Galapagos Lodge Adventure

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, connect to your flight to Isabela Island. A driver will meet you at the airstrip for the transfer to Scalesia Lodge, your home for your time in the island's highlands. After lunch at the lodge, head out for your first afternoon of discovery. Depending on the day's scheduled activity, explore the area's solitary beaches, navigate ancient lava tunnels, or visit natural pools where you can view flamingos and other migratory birds.

This afternoon, another excursion will be offered. This could include a visit to the Tortoise Breeding Station, a center created to protect the giant tortoise, a trekking or biking tour, or even snorkeling and free time at the beach. You spend your first night in the Galapagos at Scalesia Lodge.

Note that for the next three days, the order of activities at Scalesia Lodge will depend on the days of the week you are visiting. You can check the detailed daily schedule here to see which activities fall on your specific travel dates. The descriptions below are a sample of how the trip will flow, and will vary for your specific travel dates. 

After breakfast, transfer to the highlands of Isabela Island for a trekking tour of the Sierra Negra and Chico Volcanoes. The trail passes through Chico Volcano, an area containing sulfur fumaroles, ferns, volcanic rock, and cacti. The hike continues along the rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano, one of the most active in the archipelago. Its crater is the second-largest in the world, measuring 9.6 kilometers in diameter and 300 meters deep.

Afterward, head back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a short hike through Sucre's Cave to appreciate its unique rock formations, followed by a visit to El Mango Viewpoint for panoramic views of southern Isabela and the agricultural area. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend enjoying the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of Puerto Villamil. Upon arrival, return to your hotel relax or explore independently.

The morning starts with a short boat ride to Las Tintoreras. The journey provides opportunities to observe blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and sea lions. Upon arrival at the lava-formed islet, a hike reveals the channels where the area's namesake white-tip reef sharks (tintoreras) can be seen swimming alongside fish and sea lions during low tide. Following the walk, a snorkeling session in the crystal-clear waters offers a chance to swim near the shy reef sharks, colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and playful sea lions.

After the excursion, lunch is served at the lodge before setting out for the afternoon activity. The afternoon features a trekking or biking tour to the historic Wall of Tears, located 5 km west of Puerto Villamil and built by former prisoners. The biking option covers approximately 8 miles along a sandy and gravel path parallel to the beach, where giant tortoises can often be seen crossing the trails. Alternatively, a hike along the trail allows for stops at nearby attractions like Love Beach or the El Estero mangroves.

Your day begins with a 45-minute boat ride to Los Tuneles. Along the way, you can observe Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and Galapagos penguins on the rocks, with a chance to spot giant manta rays in the water. Upon arrival, you take a one-hour walk along a lava and sand trail, observing unique, naturally carved rock formations and resting seabirds. Next, you spend an hour and a half snorkeling through the lava tunnels. Here, you swim in clear waters alongside large sea turtles, sharks, colorful tropical fish, seahorses, and playful sea lions. After your underwater adventure, you enjoy lunch on the boat before your 45-minute return journey to the coast.

In the afternoon, you visit the island's wetlands, walking past lagoons and mangroves to see the largest concentration of flamingos in the Galapagos. Following this, you visit the Tortoise Breeding Station to learn about reproduction processes and observe giant tortoises of all ages.

After breakfast, you are transferred back to the airport in Puerto Villamil for your inter-island flight to Baltra Island. This scenic flight takes approximately 40 minutes. Upon arrival, your guide leads you across the Itabaca Channel to begin your exploration of Santa Cruz Island. The first stop is a visit to Los Gemelos, a pair of impressive natural volcanic sinkholes surrounded by a lush forest of endemic scalesia trees, making it a prime location for spotting some of the archipelago's more elusive land birds. Afterward, you visit a private tortoise reserve to observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat and walk through massive underground lava tunnels. Following a well-deserved lunch at a restaurant in the highlands, you travel down to the coast to Puerto Ayora's pedestrian neighborhood of Punta Estrada, home to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

Today, you take a boat trip to one of the nearby uninhabited islands, such as Bartolome, Santa Fe, South Plazas, or North Seymour. After a full day of adventures, overnight at Finch Bay Hotel.

NORTH SEYMOUR (Mondays and Sundays)
This island was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, giving it a distinctively low, flat profile. A forest of Palo Santo trees stands just above the dry landing site. The trail turns inland where you will find active colonies of both magnificent and great frigatebirds, as well as blue-footed boobies and land iguanas. In the afternoon, you visit Las Bachas on the northern shore of Santa Cruz. This beautiful coralline beach is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and observing wading birds like stilts and flamingos in the nearby brackish lagoons.

SOUTH PLAZAS (Wednesdays and Fridays)
Your morning begins with snorkeling in the calm waters of Punta Carrion, where you can observe tropical fish and peacefully resting white-tipped reef sharks. In the afternoon, you disembark on South Plaza, an island formed from an uplifted seabed that gives it a tilted tabletop quality. A colony of sea lions greets you upon arrival. Further up the shore, a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of prickly-pear cacti, where yellow-gray land iguanas patiently wait for falling pears.

SANTA FE (Thursdays)
The yacht anchors in a beautiful bay where you disembark on a small sandy beach populated by a colony of sea lions. Following the inland trail, you will look for the endemic Santa Fe land iguana resting beneath large opuntia cacti, and keep an eye to the sky for the Galapagos hawk. After your land visit, you return to the clear waters of the anchoring site for a snorkeling session to swim with tropical fish and playful sea lions. This trip involves a maritime crossing of approximately 17 nautical miles each way.

BARTOLOME / SULLIVAN BAY (Tuesdays & Saturdays)
Bartolome offers one of the most emblematic landscapes in the islands. A 600-meter pathway complete with stairs and a boardwalk takes you to the highest point to learn firsthand about the volcanic origins of the Galapagos. Following the walk, a dinghy ride along the coastline provides an opportunity to see Galapagos penguins fishing in the crystal-clear waters. In the afternoon, you visit Sullivan Bay to snorkel and walk across massive lava flows from the late 1800s. This excursion involves a 42 km drive and a nautical crossing taking roughly 2 hours each way.

After a full day of adventures on the water, you return to Santa Cruz Island. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel in Puerto Ayora to rest or explore at your leisure.

Note: The specific island visited is subject to the yacht's operational schedule, weather conditions, and Galapagos National Park regulations.

After breakfast, depending on the weekday and availability, you explore either Tortuga Bay or Divine Bay in the morning, followed by an afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Tortuga Bay
If visiting Tortuga Bay, you walk through an arid deciduous forest to reach Playa Brava, a stunning snow-white beach that serves as a seasonal nesting site for green sea turtles. This walk covers 2 km along a flat, paved path. A few minutes further is Playa Mansa, a secluded mangrove cove with calm waters ideal for swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking, before you board a small yacht to sail back to the harbor for lunch.

Divine Bay
If visiting Divine Bay, you explore a quiet, wildlife-rich cove protected by natural volcanic reefs and mangrove trees. Beneath the surface, you can spot sea turtles grazing, reef fish, and young reef sharks. A short walk takes you to Dog Beach to view marine iguanas in their nesting sites alongside white-tipped reef sharks. This refreshing walk covers a distance of 0.5 km. You will also explore the coast on small pangas and have the chance to snorkel before returning for lunch.

In the afternoon, you visit the world-renowned Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, you learn about the vital conservation and rearing programs for the iconic giant tortoises and have the opportunity to see them in person. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel in Puerto Ayora to rest or explore at your leisure.

Note that the expedition team may decide to reverse the day’s program based on the tides to maximize your experience.

After breakfast, transfer to the Baltra airport for your departure flight.