Welcome to Galapagos Islands! Arrive at San Cristobal’s airport, your guide picks you up at the airport and will take you to the hotel. After your lunch, with the guide, you will visit the Interpretation Center, where the guide will talk to you about the formation, colonization, and actual situation of the islands. Then you will follow the trail to the Frigate bird hill, a viewpoint from which you have a beautiful view over the island. You will be able to snorkel the shallow waters of Tijeretas Bay or Carola beach (according to the tide your guide will take you to the best spot), where you can see sea lions, various tropical fishes, and turtles. Your small hike will finish at Carola beach from where you will go back to the hotel. Overnight in San Cristobal.
Breakfast at the hotel. We give you the option of going to one of these two excursions, please let us know by booking your trip!
Option one: Lobos Island – hiking. On a 30 minutes boat ride from the port, you arrive on Lobos Island, as its name implies a home to a large sea lion colony. But that’s not the only thing you’ll find while you’ll hike and snorkel on the island on this half-day tour. During the hike, you hopefully spot blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and frigate birds, while during snorkeling you can often see the marine iguanas eating, as well as rays and turtles in the sandy bottom that separates Lobos Island from the mainland of San Cristobal. This tour includes a stop at Playa Ochoa.
Option two: Kicker Rock – snorkel. You will visit the famous Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a volcanic formation amid the ocean. There you will be able to snorkel with sharks, rays, turtles, and if you are lucky also with hammerhead sharks! After lunch on the boat, you will go to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you will have time to relax. In the afternoon you will be back at the port. Overnight in San Cristobal.
Breakfast at the hotel. At 6:30 pick you up and take you to the harbor 7:00 speedboat to Santa Cruz (approx. 2-hour ride). A local guide will receive you at the harbor. Your guide drives up to the ranch in the highlands to see giant tortoises in their native environment! After lunch, stop at Charles Darwin Station which is an international scientific research station situated on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. You will be taken to the visitor center to learn about geology, climate, natural history, and the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Overnight in Santa Cruz.
Breakfast at the hotel. Depending on the dates and/or navigable site available, pick-up from the hotel will be early in the morning (6-or 7:00 am) to take you to the small vessel at the embarkation point in Puerto Ayora for a unique experience with Galapagos wildlife and endemic vegetation. The destination can be either Santa Fe, South Plazas, North Seymour, Pinzon, or Floreana. The activities will include hiking, snorkeling, swimming, and breathtaking sightseeing. After land and sea excursions, we will return back to the hotel in Santa Cruz where you can relax and later on have dinner at the restaurant specified by the guide. Overnight in Santa Cruz.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board the flight to Quito or Guayaquil. Arrival and connection with international flight.
Note: Itineraries are subject to change without notice due to seasonal changes, last-minute weather conditions, and adjustment of Galapagos National Park policies.