5 Day Premium Galapagos ​Multisport Tour
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This two island trip offers incredible opportunities for close wildlife encounters as well as time to relax and enjoy the white sand beaches. Santa Cruz and Isabela islands are filled with ideal sites for snorkeling with tropical fish, Galapagos sharks, sea lions and rays! Our naturalist and adventure guides, top of the line adventure gear and beautiful boutique hotels make this one of our most popular Galapagos expeditions.
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Highlights
• Snorkel with Galapagos penguins, sharks, rays, and tropical fish. • Mountain bike the Galapagos’ most ecologically-diverse biking route. • Hike to the world’s second largest volcano caldera to see incredible lava formations. • Unbelievable close encounters with Galapagos wildlife during active excursions. • First class adventure and naturalist guides lead you every step of your Galapagos journey. DAY 1: EXPLORE AND SNORKEL AT TINTORERAS ISLETS IN ISABELA ISLAND
Arrive to Baltra Airport where our small aircraft will be waiting to take us to Isabela Island. After a short inter-island flight we check into Iguana Crossing, our waterfront hotel in Isabela, and enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we head out to Las Tintoreras, a set of small islets within Isabela bay, and walk through a seemingly prehistoric landscape of lava rocks and lizards. The islets are home to the Galapagos penguin - the only one that can be found in the northern hemisphere. We snorkel and explore the many small beaches and coves where we encounter sharks, sea lions and sea turtles! At the end of the day, and after a gourmet fusion dinner of local and international flavors, we explore Puerto Villamil, the island´s sleepy beach town. Overnight at Hotel. (L, D) DAY 2: HIKE SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO We prepare our daypacks for a walk into a world of recent geological and natural history. We hike through the highlands until we arrive at the rim of Sierra Negra volcano, an active caldera that last erupted in October of 2005. We pass the rim of this colossal 6x5 mile-wide (9x8 km) lava-filled crater and continue our hike into the caldera of Volcan Chico, with incredible lava formations and puffing fumaroles. Take in the endless hues of reds, blacks, oranges, and yellows that make up this otherworldly landscape! Eventually, we return to the coast to enjoy the afternoon on the exotic white sand beaches of this idyllic coastal town. We are delighted again with a gourmet dinner. Overnight at Hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 3: BIKE, HIKE AND SNORKEL IN ISABELA'S COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS From the calm and beautiful white sand beach we bike through mangroves, a lava tunnel and a shady, wonderful smelling poison apple forest before cutting away from the coastline and entering the territory of hundreds of Galapagos tortoises! Along our ride we spot Isabela´s mangrove finches, American oystercatchers, herons, flamingos and numerous marine iguanas. We continue to the Wall of Tears - a historic site dating back to when Isabela was a penal colony. The prisoners built the wall with lava blocks with no other purpose than to keep themselves distracted from the madness of isolation. In the afternoon, we can walk through a mangrove forest to Concha y Perla Bay, with beautiful clear waters ideal for snorkeling. Overnight at Hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 4: KAYAK ALONG LAVA WALL CHANNELS AND HIKE THE HIGHLANDS – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND After an early start this morning, a speedboat or internal flight transportation takes us to Santa Cruz Island. Once we get settled in, it’s time to take our sea kayaks to explore Punta Estrada and Divine Bay on the coastline of Santa Cruz. We paddle into these serene waters through a narrow channel bordered by towering lava walls. Through the clear water, we can see rays and white-tipped reef sharks cruising below us. We can also paddle right up to the fearless blue-footed boobies, lava gulls, herons, sally lightfoot crabs, and marine iguanas perched along the cliffs. After a stop at the hotel for lunch and dry clothes, we set off to explore El Chato reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to another group of giant tortoises. As we hike through El Chato in the presence of these lumbering giants, our naturalist guide tells us more about their unique history, as well as the other highland wildlife we meet, such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigate birds. We also explore vast lava tubes, and our guides tell us tales of buccaneers that once used these caves to hide from Spanish ships and stash their plundered Inca gold. Our last stop is Los Gemelos, two deep volcanic sinkholes near the top of the island, surrounded by a beautiful forest of endemic Scalesia trees covered with epiphytes and ferns. In this unique habitat, we keep our eyes peeled for the elusive short-eared owl. If there is enough time we’ll stop for a visit at the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn from local scientists about the ongoing conservation efforts on these enchanted islands. After our hike, we return to the hotel, where our adventure in this natural wonderland draws to a close. (B, L, D) DAY 5: CHARLES DARWIN RESERCH STATION VISIT & TRANSFER TO AIRPORT Transfer to Baltra Island for our return flight to the mainland and bid a fond farewell to the Galapagos. (B) |
2018 price per person double in US$: with 2 people = $2600 in Comfort Hotels or $2910 in Premium hotels.Single supplement = $429 in Comfort or $737 in Premium. Rates reduced with more people. PREMIUM HOTELS
These hotels offer a first class experience, including spas, restaurants, amenities, and ample space for relaxation. - San Cristobal Island = Golden Bay Hotel and Spa, Isabela Island = Iguana Crossing and Casa Baronesa Waterfront Villa, Santa Cruz Island = Angermeyer Waterfront Inn COMFORT HOTELS Hotels with a boutique touch - San Cristobal Island = Casa Opuntia, Isabela Island = Volcano Hotel and Casita de La Playa, Santa Cruz Island = Isla Sol INCLUDED
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