Galapagos Islands Vacation - Itineraries
5 Day Galapagos Islands Vacation
6 Day Galapagos Islands Vacation
8 Day Galapagos Islands Vacation
5 Day/4 night Itinerary
DAY 1: QUITO/GUAYAQUIL - SANTA CRUZ
You start out with a short 10 minute ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island, where you will arrive at approximately 11:30 AM, although times may vary by flight schedule. From here, our private coach will transfer you to the Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge where you will check-in, and have lunch. After lunch we take a 25 minute bus ride to Garrapatero beach where we join the trail that takes us to the beach. This beautiful white sandy beach is the home to many varieties of finches and other birds, including the Galapagos mockingbird. The beach is nearly 2 miles of paradise surrounded by beautiful mangrove trees, as well as the bird life, there is also an incredible array of wildlife to see including: marine iguanas, the Galapagos penguiin, shrimp and oystercatchers, all coexisting on the white sand and clear blue waters. Welcome cocktails, a short briefing, and then dinner is served.
DAY 2: SANTA CRUZ-FLOREANA
6:30 AM wake-up call and then a luggage call at 7:00 AM. Breakfast will be served, followed by departure around 8:00 AM for the famous Tortoise Quest Tour. First, we'll visit Los Gemelos, or The Twins, which is an awe-inspiring look at two amazing lava chambers that have collapsed. After you take in the majestic splendor of the view, we'll take a short hike to each of the two Twins, observing the natural plant and animal life as we go. We'll pass through the Scalesia Forest, see tree finches flitting through the branches, and you may even get a sighting of the colorful Vermillion Flycatcher. The highlands of Santa Cruz are home to amazing biodiversity and landscapes carved by the powerful natural elements. After the Twins, we'll see the 600 acre reserve that is home to the famed giant tortoises. In case there are muddy conditions on the reserve you'll have access to some wet weather boots before we go. You'll ride a truck through the lush tropical surroundings, followed by a serene walk through fields to come face to face with these ancient marvels. They may look like something from the Triassic era, but you won't believe the sounds they make! After this, we'll go to a massive 1,350 foot lava tunnel. The ceiling is over 20 feet above your head in most parts, so you get the chance to experience the effects of one of nature's most powerful forces: lava flow. You'll walk on the rippled lava floor and see towering stalagmites and dangling stalactites inside this unique Galapagos cave.
We'll head back to the lodge for lunch around 2:00 PM and then set off by boat for Floreana, which will take no more than 2 hours. We'll sail in through the Luz el Dia Cove and discover the amazing diversity of life here, from penguins to sea lions on the shore and tropical fish and sting rays flitting about beneath the crystal waves. From here we'll dock. It's fairly common for sea lions to lay about on the steps up from the dock. Opposite the dock, the Floreana iguanas sunbathe on the black lava rock. We'll check in at the Red Mangrove Floreana Lodge, have a quick briefing, and then enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner.
DAY 3: FLOREANA-ISABELA
Same as before, wake up call followed by luggage call, breakfast and an 8:00 AM departure. An open-top bus will begin its journey to the gorgeous Floreana highlands, and your guide will tell the wild history of the first Galapagos island ever settled. A brief walk up to the Asilio de la Paz will reveal one of the only constant fresh water supplies in the islands, an attraction for settlers and pirates alike. Pirates Cove is aptly named as a cove of shelter for real pirates who carved a hollow into the soft stone. It's the same place where Margret Wittmer, one of the very first settlers, gave birth. Her son, Rolf, is still living in the area today. The unique stone structure of the landscape has given rise to the nickname “the Stonehenge of Floreana.” Bird hill is where massive flocks of Floreana Finches take roost and affords the hiker a breathtaking view of both the sea and the lower island. After this, you'll see more magnificent tortoises at a nearby tortoise reserve. During all this your guide will continue to fill you in on Floreana's history, with tales of the Baroness and the Floreana Mystery, where several settlers mysteriously died. At 11:00 AM we will depart for Isabela, which will take roughly 2 hours.
