Rondreis Ecuador | GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING

After a short flight from mainland Ecuador, you arrive at the airport of San Cristobal Island, where you meet your professional guide. He or she brings you a private vehicle to your hotel located at 10 – 15 minutes from the airport.

Shortly after, you head to the Interpretation Center, where you are introduced to the history of the islands, the conservation efforts, and the special flora and fauna of the Galapagos.

Then, you visit Tijeretas Hill, providing visitors with an impressive view of the bay where Charles Darwin set foot on the archipelago for the first time. This area is perfect for observing magnificent frigate birds and other wildlife. Finally, you head to Playa Mann, a beautiful white sand beach with perfect clear waters.

After breakfast, you depart from the hotel in private transportation to travel to the the community of El Progreso, where the first residents of San Cristobal settled. You visit the sugar factory, which was once worked by prisoners. Subsequently, your guide brings you to El Junco Lake, a freshwater lagoon located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. Here, you can enjoy an amazing landscape with many typical Galapagos birds, like gulls, blue and red-footed boobies, and Galapagos finches. You also visit La Galapaguera, a breeding center for the famous giant tortoises.

You have lunch back at the hotel, to later in the afternoon head to La Loberia Beach. At this beautiful white sand beach, you have the opportunity to observe a large colony of sea lions, as well as coastal birds. Of course, you also enjoy a refreshing swim or go snorkeling. Behind the beach, there is a short trail where you likely spot blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and marine iguanas.

After an early breakfast, you board a public boat to Santa Cruz Island. Upon arrival at the small port of Puerto Ayora, you are welcomed by guide, who takes you to the lush green highlands of Santa Cruz. First, you visit the Twin Craters (Los Gemelos), deep crater-like holes created by the collapse of giant volcanic magma chambers. Subsequently, you continue to a magical place where you can observe giant tortoises. It is a unique experience to see these impressive animals in their natural habitat! This area is, besides its high population of giant tortoises, also known, for its lava tunnels. You explore one, after which you enjoy a tasty lunch.

In the afternoon, your guide brings you back to the town of Puerto Ayora to visit the famous Charles Darwin Research Station, founded in 1959. This institution develops and carries out research, conservation, and educational projects. During the visit, you learn about their work, like the breeding programs for giant tortoises and other species.

Today, you visit an uninhabited island. Depending on the availability and day of the week, you join a tour to one of the islands below.

Bartolome Island: This small island offers a beautiful view of volcanic rocks in the clear-blue ocean, including the famous Pinnacle Rock. The guide takes you to the highest point of the dry island, where you are rewarded with the breathtaking view. Afterwards, you have the opportunity to snorkel with tropical fish and spot Galapagos penguins.

Santa Fe Island: A flat island located southeast from Santa Cruz. The bay of Santa Fe has a large population of sea lions, which you can see relaxing on the beach and playing on the shoreline. In the bay you can also spot manta rays and sea turtles. Your takes you for a short walk over the island, during which you can see the endemic Santa Fe land iguana and the Opuntia cactus, its favorite food.

South Plazas: This unique island is covered by the Sesuvium plant, coloring it red in the dry season. About 1000 sea lions have found their homes on this small island, and you can also spot the smallest marine iguana of the archipelago here. On top of this, you have the opportunity to spot several bird species, like red-billed tropic birds and swallow-tailed gulls.

Seymour: This tiny island also has a large population of sea lions. Moreover, it is one of the favorite islands of bird lovers, since it one of the most popular breeding grounds for seabirds. A large colony of frigate birds nests here; it is almost guaranteed to see a few males proudly displaying their inflated red chests to impress a female.

After breakfast, a new adventure starts when you head to Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest island of the archipelago and according to many the most beautiful! A public speed boat brings you to Puerto Villamil, the main village of the island.

After getting settled in your hotel, you have a free morning to enjoy the stunning beach of Puerto Villamil or visit Concha Perla to go snorkeling (extra cost). In the afternoon, a guide takes you to explore the island. You visit the Wetlands, located just outside of the town, where you find several lagoons, swamps, and mangroves. In this area, you have the opportunity to spot flamingos and a variety of other birds, such as common stilts, gallinules, and white-cheeked pintails. The Wall of Tears (Muro de las Lagrimas) was built by prisoners, and is now an important site for the human history of the archipelago.

Finally, you head back to the village to visit the Tortoise Breeding Station, created to protect animals in their first years of life from foreign species, such as pigs and donkeys. You are brought back to your hotel in the afternoon.

After a wonderful breakfast, you prepare for the morning excursion: hiking to the Sierra Negra Volcano. You need comfortable walking shoes, a rain jacket (depending on the weather), sunscreen, a hat, plenty of water, and you receive a box lunch. First, you travel for about 45 minutes by bus to the starting point of the 12 km hike (about 3 hours). Although the hike is long, it is not that difficult, since the terrain is mainly flat.

There is also the option to travel on horseback at additional cost; please let us know in advance if you are interested in this option. The efforts are rewarded with an impressive landscape of the second-largest crater in the world, measuring 6 kilometers in diameter. If time allows, you continue to Chico Volcano, the little brother of Sierra Negra.

In the afternoon, you visit Tintoreras, home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are popular among Galapagos penguins, marine turtles, sea lions, and even white-tipped reef sharks.

On this final day of your Galapagos adventure you have an early start to catch the public speed boat (6 am) from Isabela back to Santa Cruz. It takes about 2,5 hours to reach Puerto Ayora, depending on sea conditions.

From here, you are brought to Baltra Airport for your flight.