Level of the Route: Easy to Moderate
Visited Islands: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz
Navigable Options: Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plaza Island and Santa Fé
Activities: Hikes, Snorkeling, Observation of Wildlife
Meals: B – Breakfast / L – Lunch / D – Dinner Accommodation: Tourist, Superior Tourist and First Class

Itinerary Highlights:

• Watching different giant Galapagos turtle’s species like the last of its kind, Lonesome George, at the Charles Darwin Station.
• Swimming and snorkeling with sea lions, sea turtles, marin iguanas, penguins, rays and different species of tropical fishes.
• Watching birds like: Darwin’s finches, blue-footed boobies, pelicans and frigate birds, among others.
• Walking on lava surfaces and visit volcanic craters.
• Observing different types of vegetation like: arid zone, costal zone, the transition zone and the miconia zone.

Day 1: San Cristobal Island –Interpretation Center – Tijeretas Hill and Punta Carola (L, D)
Arrival to San Cristobal Island, where a guide will be waiting us and transport us to the hotel. We will leave our luggage and have lunch. During the lunch the guide will explain us the itinerary. In the afternoon, we will visit San Cristobal Interpretation Center, where we will learn more about the origin of the archipelago, its fauna and flora, as well as the history and its first inhabitants. After that, we will hike for about 2 hours until Tijeretas hill where we will enjoy the endemic vegetation and a beautiful view of the island and its surroundings. The main attraction here is the frigate birds. At the end of the day, we will visit Punta Carola beach and do some snorkeling. Return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at the selected hotel.

Day 2: Kicker Rock and Lobos Island - The Galapaguera – Junco Lagoon ( B, L, D)
Breakfast. We will leave early in the morning to take the boat and visit the Kicker Rock, which is known as one of the best places to do snorkeling and diving in Galapagos, because you can see sharks, rays and different types of fishes. We will end this trip, visiting Lobos Island, where we can swim with sea lions. Box Lunch onboard and in the afternoon we will visit the highlands of the island where the weather is usually cloudy and it can rain lightly. We will visit the Galapaguera, a Tortoise breeding place of the “Geochelone chatamensis” (the islands own species). We will learn about the history of this kind of turtle. Afterwards, we will continue to the Junco Lagoon, which is located in the middle of a volcanic caldera and whose water comes from the rain and this way build a fresh water lake where the frigate birds dive in order to get rid of the salt of their body. Afterwards, we’ll do a short walk around the lagoon enjoying the vegetation of Miconia, and then we’ll return to the hotel, dinner and accommodation at the selected hotel.

Day 3: Santa Cruz Island – Primicias Farm – Tortuga Bay (B, L, D)
Transfer to the port where we will take a speed boat to our next destination which is Santa Cruz Island. The boat trip takes about 2 hours and a half. At the arrival to Santa Cruz, a guide will be waiting us to take us to the hotel where we can leave our luggage. We will seize the morning to visit the Primicias Ranch in the island’s highlands where we will be able to see Giant Turtles in their natural habitat. We will get to know “Geochelone nigrita” who is usually eating or taking a bath. Another attraction is a walk through the dark lava tunnels and that way being able to understand better the origin of this island. Return to Puerto Ayora, lunch and then go to Tortuga Bay whose entrance is only 15 minutes away from the town. From there we will have to walk for about 40 minutes until the beach. Once arrived, there’ll be two beaches, one rough beach where we can watch marine iguanas entering and leaving the sea (this beach is not appropriate for swimming) and one calmer beach where we will be able to relax and swim. Return to Puerto Ayora to have dinner and accommodation in the selected hotel.

Day 4: Bartolomé Island – Navigable Trip (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Transfer to Baltra in order to start our first navigable tour: Bartolome Island. This small island, located opposite Santiago Island, covers a total area of 1.2 km² and a maximum altitude of 14 meters. One of the main attractions of this island is the “Pinaculo” famous rock. Lunch on board. Before returning, we’ll do some snorkeling at one of the coral beaches of the island, where we can see: Galapagos penguins, submarine turtles, sea lions and multi-colored fish. In the afternoon we’ll return to the hotel. Dinner and acommodacion at the selected hotel.

Day 5: North Seymour Island – Navigable Trip (B, L, D)
Breakfast. This day we will enjoy a navigable tour to North Seymour Island. It’s a small island located at the north of Baltra, covers a total area of 1.9 km² and has a maximum altitude of 30 meters. The main fauna species of this island are: land iguanas, frigate bird, blue-footed boobies and sea lions. Lunch on board. In the afternoon we’ll return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at the selected hotel.

Day 6: Charles Darwin Station– Airport Transfer – Flight Back (B)
After breakfast, we will visit Charles Darwin Station, where we can see the breeding center of the turtles of the other islands. We will also meet the famous Lomesome George which is the only one of his kind and comes from Pinta Island. Afterwards, transfer to the airport in order to take your return flight.

End of services

Important Note:

1. The daily boat trips are subject to availability, weather conditions and Galapagos National Park authorizations. Possible places to visit: Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plazas and Santa Fe.

2. The itineraries are subject to change without previous advice, due to weather conditions, Galapagos National Park authorizations, questions of operation or passenger safeties.

Included:

• Accommodation in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal in the selected hotels
• Meals noted (as per the program) • Speed boat tickets: San Cristobal – Santa Cruz
• Snorkeling Equipment
• Bilingual Naturalist Guide Not included: • Airfare to/from Galapagos (US$ 377.00 from Guayaquil, US$ 427.00 from Quito)
• Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$ 100 per person )
• Galapagos Migration Card (US$ 10 per person)
• Drinks and not mentioned meals
• Tips (is not mandatory)
• Extra expenses

Not included:

• Airfare to/from Galapagos (US$ 377.00 from Guayaquil, US$ 427.00 from Quito)
• Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$ 100 per person )
• Galapagos Migration Card (US$ 10 per person)
• Drinks and not mentioned meals
• Tips (is not mandatory)
• Extra expenses

RATES 2012