Greater Galapagos Tour

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Swallow tailed gull / Lava Lizard – Española (Hood) island
Witness the second largest volcanic cauldron in the world, swimming and snorkeling in full of live lava cracks and pristine beaches, visits will include legendary sites in Floreana and Isabella Islands, Wild Life will include giant tortoises, Flamingos, marine Iguanas, finches, sea lions, white tip sharks.
San Cristobal capital of the Archipelago also has the newest visitor sites to see tortoises in the wild, blue footed boobies and pelicans finches and more.
* We require 4 passengers for operation


FREE - TWO NIGHTS IN QUITO + 4 TRANSFERS
Suggested Galapagos program

1. Baltra - SANTA CRUZ (Playa de los Alemanes - Las Grietas)
2. SANTA CRUZ (Parte alta (Tuneles - Gemelos) - Tortuga Bay)
3. SAN CRISTOBAL (El Junco - Galapaguera - Puerto Chino)
4. SAN CRISTOBAL (Centro de Interpretacin - Loberia - Tijeretas)
5. FLOREANA (Champion - Parte alta (Cueva de los Piratas) - Loberia)
6. ISABELA (Volcan Sierra Negra - Playa)
7. ISABELA (Muro de las Lagrimas - Poza de los Flamingos - Tintoreras)
8. SANTA CRUZ (Estacin Darwin - Baltra)

Detalied Itinerary

Day 1.
After a mid morning flight, In Galapagos you will be picked up at Baltra airport and driven to Puerto Ayora, after leaving luggage at hotel, our Naturalist will lead for lunch and later in the afternoon; we will have our fist visit to "Las Grietas" and Germans beach.
Las Grietas are 4 million years old lava cracks at the Ocean, we will swim inside and along the cracks exploring the channels, after swimming and snorkeling on both visitor sites, we will be back in the hotel for a hot shower and dinner at our restaurant.
Day 2.

After breakfast at hotel, our guide show you around the following attractions:

Los Gemelos:
Los Gemelos (twins) are a pair of sink holes approximately 30 meters deep located on either side of the road to Baltra (island where the airport lies). The holes were created because of magma chambers inside earth.
You will find Los Gemelos on the road to Baltra, beyond Santa Rosa ; This is a good place to see the Galapagos hawk and barn owl. The surrounding forest is full of birds such as the vermilion flycatcher or the yellow warbler.
The highlands of Santa Cruz are worth seeing for the contrast of the vegetation with the arid coastal zones.
Tuneles de Lava:
When lava flows the outer part of the stream gets cold and hardens, but the liquid magma within continues flowing. When it ceased empty tubes are left behind. This is what happened in Santa Cruz Island several times, leaving an island full of lava tunnels. The most frequently visited is the "Tunnel of Endless Love", named so because of the heart shaped hole in the roof of it. The tunnel is 800 meters long. Other tunnels can be visited out of town following the Cascajo Street for one km, where a large sign announces them.
There are several natural tunnels (lava tubes): one 3 km from Puerto Ayora on the road to Bellavista, unsigned on the left, look for the black-and-white posts (tread carefully); barn owls may be seen here. Two more are 1 km from Bellavista; on private land, US$1.50 to enter, bring torch or pay for one - it takes about 30 minutes to walk through the tunnels.
Tortuga Bay
Is a one hour walks (five km) west from Puerto Ayora on a marked and cobbled path. The path is good for bird watching; it is easy to spot several species of finches as you walk along the path. Start at the west end of C Charles Center; further on there is a gate where you must register, open 06.00-18.30 daily. The sunsets here are excellent. Take drinking water and do not go alone. Also take care of the very strong undertow at the main beach; this is mainly used for surfing. Surfing is calmer on the next cove to the west; this is the swimming area and a nice spot for relaxing.
The white sand beach is considered by many the nicest of the archipelago. It name comes from the sea turtles that go there to lay their eggs. Other species can be found, including pelicans, flamingos and marine iguanas.

Day 3.

Alter brekfast at hotel, we board ouur speed boat and head to San Cristobal, capital of the Archipelago. This ride is usually less than 3 hours. After check in at local hotel, we will start visiting:

El Junco:

San Cristobal's Highlands are normally only visited by locals and those visitors who extend their stay in Puerto Baquerizo.
The route from Puerto Baquerizo follows the signs marked for El Progresso. The steep road narrows as it climbs the sides of the extinct volcano. At the summit visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the El Junco Lagoon. Rainwater and condensation have collected in the caldera for hundreds of years creating this heaven for Frigate birds. The lake supplies water both for the people of the island and for many of the Galapagos Islands tourist cruise boats. Hiking around the lake offers views of practically the entire island including San Joaquin Hill the island's highest point.

