6 Days - 2 Islands - Latin Experiences

6 Days - 2 Islands

Duration

6D/5N

Highlights:

Santa Cruz, San Cristobal

Overview

Complete operation and activities.
Breakfasts and all lunches.
Guides of the Galapagos National Park.
Snorkeling equipment (mask, tube and fins).
Transfer in and out from the airport.
Local transfers.

Accommodation (specified in rates chart).
Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park.
Galapagos Government Transit Control Card.
Dinners and alcoholic beverages.
Tips

AM Arrival to Baltra Airport + Highlands visit (Giant Tortoises + Lava Tunnels)

The Highlands of Santa Cruz offer a verdant contrast to the beaches and arid lowlands that can be found elsewhere on the island. Embark on a guided tour with one of our knowledgeable Naturalist Guides to discover the highlights of the ‘Parte Alta’.

Next, immerse yourself in the enchanting natural habitat of the celebrated Giant Galapagos Tortoise at the Moreno family farm, Las Primicias. Witness these magnificent creatures as they roam freely, and marvel at their grandeur up close.

Additionally, delve into the depths of a cavernous underground Lava Tunnel, an extraordinary geological wonder that showcases the unique features of our volcanic islands. This fascinating excursion will leave you in awe of the forces that shape our natural world.

As you make your way to Puerto Ayora, take the opportunity to venture along the captivating “backroads” of Santa Cruz, unveiling hidden treasures and experiencing the charm of the island beyond its well-known attractions.

PM Charles Darwin Foundation and Giant Turtle Breeding Center

A visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station is an opportunity to learn about Galapagos conservation in action. Today the principal attraction for visitors to the Charles Darwin Research Station are the baby tortoises that they raise in captivity. You can also see giant tortoises & land iguanas, as well as checking out interesting exhibits.

The main attraction at the Charles Darwin station is the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Here the stars of the show are the giant tortoises, reared in captivity until they reach an age where they can be introduced into the wild. Adult tortoises from various subspecies roam in large corrals.

Santa Cruz:

North Saymour Full Day Tour

We will leave from Puerto Ayora to the Itabaca channel by bus or a van. Once in the channel, we will board the boat for a short boat ride to North Seymour Island. This island is located at the center of the archipelago and has a relatively flat surface because of its formation by an uprising seabed, in comparison to other archipelago islands, which were formed by volcanic eruptions.

Once on the island, we will disembark to walk along the approximately two-kilometer-long trail, which goes through some of the largest frigate colonies in the archipelago. Besides the frigates, blue-footed boobies, seagulls, land iguanas, marine iguanas, and a colony of sea lions inhabit this island too. This is also one of the best places on the islands to see the frigates inflating their distinctive red featherless pouches to attract females. On this island, we will also find the endemic plant lignum vitae, a bushy tree that can remain without leaves during the entire summer but that it turns green with the first rains of the year.

After visiting Seymour, we will head to the beach known as Bachas, located in the north of Santa Cruz Island. On this visit site, we will have time to snorkel and enjoy the sea and beach. The name “Bachas” comes from the local pronunciation “barges” because the American army deserted two boats (barges) after the Second World War. Besides snorkeling, this beach is an excellent place to observe wildlife, including Flamingos, zayapas (Galapagos crabs) and many marine birds.

Santa Cruz:

South Plazas Full Day Tour

You will be picked up at 7:20 am from each of your hotels in Puerto Ayora, and we will head towards Itabaca Channel to board the Queen Karen I yacht. The navigation time is approximately 1 hour. South Plaza Island is located on the east side of Santa Cruz Island, next to North Plaza. Plazas are two islets separated by a small canal with turquoise waters. We will admire reddish vegetation (Sesuvium sp.) and cactus forests. Upon arriving at South Plaza Island, we will be greeted by one of the largest colonies of Galapagos sea lions. During the visit, we will observe a variety of seabirds fishing and flying near the cliffs. We can also see beautiful land iguanas characterized by their yellow color, marine iguanas, elegant swallow-tailed gulls, and Nazca boobies. It’s worth noting that South Plaza Island is the only island in Galapagos where hybridization occurs between marine and land iguanas. Lunch will be provided on board.

After a short break, we will be ready for snorkeling at Punta Carrión, where you can observe fish, manta rays, and there is a high chance of seeing whitetip sharks. We will return to Puerto Ayora between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm approximately.

San Cristobal:

AM Early transfer to San Cristobal + Tijeretas Tour

We will visit this beautiful place that has a cliff covered with vegetation typical of the area, making it a stunning coastal landscape where we can even observe magnificent frigatebirds and pelicans.

After the walk and photography session, we will have the opportunity to snorkel or swim in a peaceful bay, where we can observe baby manta rays and sea turtles in the clear and shallow waters.

PM La Lobería Tour

La Loberia is a delightful beach that locals and visitors alike come to for it’s lovely ambiance. Along the shore are over half a mile of paths through the National Park, some over the rocks and some on the sandy beaches.

The main attraction at La Loberia is the bustling colony of Galapagos Sea Lions who live here. As well as these noisy and fun creatures you will often see Galapagos Marine Iguanas on the rocky water line, and from height you’ll probably spot Galapagos Green Turtles swimming in the rocky bays that are all along this coast.

San Cristobal:

Full Day tour to Kicker Rock *Leon Dormido (excursion + snorkeling)

We will sail from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on a 90-minute journey to Kicker Rock, also known as León Dormido. This ancient volcanic rock, which was shaped by the erosion throughout thousands of years, sticks out of the open ocean, northwest of San Cristobal. Its name comes from its resemblance to a sleeping lion.

Between the rocks of Kicker Rock there is a beautiful channel with calm waters, perfect to swim, snorkel and observe fauna, such as blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, frigates, pelicans and sea lions. In the sea, you can observe hammerhead sharks, Galapagos Sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays and schools of tropical fish. We will get close to the rocks to observe the wildlife and afterward we will snorkel in the channel to observe the marine life.

We will have lunch on board for us to later go to one of these three visitor sites that make up this tour: Puerto Grande, Manglecito, or Cerro Brujo. The choice between these three sites depends on the Galapagos National Park visiting hours.

Manglecito: Manglecito has two different areas: the mangroves and the beach. The mangroves area is an ideal place to observe and identify a great variety of aquatic birds, and the beach area is perfect for recreation and relaxation. Kicker rock and Manglecito beach are available on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Puerto Grande: This bay is famous among the locals as an ideal place for recreational activities, an impressive dune system and coastal plant species, as well as marine birds. Kicker rock and Puerto Grande beach can be visited on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday.

Cerro Brujo: Located on the north shore of San Cristobal Island, this site is formed by an eroded tuff cone, and the main attraction is the beach, which has a coral-colored sound with diverse species of flora and fauna. Kicker Rock and Cerro Brujo can be visited on Tuesday and Wednesday.