Galapagos Island Hopper

After a morning flight to San Cristobal Island, be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After lunch and a quick introduction, take a journey to the Galapagos Interpretation Center to learn about the unique wildlife, geology, history and social dynamics of the Galapagos. Afterwards, hike to Tijeretas along natural lava rock trails. The path is surrounded by native plants such as Galapagos cotton, palo santo, acacia and cacti. Spot blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, herons, gulls, warblers, mockingbirds and finches in the vegetation and sea cliffs. Enjoy scenic views of the rugged coastline and the tranquil town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Cool off from the hike with a refreshing snorkeling session at postcard-worthy Carola Beach where you will be surrounded by sea turtles, sea lions and marine iguanas. After dinner, explore the friendly, laid-back beach town and stroll down the boardwalk to visit the neighboring colony of Galapagos sea lions.

Begin this morning kayaking along the bays and coves of San Cristobal’s north coast, full of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, sea lions and sea turtles. Possible visits include Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) or Punta Pitt. The visiting site will depend on the day of the week and Galapagos National Park regulations. Put on snorkels and fins to interact with sea lions, as well as marine iguanas and countless reef fish. Swim with spotted eagle rays, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, starfish, clams and fish of every shape, size and color. With luck, you may even see some menacing but harmless hammerhead sharks! After a full day spent exploring the seas, head back to the hotel for a delicious dinner and a well-earned rest.

After breakfast, say goodbye to San Cristobal and take a quick 40-minute airplane flight to Isabela Island. Upon arrival enjoy a bike ride through a wide variety of environments and ecosystems. Pass through white sand beaches, mangrove forests and brackish lagoons, and a lava tube cave. looking for giant tortoises, flamingos, and other wildlife. At the end of the ride, arrive to the historic Muro de las Lagrimas site (The Wall of Tears).

After lunch, explore Tintoreras, a set of small islets filled with hidden coves and beaches. Here, find the peculiar, endemic Galapagos penguin and other marine life. At the end of the day, retire to your hotel and after a delicious dinner, enjoy the well-appointed lounge or wander the idyllic sand streets of Puerto Villamil.

This morning, drive up the flanks of the Sierra Negra Volcano until the road ends. Here, continue on foot into a surreal world of geological history. On the hike up, bask in incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes and sea as well as the distinctive highland ecosystem. But the real prize is at the top, arriving at the rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano, you’ll be treated to a truly breathtaking vista. Sierra Negra is the second largest active caldera on the planet, over six miles at its widest point. Hike the rim of this enormous crater and continue on to the caldera of Volcan Chico, an otherworldly landscape of vibrant hues created by sulfur deposits. Here you can explore spectacular lava formations and fumaroles. After a stop at an idyllic tortoise reserve for lunch, head back to the lowlands in time to spend the last bit of the afternoon relaxing on perfect beaches and soaking up the island-life atmosphere.

Wake up with the sea breeze as you travel by speedboat or internal flight to Santa Cruz Island, keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins along the way. After checking in at the hotel, visit El Chato in the Santa Cruz highlands to observe the giant tortoise in its natural habitat. It is truly an honor to walk in the stately presence of these gentle giants, who can live to be over 175 years old. You may also see pintail ducks, Darwin’s finches, frigate birds, egrets and the vermillion flycatcher.

The next stop is the incredible lava tunnels, which formed an ideal hideout for the pirates that once frequented the Galapagos. Legend has it that they were also used to hide Inca gold stolen from Spanish ships. Finish the afternoon with a hike to Los Gemelos, two deep volcanic sinkholes at the top of the island, with rocky cliffs surrounding the huge pits of empty magma chambers. Follow a path through a forest of endemic Scalesia trees, on the lookout for the elusive short-eared owl. The trees are covered with ferns and epiphytes, and lend the forest a quiet, eerie feel.

Begin the morning sea kayaking to explore the unique landscape of Punta Estrada and Divine Bay. Paddle through towering lava channel walls to look for rays and white-tipped reef sharks in the clear water below. You can also paddle right up to the fearless blue-footed boobies, lava gulls, herons, sally lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas perched along the cliffs.

After lunch, take a short hike through a distinctive dry forest to Tortuga Bay. Along the lava rock trail, there will be many interesting birds and plants. Then emerge from the forest at Tortuga Bay with its soft, fine sand and pristine turquoise waters. One of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos makes for a perfect relaxing afternoon.

