Deluxe Galapagos Island Hopping
Get the best of both worlds by exploring an active volcano in the Galapagos Islands, together with day trips to visitor sites of the National Park & Marine Reserve. The Finch Bay Eco Hotel (Santa Cruz Island) joins forces with Scalesia Lodge (Isabela Island) to develops a stunning 8 day program in the Galapagos including inter-island flights, day trips on the Yacht Sea Lion, luxury tents up in the highlands of Isabela Island, and visits to remote places that no other “island hopping” trip will ever experience, with a chance to see 12 of the "Big 15" most iconic Galapagos species.
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Day 1: Fly from Ecuador’s mainland to the Galapagos Islands (Baltra Island) and take a very scenic inter-island flight to Isabela Island. INTER ISLAND FLIGHTS limit to 10kg (22lbs) per passenger´s check-in luggage. If needed, some luggage could be sent directly to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel, where you will arrive Monday afternoon (DAY 4). Check in at Scalesia Lodge where you will eat lunch before heading out on your first afternoon of discovery. Afternoon visit to Sucre´s cave, located 14Km from Villamil Port, placed in the agricultural area of the Island. Enjoy a short walk to appreciate the typical vegetation and endemic plants. Continue to Mirador de Mango from where you have panoramic views of southern Isabela and the agricultural area. This is also a place for finch birds’ observation. Return to the hotel by dinner. Overnight at Scalesia Lodge (-/L/D)
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Deluxe Safari Tented Room
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Day 2: Enjoy an early breakfast before setting out to explore Isabela Island and its top feature: Sierra Negra Volcano. Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes of the archipelago, its recent eruption took place in 2005. This crater is considered one of the largest in the world with a whopping 10 Kilometre diameter. Volcan Chico is the youngest flank of Sierra Negra, near it´s northern rim. The walk along the crater provides spectacular vistas of the barren volcanic floor, where the older and recent volcanic flows contrast in different shades of black basalt. A box lunch is served alongside the crater rim. Dinner and overnight at Scalesia Lodge. (B/L/D)
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Day 3: “Tintoreras” is a group of islets, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil. Reachable only by boat, Tintoreras includes a short walk alongside a maze of narrow lava crevices, broken “AA” lava flows, sandy beaches and stunning coves framed by Mangroves. Its wildlife ranges from basking marine iguanas, perched boobies and pelicans, stalking herons, Galapagos penguins, Sea lions, turtles and white tipped sharks (locally known as tintoreras). Back to Scalesia Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon free time to enjoy the magical beach of Puerto Villamil or enjoy one of the following activities for extra cost: biking, surfing or kayaking. Dinner and overnight at Scalesia Lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 4: After breakfast, Scalesia Lodge´s staff will bring us back to Puerto Villamil’s airport. A short, but interesting flight will bring us back to Baltra, where we will board Yacht Sea Lion for a short cruise to North Seymour Island, voted as one of the top four islands in Galapagos for its animal colonies. Seven of the "Big 15" may be spotted here!. Marvel at the sight of Galapagos sea lions and fur seals, blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. Torchwood trees and prickly pears, pillow lava boulders and white sand add to an unforgettable landscape. Lunch on board Yacht Sea Lion. Afternoon cruise to Itabaca Channel and drive across the island Santa Cruz to reach Puerto Ayora. Finch Bay Eco Hotel lies a short dinghy ride and a few steps among mangroves apart from the town. Dinner is up to you: choose the hotel´s signature cuisine or one of the many options in town. Overnight at the Finch Bay. (B/L/-)
Day 5: Start the day with the Finch Bay’s generous breakfast, featuring local and international favourites, before leaving for El Manzanillo. Located in the loftier region of the island, Manzanillo is within the natural path of one of Santa Cruz’ species of giant tortoises. A short walk will lead you to the grazing grounds and water ponds where these giant reptiles wallow in mood pools. The cooler highlands are also home to many interesting land birds, plants and trees exclusive to these islands. We will stop briefly at the Twin Craters, Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will stop briefly at a local sustainable ranch before returning to enjoy the hotel facilities. You are free for dinner. Overnight at Finch Bay Eco Hotel. (B/L/-)
Day 6: After breakfast, we will board Yacht Sea Lion minutes away from the hotel at Academy Bay. The yacht will cruise to Santa Fe, an impressive volcanic island 16 nautical miles away from Puerto Ayora. After a wet landing on a fantastic white sandy beach amongst basking sea lions, we walk along a rocky terrain to find the island´s highlights the endemic Santa Fe land iguana patiently waiting under the enormous giant cacti for falling fruits and pads. Other relevant species today are pelicans, boobies and the archipelago´s top predator, the Galapagos Hawk. Return to the yacht and enjoy one of Galapagos best snorkelling sites. Lunch on board Yacht Sea Lion. Upon the cruise back to Puerto Ayora, we scan the sea surface for pelagic birds and whales. Enjoy cocktails around the pool and stay for dinner or make it a night on the town. Overnight at Finch Bay Eco Hotel. (B/L/-)
Day 7: This is the magic of Galápagos: a short distance away from Academy Bay and the bustle of Puerto Ayora, lies the quiet and wildlife-rich Divine Bay. Named after one of the islands first settlers, this cove is protected from the swells by natural volcanic reefs on one side, by a gallery of mangrove trees on the other and cliffs created eons ago by the uplift of the lava plateau. The whole provides a wonderful natural shelter for wildlife.
