Galapagos Island Hopping Tour

Day 1 – Arrival, Twin Craters, Giant Tortoise Reserve and Charles Darwin Station (L)
Upon arrival at Baltra airport you will be met with our English speaking guide. At the airport you will first take a shuttle transfer to the Itabaca Channel. A short ferry ride will get you to the other side of the channel in a couple of minutes. From here you will be brought in private transportation to Puerto Ayora, the town of Santa Cruz island.

On the way you will make a short stop at the Twin Craters, a pair of collapsed craters that were formed when the land sunk down into empty magma chambers from ancient volcanoes. You might also encounter some birdlife here. Afterwards you will visit the El Chato Reserve where you can observe the giant tortoises in the wild that are endemic to the Galapagos. Near the ranch you will also have the opportunity to see a lava tunnel from inside. These tunnels were formed as the outer skin of molten lava solidified while the liquid magma continued flowing during a volcanic eruption many years ago. You will have lunch on the private ranch in the El Chato Reserve, before continuing the drive to the town Puerto Ayora. During a guided visit at the Charles Darwin Research Station you can observe more giant tortoises and a couple of yellow land iguana in captivation and you will learn more about the islands’ conservation efforts.

Day 2 – Bartolome, North Seymour, South Plaza or Santa Fe (B,L)
Today you will go on a full day excursion to one of these four special uninhabited islands. Which island you will visit will be communicated with you before departure and depends on availability. Besides a visit on land you will also get the opportunity to go snorkeling during the tour to discover the underwater wildlife of Galapagos. A box lunch will be served on board.

Bartolome
Home of the famous Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. A trail of stairs leads to the summit of the volcano, boasting one of the best views of the islands. The beach is perfect for snorkeling and possible sightings of the Galapagos penguin.

North Seymour
Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone. Land and marine iguanas can also be encountered here.

South Plaza
This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.

Santa Fe
Santa Fe is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails, one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest. You might also encounter land iguanas on this island.

Day 3 – Tortuga Bay or Las Grietas and speedboat to Isabela (B)
This morning you will have time off to spend on your own. We highly recommend a visit to Tortuga Bay. This white-sand beach gets its name from the black sea turtles that lay their eggs here. Marine iguanas, crabs and birds can also be spotted here and it is an excellent site to enjoy a relaxing swim. It takes about an hour to walk from the main port on the boulevard in Puerto Ayora to get to Tortuga Bay.

Another option is to take a water taxi from the port and visit Las Grietas, a narrow crack between tall lava rock walls where you can take a swim. The path that leads you to up to Las Grietas passes by the small white sand beach Playa de los Alemanes, a salt lake and interesting cacti. To reach the trail you will first have to take a short water taxi ride from the port in town. Once back in Puerto Ayora you’ll have time to check out the little fish market on the boulevard, where fishmongers cut and sell their wares. Chances are that you’ll see pelicans and sea lions here hoping to catch a free fishy snack.

In the afternoon you will take the speedboat to Isabela island, which takes about 2,5 hours. After checking in at your hotel, you might want to visit the Flamingo Lagoon near town, which is the largest coastal lagoon found in the Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the grand majority of flamingos.

Day 4 – Las Tintoreras and Concha Perla (B)
Today you will go on an excursion to Las Tintoreras. This islet is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully. After a visit on land you will have the opportunity afterwards to go snorkeling nearby the islet to see more of the incredible underwater wildlife from up close.

In the afternoon you will have time off to spend on your own. We highly recommend a visit to Concha Perla, a natural pool with crystal clear and calm sea water (mainly at low tide), that is ideal for swimming and snorkeling with sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, a wide range of fish and occasionally penguins and stingrays. The last part of the route up to this snorkel site – that is about 15 minutes walking from town – consists of a wooden walkway where many sea lions like to take a rest. If you don’t have your own snorkel equipment, you can rent these in any of the many tour agencies in town.

Day 5 – Wetlands, Wall of Tears and speedboat to Santa Cruz (B)
This morning you will have time off to visit the Wall of Tears. It’s recommended to rent a bike as this site is about 8 km away from town. As you travel towards the Wall of Tears you will pass several beautiful beaches where you can stop and observe many marine iguanas. You will also pass the Wetlands where there are short trails you can take to explore the area and see various lava formations. On your ride you will likely see giant tortoises and many Galapagos sea birds. At the end of the road you’ll find the Wall of Tears, an important historical site of Isabela island. From 1945-1959, a penal colony hosted prisoners who were forced to build this wall, stone by stone, in isolation. This now historical site, towering at 25 m high, took the lives of thousands during its construction. Locals claim to hear cries emanating from the heavy energy surrounding the site. Another option is to visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre in Puerto Villamil where you can see baby tortoises and learn about the important Galapagos Islands breeding program.

In the afternoon you will take the speedboat to Santa Cruz island, which takes about 2,5 hours. After checking in at your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the evening off.

Day 6 – Departure (B)
Enjoy your last morning on the Galapagos Islands strolling around the boulevard and check out the little fish market, where fishmongers cut and sell their wares. Chances are that you’ll see pelicans and sea lions here hoping to catch a free fishy snack. You will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to the Itabaca Channel, where you will take the ferry and shuttle bus to Baltra airport. From here you will fly back to the mainland of Ecuador.