8 Days Galapagos Experiences "Santa cruz and San Cristobal"

Day 1 · Transfer in + High Land + Charles Darwin Scientific Station

1. 1

   Charles Darwin Research Station

   4 hours

   Transfer in: personalized welcome (Poster with names and guide waiting for you at the aiport)

   High Land:.- Upper part Santa Cruz Island Entrance and personalized welcome (Poster with names and guide waiting). 

   Charles Darwin Scientific Station: is an Interpretation Center open to the public and you can also learn about the breeding program for giant tortoises in captivity and their repatriation. 

   At the end of the activities you will be taken to the Hotel in which where you will be hosted

   Accommodation: 1 night at the Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz

Overnight in Santa Cruz Island

Day 2 · Day Trip to Isabela Island and Tintoreras in Galápagos

1. 1

   Malecon de Puerto Ayora

   2 hours

   We begin the tour at 06H10 AM at the port of Puerto Ayora to board the ferry that will take us to Isabela. (Transfer in boat has a duration of 2 hours approximately until arrive to Isabela)

2. 2

   Isabela

   3 hours

   We start the activity at 09:00 from Isabela Island, from the bay we go by means of a boat to a group of islets called Tintoreras. Well known for being the habitat of penguins and white tip sharks!

   Other animals that we can observe while we surround the islets are: rays, sea turtles, bay sharks, colorful fish, etc.

3. 3

   Las Tintoreras

   3 hours

   Tintorera sharks. Along a channel with fences on one of its edges, we can find a large number of individuals of the species. Likewise, we enjoyed a snorkeling time near the site.

   At the end of our activity in the complex, we headed to the port to enjoy lunch.

   Our next stop is the flamingo lagoon. We have time to take pictures. To finish, we headed to the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center. We can see the turtles in the conservation area.

   We finish the tour at 14:00 p.m. then we have to come back to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz - 2 Hours of Ferry

Overnight in Santa Cruz Island

Day 3 · Full-Day Tour to Floreana Island & Cave of Pirates

1. 1

   Malecon de Puerto Ayora

   5 hours

   The guide will pick you up in the lobby of the hotel, (Hotel pick up inside the urban perimeter of Puerto Ayora) or we can give you a good meeting point to join with us.

2. 2

   Floreana

   8 hours

   This fantastic trip departs from the City of Puerto Ayora aboard a comfortable and equipped ferry to Puerto Velasco Ibarra in Floreana.

   We will visit:

   The Asilo de la Paz in the rural area of the island

   The pirate cave

   The natural source of fresh water.

   The face carved in stone

   Corral de las Tortugas Terrestres

   We will have lunch in a traditional restaurant in Florena and we will snorkel at La Playa Negra and La Playa de la Loberia

   We will learn important facts about the human history of pirates, whalers and intrepid first settlers.

   Ending these activities we will come back to Puerto Ayora dock

Overnight in Santa Cruz Island

Day 4 · Full Day Pinzon Island, Finishing in la Fe with Snorkeling and Lunch included

1. 1

   Malecon de Puerto Ayora

   5 hours

   The guide will pick you up in the lobby of the hotel, (Hotel pick up inside the urban perimeter of Puerto Ayora) or we can give you a good meeting point to join with us.

2. 2

   Pinzon

   7 hours

   We headed to the passenger boarding area that is located in the port of Santa Cruz and then board a boat that will take us to a point known as Playa la Fe, which we hike around trails to watch iguanas. marine and then, if the currents are suitable, a snorkeling in its bay.

   Among the animals that we can find there are two types of bay sharks such as: white tip shark and black tip shark.

   We board the boat and travel to Pinzón Island in a journey of approximately an hour and a half. On site we can do a snorkeling time or two depending on the situation

   At the previous point of visit, we have lunch on board between snorkeling times in the area.

   The panorama of the place offers us a beautiful landscape and we can recognize the area as the home of sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles, eels, eagle rays and bay sharks (white tip).

   Penguins may be warned in the area.

   Arrival at port is at 4:00 p.m.

3. 3

   Malecon de Puerto Ayora

   Passing by

   End of our service, the boat drop off you in the dock, the you have to go to your hotel by yourself

Overnight in Santa Cruz Island

Day 5 · Half Bay Tour & Turtle Bay Tour Self Visit

1. 1

   Las Grietas

   3 hours

   The pick up will be at 08H45 AM in the lobby of your hotel.

