GALAPAGOS EXPLORER ADVENTURE – SANTA CRUZ – 5 Days 3 Islands

DAY 1 – FLY TO SANTA CRUZ – TORTOISE RANCH, LAVA TUNNELS: 

We will offer assistance at the Quito or Guayaquil airport. You will check in for your flight to the Galapagos. 

At arrival in Galapagos, you will meet their tour guide who will be holding a sign with your name. You will then visit the Santa Cruz highlands. The first stop will be the twin craters, which are impressive holes were formed by magma (lava) domes which hardened on the outside but continued to flow on the inside, leaving huge but empty chambers that collapsed with the passing of time, creating this breathtaking scenery that resembles two pit crates. After that you will visit the Tortoise Ranch, this is the place to go to for seeing giant tortoises roaming around free. 

You will have lunch at this place. After that, you will go to the walk through the lava tunnels, which are underground tunnels formed by ancient lava that once flowed across these islands. When the outside layers of lava cooled, they formed a crust while the interior lava still flowed hot and fast. Eventually, the lava inside flowed out of the crust and left a tunnel or a tube behind.

After this, the tour guide will take you the hotel for check in.

DAY 2    – DAY TOUR TO SANTA FE ISLAND

You will leave the hotel at 07h45 to the pier of Puerto Ayora, where we will take our boat to Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Island is located South East of Santa Cruz Island. In this island you will find sea lions in a white sand beach resting waiting for pictures, they pose to your cameras. 

The snorkel will take place in a bay called Fisherman Bay in Santa Fe Island; here you may spot sea turtles, rays, sea lions, fishes, Galapagos sharks and many more in this rocky reef. 

Lunch will be in the boat, and after lunch you will visit a beach called Playa Escondida.

Will be back in town around 3pm.  

DAY 3 –  CHARLES DARWIN AND TORTUGA BAY: 

You will begin your day at 10h00 with a walk to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a renowned scientific institution dedicated to the conservation and study of the Galapagos’ unique flora and fauna. You will learn about ongoing research projects, conservation efforts, and the importance of protecting the delicate ecosystem of the islands.

Then you will have lunch and after lunch you will take a water taxi to Tortuga Bay. Arriving at Tortuga Bay, you’ll be greeted by a pristine beach that offers the perfect setting for relaxation and exploration. You can relax the rest of the afternoon there, and you will be able to rent kayaks ok spot. 

DAY 4 – TOUR TO SEYMOUR ISLAND

You will be picked up at your hotel between 07h30 – 08h00 to go to Seymour Island. You will go to the Itabaca Cannal to board the boat. You will enjoy a navigable tour to North Seymour, a 1.9 km² island located northbound from Baltra. 

The main fauna species of this island are Land Iguanas, the Magnificent Frigate bird with their incredible scarlet regular pouch, and probably the blue-footed boobies and their particular courtship dance and sea lions surfing across the waves. Lunch on board.

 After lunch we will do snorkeling in Bachas or Mosquera where you will be able to discover tones of different fish species and also swim with sea lions. 

Guests will be back at the hotel around 4.30pm.

DAY 5 –  FLY BACK TO QUITO. 

This day you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight back to Quito. 

Include:

Accommodation every night in nice local hotels: In Santa Cruz Hotel Ninfa or Hotel Fiesta.

Galapagos airport transfers and transportation in the islands.

All tours mentioned in the itinerary with certified guides and boats.

Private tours in land. Shared tours on boats.

All breakfasts and lunches.

Exclude:

Flight to the Galapagos. We offer it separate for $450 (expect late December and early January).

Ingala card: $20 each.

Entry fee to the Galapagos: $200 adults $100 for kids. (Subject to change).

Activities not mentioned in the itinerary and optional activities.

Wetsuits rentals, is an option for Seymour. ($10 each)

Dinners.

Travel or medical insurance.

Gratuities.

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