MID-DAY: If the weather is clear, we'll take a small detour past Isla Tortuga, which will be filled with sea birds like the blue-footed booby and the frigate. Hopefully you brought a pair of binoculars, because you'll want them here. Around 1:00 PM we'll sail into Isabela atop crystal clear waters, filled with sea lions, sea turtles, and frolicking penguins. The Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge follows with a hot lunch.
At 2:30 PM we'll begin the Las Tintoreras and Bay Tour. We'll board a small skiff and follow the course of the island to a nearby dock. Ashore once again, we'll head through a AA lava field, again seeing the extravagant blue and red marine iguanas, and then a sight you'll never forget: a canal filled with reef sharks no more than 2 feet under the surface. You'll breathe in the scenery from this vantage point, taking in the emerald sea, the black, exotic dried field of lava, the deep, lush canopy of the mangrove forest and the hazy volcanoes in the background. It is an epic view for sure. After we get back to the dock you'll have to opportunity to snorkel among the gentle reef sharks and the darting penguins.
After this, we'll relax, grab a hot shower if you want, and then dinner at 7:00 PM at the lodge.
DAY 4: ISABELA-SANTA CRUZ
This day starts out with a scenic drive past Long Beach, arguably the most beautiful beach in the Galapagos. We'll pass 2 miles of the white sand spectacle before arriving at the National Park, where we'll stop for a bit and climb to Cerro Orchilla to enjoy the breathtaking views. The drive will be spotted with sunbathing iguanas and we might have to stop once or twice for a giant tortoise to lumber across the road. There will be beautiful colored birds every where that the guide will point out and identify as they swoop over head and perch in the trees. There are more tortoises in Isabela than anywhere else, and lava barriers created forced divergence that brought about several different species. The road back to town includes a detour at the Interpretation center, where Galapagos tortoises are bred, and you'll even see some rare flat-backed Galapagos tortoises, who still have scars from the eruption of Sierra Negra. Around 11:00 AM we'll set sail for Santa Cruz. It will take roughly 2 hours.
DAY 5: SANTA CRUZ-QUITO/GUAYAQUIL
Depending on the time of the flight, you will receive a wake-up call and then breakfast.
DEPARTURE: You will be leaving the island three hours ahead of your scheduled flight time to ensure that you arrive at the airport at least an hour and a half before the flight departs. We'll take you straight to the airport from the hotel and help you with your luggage the entire way. Before you go through the departure gate, you need to present your Migratory Control card to the Immigration officer.
For 6 day/5 night itinerary: You will follow the first three days of the previous itinerary and then continue with the following schedule.
DAY 4: ISABELA
Your wake-up call will be at 6:00 AM sharp, you'll receive breakfast and then be on your way to Sierra Negra by 8:00 AM. We'll take 4x4 jeeps through the nearby transitional zone and up to the highlands that cover the luscious slopes of the Sierra Negra Volcano. Once the vehicles can't go any further, we will continue our trek uphill. After the hike we will come upon the caldera at Sierra Negra. It is four miles across and the second largest in the entire world. The view is absolutely incredible. We'll stop for a breather and a quick snack right on the caldera edge. From here we have the option of continuing another hour across sloped lava fields to Volcan Chico, where the view is even more glorious. This is only recommended for the hardiest of groups, as some areas may become treacherous.
PM: We'll hike back down from the Sierra Negra and then have lunch at Campo Duro, a great local farm who prepare lunch made from their own produce on the unique lava rock grill. Follow the fruit tree trail and enjoy some fruit along the way or just rest under the giant Mango tree in a hammock and watch the giant tortoises that the farm protects in liaison with the National Park.
The afternoon is free to do whatever you wish. Some people like to relax at the lodge during this time, while others prefer to sunbathe on the beach or head to the rocky areas for some great pictures of blue-footed boobies and iguanas. A short walk through the mangrove forest we'll take you to a small beach called the Concha de Perla, where you can do some snorkeling and see the sea turtles that love to relax here. At 7:00 PM there will be a short briefing and then dinner.
DAY 5: ISABELA-SANTA CRUZ
6:30 AM wake-up call, luggage call at 7:00 AM.
