Wildlife Wonders of The Galápagos Islands

Day 2: Circumnavigate San Cristóbal Island by boat and visit key sites

Breakfast and early departure for a “360 boat tour” around San Cristóbal Island to visit following locations:

1. Land at Rosa Blanca Beach – excellent bird watching opportunities (blue footed boobies, brown pelican) and often sea turtles and (harmless) white tipped reef sharks. Sea lions often play with us underwater.

2. Bahia Sardina – snorkelling to see shoals of fish and (often) sea lions swimming underwater. Rest on the beach and relax.

3. Sport fishing close to Punta Pitt (often catch tuna or wahoo and have sushi lunch), pass Pitt Island (see from the boat; blue footed boobies, red footed boobies, masked boobies, red billed tropic birds and other bird species). Visit Cerro Brujo (spectacular rock arch).

4. Visit the iconic Kicker Rocker (a spectacular offshore rock stack) to snorkel to see reef fish, rays, sharks, sea turtles and dramatic scenery. Sometimes humpbacks, dolphins and orca are sighted too. Fingers crossed for highlight – scalloped hammerhead sharks (harmless but spectacular!)

Note: depending upon weather and wind direction, the boat team may reverse the order of sites.

Return back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno by approx 4:30 pm. Dinner in a restaurant in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Overnight at Royal Galápagos Inn.

Day 3: Giant Tortoises Volunteer Project

A really special day that centres on volunteer activities at a San Cristóbal giant tortoise breeding centre to support conservation work and to see the tortoises up close and personal (which the public cannot normally do). We go behind the scenes with the manager and muck in to help look after the tortoises!

We collect otoy plants which they like to eat, we help clean their water ponds so they have fresh water, work in the plant nursery to help grow their food plants, and feed baby tortoises.

We enjoy a pick nick lunch on Puerto Chino (a beautiful white sand beach) for a swim in the water (often there are marine iguanas swimming). We then return back via El Juncto (a volcano crater). It is an easy 15 minute walk to the crater edge. The crater lake contained within is one of the only sources of permanent freshwater, and we can watch frigatebirds frequently wash in and drink from the crater lake.

We return back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno around 4 pm. A recommended activity is to visit the main sea lion beach in town around sunset. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at Royal Galápagos Inn.

Day 4: Explore Española Island

We have a 6 am start today to begin a full day trip to Española Island (one of the wildlife highlights of the Galápagos Islands). We land and take a guided tour by a professional, local naturalist guide. This is a special island home to waved albatrosses, an endemic subspecies of marine iguana and Galápagos sea lions. We may also see masked boobies (usually large numbers), a spectacular blow hole, Galápagos hawks and terrestrial lava lizards. We have the option to visit beautiful, pristine beaches to snorkel (recommended), before returning to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at Royal Galápagos Inn.

Day 6: Journey to Santa Cruz Island

A 7 am boat departure to Santa Cruz Island, landing at Puerto Ayora at 9 am. We have a late breakfast / early lunch and check into our hotel, La Peregrina (a lovely hotel set amongst a green, leafy garden, but in an excellent location near to the main waterfront and close to the main restaurants).

We then drive to Los Gemelos (spectacular, collapsed lava chambers) and walk through the beautiful misty forests and enjoy the dramatic scenery. We then transfer to the Primicias Ranch to see explore impressive lava tunnels (walking around 800 m through one of the massive lava tubes). We then have a private guided walk amongst wild giant tortoises (an endemic species of domed tortoise, unique to Santa Cruze Island) – the population includes exceptionally large, impressive and aged specimens.

We return to Puerto Ayora for a late lunch and walk to the Charles Darwin Foundation to visit the research centre, several small museums and exhibits, a breeding programme to see five different giant tortoise species from across the archipelago, and we can stroll along beautiful coastal paths that are home to extensive numbers of marine iguanas, lava lizards and other wildlife. A highlight at the Charles Darwin Foundation is seeing “Lonesome George” (the preserved specimen of a species of Galápagos Tortoise that recently became extinct).

We have dinner at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the water in Puerto Ayora. Overnight at La Peregrina.

Day 7: Journey to Isabella Island

After breakfast, we undertake a 45 minute walk to Tortuga Bay Beach (a massive white sand beach) to see brown pelicans, marine iguanas and ghost crabs. The beach is spectacular and we may see the iguanas swimming. Very often, there are baby hammerhead sharks (harmless) swimming close to the mangroves. We return to Puerto Ayora for lunch.

We catch a boat at 3 pm to Puerto Villamil, Isabella Island, arriving at approx. 5 pm. As we arrive, we look out for endemic Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants. We check into our hotel, Casita de la Playa (a beautiful, beach-side hotel) and take a walk to see a Flamingo Lagoon before sunset. We should see several flamingos wading. Dinner in a beach front restaurant. Overnight at Casita de la Playa.

Note: Isabela Island is absolutely beautiful. It is much more laid back than the rest of the Galapagos. Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago, but is home to just 2,000 people. Puerto Villamil is set on a beautiful beach, and has a really nice, relaxed, beach-town atmosphere. The beach front is dotted with fantastic beach restaurants and bars. It is a wonderful place to relax and explore. See Photos below.

