Galapagos Islands

A visit to the Galapagos is a singular experience with an abundance of wildlife and a natural landscape unlike any other in the world. Only in the archipelago can you swim with sea lions, walk with giant tortoises, and marvel at the flora and fauna that famously inspired Charles Darwin.Since the presence of humans has been and remains minimal, it’s possible to experience the land and water in a more pristine state than almost anywhere else on Earth.
Man and Nature have forged a unique relationship in the relatively untouched world of the Galapagos Islands. Only in the archipelago can you swim with sea lions, walk with giant tortoises, and marvel at the flora and fauna that famously inspired Charles Darwin. Our small group tours of the Galapagos Islands provide a cost-effective way of experiencing this region without compromising on the quality of your experience. We have created a ten-day trip that incorporates hotel stays on several Islands from where we can visit to some of the most iconic wildlife locations.
We offer tailor made safaris and also our popular small group safaris that leave on set dates. 

DAY 1
QUITO, Ecuador
Ecuador's capital Quito and is where we start and end this tour. The city was constructed on the foundations of an ancient Incan city, and is known for its well-preserved colonial center, rich with 16th- and 17th-century churches and other structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles.
Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport Cody: UIO
Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the city and the surrounding area. We will get together with a pre-dinner drink at 18:00 for a welcome briefing with Will and our local guide.
Accommodation: Wyndham Airport Hotel, or Quito/ Hotel Finlandia, Quito
DAY 2
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
After breakfast a morning flight to the island of San Cristóbal, where Charles Darwin based his theory of the evolution of species. -
We will go by bus with our bi-lingual naturalist guide and snorkel equipment to La Loberia beach which is 5 minutes away from port. This beach has coral sand with sea lions. When you get there you must walk about 10 minutes to find the bay where you can do safe snorkel.
La Lobería is a piece of coast that has this name because of the amount of sea lions that rest on the rocks and on the sand.
While you walk through the trail you can find: mangle botón, mangle blanco, chala, palo santo, algodón, Tiquilia, mañana gloriosa and other species from the coastal zone as cacho de chivo, whose sedes are the main food for lots of pinzon species. You can also observe, beside the sea lions, birds like: canario maría, fragatas and some pinzon species. You can find, lying down the rocks, marine iguanas from Galápagos, they have big sizes and they are unique on the world.
Accommodation Double or Twin Room - Hotel Zayapa, San Cristobal or similar
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3
ESPANOLA ISLAND
The Spanish Island (or Hood, in honor to the British admiral Samuel Hood) is, one of the smaller Islands that form the Ecuadorian archipelago of the Galapagos islands. It remains uninhabited, where we hope to find the endemic mockingbird of Hispaniola, the Galapagos dove, the Galapagos Gull, the marine iguana, albatross and pinnipeds.
We will meet at the Aquarius dock at approximately 7.15am for a thorough luggage check by the Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos (ABG). We then take our 12/16 seater boat and head towards Punta Suárez. The sailing time from San Cristobal to Española is approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival to Punta Suárez, we will disembark and walk in the islet where we may see albatrosses and more bird species such as the Galapagos Hawk, Blue Footed and Nazca Boobies to photograph At the end of the walk, we will go to Gardener Bay to snorkel where we may see sea lions, starfish, green turtles and marine iguanas. At the end of the snorkel, we will return to San Cristóbal arriving back between 4pm and 4.30pm.
Accommodation: Hotel Zayapa, San Cristobal or similar. Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
DAY 4
ISABELA ISLAND
After breakfast we will fly to Isabela Island, (Note 35lbs baggage limit) and then transfer to Hotel Volcano (Check In Time 1pm) before a Las Tintoreras Tour with bi-lingual naturalist guide
Las Tintoreras tour (11am to 2pm) (includes snack lunch)
Las Tintoreras This small islet gets its name from the white tip sharks which are known locally as Tintoreras. We will leave Puerto Villamil Pier heading south for a short sail towards the group of islets known as Las Tintoreras. This site, full of great biodiversity, is home to the famous white tip sharks, sea lions, turtles, iguanas, and many other species. We will depart from the Puerto Villamil Pier for a 20-minute sail to the Tintoreras Islet. At this snorkeling site, it is possible to see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, zayapas, sea turtles, starfish, tropical fish, rays, sharks, pelicans and Galapagos penguins. This place is also a site for marine iguanas’ nesting, allowing for close encounters with these animals.
