This Program will give you the amazing opportunity to dive in the 3 inhabited islands. You will be treated to dives in Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristobal.
Description:
AM-Mid-Day: Ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island (10 min-ride).
Check-in Aventura Lodge.
Lunch PM: Snorkel with Sea Lions, Sting Rays and Baby Reef Sharks in the shallow, emerald waters of Tortuga Bay, then witness the nesting site of the famous Marine Iguanas.
Equipment fitting and if Discover Scuba (not certified yet) 45 minute introduction to Scuba Diving Video.
Welcome Cocktail.
Briefing. Dinner.
Description:
Morning: Diving in North Santa Cruz. with opportunities to see Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Shark, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Tiger Snake Eels, Moray Eels, Garden Eels, Sea Stars, Sea Turtles, Jacks, Blue and Gold Snappers, Flag Cabrilla, Creolefish, King Angelfish, Barracuda, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Frogfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Spotfin Burrfish, Scorpionfish, Cardinalfish, Nudibranch and more.
Afternoon: We depart for a guided tour of the fascinating Charles Darwin Research Station. After the Darwin Station, there will be some free time to shop for souvenirs or browse the shops along Charles Darwin Avenue. Dinner is at 7:00 PM at the Aventura Lodge.
Description:
Diving in North Santa Cruz. with opportunities to see Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Shark, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Tiger Snake Eels, Moray Eels, Garden Eels, Sea Stars, Sea Turtles, Jacks, Blue and Gold Snappers, Flag Cabrilla, Creolefish, King Angelfish, Barracuda, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Frogfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Spotfin Burrfish, Scorpionfish, Cardinalfish, Nudibranch and more.
After returning to the Aventura Lodge you will get ready to depart to Isabela around 1:30 PM on the public ferry. Upon arriving in Isabela you will have some time to relax and enjoy the spectacular white sand beach before dinner at 7:00 PM.
Activity: Diving and visit to Cerro Orchilla and Wall of Tears.
Route: Isabela - Isabela
Description: AM: After breakfast you will depart for Isla Tortuga for 2 dives where you will have a chance to see Mantas, Stingrays, Sea Turtles, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Hammerheads, King Angelfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Barberfish, Blue-Chin Parrotfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Galapagos Groupers, Galapagos Sheephead, Harlequin Wrasse, Grey Grunts, Tuna, Barracuda, Corals, Tubes and more. Possibility of Sunfish and Orcas.
PM: We begin with a drive out of town along the most beautiful, white sand, palm-lined beach in the whole of the Galapagos, Long Beach. This travel magazine cover stretches on for 3 kilometers before we hit the National Park and begin with a stop to walk up the stairs for astounding vistas from the top of Cerro Orchilla.
As you drive down the road, you will very likely see the largest of the Galapagos marine iguanas sunning by the side of the road. And don't be surprised if you have to wait for a Galapagos tortoise to cross the road in front of you. You will visit the Muro de Las Lagrimas (Wall of Tears), which was built with backbreaking effort by prisoners of a local penal colony by carrying jagged volcanic rock long distances.
The path to the Wall of Tears is abundant with lava lizards. The males are larger and striped and the females red-throated. If you visit during breeding season, be careful not to step on or disturb the many nests along this trail. They appear as holes that a gopher might have dug, but in fact are nests. Birds are also incredibly abundant and your Naturalist Guide will assist you with identification.
Isabela has more tortoises in the wild than any other island with several sub-species, since lava fields created a barrier that limited their mobility to freely roam. On your way back to town, you will visit the Interpretation Center, a breeding center for the giant Galapagos Tortoises and the only place to view the rare, remaining flat-backed (so-called 'tabletop' shells) Galapagos tortoises, many of which still bear the scars of volcanic activity from Sierra Negra. Dinner in the Lodge at 7:00 PM.
Description:
AM: Diving in 4 Hermanos, this is a series of 4 islands and islets where you can have a chance to see Manta Rays, Sea Horses, Lobster, Nudibranch, Sea Cucumber, Octopus, Sea Horse, White-Tipped Reef Shark, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Peruvian Surgeonfish, Wrasse, Sea Turtles, Tuna, Panamic Horse Conch, Tiger Snake Eel, Sea Stars and so much more.
PM: Free afternoon to enjoy the white sandy beach or explore downtown Isabela, Puerto Villamil, and take in some of the unique island culture and flavor.
Activity: Isabela Bicycle Highlands tour then flight to San Cristobal, visit El Junco
Route: Isabela - San Cristobal
Description:
AM: After breakfast you will depart for a bicycle tour of the highlands of Isabela before heading to the airport at 1PM for your flight to San Cristobal. Any luggage over 20 pounds will be sent on the early ferry at 6 AM to meet you in the afternoon in San Cristobal.
PM: After a spectacular flight with breath taking views of the islands you will arrive in San Cristobal. After checking in at the lodge you will depart to El Junco. We take a ride through the countryside to reach El Junco Lake. The lake itself is the caldera (collapsed cone) of an extinct volcano and is about 300 metres wide and is the only large fresh water reservoir in the Galapagos archipelago. This sweet water lagoon is surrounded by fern and sedges and various flowering plants. Arriving on top of the lake, you are awarded by spectacular views to the lagoon and the surrounding hills and far away Pacific ocean.
Description: It is time to dive Kicker Rock or Sleeping Lion.
PM: Puerto Grande. depart to Lobos Island. return to San Cristobal. Arrive to the hotel, free time to go shopping and explore down town San Cristobal
Activity: Visit Cerro de las Tijeretas or Frigatebird Hill. depart to airport
Route: San Cristobal - Mainland Ecuador
Description: Departure our last land tour in Galapagos to visit Cerro de las Tijeretas or Frigatebird Hill before heading to the airport for your flight out.
Dive sites may changed based on what is on the itinerary due to weather conditions, currents, visibility, or the captains call due to the opportunity to see something out of the ordinary. There are many equally beautiful dive sites at each island and the captain will pick what is suitable for all on board.
All dives are 2 tank dives.
Red Mangrove Dive Center will provide all equipment as part of your package except dive computers which can be rented.
The number of dives can vary due to change of weather and/or conditions or the captains to ensure the safety of everyone on board. There are no refunds for missed dives.
The National Park of Ecuador is constantly changing the rules and regulations, the dive sites available today may not be available tomorrow so please keep in mind that your sites may change due to changes in rules and regulations that are out of our control.
As a certified diver it is your duty to make the final call if you are ok to dive or not. You must let your captain or DiveMaster know if there is a problem or if you do not wish to make the dive.
Please respect the environment, The Galapagos Islands are a treasure not only for Ecuador but for mankind. It is most important that you follow the rules of the National Park so we can preserve this treasure for future generations.
Germany 0800-180-6586
United Kingdom 0-808-101-2270
USA / Canada 1-888-254-3190