Breakfast is followed by departure at 8:00 AM. This day starts out with a scenic drive past Long Beach, arguably the most beautiful beach in the Galapagos. We'll pass 2 miles of the white sand spectacle before arriving at the National Park, where we'll stop for a bit and climb to Cerro Orchilla to enjoy the breathtaking views. The drive will be spotted with sunbathing iguanas and we might have to stop once or twice for a giant tortoise to lumber across the road. There will be beautiful colored birds every where that the guide will point out and identify as they swoop over head and perch in the trees. There are more tortoises in Isabela than anywhere else, and lava barriers created forced divergence that brought about several different species. The road back to town includes a detour at the Interpretation center, where Galapagos tortoises are bred, and you'll even see some rare flat-backed Galapagos tortoises, who still have scars from the eruption of Sierra Negra. Around 11:00 AM we'll set sail for Santa Cruz. It will take roughly 2 hours.
PM: We'll dock in Puerto Ayora at about 1:00 PM, where we'll head to the Aventura Lodge for a quick lunch. At 3:00 PM we'll depart to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we'll have a fascinating tour. After this, we have a bit of free time to enjoy some shopping on Charles Darwin Avenue. We'll return to the Aventura Lodge for dinner at 7:00 PM.
DAY 6: SANTA CRUZ-QUITO/GUAYAQUIL
Depending on the time of the flight, you will receive a wake-up call and then breakfast.
DEPARTURE: You will be leaving the island three hours ahead of your scheduled flight time to ensure that you arrive at the airport at least an hour and a half before the flight departs. We'll take you straight to the airport from the hotel and help you with your luggage the entire way. Before you go through the departure gate, you need to present your Migratory Control card to the Immigration officer.
8 Day/7 Night Itinerary: This will start with the first two days from the 5 day schedule and then continue with the following schedule.
DAY 3: FLOREANA
We'll wake up and have breakfast at a nearby restaurant and then we'll be able to enjoy the natural beauty of Floreana.
After breakfast we will take a 20 minute bus ride in a traditional bus called "chiva" (without windows and doors) to Cerro Allieri one of the highest points in Floreana from here you can enjoy a spectacular view of the different landscapes and the town of Puerto Velasco Ibarra.
The hike around Cerro Allieri takes around two hours .
One of the main attractions of Cerro Alieri is its unique vegetation. Of 48 species of identified plants, 56% are native and 33% are endemic. They are shrubs and trees of Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius, Lippia salicifolia, Lecocarpus pinnatifidus, Linum cratericola, Scalesia pedunculata, and so on. The Linum Cratericol, is a critically endangered species. It was believed extinct until 1997, when GNP and CDRS personnel rediscovered it. Now, only 40 plants are alive and have not yet regenerated.
This is also a good spot to find Darwin's finches, and among them, the medium tree finch, a species also consider critically endangered.
Return to town and enjoy lunch with a local family.
PM
After lunch, enjoy an exciting walk to La Loberia, one of the most beautiful spots in Floreana, where you can swim and snorkel, or just take some time to explore the little town of Puerto Velasco Ibarra, and be ready to capture the beauty of the islands as a reminder of this memorable experience.
We'll dine at the home of a local family in the evening.
DAY 4: FLOREANA-ISABELA
Early wake-up call and then breakfast at a family home.
An open-top bus will begin its journey to the gorgeous Floreana highlands and your guide will tell the wild history of the first Galapagos island ever settled.
A brief walk up to the Asilio de la Paz will reveal one of the only constant fresh water supplies in the islands, an attraction for settlers and pirates alike. Pirates Cove is aptly named as a cove of shelter for real pirates who carved a hollow into the soft stone. It's the same place where Margret Wittmer, one of the very first settlers, gave birth. Her son, Rolf, is still living in the area today. The unique stone structure of the landscape has given rise to the nickname “the Stonehenge of Floreana.”
Bird hill is where massive flocks of Floreana Finches take roost and affords the hiker a breathtaking view of both the sea and the lower island. After this you'll see more magnificent tortoises at a nearby tortoise reserve. During all this your guide will continue to fill you in on Floreana's history, with tales of the Baroness and the Floreana Mystery, where several settlers mysteriously died.