Galapaguera del Cerro Colorado:
This is the most recently visitor site opened to the public. It is designated to Project the native tortoises of San Cristobal, where you will have chances to meet them. National park service has developed an infrastructure to interpret natural history and conservation of giant tortoises. The aim is to lead tourists in conservation subjects as well as environmental protection.
A very attractive path will take you through a forest of native plants and tortoises at natural habitat
Puerto Chino:

Is a beach surrounded by mangroves and rocks, it takes about 15 minutes to get there. This is a Greta place to swim, snorkel and listen to the bird calls. There is a rock formation where you can see pelicans and blue footed boobies.
Dinner will be served at the best spot in town.

DIA 4.
Centro de Interpretacion en San Cristobal:
The Project on Education and environmental protection, receive funds from Spanish government, Darwin center and national park Service.
Among different elements, there is Interpretation center of Baquerizo Moreno. All its areas are designed to inforce the message of history and conservation of the nature, visiting can be very leranign why the islands are so important to the world.
Interpretation center is made of three buildings connected with gravel paths; two interpretation halls, one devoted to natural history of how the islands were formed and one about Galapagos nowadays.
La Loberia:
A short 10 minute bus ride or a nice 30 min. walk south from Puerto Baquerizo is La Loberia. Traveler's frequently note the unusual color of the plants as they near the beach. La Loberia is home to a large sea lion colony and nursery. There are frequently dozens of sea lions visible at any time. Low tide is one of the best times to visit however, since it is when the mother's bring the pups into the tide pools for swimming lessons. Here you'll enjoy the sea lions, marine iguanas, bird watching, and even Galapagos giant tortoises. You have to always stay on the path and try not to disturb the wildlife!
Cerro De Las Tijeretas:
At a short distance from the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and close to the interpretation center is Frigate bird Hill.
To reach Frigatebird Hill the trail begins starts just on the road beyond Caba?as Don Jorge. At the end of the road there are two paths one leading through the woods and along Playa Mann Beach and the other up a rocky path. A pleasant journey goes up one way and returns along the other path.
The trip to the Hill takes approximately 20-40 minutes. Once there, visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the white beaches on one side and the roofs of Puerto Baquerizo on the other.
The hill is often visited by Frigate birds, giving it its name. Both Magnificent Frigatebirds and Great Frigate birds can be seen. The birds are not always present, making it is best to ask park officials as to the best times to see the birds when planning your trip. Here it is possible to see Magnificent Frigate birds and Great Frigate birds in the same colony. This is the perfect place to compare and learn to distinguish them.
Day 05
After Breakfast, we will sail south with direction to Florerana (Charles), we will plan on arriving around 11h00 after a two hours trip. Charles is a 170 square kilometers island, this island if famous for the mysterious tales of the first inhabitants. We will dock at Black Beach and from here we will head to the highlands to visit Pirates cave, Ritters farm and south Peace shelter. In the surroundings we can find the home of Baroness Wagner de Bousquet. At the center of the Island is found cerro las pajas of straw hill with 680 meters of altitude.
After enjoying the beauty of the highlands, we go back to Puerto Velasco Ibarra to enjoy a good lunch. Now in the afternoon we have a visit to La Loberia with a sea lion colony where we can snorkel and swim.
At the end of the day, we will take our speed boat again and sail to Isabella, arriving around 6h30. Check in at hotel, diner and relax.
Day 6
After a delicious breakfast, we will begin our visit to Sierra Negra volcano, this can be considered the longest tour of the trip
Sierra Negra volcano is located 22 kilometers north of Puerto Villamil. It has the second largest caldron in the world, with a diameter of 10 kilometers and a deepness of 100 kms. Here you will have three choices to visit.
1.- The Bocanilla
This site is an option to see the caldron of Black Mountain range with no need walk much.
From the whereabouts of Black Mountain range there is a route of 1,5 km to the edge of the crater. The best days to make this visit it is when the cleared sky this, since you will be able to see the totality of this enormous volcanic boiler.
2.-Volcan Chico:
Volcan Chico is located in the northeast part of Black Mountain range. From the whereabouts of the volcano you can rent a horse or go to foot to the Jaboncillo, from where you can descend by a footpath of 1,5 km.
The footpath crosses from humid Pampas, to a lava field with cactus. Just in the end you will see the lava spurts petrified of diverse textures and colors; in addition fumaroles by diverse places that change of site and intensity frequently. If the day is cleared, from you will be able there to see the Perry isthmus, that it is the narrowest part of the island, certain volcanoes of the north of Isabella and other near islands.
For the Vista of this site it is necessary to contract the services of a naturalistic guide of the National Park
3.-Volcan de Azufre
This site this located in the western part of the boiler of Black Mountain range, to arrive until there, you can rent a light truck that will take to you from Villamil Port to the whereabouts of Black Mountain range; from where the horses take themselves to cross 10 km to arriving at Sulfur Volcano.
Once you arrive until edge of the crater of the volcano, you will be able to descend to foot until the fumaroles located to the bottom of the boiler of Black Mountain range.
For such a long trip, we will bring box lunches so we can enjoy the Island and the visit. Later we will be back in Puerto Villamil to relax at the beach
Day 7:

