This tour begins with a trip to "Los Gemelos" (The Twins) - two enormous collapsed lava chambers, an awe-inspiring visual reminder of the power of nature.
The short, easy hike to each of the twins is teeming with endemic flora and fauna, including the remaining Scalesia Forest draped in Liverwort, large and small tree finches, the adorable Vermillion flycatcher and more.
Day 1: Quito or Guayaquil - Santa Cruz
AM
Ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island (10 min-ride). Check-in Aventura Lodge.
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. Welcome Cocktail. Dinner.
AM
This tour begins with a trip to "Los Gemelos" (The Twins) - two enormous collapsed lava chambers, an awe-inspiring visual reminder of the power of nature.
The short, easy hike to each of the twins is teeming with endemic flora and fauna, including the remaining Scalesia Forest draped in Liverwort, large and small tree finches, the adorable Vermillion flycatcher and more.
Afterwards, we will visit a 600 acre private reserve where the famous, giant Galapagos tortoises freely roam, graze and sleep.
After visiting the tortoises, we'll take a 5 minute ride to the entrance of a 450 meter (1350 feet) illuminated lava tunnel. With a ceiling nearly 20 feet high in most places, this is an incredible opportunity to ramble through the remnants of one of the most powerful forces in nature...lava flows. Stalagmites, stalactites, sulphur and mineral colored walls and more await you here.
PM
Return to Aventura Lodge for Lunch. 2:00 PM departure for Floreana. Sailing time is 1.5 - 2 hours.
We will arrive into Floreana at approximately 4PM.
There is an abundance of life in this cove. You will most likely see penguins and sea lions on the steep, rocky shore and rays and tropical fish beneath the clear waters. We will continue on to the main dock in Floreana.
It's not unusual to have to 'shoo' sea lions sleeping on the steps we need to ascend. On the other side of the dock are black lava rocks typically full of the amazing rich red and turquoise colored Floreana marine iguanas.
Departure in open-air bus that will transport you to the highlands of Floreana Walk up to see the Asilo de la Paz (Peace Asylum) where an artisan spring that attracted pirates, whalers and later settlers to Floreana is located.
See the Cueva de los Piratas (Pirate's Cave) where pirates carved temporary shelter out of the soft stone.
Cerro Pajas (Bird Hill) truly lives up to its name with a multitude of Floreana Finches. Visit a tortoise reserve where you can watch many of the giant tortoises up close and personal.
Departure at 11:00 AM for Isabela. Sailing time is 1.5 - 2 hours.
Mid-Day: Weather and tides permitted, as we approach Isabela by sea. Arrive in Isabela between 12:30 and 1:00 PM.
Arriving in the port is a visual feast with stunning green and turquoise waters so clear, you can see sea turtles, sea lions and penguins as though looking through glass.
Check-in Isabela Lodge, lunch.
PM
2:30 PM departure to Las Tintoreras and Bay Tour.
Walk through a jagged 'AA' lava field, passing abundant colonies of marine iguanas, to see a small canal full of resting white-tipped reef sharks.
The black, treacherous lava field, the emerald green sea, the forest green mangrove and the cloud capped volcanoes of Isla Isabela is the sort of afternoon backdrop you will not soon forget.
Once you return to the dock, you can snorkel this warm, shallow bay surrounded by mangrove, for an opportunity to see white-tipped reef sharks, sea lions, penguins and more.
4x4 vehicles will drive us up through the humid highlands to the slopes of Volcan Sierra Negra.
The views are breathtaking! We will relax a bit and have a snack on the edge of the caldera. More advanced hikers will have the option to descend into the crater itself!
PM
Lunch: Campo Duro
Campo Duro offers a 'tortoise patronage' program that doesn't involve money changing hands. Guests have the opportunity to become a patron to their chosen tortoise at the reserve merely by choosing a tortoise (they're all numbered), naming their tortoise and then entering a story in the Patron's book such as information on why they chose the name they chose and their contact information. Then, the Patron invites any and all of their friends to go visit their tortoise and provide them with updates.
Cuevas de Sucre / Mirador el Mango:
Visit to Las Cuevas de Sucre, is a fantastic lava tube. This is one of the newer Park Sites. Used to be private property and is now called Las Cuevas de Sucre. Set in the transitional zone in a forest the Park says is now completely endemic plants. It's lush greenery leading into the entrance. Not lit inside like the lava tunnels on Santa Cruz, so a flashlight is a must.
Inside, the tunnels ceilings look like you're walking through a gold mine, great place! Next visit El Mango Mirador, located near the road leading to the agricultural area of the island, well known since the early settlers of the island planted a tree mango that so far there. From the top of highest peak, with the clear day you'll have a wonderful view of the entire southern part of Isabela Island, its nearby islands or even other islands as Floreana and Santa Cruz.
Departure for tour. We begin with a drive out of town along the most beautiful, white sand, palm lined beach in all of Galapagos, Long Beach.
This beach, straight from the cover of a travel magazine, stretches on for 3 kilometers before the National Park where we walk up the trail for astounding views from the top of Cerro Orchilla.
Visit the "Muro de Las Lagrimas" (Wall of Tears), a unique contruction built by the backbreaking of prisoners of a penal colony centuries before. The path to the Wall of Tears is abundant with lava lizards, the males are larger and striped and the females red-throated.
On your way back to town, you will visit 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.
11:00 AM, depart Isabela for Santa Cruz. Sailing time is 1.5 - 2 hours.
PM
Arrive in Puerto Ayora 12:30-1:00 PM.
Check in Aventura Lodge and Lunch.
Depart 3:00 PM for 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.
AM
Breakfast
Aventura Lodge
Free morning to enjoy Puerto Ayora on your own:
biking, walking, shopping or simply relaxing at the Hotel.
Depending on the sea conditions, we will depart to San Cristobal either by plane or by boat.
Check in:
In one of our partner hotels depending on availability.
PM
Lunch:
Local restaurant to enjoy ecuadorian famous sea food.
(Options available)
8:30 AM departure to Kicker Rock or Sleeping Lion. Sailing time is 2 hours. This gigantic rock, and landmark of the Galapagos, raises 500 feet straight from the ocean.
This Galapagos landscape has become a favorite due to the many Tropicbirds, Frigates, boobies and diving in the crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.
However if you prefer to stay on the boat, don't snooze, the seabirds put on an astonishing acrobatic show above your head.
PM
After lunch we go to Lobos Island, a nesting location for the blue footed boobie local bird where you can also snorkel with sea lions floating by.
3:00 pm return to San Cristobal.
5:00 pm. Arrive at hotel, Free time to walk to the town and shop if desired.
7:30 farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Nature walk of about two kilometers to visit Cerro de las Tijeretas or Frigatebird Hill. Reached via a well marked trail, this spot is the nesting ground for several dozen tropical bird species eager to greet curious visitors.
11:00 am. Leave for airport; say a sad goodbye to the Galapagos.
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USA / Canada 1-888-254-3190