We can explore this lovely cove by boat while more adventurous guests could take the tandem, sit-on-top kayaks straight from the hotel’s beachfront. The morning’s visit includes snorkelling on a calm, but active, sector of the cove. This is next to a wooden dock we use to explore Punta Estrada. A dry landing and a short walk (0.5 km) will lead us to the south shore of the island, to a small beach called “Playa de los Perros” (Dog Beach). This is a great place to see intertidal organisms and learn about marine iguanas in their nesting sites. Also, there’s a nearby natural terrace from where young white tipped reef sharks can be observed from above as they swim about the lava crevices.
After this morning’s visit, we return to the Finch Bay Hotel. Afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise-breeding programme, with time to enjoy the town, or the hotel’s facilities.(B/)
Day 8: Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we leave the Finch Bay Hotel and on the way to Baltra, stop at the Twin Pit Craters, great geological depressions of volcanic material, formed by a long process of slow sinking of the ground, where exceptional Scalesia trees, ferns, mosses and orchids can be seen in the surroundings. Then, overland transfer to the airport in Baltra to take the flight back to the continent. (B)
We can explore this lovely cove by boat while more adventurous guests could take the tandem, sit-on-top kayaks straight from the hotel’s beachfront. The morning’s visit includes snorkelling on a calm, but active, sector of the cove. This is next to a wooden dock we use to explore Punta Estrada. A dry landing and a short walk (0.5 km) will lead us to the south shore of the island, to a small beach called “Playa de los Perros” (Dog Beach). This is a great place to see intertidal organisms and learn about marine iguanas in their nesting sites. Also, there’s a nearby natural terrace from where young white tipped reef sharks can be observed from above as they swim about the lava crevices.
After this morning’s visit, we return to the Finch Bay Hotel. Afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise-breeding programme, with time to enjoy the town, or the hotel’s facilities.(B/)
Day 8: Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we leave the Finch Bay Hotel and on the way to Baltra, stop at the Twin Pit Craters, great geological depressions of volcanic material, formed by a long process of slow sinking of the ground, where exceptional Scalesia trees, ferns, mosses and orchids can be seen in the surroundings. Then, overland transfer to the airport in Baltra to take the flight back to the continent. (B)
NOTES:
Itineraries: Itineraries are subject to change without notice. The sequence of visits might be altered depending on arrival of flights to Baltra or Isabela Islands, National Park requirements, weather conditions, or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control.
7 or 6 day itineraries are also available
IMPORTANT BAGGAGE NOTES:
Please separate if needed, luggage for the first 3 nights at Scalesia Lodge, since the inter-island flight luggage restriction is half the weight permitted by the flights to Galapagos:
Itineraries: Itineraries are subject to change without notice. The sequence of visits might be altered depending on arrival of flights to Baltra or Isabela Islands, National Park requirements, weather conditions, or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control.
7 or 6 day itineraries are also available
IMPORTANT BAGGAGE NOTES:
Please separate if needed, luggage for the first 3 nights at Scalesia Lodge, since the inter-island flight luggage restriction is half the weight permitted by the flights to Galapagos:
- FLIGHTS TO GALAPAGOS: 23kg (50lbs.) for checked bags.
- INTER-ISLAND FLIGHTS: 11kg (25lbs.) for checked bags.
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Dates: Starts on any day, as long as space is available
2021 Rates: standard rooms: US$4658 per person in double, US$7179 in single suites: US$5057 per person in double, US$7977 in single Included
* Air transportation to / from Galapagos and airport taxes (subject to change without previous notice) * Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$ 100 subject to change without previous notice) * Migration Control Card (US$ 20 subject to change without previous notice) * Meals not mentioned in programme itinerary. * Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages * Gratuities * Gifts and additional items * Multisport optional activities (sea kayaks, diving, mountain biking) * Internet / Wi-Fi * Travel insurance * Laundry service * Any item not mentioned previously Recommendations:
Packing List
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"I had been meaning to let you know that the trip was absolutely fabulous! Scalesia Lodge was incredible. The owners have built an ecologically smart compound and we loved our tent! Finch Bay was also wonderful. Very sophisticated with great service. I was also very pleased with the itinerary. The boat trips were spectacular and overall I feel we saw quite a lot. Thanks very much for your assistance!" Nick 
Scalesia Lodge Main Building
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