Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands

At the mainland airport, you have purchased your TCC or Ingala card and a luggage inspection has already been conducted to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced. Upon your arrival at Seymour Ecological airport, your TCC (Transit Control Card) will be stamped. This must be kept in a safe place during your trip, as it must be presented again on your return flight. In addition, the Galapagos National Park entrance fee is due upon entry (US$100), if not already paid. Then you will be met by your driver (Spanish speaking) and drive to the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. There you will go directly to the port and at 2:00 pm by speedboat to Isabela (please take care if you are prone to seasickness, the trip can be very turbulent). Arrived on Isabela, transfer to the hotel.

Meals:

Los Tuneles is perhaps one of the most beautiful sight in the archipelago. Continuous volcanic eruptions petrified into tunnel-like lava formations right in the middle of the sea, and crystal-clear turquoise water allows an amazing view of marine vegetation and playful sea lions.

The tour begins via speedboat and the first stop is a small islet in the middle of the ocean, home to pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions. Finados snorkeling site is the next stop, where you can swim next to sea turtles, Tintoreras sharks (endemic to the islands), trumpet fish and surgeonfish.

With some luck, eagle and golden rays will come to this site, too. Getting to Los Tuneles will take around 1 ½ – 2 hours. Once there, the speedboat will navigate through various spots in and around the Lava Tunnels. Here you get the chance to do some more snorkeling and enjoy some short walks while observing the landscape and wildlife inhabiting the area. A box lunch on board will be provided for this day.

*There are two departure times for this tour, one at 08:00 am with return time at 13:00 pm approx. and one at 11:00 am, with return time at 16:00 pm. approx. The chosen departure time for your tour might vary; hence, you will be notified on the departure time for this day trip on the night before the tour.

Meals: Breakfast

Get ready for your Sierra Negra Volcano hike. Wear comfortable clothes, walking shoes and a light rain jacket. Make sure your camera is stored in waterproof bags, wear some sunscreen, bring enough water and a hat. After a 40-minute drive from Puerto Villamil through some barren lava landscape and endemic vegetation, you will arrive at the starting point for the hike.

The hike is long in terms of distance, but not very difficult as the slopes are quite gradual. The first hour, the trail goes uphill on a relatively gentle slope. Once you get to the edge of the rim, you can catch sight of the 6 miles in diameter and 300 feet deep caldera. Sierra Negra Volcano has the second-largest crater in the world. The hike then continues for the next hour along the rim of the caldera, as you will witness the vegetation get drier and drier as you advance. You will then reach Volcano Chico, a collection of small craters which erupted during the 1970’s where you can see fumaroles and an impressive volcanic landscape.

This area also provides a spectacular view of Elizabeth Bay on the other side of Isabela. You will have time to enjoy your box lunch under the shade of a large tree known as Jaboncillo.

Return time to the hotel in Puerto Villamil is around 3 pm.

Meals: Breakfast

Early in the morning, you leave Isabela Island by public speedboat to Santa Cruz Island.

Your English-speaking guide meets you at the harbor and you can drop off your luggage at the hotel (check–in at 2:00pm) before heading up to the highlands of Santa Cruz. You will visit the highlands of this Island, so please have your shoes and rain gear ready. Check out the twin craters of Los Gemelos, see giant Galapagos tortoises roaming in their natural environment and experience ancient underground lava tunnels. You have lunch at the reserve. In the after-noon, you travel on to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz’s principal town for the check-in at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Today, you will visit one of the uninhabited islands. You will either visit North Seymour, Plazas, Santa Fé, or Bartolomé according to the National Park regulations. Observe the wildlife on land (iguanas, sea lions, different birds like blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and Galapagos hawks) as well as under water (tropical and subtropical fish, corals and Galapagos penguins) while snorkeling. In the afternoon, you return to Puerto Ayora.

Please note that the actual island visit depends on the schedule authorized by the national park authorities and availability.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, your private transfer takes you to the airport on Baltra Island to fly to Guayaquil or Quito, from where you leave for your international flight, or for an optional extension.

Meals: Breakfast