After a delicious breakfast, we will have the following visits:

Tears Wall

Is a historic site in which during 1946 to 1959 Isabella was a prison and people in jail were forced to build this 100 meters long wall, nowadays It is possible to climb its 7 meters of altitude to get a panoramic view of the surroundings. It is also possible to see the bases of the houses that US soldiers made during world war two.

Flamingo Pond

Is a place where we can always see flocks of flamingos, later with the help of some locals we will take a small boat to safely ride to Las Tintoreras, this is a small islet off Isabella. Name comes from a lava crack with shallow and clear water where white tip sharks usually go to rest. Here is a good place to make snorkeling, we might find some sea lions, on a white sand beach and for sure we can see marine iguanas of all ages. This is one of the main reproduction areas.

There are times that we might go to the breathing center of Giant tortoises.

Breathing center of Giant Tortoises
There is a 1200 meter trail that will lead you from Puerto Villamil to breathing center of giant tortoises. This trail go though different environments: lagoons, mangroves, dry forest and lava fields, therefore we will see different plant and animals during the walk.
At the end is the breathing center, here you will see tortoises of different sizes under controlled circumstances with the aim of recovering lost populations in the different islands of Galapagos archipelago. There is a visitor center and a handcraft store where products made by the community are sold.
Late in the afternoon, we head to Santa Cruz for our last night in the Islands, arrival is supposed to be around 6h30, we check in the hotel and leave for our farewell dinner.
Day 4.
Alter breakfast we will visit Charles Darwin center to learn about the conservation projects and control of introduced species. Darwin center also helped in the teaching and training of naturalist guides and scientists that lead visitors through. It holds environmental and educational projects for local population. Center has facilities in Isabella, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. Activities of Darwin center are coordinated by National park service and are a portrait of good practices between private and government sectors to save the environment of the Archipelago.
Research for marine and terrestrial conservation
scientific advice to National park service Galapagos
Environmental education, promoting and supporting local communities and its involvement
Technical advice in creation of policies and laws
Training of local students in conservation through scholarships and volunteers
Support to scientist from all over the World that come to research in this living laboratory of evolution.
After visiting Darwin Center we will transfer our clients to Baltra for the returning flight to mainland. Clients are scheduled to a noon flight.

Program Includes:

7 night's accommodations in Galapagos at Economy, Tourist or First
Run of the House Breakfast and Dinner at Hotel
Guided excursions with naturalist guide
Lunch during excursion
Daily guided excursions to 2 sites of interest
Transportation between the islands
Transportation to and from the airport in Galapagos
2 hotel nights in Quito at deluxe hotel
2 Hotel / Airport Transfers in Quito

Not Included

Quito / Galapagos / Quito air fare US$ 421 + issuing and handling (All year!!! round)
Galapagos National Park Tax US$ 100 (pay upon arrival)
Galapagos Transit Card US$ 10 (must get at booking time)
Beverages, tips and personal expenses

HOTELS

(Palmeras, Lobo de Mar, Castro in Puerto Ayora:
San Vicente, Tero Real in Isabela. + Fuente de Piedra UIO
High 2039 / Sihgle R.Q.

Red Boobby, Fernandina Silverstein in Puerto Ayora,
Sierra Negra or Volcano in Isabela,
Bellavista in San Cristobal + Hotel Rio Amazonas UIO
High 2499 / single R.Q.

Sol y Mar or finch Bay in Puerto Ayora,
Albemarle and Casa Marita in Isabella,
Chatham in San Cristobel + Swisshtel UIO
High 2999/ Single R.Q.