagos. The iguanas seem to be everywhere once you land. Or visit to North Seymour. In the north of Baltra is the small islet of North Seymour. The two islands are very similar in appearance both created from geological uplift and having typical arid vegetation including prickly pear cactus, palo santo trees and salt bushes. The visitor trail on North Seymour is approximately (2 km) in length crossing the inland of the island and exploring the rocky coast. Along the way the trail passes colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. The magnificent frigate bird, a large black bird with a long wingspan, and a hooked beak, is extremely fast and has excellent vision. Frigate birds are known for the large red pouch on their necks. During mating season the males thrown back their heads, inflate the pouch (sometimes to the size of a soccer ball), and shake trying to capture the attention of female frigates. Or visit Santa Fe. A thirty – minute loop through the giant Opuntia cactus forest will show you land iguanas that are unique to this island. These rare reptiles are easiest to find early morning and late afternoon. A two hour trail with good views, and a chance to see some endemic vegetation including Scalesia. Before the trekking, you will have a box lunch. This island offers an excellent opportunity for snorkeling from the panga to the point of the small islet that forms the bay. Or visit Bartolome. This small island famous of the photogenic pinnacle rock that looks sheared away from the cliff. The trail passes different lava formation and pioneer vegetation on the way to the summit. It is a one-hour of moderate uphill hiking with beautiful views of the surrounding islands. A short walk through sand dunes brings you to another beach. Before the trekking, you will have a box lunch. Next to the pinnacle is a pleasant beach with a calm bay for swimming. Box lunch is included. Penguins can sometimes be observed while swimming or snorkeling. Overnight (B/L/-)
After breakfast, the guide will pick you up at your hotel for taking you to the Charles Darwin Center, the foundation has its headquarters at the visitor-friendly Charles Darwin Research Station, located near Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. There you will find administrative offices and laboratories for the scientists (usually off-limits to visitors) but also several educational exhibits and displays, such as shells from different tortoise species, a display concerning introduced species and the harm they can do, etc. After the visit you will get back to hotel and about 3 hours before your flight you will head to the airport (B/-/-) * Visit to Charles Darwin will depend on the departure time of domestic flights. Arrival to Baltra will be after 45 min or 1 hour. Farewell. End of services.
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