Duration
4 nights
Group Size
Up to 16 passengers
Accomodation
Cabins
Location
ecuador - galapagos
Season
year-round
Meeting Point
Baltra Airport
GOAL
Difficulty
Moderate
Medium
You'll need to have medium physical condition to walk and snorkel in the islands.
  • Highlands in Santa Cruz Island
  • Tintoreras Islet
  • Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre
  • Moreno Point & Elizabeth Bay in Isabela Island
  • Fernandina Island

Included

Transportation

Cruise, marine taxis

Accommodations

Cabins, based on double occupancy

Activities

Hiking and snorkeling in the islands.

Meals

4 Breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners.

Gear

Snorkeling mask.

Guides

Certified expert English-speaking adventure leader and naturalist local guides in Galapagos National Park.

 


Not included

Accommodation

Single Supplement for cabin

Flights

Airfare Quito – Galapagos – Quito round trip

Airport transfers

National & international flights

Insurance

Travel & health insurance (mandatory)

Meals

Not described in the itinerary

Additional fees

INGALA transit card: USD 20 per person, cash only (subject to change), Isabela port fee: USD 10 per person, cash only, Galapagos National Park fee USD 100 per person, cash only (subject to change)

Gear

Wetsuit for rent

Tips

For guides and drivers

LogisticsLogistics

-> Starts

Baltra airport
Upon arrival on Day 1

-> Ends

Quito’s international airport
Upon arrival on Day 5

Transfers

Your adventure begins upon arrival in Baltra airport in the Galapagos Islands on Day 1 when your host will meet you at national arrivals. On the final day of the trip, your trip will end at Quito’s international airport upon arrival from the islands. The airport is around a 45min journey to downtown Quito.

To make your own way from Quito airport to and from the accommodation, you have a few options. You can request a private transfer from the host. Please see Optional Extras for prices. You can take a public bus for just $2USD, however, this isn’t overly straight forward as you need to change buses at Quitumbe bus terminal. A metered taxi will cost you between $25-35USD. You can save some money by taking an ‘Aeroservicio’ – a privately operated bus service connecting the airport with the city center. This cost is USD 8.

Day 1

Cabin – Twin or Double
Breakfast.    Lunch.    Dinner

Day 2

Cabin – Twin or Double
Breakfast.    Lunch.    Dinner

Day 3

Cabin – Twin or Double
Breakfast.    Lunch.    Dinner

Day 4

Cabin – Twin or Double
Breakfast.    Lunch.    Dinner

Day 5

Departure Day
Breakfast.    Lunch.    Dinner


What is the food like?

Throughout the adventure, you’ll be fueled by delicious local food, such as seafood with plenty of local fresh fruits. Lunch usually consists of soup, main dish and juice, a warm and filling meal after a big day of adventure.

What is the accommodation like?

Cruise in the Galapagos Islands

The catamaran offers eight cabins above the waterline, with two windows for an idyllic sea view. They also include clean private facilities, hot/cold water, low beds, air-conditioning, and storage space for a comfortable stay.

The Archipel II boasts ample social areas that will complement a comfortable stay. Shared with a total of just 16 guests; the lounge, solarium, resting areas & ‘Al Fresco’ dining area are all great choices for you to relax and enjoy the nature that surrounds you.

Itinerary A5 / 5D – 4N Thursday to Monday

Day 1

Thursday

AM – Arrival to Baltra Airport (GPS)

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, travellers pass through an airport inspection point to make sure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands, and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless it has been prepaid). A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour.

PM – Highlands (Santa Cruz)

The road to the highlands leaves from Bellavista, a small village located a 15-minute drive from Puerto Ayora, and passes through the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone, before going to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather, this area offers beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. Here you will visit the Twin Craters, which are two pit craters, as well as a local ranch where we can observe the giant Tortoise of Santa Cruz Island in its natural habitat.

Day 2

Friday

AM – Tintoreras Islet

“Tintoreras” are small islands in front of the Puerto Villamil coast. There are herons on the lookout on mangrove branches, as well as Galapagos penguins and sea lions that often pop out on the shore. White-tipped reef sharks (in Spanish: Tintoreras) are common in the archipelago and are very commonly found resting in the shallow waters.

PM – Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre

In the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes. Vulnerable hatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand! This project just outside Puerto Villamil was created to rescue the endangered populations of Isabela’s both southernmost volcanoes. From the almost incredible estimations of 250,000 giant tortoises in the 16th century, by the 1970s there were only about 3,000 individuals remaining. One thing becomes clear on your visit: it’s hard work to save these creatures from extinction by reproduction in captivity and repopulation.

