Conquer Galapagos Islands
Conquer Galapagos Islands
Day 1: San Cristóbal - Interpretation Centre – Snorkelling
Upon arrival at the airport on San Cristobal, you will go immediately to the Galapagos immigration area. Here you will need to present your passport and pay your USD 100,- Galapagos National Park fee. This payment must be made in cash. The National Park Service does not accept Traveller’s Cheques or credit cards. The Park officials will then inspect your carry-on luggage to ensure that you have not inadvertently brought in prohibited plant or animal products (see the Galapagos National Park rules). As you exit the immigration area, you will be met by your tour guide who will take you to the Hotel.
Later you will visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, located in a scenic setting, where visitors can learn about the natural history of the Galápagos, with an emphasis on human history and conservation. This first tour will help you to understand and gain more from the next 10 days of activities. In the afternoon you will have your first opportunity to swim and snorkel on the northern side of the bay and take your first under water view of these fascinating islands. You will have dinner and spend the night in the hotel. -/L/D
Day 2: Hacienda El Cafetal – Galapaguera – Hacienda La Agustina - Loberia
In the morning you will visit the coffee plantation El Cafetal where you will learn how coffee is produced, from the plant to the cup, and have a timely mid-morning taster.
Afterwards you will journey on to the Galapaguera, a project designed to introduce the local endemic Giant Tortoise back into the wild. Here you can observe these giants and get to know the typical flora of the island during a gentle walk through this little reserve. After lunch in the typical highland Hacienda La Augustina, you will walk from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno through one of the islands many ecosystems, the dry forest, to the beach “la Loberia” where you can observe sea iguanas with their salty crests sunning themselves on the rocks, and then swim with the local sea lion colony; you’ll find the pups a very curious bunch! You will have dinner and spend the night in the hotel. B/L/D
Day 3: Island Lobos / Island San Cristobal - Sleeping Leon – Cerro Brujo (hiking – snorkelling)
Today you will embark on a trip to Lobos Islet which is a seasonal nesting location for the blue footed booby, a main attraction of the islands; their courtship ritual really is quite impressive, with the gathering and passing of twigs for the nest that will never be built! The basalt island outcrop is actually named for the numerous sea lions that frequent the island, basking, or better said, sleeping in the sunshine. Lobos Islet is located 1 hour across a small channel up the coast from Wreck Bay and Puerto Baquerizo, north of San Cristobal Island (also known as Chatham Island). After a one hour hike over the island you can snorkel with sea lions along the coastline.
Afterwards you will return to San Cristobal and visit the massive tower of rock called Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock, which rises majestically out of the deep-blue ocean. Here you can also go snorkelling and often see some of the bigger inhabitants of the ocean such as sharks, manta rays and giant turtles. Furthermore, you will visit Cerro Brujo, a fascinating volcanic crater-shaped landscape situated around the north coast of San Cristobal. At the wide sandy beach you can relax and have yet another dip with the snorkel gear. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel. B/L/D
Day 4: Floreana Island (champion snorkelling) - Devils Crown – Beach Loberia
This morning you will go to Floreana Island where you will have a truly memorable experience on a wild snorkelling adventure around the Devils Crown; a shallow sunken crater, teaming with underwater life, from reef sharks and turtles, to the brighter and friendlier coloration of clown and parrot fish, it makes for one of the best snorkelling sites on Galapagos.
This crater is almost completely submerged, and its spiky mountainous form gives it the name “Devils Crown”. The clear blue waters promise sightings of other bright delights such as; schools of king angelfish, large marbled rays that hide motionless under the rocky ledges, very large balloon fish and large hieroglyphic hawk fish all of which make way for the occasional hammerhead that glide effortlessly against the current. These rocky ridges are also home to scrawled filefish, schools of yellowtail grunts and tiger snake eels.
