GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING 5 DAYS
The Hideout of the Tintoreras Sharks
|
Day 1
|
am: | Baltra Is. Transfer to Santa Cruz Is. |
| pm: | Highlands or Bay Tour (Las Grietas). |
|
Day 2
|
am: | Isabela Is: Public Ferry to Puerto Villamil – Visit Tunnels. |
| pm: | Overnight on Isabela Is. |
|
Day 3
|
am: | Isabela Is. Puerto Villamil, Wetlands, Turtle Breeding Center and Tintoreras. |
| pm: | 15:00 Public Ferry toSanta Cruz Is. Puerto Ayora. |
|
Day 4
|
am: | Bartolome island. |
| pm: | Santa Cruz Is. Puerto Ayora. |
|
Day 5
|
am: | Santa Cruz Is. Twins Craters & Transfer to the airport. |
Based on personal research, the best Galapagos tour offered to visitors involves a minimun two-day visit to Ecuador’s Isabella Island. The tour in Isabela starts with a visit a Tunneles and Cabo Rosa, It in the list of the best place to do snorkeling in Galapagos Islands with sea lions, whitetip reef sharks, sea turtles, The Pacific seahorse known like giant seahorse (Hippocampus ingens). the next day we have many activities as visit Turtle Breeding Center, wetlands and Tintoreras.
Land based Galapagos tours are also available. They offer the best Galapagos tours because they can be customized to meet your specific needs and budget. A typical land based tour can last up to five days and include a combination of walking and hiking. It will give you the opportunity to see and get closer to all the Galapagos Islands, from the sandy beaches of the coast, to the vegetation and wildlife found within their parks and conservation areas. In between, you can go hiking, take some sailing, or visit the most beautiful beach “Tortuga Bay”
For people who prefer visiting the Galapagos Islands via Galapagos land tour, there is also a Galapagos island hopping option that can be enjoyed during your stay. It is a more intimate way of exploring the Galapagos Islands and gives you the opportunity to become intimately familiar with each island’s landscape, culture and wildlife. It can be a cheaper alternative to Galapagos cruises tours. But you have to consider the time, itinerary, islads to visit and money involved in such an activity.
Itinerary
Galapagos 5 Days /4 Nights
FROM $1545
Santa Cruz Island
- Arrival to Galapagos Island, Baltra Airport.
- Transfer from Baltra Airport to Santa Cruz Island
- Visit the Highlands or Bay Tour in Santa Cruz (Galapagos Natural Life Travel Agency, will select the best option for you according to the arrival time of your flights.)
- Lunch
- Briefing for next day activities
Places to Visit:
- Highlands: Visit to the El Chato 1, El Chato 2 or Primicias Farm, in any of these you can see the Giant Galapagos Tortoises and the typical vegetation of Galapagos.
Or
- Bay Tour: It’s an interesting tour in where you could visit these places: The Dog’s Beach, Love Channel, Shark’s channel and Las Grietas.
- Channel of Love
It is a wonderful vantage point ideal for photographs, where the turquoise water and the geological formations that resembles natural Jacuzzi accompanied by flora make this scene a romantic place. - Beach of the dogs
Called thus for being habitat of the Crab of Galápagos that can grow up to 20 centimeters. In addition, we will observe colonies of marine iguanas and enjoy a landscape view. - Channel of the Sharks
It is a viewpoint where we can appreciate the Galapagos sharks resting thanks to the marine currents that converge in this unique geological formation. - The Cracks
Wonderful landscape is formed by interesting lava figures that form two gigantic walls crossed by an arm of brackish water that mixes with the sea water recommended for swimming and diving surface due to the transparency of its waters.
Details:
- Animals to see: Giant turtles, sea lions, sea turtles, reef fish, blue footed boobies and sharks.
- Activities: Trekking and Snorkeling
- What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, swimsuit and water.
- Include: Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, Hotel Accommodation and Snorkeling Equipment.
- Not Included: Lobbito Buss $5, Dinner, Tips and Additional Expenses.
Notes:
- The activities in the water are just If you take the bay tour.
- We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
- If it is only a passenger, the first day does not include a guide.
Isabela Island
- Breakfast
- Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
- Boarding Time at 07:00 am.
- Sailing time from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island. (2 hours)
- Arrival to Villamil Port in Isabela Island at 09:00 am. aprpoximately.
- At 11:00 am. Sailing time from Villamil Port to Tunnels. (1 hour)
- Visit Tunnels
- 2 times for snorkeling. (45 minutes each one)
- Lunch
- Return to Isabela at 16:00 pm
- Arrival to Isabela at 17:00 pm approximately.
- Transfer to your Hotel in Isabela.
- Briefing for next day activities.
Places to Visit:
- Tunnels: This is one of the most spectacular snorkeling sites in Isabela, the water is shallow, calm and very clear, a marine sanctuary. A series of lava flows have produced unique geological formations, a series of arches and tunnels, below and above the water, where a large number of endemic Galapagos species live. The entrance to the site is not deep and the waves can be very strong, for this reason, access to this place is not always very feasible. The best time to visit Los Túneles is between January and May.