At around 11:00 AM we'll leave for Isabela and past Isla Tortuga, which will be filled with sea birds like the blue-footed booby and the frigate. Hopefully you brought a pair of binoculars, because you'll want them here. Around 1:00 PM we'll sail into Isabela atop crystal clear waters filled with sea lions, sea turtles, and frolicking penguins. The Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge follows with a hot lunch.
At 2:30 PM we'll begin the Las Tintoreras and Bay Tour. We'll board a small skiff and follow the course of the island to a nearby dock. Ashore once again, we'll head through a AA lava field, again seeing the extravagant blue and red marine iguanas, and then a sight you'll never forget: a canal filled with reef sharks no more than 2 feet under the surface. You'll breathe in the scenery from this vantage point, taking in the emerald sea, the black, exotic dried field of lava, the deep, lush canopy of the mangrove forest and the hazy volcanoes in the background. It is an epic view for sure. After we get back to the dock you'll have to opportunity to snorkel among the gentle reef sharks and the darting penguins.
DAY 5: ISABELA
Your wake-up call will be at 6:00 AM sharp, you'll receive breakfast and then be on your way to Sierra Negra by 8:00 AM. We'll take 4x4 jeeps through the nearby transitional zone and up to the highlands that cover the luscious slopes of the Sierra Negra Volcano. Once the vehicles can't go any further, we will continue our trek uphill. After the hike, we will come upon the caldera at Sierra Negra. It is four miles across and the second largest in the entire world. The view is absolutely incredible. We'll stop for a breather and a quick snack right on the caldera edge. From here we have the option of continuing another hour across sloped lava fields to Volcan Chico, where the view is even more glorious. This is only recommended for the hardiest of groups, as some areas may become treacherous.
We'll have lunch at Campo Duro, a great local farm who's owners will prepare lunch made from their own produce on the unique lava rock grill. Follow the fruit tree trail and enjoy some fruit along the way or just rest under the giant Mango tree in a hammock and watch the giant tortoises that the farm protects in liaison with the National Park.
Back to the lodge to either relax on the beach or enjoy the town on your own before dinner at the lodge.
DAY6: ISABELA
After a relaxed breakfast at the Lodge we depart for Los Tuneles an amazing lava formation of tunnels and arches formed when the hot lava met the sea.
From Puerto Villamil it takes about an hour to get to Los Tuneles. On this trip we will enjoy seeing the beautiful Galapagos marine life - giant mantas on the surface, sea turtles, and more as we sail out from the majestic Sierra Negra Volcano.
Experience close encounters snorkeling with many types of tropical fish and penguins! Only in this piece of paradise are you able to snorkel with penguins, tropical fish, and sea lions. (This activity and time schedule may change according to sea conditions).
We return to the Lodge in the mid afternoon to enjoy a late lunch then we have time to relax and discover Isabela on our own.
DAY 7: ISABELA-SANTA CRUZ
Breakfast is followed by departure at 8:00 AM. This day starts out with a scenic drive past Long Beach, arguably the most beautiful beach in the Galapagos. We'll pass 2 miles of the white sand spectacle before arriving at the National Park, where we'll stop for a bit and climb to Cerro Orchilla to enjoy the breathtaking views. The drive will be spotted with sunbathing iguanas and we might have to stop once or twice for a giant tortoise to lumber across the road. There will be beautiful colored birds every where that the guide will point out and identify as they swoop over head and perch in the trees. There are more tortoises in Isabela than anywhere else, and lava barriers created forced divergence that brought about several different species. A quick stop at the Tortoise Breeding Center gives you the opportunity to see many of the diverse species and spot the differences.
Later in the morning we'll head back towards Santa Cruz and stop at the Aventura Lodge for lunch.
At 3:00 PM we'll depart to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we'll have a fascinating tour. After this, we have a bit of free time to enjoy some shopping on Charles Darwin Avenue.
DAY 8: SANTA CRUZ-QUITO/GUAYAQUIL
After an early breakfast we'll sail back to the airport to catch our flights home.
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Galapagos Lodge Adventure
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