12-Day Galapagos Expedition

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
SAN CRISTOBAL – FREE AFTERNOON
1 stop
1
Today you will arrive to the airport of San Cristobal, one of the Galapagos Islands. You will be picked up at the airport and transferred by private transport with an English speaking contact person to your hotel in the town Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here you will have a meet & greet with one of out staff members who will explain the rest of the itinerary to you. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the town, or walk to the interpretation center, the beaches or Tijeretas.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
KICKER ROCK
1 stop
2
Kicker Rock
Today you will have a day tour to Kicker Rock, with lunch and snorkeling equipment included. With a small boat you set for the lava formation in the middle of the ocean called Kicker Rock (or León Dormido in Spanish as they say it looks like a sleeping sea lion). First you will circle around the rock formation to observe the difference bird species that use the rock formation as a resting or nesting place. Afterwards the boat will anchor and you will jump of the boat to snorkel the canal in between the rock formation. Beware that the currents can be strong and that you will be snorkeling in open waters without being able to see the bottom. Here you will be able to spot different shark species (sometimes even hammerheads!). turtles, rays, and more. In some seasons you might encounter jellyfish which can sting, however a wetsuit will be provided when this is the case. After snorkeling you will continue to Manglecito or a similar beach. This white coral beach offers the opportunity to walk around and relax and swim in shallow waters before returning to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. You will have a box lunch on board. * It is also possible to dive at Kicker Rock (two immersion) if you have your PADI certificate (+ $ 80) including equipment.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
SAN CRISTOBAL HIGHLANDS
1 stop
3
Today you will have a half day tour to the highlands of San Cristobal. In about 30 minutes your driver brings you to your first stop: El Junco Crater Lake, the only freshwater lake on the Galapagos Islands. Afterwards you continue driving to Puerto Chino, a beautiful white sanded beach (watch fo horseflies). Follow a path that leads you passing the typical Opuntia cactuses until you get to the white sandy beach of Puerto Chino. Here you can make a small walk passing the lazy sea lions that sleep on the beach, towards the blue footed boobies on the rocks. From the top you have an amazing view and you might see some sea turtles in the turquoise seawater. You will walk back to the car so you can continue to La Galapaguera, a breeding center with very nice wooden walkways and clear indications. To get to the station your driver brings you to the entrance, from where you can walk towards the incubation center. Along the way you might have to step over a tortoise, as they walk around loose in the area! After the tour you will have lunch and the the driver brings you back to your hotel.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
SAN CRISTOBAL FREE DAY
1 stop
4
Today you have a day off to enjoy San Cristobal by yourself.
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
SANTA CRUZ – BAY TOUR – LA LOBERIA
1 stop
5
In the morning you will transfer to the harbor to take the public speedboat to go to Santa Cruz Island. Upon arrival there you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will have a meet & greet with a staff member. In the afternoon after lunch, you have a Santa Cruz Bay tour included. During the tour you are going with a boat to Academy Bay, where you can swim and snorkel with sea lions and all kind of colorful fish, also known as La Lobería. You can see the blue footed boobies who are resting at the edge of the cliffs. If you climb to the viewpoint and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reed sharks swimming. From that spot you can walk to Playa de los Perros were many sea iguanas are resting in the sun. The enormous cacti, the red color of the rocks and the turquoise color of the ocean make a great scenery for landscape pictures.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
SANTA FE / PINZON
1 stop
6
Santa Fe Island
Brace yourself for an encounter unlike any other. Today you will either visit Santa Fe or Pinzon Islands. This will depend on the Galapagos National Park Regulations and will be decided on the day the tour operates. If you visit Santa Fe, you will discover a pristine bay with crystal-clear waters for a thrilling snorkeling adventure. Following this, a wet landing awaits at Playa Escondida or the Garrapatero Beach on Santa Cruz Island, giving you ample time to explore this mesmerizing beach. Alternatively, the Pinzon Island tour unveils an amazing display of marine iguanas and playful sea lions. La Fe, is a picturesque beach cradled by mangroves and rocky terrain, showcasing an array of captivating marine life from sea turtles to small sharks and colorful fish. During this specific day tour, you will also have the opportunity to experience "Pezca Vivencial" which is translated as "experiential fishing" focused on the enjoyment and personal connection, rather than just the catch.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
SANTA CRUZ – ISABELA
1 stop
7
Isabela Island
The morning you have time to relax, visit Tortuga Bay or other places in Puerto Ayora. In the afternoon you take the public speedboat to Isabela where you will arrive around 4.30 PM. You can visit the wetlands, explore the “Wall of Tears” and go past the Flamingo Lagoon.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
TINTORERAS
1 stop
8
Las Tintoreras
Today you will have a half day tour to Tintoreras Islet. It is called like this due to a large crack, in which white-tip sharks known as Tintoreras come daily to rest at the bottom. You will have a transport which will take you to the pier of Puerto Villamil, here you will board a boat for 10 minutes to cross to the islet which is located across the bay. It will be necessary for passengers to use walking shoes or sneakers (closed shoes) to cross the volcanic rocks. You can also observe penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas and you can go snorkeling with colorful tropical fish while enjoying the beaches of Isabela.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
LOS TÚNELES
1 stop
9
Los Tuneles
Today you will have a tour to Los Tuneles. Together with your bilingual guide you will walk through this incredible landscape and you will have the opportunity to see blue footed boobies, sea lions, penguins and the landscapes. Then you will head to El Finado, just 10 minutes from Los Tuneles. Here is an islet that for many years has been used by local fisherman to rest from their journeys in the ocean. El Finado is one of the most spectacular places for snorkeling in Isabela as the water is shallow, clear and calm, giving us chance to see sea horses, parrot fish, hog fish, wrasses, in their mysterious habitat. In the early afternoon you will return to Puerto Villamil.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
ISABELA FREE DAY
1 stop
10
Isabela Island
Free day to explore Isabela. You have a full day (7hours) bicycle at your disposal to cycle the island.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 11
SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS
1 stop
11
Reserva El Chato
Today you will have a very early transfer to catch the 06:00 AM speedboat back to Santa Cruz. Here you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you will take a transfer with a Spanish speaking driver up to the highlands of Santa Cruz, to the private finca to El Chato, where it is possible to see the Galapagos Tortoises in its natural habitat.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 12
TRANSFER OUT
1 stop
12
In accordance with your flight schedule, we will program you transfer out to Baltra, with a Spanish speaking driver
2 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• It is recommended to book flights with an early arrival time to the Galapagos Islands and a late departure time from the Galapagos Islands to make sure you can enjoy all of the activities of the tour. Late arrivals and/or early departures mean you might miss some activities.
• You will have different guides during the day tours of the program, there are no guides on the transportation between islands. There are coordinators on the different islands.

Show 11 more

Tags

Rating