Day 8: Undertake Los Tunneles Snorkelling Tour

Today is dedicated to exploring Isabella Island – the youngest isle of the Galápagos Archipelago.

We are picked up at 7 am from our hotel and transfer to boats to visit Los Tunneles, a spectacular volcanic landscape of lava tunnels and arches on the coast of Isabella Island.

There are several options to swim and snorkel. Highlights include exploring shallow waters home to lots of sea turtles, sea horses, white tipped reef sharks, spotted eagle rays and countless reef fish species. This is an exceptional diving location. The guides usually take us to an underwater cave where we can see many reef sharks resting. Sea turtles are very abundant – we typically see 30+ sea turtles on the Los Tunneles tour!

We then transfer to an area of volcanic columns and arches, to see nesting areas of blue footed boobies. Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) are often present on the rocks along the coast and we can glimpse them up close and personal (approaching while snorkelling, and observing from the water).

We then transfer to shore to explore a spectacular landscape of lava bridges and unique cacti groves. Darwin’s finches, Galápagos hawks and Galápagos doves may be sighted.

We return back to Puerto Villamil by around 1 pm and have a late lunch.

Those that would like to can undertake an afternoon walk to the Wall of Tears (el Muro de las Lágrimas), built by prisoners when the island was a penal colony. This is a really nice walk, and we are likely to see many marine iguanas and wild giant tortoises (a different species from all of the tortoises we have seen so far).

If anyone is tired and does not want to walk, our hotel is situated on a gorgeous beach for relaxing and enjoying.

Dinner in a beach front restaurant. Overnight at Casita de la Playa.

Day 9: Trek to the Sulphur Volcano

After breakfast, we drive up the slopes of the vast Sierra Negra volcano massif to the enormous caldera rim. We drive along the rim to the jump off point. Then trek down a path into the caldera and across to a series of sulphur fumeroles within (approx 2.5 km walk, around 1 hour each way). The steaming sulphur vents are spectacular and set amongst the solidified lava flows. We explore the site of old sulphur mines and the breath-taking landscapes of lava formations. We then return back to the caldera rim and the vehicles. The lava landscape is unforgettable.

Note: Bring sturdy walking shoes, sunscreen, a water bottle, a hat and sunglasses for today! The lava rocks are very sharp – do not wear sandals.

We return for lunch, then during the afternoon, we can relax on one of Isabella’s beautiful beaches, or walk to Concha del Perla for excellent snorkelling opportunities (home to extensive reef fish populations, rays and turtles). Also a little down time for souvenir shopping and exploring Puerto Villamil. Watch sunset from a beautiful beach close to our accommodation.

Dinner in a beach front restaurant. Overnight at Casita de la Playa.

Day 10: Return to Santa Cruz and visit Las Grietas

An early start to catch a 7 am boat top return to Santa Cruz (arriving around 10 am). On arrival, we check back into La Peregrina hotel and have lunch.

During the afternoon, we catch a water taxi from the port to visit Las Grietas – or “the Cracks of Galápagos”. Three crystal clear pools lie in a picturesque setting, sandwiched in a crevasse between high volcanic walls. The water is crystal clear and emerald green. Locals and tourists alike flock here to cool off while enjoying the spectacular view. We often see giant tortoises in the area, and frequently visitors swim with sea lions, (harmless) reef sharks, extensive schools of large fish and sometimes even turtles! Las Grietas is ruggedly beautiful and an unforgettable experience.

We have dinner in Puerto Ayora (many excellent restaurant options). Overnight at La Peregrina.

Day 11: Bartolomé and Santiago Islands

One of the highlights of the entire trip. We have a early start and journey by boat to Bartolomé Island (arguably the most spectacular island of the Galapagos). We undertake a boat tour around the island spotting seabirds, marine iguanas and sea lions. We then walk to the top of the peak on Bartolomé Island (approx 30 minutes) for a breath-taking view. We then descend and transfer to adjacent Santiago Island via the spectacular Pinnacle Rock. At Santiago Island we explore an unbelievable, black landscape of solidified lava. The rippled shapes of the solidified stone are breath-taking. We visit a beach for snorkelling in the afternoon (playful sea lions are frequent visitors and often interact underwater). We return back to Puerto Ayora in the afternoon.

We have dinner in Puerto Ayora (many excellent restaurant options). Overnight at La Peregrina.

Day 12: Santa Cruz Island

We have a relaxed final full day. We undertake transfer to Playa Alemanes (a beautiful white sand beach) for a morning on the sand. The beach is close a nesting area of marine iguanas that usually rest on the beach. There is excellent snorkelling in the shallow waters. We return back to Puerto Ayora for lunch and any final souvenir shopping. We then transfer to the luxurious Royal Palm Hotel (one of the most beautiful hotels in Galapagos). The hotel has a beautiful pool, but what makes it really special is a restaurant set inside a lava tunnel. We enjoy a completely unique evening exploring the cavernous lava tunnel and a beautiful dinner underground in the lava tube! A perfect final evening to our trip!

Day 13: Departure from Baltra Airport

After breakfast, we transfer from the Royal Palm Hotel to Baltra Airport (airport code GPS) for our departing flight! Along the road, we may have a final glimpse of wild giant tortoises!