Adventure Galapagos Santa Cruz & Isabela Island land based program 8D – 7N

Flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra’s airport, where a naturalist guide will transfer you to Puerto Ayora. After lunch in town, you will head to the port to embark on a public speedboat that will take you to Isabela Island (approximately 2-2.5 hours of navigation). Upon arrival, someone will take you to the hotel for check-in. Afterwards, you will visit the Flamingo Lagoon.

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You will then return to the hotel for dinner and accommodation.

Note: To follow this itinerary, it is important to choose an early flight that arrives at Baltra no later than 10 a.m.

At approximately 7:30 a.m., the private trip to Sierra Negra Volcano will begin. Passengers will be transported for about 45 minutes to the Galápagos National Park control site. You will then start a trek to Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. During the trek, a box lunch will be provided.

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In the afternoon, you will return to the hotel. Afterwards, prepare to go to Tintoreras Islet. Head to the dock of Puerto Villamil to embark on small speedboats. After a short ride (approx. 20 min.), you will arrive at Tintoreras. After a hike through the islet, you will snorkel. There, you might see starfish, colorful fish, sea urchins, and, with luck, manta rays, sharks, and sea lions swimming very close to you.

You will then return to Isabela for dinner and accommodation.

Located 40 minutes from Puerto Villamil, our first visit is to Roca Unión, where you will see the masked booby, followed by a visit to Los Túneles. This unique geological site was formed by lava from the Sierra Negra volcano, naturally creating arches, points, tubes, and tunnels above and below the water.

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At this site, you can enjoy a short 10-15 minute walk to observe the volcanic formations and birds. Then, you will visit El Finado, a hidden cove with crystal-clear and calm waters, where you can snorkel among the mangroves and enjoy swimming near sea turtles, reef fish, and resting sharks. A box lunch is included.

You will then return to Isabela for a free afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

At 5:30 a.m., you will be transferred to the port to board a public speedboat to Santa Cruz (approximately 2-2.5 hours of navigation). Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in and breakfast.

The guide will pick you up and take you to the highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will see tortoises in their natural environment. The highlands of Santa Cruz are deep green, beautifully contrasting with the dry lower islands. The dominant vegetation in the highlands is the Scalesia trees, which grow in lush green color. The lava tubes, over half a mile long, are underground, and walking through them is a very unique, surreal experience.

© Latin TrailsAfter lunch in town, you will visit Tortuga Bay. Here, you will walk approximately 45 minutes through a cactus trail to the first beach, known as Playa Brava due to its strong currents. On this beach, you can see many marine iguanas, marine birds, and pelicans. After visiting Playa Brava, continue with an additional 15-minute walk to reach Playa Mansa. This second beach is a natural lagoon visited by blue-footed boobies and pelicans. It is also a beautiful spot for swimming and relaxing on the beach.

You will walk the same distance to return to the hotel for dinner and accommodation.

On these days, you will visit only one of the islands. After breakfast, the guide will meet you in the hotel’s lobby to take you to the dock and start the tour. Lunch will be included onboard the small yacht. In the afternoon, you will return to the port.

North Seymour Island is a spectacular place for hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. The main attractions are the frigatebirds, boobies, gulls, hawks, green sea turtles, and the famous Galápagos sharks.

Photo: Kunhui Chih

Bartolomé Island offers the most attractive landscape in the archipelago. This island is undoubtedly the most photographed in all the Galápagos Islands. You can enjoy a spectacular view of two beautiful bays and observe the fascinating lava formations and volcanic cones.

The Plazas Islands consist of two islands. The turquoise waters of the channel contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava coast. It is a wonderful spot to observe marine life, including manta rays. The coasts are a perfect location for snorkeling activities.

Santa Fe Island, also known as Barrington Island after Admiral Samuel Barrington, is a small island of 24 square kilometers (9.3 sq mi) located in the center of the Galápagos archipelago, southeast of Santa Cruz Island. Geologically, it is one of the oldest, with volcanic rocks about 4 million years old. The island’s vegetation is characterized by brush, palo santo trees, and stands of the prickly pear cactus Opuntia echios.

You will then return to the hotel for dinner and accommodation. The island will be chosen based on availability.

Early in the morning, you will visit the Charles Darwin Station. Here, you will see various species of Giant Tortoises and learn about ongoing conservation efforts aimed at preserving the Giant Tortoises as well as the environment of the archipelago as a whole.

Photo: marktucan

Afterwards, you and the guide would take the route to the airport, which lasts approximately 1 hour. At the airport, you will take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.