This tour offers a good alternative to cruises for budget conscious travelers, families wanting to visit the Galapagos without spending all their savings! We do not sacrifice on visits, you'll see plenty of endemic / native species and have great snorkel excursions. We offer 3 options: 5, 6 and 8 days. Our guides are English speaking, and our hotels are nice, clean and welcoming, with hot water and private bathrooms. There is also an option to upgrade to have hotels with more cachet. We provide the snorkel equipment and wetsuits, so there are no hidden costs, just bring extra cash for after tour beers, tips and some souvenirs to bring home! If you do not want to be stuck on a boat, want to join a fun group and enjoy the Galapagos as its best, do not hesitate to join us!
HIGHLIGHT GALAPAGOS 6 DAYS |
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Day 1: |
San Cristobal |
AM: San Cristobal Airport |
Day 2: | San Cristobal |
AM: Lobos Island or Kicker Rock |
Day 3: |
San Cristobal Isabela |
AM: Flight to Isabela |
Day 4: |
Isabela
|
AM: Sierra Negra Volcano or Cabo Rosa |
Day 5: |
Isabela Santa Cruz |
AM: Fast boat to Santa Cruz |
Day 6: |
Santa Cruz |
AM: Charles Darwin Station – Baltra Airport |
Itinerary Day by Day
SAN CRISTOBAL
You will be picked up at the airport by your private certified guide who will take you to the hotel. After your lunch with the guide, you will visit the Interpretation Center, where he will explain to you the formation, colonization and actual situation of the islands. You will then follow the trail to the Frigate bird hill, a viewpoint from which you have a beautiful view over the island. You will be able to snorkel in the shallow waters of Tijeretas Bay or Carola Beach (according to the tide your guide will take you to the best spot), where you can see sea lions, various tropical fish, and turtles. Your small hike will finish at Carola Beach from where you will go back to the hotel and have your evening free.
For dinner, you have several options in town to choose as the Descanso Marinero for delicious seafood, the Midori famous for its sushis, the Guiseppe’s for pizzas and the Rincon de Sebas for its excellent empanadas and local meals.
Tour with a private guide
Meals included: Lunch
SAN CRISTOBAL
Today we give you the option of going to one of these 2 excursions: (please let us know at booking your preference)
Option 1 – LOBOS ISLAND (more hiking):
On a 30 min boat ride from the port you arrive on Lobos Island, as it name implies a home to a large sea lion colony. But that’s not the only thing you’ll find while you’ll hike and snorkel at the island on this half day tour. During the hike, you hopefully spot blue footed boobies, marine iguanas and frigate birds, while during snorkeling you can often see the marine iguanas eating, as well as rays and turtles in the sandy bottom that separates Lobos Island from the mainland of San Cristobal. This tour is includes a stop at Playa Ochoa. In the early afternoon you be back at the port. Difficulty: EASY
Option 2 – KICKER ROCK (more snorkeling):
You will visit the famous Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido – sleeping Lion), a volcanic formation amid the ocean. There you will be able to snorkel with sharks, rays, turtles and if you are luck also with hammerhead sharks! After lunch on the boat you will go to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you will have time to relax. At afternoon you will be back at the port. Shared tour max 12 on board
Difficulty: MEDIUM (snorkeling in open water)
The rest of the afternoon is free until dinner. You can use it for shopping or go and visit the interpretation center (entrance free), tijeretas, playa carola and playa mann. You will meet with the whole group for dinner where the guide will give you the details for the next day.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
SAN CRISTOBAL - ISABELA
In the morning we will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the airport, where you will do your check-in for the flight to Isabela (estimated elapsed time: 45 min.).
Our staff will welcome you at your arrival and accompany you to your hotel. We will go with a private guide this day explore the wetlands by bike (or walking if you prefer) up to the Wall of tears. We will have several stops along the way and spot Darwin finches, tortoises. There are beautiful viewpoints and hidden beaches. After lunch we will snorkel at the Concha de Perla lagoon (according to the tide we could do first the snorkeling). The evening is at your free disposal. You can have a drink at the beach-front bar de Beto at sunset.