In the afternoon you reach the small port of Puerto Velasco Ibarra where we will weigh anchor and stay the night at the Hostal Wittmer. After checking in, you will hike to La Lobería, and on the way witness some of the bright and unusual colours seen amongst the flora of the island. At the Loberia, as the name suggests, you will encounter a large sea lion colony and nursery, and note the contrasting energy levels of adults and pups! There are often simply dozens of sea lions visible at any one time, and the marine iguanas can be seen dashing amongst their larger neighbours. Bird watching is also worthwhile, with the likes of the Lava Heron fishing in the rock pools. Remember, you must always stay on the path and try not to disturb the wildlife! Dinner and accommodation in the Hotel Wittmer. B/L/D
Day 5: Highlands (Caves)– Bratle (Turtle Island) – Island Isabela
Today’s excursion leads you into the highlands of Floreana where you will visit a fresh water lake, a pirate cave and the first farm on Floreana. While hiking around the highlands Darwin finches, yellow warblers and Galapagos fly catchers circle around as the guide recounts bizarre stories about the early inhabitants of Floreana. After lunch you will go by boat to Isabela Island, so big, its surface almost covers half of the total land mass of the Galapagos archipelago. On the way we make a detour around the bird island la Tortuga with the hopes of observing the red-billed tropicbird and the frigate birds performing their courtship display. Finally you reach the peaceful harbour bay of Puerto Vilamil where you will check into the hotel. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. Overnight at the hotel. B/L/D
Day 6: Volcano Sierra Negra (horseback riding) – Bay de Concha de Perla
Sierra Negra is located in the southern part of Isabela Island between the volcanoes Alcedo and Cerro Azul. Following the foothills of volcano Sierra Negra by private vehicle, you arrive in the highlands where you will begin a hike uphill to the edge of the crater of this tremendous volcano. The hike leads you out of dense shrub into the barren landscape of the volcano and its solid, jagged lava flows. From here you can enjoy a fantastic view overlooking the north part of the island as well as distant volcanoes Alcedo and Wolf. Afterwards you hike back to have lunch at a typical highland farm before returning to Villamil. You will be back at the hotel by late afternoon, when you get the chance to discover a serene mangrove forest at La Concha Perla bay, followed by a relaxing swim. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel. B/L/D
Day 7: Kayak in Tintoreras Bay – Island Isabela
In the morning we will stretch a few muscles with a gentle and calm kayak trip within the harbour. Apart from the omnipresent sea lions and pelicans, you will see the penguin colony on the small island of Las Tintoreras, and get to see these little characters darting around in the water below. Then we hike through the surreal landscapes fashioned by lava formations to arrive at huge iguana colonies. The mangrove lined beaches are also home to sea lions. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel. B/L/D
Day 8: Island Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Station
In the morning you will transfer to the Island Santa Cruz and onto Puerto Ayora, a little harbour that is quite popular with sailors as well as with sea lions and pelicans! After lunch you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing centre, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction into their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this island is probably Lonesome George, the only survivor of his specific tortoise species. After the visit you have the opportunity to explore the village with its quaint little shops and the fish market that attracts many interesting seabirds as well as the tourists! Accommodation at the hotel. B/L/D
Day 9: Tour through Academy Bay (Canal Del Amor Bahia de Franklin-Grietas-Loberia) – Afternoon free time
In the morning you walk to the harbour and start a half day trip in a small boat through the wide Academy bay. During the trip you can observe the variety of the underwater world along the pacific island, with brightly coloured fish and the not so bright but sleek outline of sharks cruising the depths. You will visit the “Lovers Channel”, the beach “Playa de los Perros” and the bay “Bahia de Franklin”. A little walk leads you to “Las Grietas”, a natural basin between high rocky walls. After lunch you have some free time to explore this little part of paradise. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. B/L/D
Day 10: Island Santa Cruz - Hacienda Primicias - Tortuga Bay
After breakfast you will follow the trail to the highlands which lead from Bellavista and pass through the agricultural zone (near the National Park boundary), the Miconia Zone and then on to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. At the end of the path you will find the Hacienda Primicias which is home to many sea turtles. In the grounds surrounding the hacienda you will visit one of the huge lava tunnels, formed following volcanic explosions, that really helps hammer home the colossal power of nature’s fireworks.
Afterwards you continue to Tortuga Bay. Here you can spot several species of Darwin’s finches. The sunsets here are excellent, and you will certainly have the time to sit down and enjoy the “puesta del sol” as it drops beyond the Pacific horizon. The west cove offers splendid snorkelling and swimming, and entering the water from the soft white sandy beach (formed from the crushing of coral over the centuries) has helped its reputation as one of the nicest spots on the archipelago. The islands name is derived from the numerous sea turtles that come here to lay their eggs year after year. Other species that can be found include pelicans, flamingos and marine iguanas. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. B/L/D
Day 11: Transfer Out B/-/-
In the morning you cross the highlands of Santa Cruz and the canal of Itabaca to reach the airport at Baltra where you take your flight back to the mainland.
B= breakfast; L= Lunch; D= Dinner
Price 2009
2 Possibilities for the accommodation
Standard Hotels
With minimum 2 people: USD 3369.- per person
With 1 person: USD 6096.-
Single supplement USD 242.-
Comfort Hotels:
With minimum 2 people: USD 3885.- per person
With 1 person: USD 6868.-
Single supplement USD 748.-
Flights:
Guayaquil - Galapagos – Guayaquil: USD 356,- per person
Guayaquil – Galápagos – Quito and viceversa: USD 382,- per person
Quito – Galápagos – Quito: USD 407,- per person
Prices include:
All transfers in private transportation, excursions, accommodation based on double rooms in the hotels mentioned or hotels of the same category, meals according to the itinerary description (B: breakfast, L: Lunch; D: Dinner), English speaking guide during the round trip.
Not included in the price:
Beverages, extra charge for single rooms, international airport tax (USD 38,-) personal items, tips, travel insurance, luggage and everything not stated in the itinerary, Galapagos Park Entrance Fee (USD 100,-), flight Quito-Galapagos-Quito.
Note: The itinerary of the Galapagos tour can be changed by the guide or the boat captain due to security reasons as well as by the national park administration due to changing national park rules. Nevertheless the security and the interest of the passengers will always have first priority.
Departure: Thursday
