The Galapagos Islands- a Once in a Lifetime Adventure

Part of Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands are an archipelago that sit along the equator approximately 600 miles west of the mainland. The Islands were formerly a refuge for pirates hoping to plunder gold and silver carried by ships from South America back to Spain, and were fittingly named after the thousands of giant tortoises that once roamed them, as tortoise translates in Spanish to galápago. The islands were made famous in 1835 following a visit from naturalist Charles Darwin, whose study of wildlife on the islands featured heavily in his development of the theory of natural selection.
 

Snorkel with sea lions, mingle with giant tortoise and climb volcanoes as you explore one of the most bio-diverse places in the world.

Below we've detailed a customized itinerary for recent clients to help them get the most out of this amazing destination! 

Day 1: Depart home and arrive in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Most flights arrive in the evening and a representative will meet you at the airport to transfer you to your hotel. Accommodations: Wyndham Hotel- Guayaquil, Ecuador

Day 2: Along with your guide, take a morning flight from Guayaquil to San Cristobal, the first of the Galapagos Islands on your trip. Next we take a catamaran to our secluded beach camp to settle in and enjoy watching sea lions, blue footed boobies and more as the sun sets. This is also our first chance to get in the kayaks and meet some local wildlife.

Accommodations: Exclusive Beach Camp

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 3: Today take out your kayaks and paddle from camp roughly three hours depending on the weather conditions. A support boat is always close at hand if you need assistance or tire of paddling. You arrive at another pristine beach for lunch, bird watching and wildlife viewing.  Then continue in your catamaran to Kicker Rock.  Once at Kicker Rock, snorkel through an amazing channel where you are likely to see white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, sea turtles and eagle rays.  You are sure to see hundreds of fish and sea stars.  By late afternoon, you will return to relax at your beach camp, watch small hermit crabs scuttle along, as well as yellow warblers and other seabirds.  The sunset over the Pacific is usually spectacular. 

Accommodations: Exclusive Beach Camp

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 4: This morning we take an early morning walk before heading to the airport to fly to the island of Isabela and check into our beachfront hotel. After lunch, we visit the Tortoise Breeding Center, an initiative of the National Park for the conservation of Isabela’s tortoises. Then we visit the marshlands or humedales, where elevated walkways take us over tidal lagoons that include four mangrove species and provide habitat for flamingos and numerous migratory birds. We come back to the hotel walking along the beautiful white sand beach of Puerto Villamil.

Accommodations: La Casa Marita - Isabela

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 5: Rising early, we head to the interior for a very different view of the Galapagos Islands.  We drive just under an hour up to the highlands and begin our hike of Isabela’s Sierra Negra. This active volcano last erupted in 2005 and has the second largest caldera in the world with a diameter of approximately six and a half miles. The hike can vary from 8-14 miles and includes viewing the spectacular caldera and incredible lava formations. We return to town with time for relaxing on the beach, walking through town or simply resting.

Accommodations: La Casa Marita - Isabela

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 6: In the morning, weather permitting, we take a boat for roughly an hour to Los Tuneles: a most curious and remarkable lava formation which consists of arches and caves.  We walk along the shore and also snorkel in crystal clear water for an insight into the remarkable underwater world. We have lunch aboard the boat. From the lagoon we head to El Finado, here there is an inlet that for many years has been used by local fishermen to rest from their journeys in the ocean, a place with tranquil and shallow waters. Here we will anchor our boat and spend time snorkeling among submerged lava rocks forming caves and small reefs. We come back to the hotel walking along the beautiful white sand beach of Puerto Villamil.

Accommodations: La Casa Marita - Isabela

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 7: After breakfast, we will take a speed boat to Baltra, a small island separated from the northwest corner of Santa Cruz be the narrow Itabaca Channel. Santa Cruz, also called Indefatigable Island, it's located in the center of the Galapagos Islands archipelago. We transfer to the boat of our partner and friend, Favian, a former fisherman. A few fishermen like him have signed an agreement with local authorities to have special permission to visit specific areas in the Galapagos. He takes us on a unique excursion through an extraordinary site that not many people have a chance to see, from where we will be able to appreciate the beautiful landscapes, and the incredible marine life.

Accommodations: Angermeyer Waterfront Inn - Santa Cruz

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 8: A short one hour boat trip takes us to one of the most beautiful coves in all of the Galapagos; a place visited by few.  We take the opportunity to snorkel here and are often joined by the playful sea lion pups. The fluorescent fish make for great snorkeling as do the submerged rocks where the sea turtles and manta rays hang out.

Later in the afternoon we will then return to Puerto Ayora.  Some may wish to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, or enjoy some free time before meeting for our farewell dinner in town. 

Accommodations: Angermeyer Waterfront Inn - Santa Cruz

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 9: In the morning we transfer to the airport on Baltra where the original runway was built during WW II by the United States Navy.  Late morning or early afternoon, we fly about two hours by jet back to the mainland city of  Guayaquil and transfer to our hotel. 

Accommodations: Wyndham Hotel - Guayaquil, Ecuador

Meals Included: B,L,D

Day 10: Transfer to the airport for your return flight home or continue your travels.