The good news is that these programmes are successful and have already saved several species from extinction so far. By 2015 their number increased to about 32,000 in all the archipelago. Don’t forget to visit the native botanical garden of this breeding centre. It also attracts colourful songbirds such as yellow warblers, Darwin’s finches, Galapagos and vermilion flycatchers.

Finally, there is no greater counterpart to the cumbersome tortoises than the graceful American flamingos which frequently filter the saline waters of the adjacent lagoon for shrimp and algae. They are joined by a handful of species of aquatic and shorebirds, from which some even migrate from Canada and Alaska.

Day 3

Saturday

AM – Moreno Point (Isabela)

Moreno Point is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcanoes of Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. The trail runs along a solidified lava flow called “Pahohoe”, into a complex of coastal lagoons. Its main attraction is several species of birds, which are found around the lakes and mangroves.

PM – Elizabeth Bay (Isabela)

This is a marine visitor site, so the excursion has no landing point. Your zodiac ride starts with a visit to Mariela’s islets where the largest and most important penguin colony reside in the Galapagos Islands. The excursion continues into the cove that is surrounded by red mangroves where you can admire their red roots and green leaves. Here, you are able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. Frequent visitors have been able to see Galapagos Hawks soaring overhead whilst schools of Pompano and Dorado fish swimming down below

Day 4

Sunday

AM – Tagus Cove (Isabela)

Tagus Cove, a tour along the cliffs will give the visitors a good chance to see the Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant and other seabirds. From the landing dock, it is about a 30-minute hike along the trail up to the top of the cliff from where you can view Darwin Lake, an uplifted lake saltier than the sea. You can also see several volcanoes from this location. Look carefully at the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs of the cove, done by pirates, whalers and buccaneers in past centuries!

PM – Espinoza Point (Fernandina)

Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza, located at the northeastern tip of the island. Here, marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than in any other island. They bask around in the sand, swim near the shore and sometimes block the way at the landing dock. Among the unique species found here, we can find the flightless cormorant.

Day 5

Monday

Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)

These two small beaches are found to the west of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, and a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches, there is a small blackfish water lagoon, where it is occasionally possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during World War II, when The USA used Baltra Island as a strategic point to protect the Panama Channel.

Transfer out to Baltra Airport (GPS)

Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra Island, where we will take the shuttle back to the airport.

What’s included:
  • Snorkeling equipment
What do I need to Bring?
  • Passport
  • Travel insurance
  • Airline tickets
  • Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
  • Fleece top
  • Shirts/t-shirts
  • Pair of short
  • Pairs of long trousers
  • Pair hiking pants/track pants
  • Sport sandals
  • Watch or alarm clock,
  • Quick dry clothing
  • Rain coat
  • Waterproof binoculars,
  • Bug spray
  • Sun cream
  • Flashlight
  • Sun Hat
  • Waterproof camera if possible
  • Swimming suit
  • Waterproof backpack
  • Water bottle
  • Tennis shoes
  • Hiking shoes
  • Money belt
  • Sunglasses
  • First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, antihistamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking.
Pre-Post Trip Accommodation

Pre- post trip accommodation in Quito (Twin/ Double) – USD 100 Per Night
Pre- post trip accommodation in Quito (Single) – USD 100 per Night

Transfers

Private airport transfer – USD 38 per person

Right Know, There isn’t reviews.

How much should I tip?

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice; however, we suggest the below as a guideline per person.

Guides: USD 10- USD 15 per day

Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

What Do I Do about drinking water?

The tap water in the Galapagos Islands is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven’t been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the accommodation which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two.

What’s the weather like?

The Galapagos Islands lie directly on the Equator, so you can expect it to be warm for most of the year. However, it’s not always tropical and Caribbean-like: wind and rain are definitely possible at certain times of year. It’s wise to know these weather patterns before planning your trip so you know when to visit and what to expect.

The hottest season is generally from December to April with average temperatures ranging from a low of 70 F to a high of 84 F (22 – 31 C). It’s also the rainy season.

May to November is considered the “cool” season with average temperatures ranging from a low of 68 F to a high of 82 F (19 – 27 C) and frequent overcast skies.

What vaccinations do I need?

For the Galapagos Islands, Covid vaccination is required.

What Travel Insurance do you recommend?

World Nomads Insurance with a coverage of USD 200 000

What is the currency?

US American Dollars

What is the minimum age for this trip?

8 years old as a minimum age.

price per person:

USD 2,538.00

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