   We will go to La Lobería (small islet located 10 minutes away

   from the port), site where we carry out the snorkeling activity in which there is the possibility of swimming with sea lions.

   Then we moved to Punta Estrada to watch birds such as: blue-footed boobies, seagulls and pelicans.

   Our third activity consists of an excursion to the Playa de los

   dogs where we can find iguanas in quantity around an area of volcanic rocks and sesuvium.

   Likewise, we continue towards the Channel of Love and the Shark Channel (in the latter we can make sightings of blue sharks).

2. 2

   Tortuga Bay Beach

   3 hours

   It is an almost very difficult place to overlook.

   Its beauty and flora invite us to recognize it as a site at the level of what nature offers us in the beautiful archipelago.

   10 minutes from the port of the island we find a path (2,500 meters long) that will guide us to Tortuga Bay. A highly recommended beach among locals.

   It is perfectly preserved and with the presence of wild animals such as iguanas, beach crabs.

   Swimming is only allowed in the mangrove swamp that is separated from the beach. The sand is completely soft and white, the largest on the island.

Overnight in Santa Cruz Island

Day 6 · Ferry to San Cristobal + HighLand of San Cristobal

1. 1

   Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

   4 hours

   The pick up will be at 06H20 AM to travel to San Cristobal island

   This shared transport allows you to bring 2 bags and 1 handbag per person. You need to present your service voucher to our representative along with ID.

2. 2

   Lagoon El Junco

   3 hours

   The highlands of San Cristobal exhibit distinctly different biozones than the other inhabited islands. The first stop on this trans-island journey is at El Junco, a freshwater lagoon nested in the center of the islands.

   Here you can view Frigatebirds and other water fowl bathing in the lagoon. Unfortunately, you will not be able to join them in the inviting water. Moving on from the lagoon you will stop at La Galapaguera, San Cristobal's Tortoise research and conservation center, where a short walk through the jungle allows you to see and learn about this island's growing Tortoise population in a natural setting. The road ends at Puerto Chino beach, which is a remote bay on the southeast side of the island

Overnight in San Cristobal Island

Day 7 · Full day San Cristobal Tour - 360 Degrees

1. 1

   San Cristobal

   3 hours

   On this tour, we will visit the following iconic points of the San Cristóbal area:

   Rosa Blanca:

   It's a small bay located northeast of San Cristóbal Island. It has several small beaches, but its main attraction is the large beach located in the center of the small bay where there is a large number of dunes. added to its crystal clear waters generate an attractive landscape unique to the area. The entire bay of Rosa Blanca and its lowlands is an ideal area for fishing of wahoo, palometa, ojón, liza, cod. Additionally, there are shark, ray and sea turtle species that are the ideal complement for snorkeling activities.

2. 2

   Isla Lobos

   2 hours

   Sardina Bay:

   It's characterized for being a place for fishing of several species such as sardines, liza, octopus, lobster, shrimp, among others. Bahía Sardina includes two beaches whose attractions are its small white sand dunes together with its crystalline waters suitable for snorkeling, taking into account that in this bay there is a large presence of sea turtles, rays and sea lions

3. 3

   Kicker Rock

   3 hours

   This amazing landmark located about an hour and a half to the north east of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Kicker Rock / Leon Dormido is a remnant of a vertical tuff cone formation, rising almost 153 meters (500 feet) from the ocean.

   The erosion has given the rock its characteristic shape, which some see as a shoe, hence the name Kicker Rock. Others see it as a sleeping sea lion or Leon Dormido in Spanish.

   While we snorkel around Kicker Rock we can spot sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, Galapagos sharks, tropical fish and if luck is on our side we can even see hammerhead sharks. Besides enjoying the underwater view, we can usually see blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and frigatebirds on the cliffs as well as sea lions along the shore.

Overnight in San Cristobal Island

Day 8 · Transfer Out

1. 1

   San Cristobal

   30 min

   After the breakfast the driver will be at the lobby of the hotel to pick up you and then we will go to San Cristobal airport.

   (Pick up time according to your flight information)

   End of services