Shared plane to Isabela max 9 people and then private guide.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
ISABELA
You have a choice between two different tours. Please let us know your choice when booking.
Tour 1 – Sierra Negra Volcano:
You will go by bus to the highlands and hike to Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. Sierra Negra has the second largest active crater in the world, around 10kms, it is very impressive. As you continue to Chico Volcano, you will pass through impressive lava sceneries, and you will have breathtaking views of the north side of the island and of Fernandina Island. In total, it’s a 16kms hike (not steep but long hike, duration approx. 6 hours). A small lunch box is provided.
Shared tour max 16 people
Tour 2 – Cabo Rosa (“Tuneles”): is a beautiful site 45 minutes boat ride from the port. This site is a lava formation of tunnels going under and over the sea level, in a shallow bay where you can usually spot the Galapagos penguins and sometimes some blue-footed boobies. However, the highlight is snorkeling. You will have a chance to see sea turtles, reef sharks, rays, sea lions, seahorses, and many tropical fish. This is one of the most beautiful sites of the archipelago. The tour takes about 5 hours.
Shared tour max 10 people on board
The rest of the day is at leisure. You can enjoy the beautiful beach in Isabela or you can snorkel in the Concha de Perla Lagoon (snorkel equipment in the free time is not included, but can be hired locally).
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
ISABELA- SANTA CRUZ
At 5:20 am we will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the pier, where you will take the shared speed boat at 6:00 am to Santa Cruz (approx. 2-hour ride). At the harbor, our staff will welcome you and accompany you for breakfast. After check-in, your guide will drive you to a ranch in the highlands to see giant tortoises in their native environment! After lunch, you will go to the twin craters, a remnant of the time when Santa Cruz was still a volcanic active island. You will continue to Garrapatero Beach where you will have the opportunity to swim. In the evening, you will be free to wander around Santa Cruz. You can choose among a lot of restaurants in town for dinner. We recommend a walk at night along the pier where you can often spot juvenile blacktip sharks swimming!
Shared boat to Santa Cruz (max 30 people) and then visits with a private guide
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
BALTRA
If there is enough free time until your transfer to the airport, we suggest that you visit the Charles Darwin Station (entrance free). Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. For the last part of your trip to the airport, you will take the public bus. Your driver will accompany you to the check-in point where your program ends with your return flight to the mainland. Baltra is the world’s first green airport!
Private transfer to the airport
Meals included: Breakfast
Itinerary is subject to change.
15% increase for reserves of next year
Island |
Hotels |
San Cristobal |
Casa Blanca, Zayapa |
Isabela |
Iguana, Cally |
Santa Cruz |
Posada del Mar, Deja Vu |
Galápagos recommended packing list:
Please DO NOT bring any toiletry item containing “micro-crystals”, “micro-beads” or “micro-granules” containing POLYETHYLENE. These micro-beads, often found in toothpastes and exfoliating facial cleansers (such as Colgate and Neutrogena, among many other brands on the market) are made from plastic which wash down the drain and eventually make their way back into rivers and oceans. These small plastic beads are then swallowed by sea creatures, causing irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem.
Note that we totally avoid packed lunches as they produce garbage, on the volcano we use a local family owned restaurants. On the boat tours to Kicker Rock, Cabo Rosa tunnels, uninhabited islands on Santa Cruz, we are not directly providing the lunch so I cannot assure you it won’t be a packed lunch though we try to work with local boat owners so they don’t use plastic dishes.
100$ per adult, 50$ per child (12 years and under)
CASH ONLY: bring cash with you. There is NO ATM at airport!
These prices are subject to change without previous notice from the Galapagos Authorities
20$ per person
bought at the airport (Quito or Guayaquil)
CASH ONLY
this price is subject to change without previous notice from the Galapagos Authorities