8-Day Galapagos Island Hopping Tour: Uncover the Wildlife on Five Unique Islands
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San Cristobal
Embark on an 8-day Galapagos Island hopping tour and uncover the incredible wildlife on five unique islands. Swim with colorful fishes, spot sharks, and encounter Giant Tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, penguins, and more in their natural habitat.
Duration: 8 days
Cancellation: 6 days learn more
Highlights

Transfer + Tijeretas & Carola Beach

Cerro Tijeretas - Pick-up at the airport. Lunch. Frigate bird hill, you have a beautiful view over the island.

Playa Punta Carola - Snorkel the shallow waters of Tijeretas/Carola beach, see sea lions, fishes, and turtles. Carola beach from where you will go back to the hotel. Freetime 

Lobos Island or Kicker Rock

Isla Lobos - Option 1: Home to a large sea lion colony. During the hike (blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and frigate birds), snorkeling (marine iguanas eating, rays, turtles in the sandy bottom that separates Lobos Island from the mainland of San Cristobal) Playa Ochoa. and free time

Kicker Rock - Option 2: 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.

Santa Cruz - El Chato - Charles Darwin

Reserva El Chato - 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!

Charles Darwin Research Station - 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. .

Full day navigable tour

Puerto Ayora - 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.

Isabela - Tintoreras

Las Tintoreras - At 6:30 am, you will take the speed boat to Isabela, (2 hours). At arrival, a guide will transfer you to your hotel and you will have the rest of the morning free. If you want, you can walk to the nearby flamingo lagoon to spot these graceful birds, or visit (entrance free) the tortoise breeding center. In the afternoon, we will visit “Las Tintoreras,” a chain of small islets full of the cove and hidden beaches. The islet of Tintoreras is situated in the south of Puerto Villamil.

It has a bay where it is possible to see sea lions, marine turtle, iguanas, manta rays, etc. This bay is connected by a superficial crack with crystalline water which is closed off during low tide. In this crack, it is possible to see the sharks from Blanca Point swimming with the rest of the tropical fish and sea lions (snorkel).

Sierra Negra Volcano - Hike

Sierra Negra - Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up by our guide, then, we will be ready to walk through spectacular lava landscapes overlooking the volcanoes of northern Isabela and Fernandina. The hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano and the Chico Volcano is 16 km long. We will see the second-largest volcanic crater in the world and explore different areas of vegetation. We will have lunch and the rest of the day is free. You can enjoy the beautiful beach in Isabela, or you can dive in the Laguna Concha de Perla (the free time snorkeling equipment is not included, but it can be hired locally).

Isabela - Cabo Rosa Tunnels

Los Tuneles - The tour starts either at 7:30 or 10:30 am from your hotel of stay in Puerto Villamil, Isabela. The first stop is Roca Union a small islet located in the open sea where you can catch sight of pelicans, blue-footed boobies and Nazca Boobies and, occasionally, sea lions resting on the rocks. Finados snorkeling site is the next stop, where you can swim next to sea turtles, white-tipped sharks (endemic to the islands), trumpetfish and surgeonfish. With some luck, eagle and golden rays will come to this site too. Getting to Los Tuneles will take around 1 ½ – 2 hrs. Once there, the speedboat will navigate through various spots in and around the Lava Tunnels. Here you get the chance to do some more snorkeling and enjoy some short walks while observing the landscape and wildlife inhabiting the area. A box lunch will be provided at midday. Return time to Puerto Villamil is estimated at around 3:00 PM. Wildlife to see Galapagos Sea Lions, Marine iguanas, Lava lizards, Seahorses, Zayapas, Sharks, Killer Whales (not frequently), tropical birds, blue-footed boobies, Nazca Booby, Brown pelicans, Cactus finches.

Transfer to Baltra Airport

Metropolitan Touring - At 6:00 am a guide will pick up from the hotel and transferred to the pier to take the 6:30 boat to Santa Cruz. At Puerto Ayora, you will have breakfast and departure for Baltra to catch your flight back to the mainland – your flight shall depart at 11:30 am minimum, not before.

What's Included
  • Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, tube)
  • Small-group tour or private as described in the program
  • Lunch
  • Wetsuit
  • Breakfast
  • 7 nights accommodation in selected hotels
  • Certified English/Spanish speaking guide
  • 24 hours assistance in English / Spanish
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fee $100,00 (American dollars) in Galapagos National Park (to be paid upon arrival at the airport – CASH ONLY – There is no ATM at the airport. Please bring enough cash)
  • Flight from/to Galápagos Islands ( we will help to organize it according to the itinerary, contact us)
  • INGALA $20,00 (American dollars) in the mainland airport
  • Travel insurance: mandatory for all tourists entering Ecuador
  • Extra kilos flight from San Cristobal to Isabela (USD$2,00 per kilo)
  • Boat in the pier $1,00
  • Tips
  • Transportation Itabaca Channel – Baltra Airport – USD 5 p.p.
Additional Information

Embark on an 8-day journey experiencing the best of the Galapagos Islands, with the flexibility of selecting the hotel class that suits your needs. Dive into clear waters to swim amidst vibrant fish, sea urchins, and starfish. You might even encounter sharks! The volcanic islands are also the abode of Giant Tortoises. Witness these impressive reptiles and other native species like blue-footed boobies, Galapagos sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas and frigate birds in their natural setting. The standout features of this program are visits to San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Española, and an uninhabited island.

  • Infant meals not included
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Itinerary subject to change due to Galapagos National Park dispositions or to circumstances beyond our control, no refunds will be applicable in these cases
Location
San Cristóbal Island
Pick-up at San Cristobal Airport
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
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(1 Rating)
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David
Nov 18, 2019
Outstanding!! - I have traveled to a number of Countries and I would have to say that this tour is my favorite!! The animals, food, and experience was amazing! I would definitely recommend this tour as a must if visiting south America. Some highlights of the trip include snorkeling with seat turtles, playing with sea lions underwater, and watching a massive amount of blue footed boobies dive 4-5ft underwater to catch sardines. The trip will separate yourself from the hustle and bustle of daily life to enjoy the outdoors and nature. Some Islands shutdown a street to have restaurants sell you fresh lobster, yellow finned tuna, octopus and calamari! I highly recommend trying that.
Review provided by Viator
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June 2024
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