Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure

This morning we’ll take a flight to San Cristobal, via Guayaquil, the easternmost island of the Galapagos Islands chain and home of the provincial capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. After lunch, we’ll head up into the highlands for a scenic downhill bike ride. Starting at a panoramic viewpoint called La Soledad, we’ll bike through the tiny town of El Progreso and five different vegetation zones, until we reach a beach called La Loberia — an area frequented by sea lions. In other words, it’s a sea lion hangout! There we’ll be able to watch sea lions sunbathing and vying for our attention. They play, they nap and sometimes, they pose for pictures! Here, we'll have the opportunity for our first snorkel!

This evening, we’ll dine on local produce and fresh fish.
Accommodation: Hotel Seaside, San CristobalView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 8.5 miles (14 kilometers), 2 hours, (vehicle supported)

Today we’ll cruise to Kicker Rock off the coast of San Cristobal, where we’ll don wet suits, snorkels, and masks (and tanks for the divers diving option extra fees apply) and explore around the remains of an underwater volcano with a rock face rising 500 feet (150 meters) above the surface of the water. Your trip leader will give you a full briefing and then we’ll take to the water to explore the walls of the volcano. There will be chances to see beautiful tropical fish, turtles and sharks as they skirt the edges of Kicker Rock!

Afterwards, we’ll visit a picturesque bay to have lunch and a rest before returning to port. Then it’s off to the interpretation center to learn a little about the history and biology of the islands.

Later there will be an optional hike to Frigate Hill Lookout to see the acrobatics of the local frigate birds as they dart around the cliff tops stealing the catch from other birds.
Accommodation: Hotel Seaside, San CristobalView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Snorkel Kicker Rock: 30-45 minutes

Optional Kicker Rock diving experience (additional cost applies): You can opt to swap the snorkel for a dive if you wish. This option must be selected at the time of booking. 2 dives, 30-45 minutes each

This morning we’ll head to Isabela Island, the largest of all the islands in the Galapagos archipelago. we’ll start with an early morning kayak in the calm waters of Isabela Bay. Here we’ll have the chance to see some of the Island’s most amazing wildlife up close. Marine iguanas bask in the sun, blue-footed boobies sit in pairs on the rock tops, and Sally Lightfoot crabs scurry out of our way along the water’s edge. In the clear waters below us, rays gracefully swim by and turtles pop up for a breath of air.

After lunch, we’ll take a short boat ride where we just kayaked, and hop out for a short walk at Tintoreras or Shark Alley, an isolated islet and popular iguana-nesting site that’s home to hundreds of marine iguanas.

Afterward, you can test the waters for a snorkel in a calm inlet that’s home to a variety of colorful fish and green sea turtles who like to rest on the calm, sandy bottom.
Accommodation: Hotel Albemarle, Isabela IslandView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Boat to Isabela Island: 2-3 hours

Kayaking: 1 hour

Our hike today will take us to the summit of Sierra Negra volcano. See the lowland vegetation change before your eyes as we ascend through a lunar-like landscape on our way to the top. It’s a challenging hike to the top of the volcano, and the views across the seven-mile wide crater and surrounding coastline are well worth the climb! This is one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, and one of the most active. As we hike, we might be lucky enough to see Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, finches and fly-catchers that inhabit this region. We’ll continue to traverse the vast lava fields of the volcan en route for a lookout that boasts breathtaking views reaching to the north of Isabela.

After enjoying a hearty sense of accomplishment, we’ll make our way back to town late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Albemarle, Isabela IslandView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hiking: 10 miles (16 kilometers), 4-6 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 426 feet (130 meters) ascent, 426 feet (130 meters) descent

This is our last day on Isabela Island, and we get to choose how to spend our morning; relax and explore the beach or take the optional snorkel tour to Los Tuneles. After lunch, we’ll take a short walk to a nearby wetland home to pink flamingos and pintail ducks. This mangrove-lined path will lead us to Isabela’s Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where we’ll meet these majestic prehistoric creatures in all stages of development. The center has almost a thousand giant tortoises training for life on their own!
Accommodation: Hotel Albemarle, Isabela IslandView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Snorkel "The Tunnels" (extra fees apply): If you think sleeping sharks, seahorses, sea turtles, and strange lava tunnel formations sound intriguing then you’re going to need your mask, snorkel, and flippers, because you get all that and more at Los Tuneles. Also called Cabo Rosa, this area is about one hour from town was created when lava flows reached the ocean, forming tunnels, arches, and sheltered bays perfect for snorkeling. We’ll take a boat ride to the tunnels, where you’ll see an intricate network of arches and islets all formed from past lava eruptions. There are a few spots to walk on the rocks, though the main activity is snorkeling to explore the water channels, where you’ll see sleeping reef sharks, hungry sea turtles, colorful starfish, and tiny seahorses! In terms of biodiversity, this is one of the very best spots in the Galapagos Islands. This option must be selected at the time of booking only.

We’ll depart Isabela Island early this morning bound for Santa Cruz Island. Once there, we’ll have our only chance to see giant tortoises in their natural environment, along with intriguing birdlife like the vermillion flycatcher. We’ll also take a look inside the lava tunnels scattered throughout the highlands. These tunnels were formed by molten lava flowing beneath the surface, which left behind large tube-like caves, some almost a mile long!

We'll enjoy lunch at the Giant Tortoise Reserve before heading back to the hotel.

This afternoon there is an optional walk to Tortuga Bay, a shoreline of dunes, salt flats & mangroves, and home to species including iguanas & flamingos.
Accommodation: Hotel Ikala, Santa Cruz IslandView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Boat to Santa Cruz Island: 2 hours

Hiking: 1.2 miles (2 kilometers), 1-2 hours, flat