Accommodation Double or Twin Room - Hotel Volcano or similar. Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
DAY 5
LOS TUNELES
Los Tuneles is one of the most beautiful places to snorkel in the Galapagos Islands. It is an intricate system of caves where lava once flowed giving it a unique geological formation. The water is usually clear, calm and warm. Snorkeling through Los Tuneles is magical and you can often see green turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, and sharks, it also the only place to you can see sea horses at. Around Los Tuneles there is an abundance of seabirds such the blue footed and masked boobies as well as sea lions. If you are really lucky you may also see dolphins and large manta rays.
(Free time suggestions Puerto Villamil Beach, visit the Wetlands, Wall of Tears, Pozo de Flamingos or the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center).
Accommodation Double or Twin Room - Hotel Volcano or similar. Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
DAY 6
PUERTO AYORA
After breakfast we’ll take the Interisland ferry Puerto Villamil to Puerto Ayora
Where we will vist the Charles Darwin Research Station and El Chato Giant Tortoise Reserve
Charles Darwin Research Station (10am - 12pm)
We will visit the Route of the Tortoise with our bi-lingual naturalist guide and learn about the history of the galapagos, its people, wildlife, flora and fauna as well as sustainability challenges. We will also visit the taxidermy of the islands most famous tortoise Lonesome George who died on the 24th June 2012 making his Pinta tortoise species extinct. We will also visit the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding and Rearing Centre which is a long term joint venture between the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park. Originally starting in 1965 to protect the giant tortoise population on Pinzon it now operates across the entire species. Finally we may have time to visit the Exhibition Centre which has the bones of a Whale Shark on display.
Lunch (12pm - 2pm)
We will drop into the Galapagos Deli to grab a sandwich and a drink/water before continuing our tour.
Rancho El Chato Giant Tortoise Reserve (2pm - 5pm)
El Chato is a fantastic place to observe the Galapagos giant tortoises and a variety of birds such as Darwin Finches, Vermilion Flycatchers and Yellow Warblers in their natural habitat and walk inside lava tunnels. We will have lunch here.
Orientation Briefing After check in at the Ikala hotel, your Naturalist Guide Specialised in the Galapagos will provide you with an orientation of both Puerto Ayora and Santa Cruz and awareness of the other inhabited islands.
Accommodation Double or Twin Room, Hotel Acacia, Puerto Ayora or Similar
Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
DAY 7
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
North Seymour is a northern Galapagos island which was formed by the up-lifting of submarine volcanic lavas. Marine fossils found in the archipelago are on these islands. It has an abundance of plant species, birds, marine wildlife as well as land iguanas. We will take a 45 minute private bus from Puerto Ayora to Santa Cruz Ferry Terminal to board our tour boat with our naturalist guide.
Accommodation Double or Twin Room, Hotel Acacia , Puerto Ayora or Similar
Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
DAY 8
BARTOLOME ISLAND
Bartolomé is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island. It is one of the "younger" islands in the Galápagos and with a total land area of just 1.2 km2, Bartolomé offers some of the most panoramic views of all the islands including Pinnacle Rock which is one of the 2 visitor sites you can swim and snorkel at with amazing marine wildlife. Sullivan Bay is another great place to snorkel at. We will take a 45 minute private bus from Puerto Ayora to Santa Cruz Ferry Terminal to board our tour boat with our naturalist guide.
Accommodation Double or Twin Room, Hotel Acacia, Puerto Ayora or Similar
Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
DAY 9
RETURN TO QUITO
Domestic flight Baltra - Quito
Today we will return from the Galapagos Islands and transfer to our hotel.
Accommodation Double or Twin Room - Wyndham Airport Hotel, Quito/ Hotel Finlandia, Quito. Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 10
Transfer to the international airport marks the ned of our trip End of our trip.

PRICE: From £5,200 ppsh

INCLUDED:
Domestic flights Quito- San Cristobal & Baltra - Quito
Transport according to the itinerary
Qualified tour guiding according to the itinerary
9 nights accommodation at booked hotel category (Mid Range)
Meals listed in the itinerary
Excursions and sightseeing tours as listed in the itinerary
Inter island flight San Cristobal to Isabela
EXCLUDED:
International flights
Visa and Visa fees Personal travel insurance
Drinks
Personal expenses
Gratuities
Locally paid fees:
Wetsuit rental USD 15 person
Galapagos National Park entrance fee USD 100 per person
Galapagos Transit Card USD 20 per person