Day notes
QUITO ARRIVAL DAY
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the "Cultural Capital" of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. We can help you to organise a day trip (please request in advance).
In the evening, your Tour Leader will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 to discuss the details and questions you may have.
Transfer from Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO] to Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Transfer
Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Check-in to Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Day notes
GALAPAGOS - ISABELA ISLAND
Today you get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory on the evolution of species.
You will board a morning flight from Quito to the island of Baltra (3 hours).
Once you arrive, you head to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos. From here, you will take a boat (2 hours) to the largest island in the archipelago, where most of the volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes, Alcedo, Cerra Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf; five are still active, making the island one of Earth's most volcanically active places.
Check-out from Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Transfer from Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve to Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Transfer
Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Scheduled Flight from Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO] to Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS]
Scheduled Flight
Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS]
Cruise from Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS] to Cormorant Beach House
Cruise
Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS]
Cormorant Beach House
Check-in to Cormorant Beach House
Expert tips:
Flying time: 3 hours (including a stop at Guayaquil city on the way to Baltra airport)
Speed boat time from Santa Cruz to Isabela: 2 hours (If you normally get seasick is very important to take medication before getting on the boat)
What to wear today: Light trousers, t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt (for the sun), fleece top (it can get cold on the boat), light raincoat (for spray), lightweight shoes, hat, sun cream.
Day notes
SNORKEL AT LAVA TUNNELS
Explore the amazing lava formations created by the volcanic island's last eruptions along the seashore. The BBC and National Geographic have historically filmed this magical place for their documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches comprised of crystal-clear water full of sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, sharks and more. The turtles navigate their own highway from the mangroves to the open sea through “Los Tuneles”.
Here, you will have the best snorkelling opportunity with these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos Penguins playing around. In the afternoon, you return to Puerto Villamil to kayak in Tintoreras to observe sea lions, penguins, turtles and Marine Iguanas.
Before or after the trip, you can enjoy some optional activities, such as biking or relaxing on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island. We recommend you take some time to visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center located within walking distance from the hotel.
Expert tips:
Boat ride to the Lava Tunnels time: 1 hour each way
Snorkelling time: Twice for 1 hour each time
What to wear today: shorts, long sleeve t-shirt (Rash Guard for example, to protect your arms from the sun), sandals or tennis shoes, bathing suit, hat or baseball cap, sun cream, mosquito repellent, buff.
Included:
Lunch
Day notes
HIKE SIERRA NEGRA – KAYAK IN TINTORERAS- SNORKEL AT CONCHA Y PERLA
After breakfast, at around 08h00, you will depart to the highlands of Isabela for the Sierra Negra Volcano. The volcano, with its height of around 1,500 meters and an outer diameter of approximately nine kilometres, is the second largest lava dome in the world.
You will have lunch at a local restaurant in the highlands at around 13:00 at a beautiful organic farm whose owners prepare their food with vegetables and fruits grown locally at the farm. Prepared at a lava rock grill, enjoy a delicious meal, and after lunch, take a walk among the fruit trails or take a nap in one of their hammocks and breathe the clean air above a big Mango tree.
You then make your way back to the pier, arriving at 14:30, where, after a short briefing, you start kayaking at the bay, where we can enjoy the local wildlife. On the way, we can observe penguins, Blue-footed Boobies, pelicans, Marine Iguanas, Sea Turtles, Sea Lions, Eagle Rays and sometimes sharks (Tintoreras" juveniles).
To finish this day, at 16:30, you will have a short visit to Concha & Perla, a small beach in Puerto Villamil, where you can snorkel. A short beautiful walk through the mangroves on a boardwalk will lead you to the spot with turquoise waters and wildlife galore! You can expect to see plenty of colourful fish, sea lions, sea turtles, pelicans, mockingbirds and maybe even more Marine Iguanas!
Expert tips:
Hiking time: 4 hours in total
Hiking distance: 6 miles (9.6 km) (10 miles -16 km- optional to Volcan Chico)
Hiking elevation gain: 950 feet (289.5 meters)
Maximum elevation while hiking: 3687 feet (1124 meters)
Kayaking time: 2 hours
Snorkelling time: 1 hour
What to wear today for hiking: shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, rain jacket, hat, buff, sun cream, mosquito repellent.
What to wear today for kayaking and snorkeling: shorts, long sleeve t-shirt (Rash Guard for example, to protect your arms from the sun), sandals or tennis shoes, bathing suit, hat or baseball cap, sun cream, mosquito repellent, buff.
Included:
Lunch
Day notes
CHARLES DARWIN STATION – HIGHLANDS
Cross from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island in the morning to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Once you arrive, you will check in at the hotel. Then you will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species in the wild and the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.
In the afternoon, head to the "El Chato" reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through El Chato’s beautiful landscape with these lumbering giants is an unforgettable experience! Other highland wildlife, such as Pintail Ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and Frigate Birds who gather to wash the salt off their feathers at a freshwater lake.
Afterwards, return to Puerto Ayora for the evening.
Check-out from Cormorant Beach House
Cruise from Cormorant Beach House to Hotel Silberstein
Cruise
Cormorant Beach House
Hotel Silberstein
Check-in to Hotel Silberstein
Expert tips:
What to wear today: shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes or sandals, hat, rain jacket (for the boat ride), sun cream.
Day notes
FLIGHT BACK TO QUITO
After your final breakfast on the Galapagos Islands and the last photos are taken, you will transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
Check-out from Hotel Silberstein
Transfer from Hotel Silberstein to Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS]
Transfer
Hotel Silberstein
Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS]
Scheduled Flight from Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS] to Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Scheduled Flight
Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport [GPS]
Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Transfer from Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO] to Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Transfer
Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Check-in to Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Day notes
Today your trip will end, and you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight,
We wish you a "Buen viaje"!
Check-out from Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Transfer from Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve to Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
Transfer
Hacienda Jimenita Naturhotel & Wildlife Reserve
Mariscal Sucre International Airport [UIO]