Finally, if there is enough time you may stop at the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn from local scientists about the ongoing conservation efforts on these enchanted islands. The Research Station rears endemic plants, land iguanas and giant tortoises for educational, scientific and conservation purposes. Here, you can learn more about the diverse evolutionary paths and characteristics of the animals and plants encountered on your trip. As evening comes, return to your hotel to celebrate a wonderful trip and enjoy the last evening in the Galapagos.

Bid a fond farewell to the Galapagos before boarding a transfer north over Santa Cruz Island to the Itabaca Channel, where a short hop on a ferry and a short bus ride takes you to Baltra Island’s airport. Depending on your flight schedule, visit local shops before the airport transfer.

After a morning flight to San Cristobal Island, be greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel. After lunch, the adventure kicks off with a visit to the Galapagos Interpretation Center to learn about the unique wildlife, geology, natural history and social dynamics of the Galapagos.

The next stop is Frigate Hill, where you might spot many of the unique avian species of the Galapagos. Along the way, naturalist guides point out native plants like Galapagos cotton, palo santo, acacia and cacti; and spot blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, herons, gulls, warblers, mockingbirds and finches among the foliage and along the sea cliffs. There are picturesque vistas of the craggy coastline to enjoy, as well as the sleepy town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

During the return trip, stop at beautiful Carola Beach to snorkel and swim with sea turtles and sea lions while enjoying a lovely sunset on the beach. Return to the hotel for a gourmet seafood dinner after which you can set out to explore the friendly, laid-back town and visit the colony of endemic Galapagos sea lions next door.

Discover the underwater marine paradise of the Galapagos with an entire day dedicated to snorkeling. Either visit Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) or Punta Pitt. The visiting site depends on the week day and the Galapagos National Park regulations. On this exploration trip make sure to search the nearby coves and cliffs for sea turtles, sea lions, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies and Nazca boobies. Here, have the chance to get up close and personal with sea lions in their favorite playground. While snorkeling, hope to see eagle rays, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, starfish, clams and thousands of tropical fish. With luck, possibly even come across hammerhead sharks. As the sun sets on this day under the waves, return to the hotel for a relaxed evening.

In the morning, take a short inter-island flight to Isabela island, the largest island in the Galapagos. It´s constantly changing and evolving due to the six shield volcanoes, rendering it one of the most volcanically active spots on the planet. After a short small aircraft flight, settle into your hotel. Then set out on a one-of-a-kind hike through an incredible variety of coastal ecosystems. Along the way, spot giant tortoises, flamingos and other wildlife while passing through white-sand beaches, the alluring poison apple forest, a gaping lava tube, dark mangroves and brackish lagoons. After a nourishing lunch, set out to explore Tintoreras, a group of small islets filled with hidden coves and isolated beaches. Here, find the endemic Galapagos penguin, as well as reef sharks, sea turtles and sea lions. At the end of the day, retire to your hotel. Finish the evening with a delicious dinner and an optional stroll down the expansive beach and the sand streets of idyllic Puerto Villamil.

Early in the morning, board a speed boat or internal flight to Santa Cruz Island. Along the way, keep an eye out for whales and dolphins in the surrounding ocean. After checking in, head to El Chato nature reserve in the Santa Cruz highlands, home to the Galapagos giant tortoise. It is an honor to hike among these fascinating, gentle giants, who on average live to be over 175 years old. El Chato is also home to many pintail ducks, finches, frigate birds, egrets and the beautiful vermillion flycatcher.

The hike continues through some incredible lava tunnels created by flowing magma. Legend has it that the buccaneers who once frequented the Galapagos used these deep caves to hide Inca gold plundered from Spanish ships! After some pirate stories from your guides, head up to Los Gemelos, a pair of deep volcanic sinkholes at the high point of Santa Cruz. The path goes through a forest of endemic Scalesia trees covered in ferns and epiphytes where the resident short-eared owl may be spotted.

If there is enough time, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where local scientists rear endemic plants and animals for educational, scientific and conservation purposes. Learn about the ongoing conservation efforts to protect the future of the Galapagos. In the late afternoon, get ready to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime trip with a delicious farewell dinner. Soak up the ambiance of this last night in the Galapagos with magnificent views of the brightly-lit ships in the bay and the town beyond.

Bid a fond farewell to the Galapagos before boarding a transfer north over Santa Cruz Island to the Itabaca Channel, where a short hop on a ferry and a short bus ride takes you to Baltra Island’s airport. Depending on your flight schedule, visit local shops before the airport transfer.