Walk the Galapagos with us and capture the essence of this little piece of paradise. Definitely it will be an adventure to enjoy spectacular routes crossing land and sea; as a result you will end up with memories that will remain a lifetime. Swim in the warm turquoise waters, snorkel among colorful fish and walk the rare paths of the Galapagos Islands.
Day 1: Quito or Guayaquil - Santa Cruz
AM
Check in at Baltra Airport
Ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island (10 min-ride). Arrival at Santa Cruz around 11:30 AM (Depending on your flight schedule).
Tortoise Quest or Mountain Tour
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.
It's a wonderful introduction to the majestic power of the forces of natures and the great biodiversity of the Santa Cruz Highlands.
Afterwards, we will visit a 600 acre private reserve where the giant Galapagos tortoises freely roam, graze and sleep. Sometimes, it's a bit muddy here, so before we set out, there is a selection of field boots to choose from, large sizes for men are available. You will be transported through this tropical environment by truck and from there, you walk through fields to mingle with these gentle giants. As prehistoric as these creatures look, wait until you hear what they sound like!
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 the rippled form of a floor of lava can all be experienced in this uniquely Galapagos stroll.
We emerge just outside a lovely dining area with astounding views of islands in the sea beyond the highlands. It is here, in the midst of this palette of unique Galapagos sights and sounds that you will be served a wholesome hot lunch.
PM
Lunch at on e of the Farm
Walk: Bella Vista / Lodge
This is an 8 kilometers walk, flat-downhill. Leaded by our Tour Escort we will experience the first walk in Galapagos and we will explore the mystic atmosphere of the area. The path will take us to the main road in order to reach Puerto Ayora, You will walk the cobble stone streets of the island and you will fall in love with this place, immediately!
A bus will be available for the ones that prefer to be driven to the lodge.
Breakfast at the lodge.
Depart to Floreana via Santa Fe
Our navigation will take us to Santa Fe, home to one of the most beautiful coves in all the Galapagos formed from an uplift (rather than a volcano) giving the island a relatively flat surface rather than the typical conical shape of the other islands.
Santa Fe hosts a forest of Opuntia cactus, which are the largest of the archipelago, and Palo Santo. Good opportunity for bird-watching at weathered cliffs that provides a haven for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, sehar-waters petrels. Santa Fe species of Land iguanas are often seen, as well as lava lizards.
There is a turquoise lagoon and calm waters where snorkeling can be done along with sea lions and florescent fishes. Or visit a submerged rock where several manta rays and marine turtles can be found.
PM
Lunch on board.
We will continue sailing to reach Floreana and on our way another great opportunity to snorkel cove called Luz del Dia (Light of Day). 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.
Arrival in Floreana Island
Visit to Black Beach to enjoy this beautiful spot, swim, snorkel or simply relax by absorbing the special scenery or walk to La Loberia.
Check in Floreana Lodge
BBQ Dinner at a local restaurant to enjoy Galapaguena food and warm hospitality of one of the first families to arrive at the island and leasing from them about the mysteries of Floreana.
Hike up about 8 kilometers to the highlands of Floreana while your Naturalist Guide begins filling you in on the history of this, the first settled island in the Galapagos. You will reach the Asilo de la Paz (Peace Asylum) where the spring is located, an artisan spring that attracted pirates, whalers and later settlers to Floreana as it was one of the very few year round sources of fresh water in the Galapagos.
The Cueva de los Piratas (Pirate's Cave) is quite literally where pirates carved temporary shelter out of soft stone and is also where one of the original settlers, Margret Wittmer, gave birth to a son, Rolf, who is still living. Some have almost jokingly referred to it as the 'Stonehenge' of Floreana due to its interesting shapes.
Cerro Pajas (Bird Hill) truly lives up to its name with a multitude of Floreana finches. It also offers spectacular views of the island and the sea below. We will visit a tortoise reserve where you can watch many of the giant tortoises up close and personal.
All the while, your Naturalist Guide will be pointing out the wildlife and filling you in on the colorful history of Floreana's first inhabitants, like the Baroness, and re-telling the legend of the "Floreana Mystery" which entailed the mysterious deaths of several inhabitants. It has never been solved.
Departure at 11:00 AM for Isabela. Sailing time is 1.5 - 2 hours.
MID-DAY: We will approach Isla Tortuga which is chockfull of frigates, blue-footed boobies and other birds that rely on the sea for their food. If you brought binoculars, this is a good time to pull them out.
We will arrive at Isabela between 12:30 and 1:00 PM. Arriving in the port is a visual feast with stunning green and turquoise water so clear, you can see sea turtles, sea lions and penguins as though looking through glass.
Check in at Isabela lodge and lunch.
PM
Departure to Las Tintoreras and Bay Tour.
After lunch, we will board a smaller craft to head out across the port, slowing down to view blue-footed boobies and Galapagos penguins sharing the same rocky sunning space before turning a bend and docking. From there we take an intriguing 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.
If the tide is low, they are sometimes a mere two feet below the surface. The views from here are something you may carry with you for the rest of your life! The black, treacherous lava field, the emerald green sea, the forest green mangrove and the cloud capped volcanoes of Isla Isabela create the sort of afternoon backdrop you are not likely to ever 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, of course, the mystery of the mangrove below the surface. Don't worry, white-tipped reef sharks are not aggressive, merely fascinating.
We'll have a bit of time to relax and shower before briefing and dinner in the Lodge at 7:00 .
Breakfast at the lodge
Depart to a walking Humedales Tour.
We begin with our walk 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 construction 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.
11:00 AM, depart Isabela for Santa Cruz. Sailing time is 1.5 - 2 hours.
PM
Arrive in Puerto Ayora around 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.
Germany 0800-180-6586
United Kingdom 0-808-101-2270
USA / Canada 1-888-254-3190
