10 Day Tour

Day 1 : Arrive Quito

Day 2 : Fly to Baltra Island - Kayaking Punta Estrada and Bahia Diving

Our guide will pick you up and take you to the yacht. After a quick stop in Puerto Ayora and lunch on board we will move on to Punta Estrada and Bahia Divine, a calm shallow water place where rays, mullets and sharks can be seen while kayaking along the rocky coast line. Back on board: dinner and navigation to Isabela Island.

Day 3 : Isabela Island - Horseback Riding and Trekking

Isabela Island is the largest and one of the youngest in the Galapagos and it is one of the most beautiful islands. After breakfast and approximately an hour bus ride we will get to Sierra Negra volcano which is still active and in October 2005 gave us the most recent volcanic eruption in Galapagos. A horse back-riding journey along the crater of the volcano will fulfil every expectation, normally we find giant tortoises on the way. This day we will have a box lunch on the volcano rim and then we start trekking on a trail of lava to "Volcan Chico" a smaller cone of Sierra Negra. We will walk on a large lava flow and fortunately we might see fumaroles and an incredible landscape from the top. Late in the afternoon we will return to the yacht and dinner.

Day 4 : Zodiac Ride and Lava Rock Puerto

Isabela Island has the second smallest population in Galapagos with around 1500 inhabitants is still pristine and untouched. Breakfast and zodiac ride to "tintoreras" grotto, small shallow channels in between lava flows with sandy bottom in which we usually find white tiped reef sharks. Isabela also has penguins' populations and normally we find them swimming with us, after this visit we go back on board. Lunch and in the afternoon we will have a 30 minutes walk to the "muro de las lagrimas" a wall of lava rocks made by inmates from an old penal colony established on the island. To finish our day we can relax on the miles long white sand beach right in town with many shore birds and marine life, after dinner we sail to Floreana.

Day 5 : Floreana Island: Puerto Velasco Ibarra and Highlands

Breakfast on board. In Floreana Island we will visit Puerto Velasco Ibarra, the smallest town in the Galapagos with a population of around 60 people. Box lunch and car ride to the highlands of Floreana where pirates and whalers used volcanic caves as hiding places. Back on board dinner and navigation to San Cristobal.

Day 6 : Kayaking and Snorkelling

Breakfast and navigation to Kicker Rock-Leon Dormido, an old tuff cone eroded by the ocean and now serves as nesting place for frigate birds, blue footed boobies and nazca (ex masked) boobies, tropic birds and of course this magnificent volcanic formation. Kayaking around Kicker Rock-Leon dormido will complete our visit. Lunch on board and visit to Puerto Grande for snorkelling and relaxing, back on board for dinner and navigation to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Day 7 : Tortoises and Snorkelling

After breakfast we will drive to "El Junco" lagoon (the only natural source of fresh water in the islands, where frigate birds feed on the fish in the lagoon, and lots of land birds such as Darwin's finches and mockingbirds can be found.) Along with a spectacular view coming down from "El Junco," we will have an easy hike through Cerro Verde (a small traditional village where we will have lunch) to "La Galapaguera" which is a part of the Galapagos National Park where we will be able to find a great number of giant tortoises in their natural habitat, an incredible privilege. After exploring the surroundings we will walk to "Puerto Chino." A beautiful and pristine beach will be the perfect spot for a laid back afternoon where you can snorkel, swim or simply relax. Back in the bus we will start our drive back to Puerto Baquerizo to join the yacht. Dinner and sailing to Puerto Ayora.

Day 8 : Mountain Biking Santa Cruz

Breakfast and bus ride to "Los Gemelos" a pair of craters (sink holes) in the middle of the Scalesia zone, scalesias are endemic trees only found in Galapagos and they create a great nesting area for Darwin's finches as well as many other land birds such as flycatchers, doves etc. Bike downhill to "Los Tuneles" where we will walk and explore in the darkness, these magnificent, thrilling and enormous empty lava flows, these tunnels run underneath the ground for kilometres (this walk will take approximately 1 hour). Lunch and then we continue biking to "El Garrapatero" a beautiful beach where small lagoons are home of flamingos. A refreshing activity will complete our day, swimming. Our last stop will be Puerto Ayora where we will give back the bikes and join the yacht. Back on board: dinner and if you wish we can go back to Puerto Ayora to enjoy the nightlife of this charming town.

Day 9 : Charles Darwin Center

Santa Cruz Island is the centre of tourism in Galapagos, and, with a population of about 15,000, has a large variety of sites to visit. Of course, our first stop after breakfast will be the world famous Charles Darwin Research Centre where all the efforts to protect and preserve the native and endemic animals are developed; we will also find giant tortoise-rearing programs and of course Lonesome George. After this visit you will have a bus ride to the airport to catch your flight back to main land: Quito or Guayaquil.

Day 10 : Return Home