Details:
- Animals to see: Blue-footed boobies, rays, starfish, penguins, sea horses, sharks, sea turtles, reef fish.
- Activities: Snorkeling
- What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, swimsuit.
- Include: Breakfast, Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch,Snack, Water, Hotel Accommodation and Snorkeling Equipment.
- Not Included: Isabela Fee $10,Dinner, Tips and Additional Expenses.
Notes:
- We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
- This night you will stay in Isabela Island.
Isabela Island
- Breakfast
- Pick up from your Hotel in Villamil Port, Isabela Island.
- Visit the Wetlands
- Visit the Flamingos Lake
- Visit the Tortoise Breeding Center
- Lunch
- Snorkeling in Tintoreras (45 minutes)
- Return to Santa Cruz at 15:00 pm
- Arrival to Santa Cruz at 17:00 pm approximately.
- Transfer to your Hotel
- Briefing for next day activities
Places to Visit:
- Wetlands: The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.
- Flamingo Lake: To the west of Puerto Villamil there are various salt and brackish lagoons which house an impressive variety of coastal and sea birds. Here, visitors can also find the largest concentration of flamingos in Galapagos.
- Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center: The Tortoise Breeding Center (also known as the Interpretation Center) is located nearby Puerto Villamil. A boardwalk connects the town to the Center, stretching across the wetlands and Prickly Pear Cacti shrub. Five sub-species of the Giant Tortoise exist on the island, yet their populations are threatened by introduced animals such as goats and cats. At the Tortoise Breeding Center, eggs are nursed in a hatchery and the giant tortoise adults are observed in supervised corrals. The Center aims to increase the population and secure the survival of these species.
- Tintoreras: The Tintoreras Islets, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil, is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.
Details:
- Animals to see: Giant tortoises, flamingos, terrestrial iguanas, white fin sharks, sea lions, reef fish.
- Activities: Trekking and Snorkeling
- What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, swimsuit.
- Include: Breakfast, Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch,Snack, Water, Hotel Accommodation and Snorkeling Equipment.
- Not Included: Isabela Fee $10,Dinner, Tips and Additional Expenses.
Notes:
- We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
Bartolome Island
-
- Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
- Departure Time at from 06:00 am. to 07:00 am.
- Transfer from Ayora Port to Itabaca Channel. (45 minutes)
- Sailing time from Itabaca Channel to Bartolome Island. (2 hour)
- Arrival to Bartolome Island at 08:45 am. aprpoximately.
- 2 Hours of hiking in Bartolome island
- Lunch
- Snorkeling in Sullivan Bay
- Return to Santa Cruz at 14:15 pm
- Arrival to Santa Cruz at 17:00 pm approximately.
- Transfer to your Hotel
- Briefing for next day activities
Places to Visit:
- Bartolome Island:Named in honor of Sir Bartholomew Sulivan of the British Navy. It has an area of 1.2 km² and a maximum altitude of 114 meters. This island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes of the archipelago. The island is composed of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green and bright black volcanic formations. The lava cactus of the Galapagos colonize the new lava fields. On this island is the famous Pinnacle, which is one of the most representative places of the archipelago. Here you can dive and snorkel with penguins, sea lions, white tip reef sharks and other tropical fish. Seasonally, Bartolomé is the mating and nesting site of the green turtle. The bay is also an excellent place to go swimming. The twin bays are separated by a narrow isthmus.
- Sullivan Bay: This unique landscape is composed of a pair of eroded scoria lava cones which were engulfed by a recent (in geological terms) pahoehoe lava flow and which is considered one of the finest in the world.
Details:
- Animals to see: Sea lions, reef fish, sea turtle, penguins.
- Activities: Hiking and Snorkeling
- What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, swimsuit.
- Include: Breakfast, Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch,Snack, Water, Hotel Accommodation and Snorkeling Equipment.
- Not Included: Dinner, Tips and Additional Expenses.
Notes :
- We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
Santa Cruz Island
- Breakfast
- Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
- Transfer to Twin Craters in Santa Cruz.
- Visit to Twin Craters
- Transfer from San Cristotal to Baltra Airport
- Return Flight.
Places to Visit:
- Twin Craters: The Twin Craters are, in fact, not craters. These 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. The Twins are located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and are surrounded by lush and green forests, dominated by the endemic Scalesia plants. It is possible to walk along the rim of the craters to better appreciate the magnitude of the holes as well as the local flora and fauna. This site is also one of the most likely places to observe the endemic short-ear owl of the Galapagos.
Details:
- Activities: Trekking
- What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera.
- Include: Breakfast, Transport.
- Not Included: Lobbito Buss $5, Guide, Dinner, Lunch, Tips and Additional Expenses.
Notes:
- We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
- This day is not included Guide, just driver.