Galapagos Safari Camp
The Galapagos Safari Camp invites you to enjoy an authentic and fulfilling Galapagos experience, surrounded by breathtaking views and memorable encounters with wildlife, all in discreet luxury. It is a family-owned property and the founders, Michael and Stephanie Mesdag, brought this travel tradition to the Galapagos inspired by the magic of the African safari camps. Bordering the National Park, in the Highlands of Santa Cruz, the tented camp is seamlessly integrated with its surroundings. You will be immersed in the environment while their team anticipates and takes care of your needs. Delight your eyes with the view from the main lodge, spotting an array of islands dotted in the horizon below. Relax in the lounge by the fireplace while enjoying a drink and savor the chef’s carefully crafted farm-to-table dishes.
It appeals to well-seasoned travelers who value personalization and attention to detail.
It appeals to well-seasoned travelers who value personalization and attention to detail.
It has nine safari tents located below the main lodge. Their spacious interiors are designed with comfort, practicality and elegance in mind. Imagine yourself finding a space that connects you with the sounds of nature and allows for a moment of serenity. The Camp now offers a three-bedroom family suite as an alternative to their luxury tents. Its location next to the main lodge makes it an ideal option for families who favour more private and cohesive lodging.The family suite, which sleeps six, features a master bedroom with a king-size bed,as well as two twin rooms, all with en suite bathrooms.The three bedrooms are interconnected, but they can also be accessed via their own private doors from the terrace.The master bath has a bathtub, double sinks, separate shower and separate toilet.There is a large wraparound terrace with some of the most wonderful views on our property, as well as a downstairs family/play room stocked with children’s toys, books and games.Meals are provided in the main lodge, but special family dinners can be served on the terrace upon request. During the summer holiday their Kid’s Club opens its doors in the afternoon so that children can be engaged in creative activities while parents have a moment of rest.
The Classic and Family Safari are sample programs which can be modified according to the clients requirements and the type of experience the client would like to have on the islands. The prices shown are only for those programs. These prices change according to the activities we include or exclude from the program. The prices in the Classic Safari are for shared boat excursions with a shared guide, and private guides for all land activities and all transfers and ground transportation are private.
In the Family Safari all prices are a shared boat excursion with a shared guide and private guides for all land activities. All transfers and ground transportation are private; we also include a Private Fishing Experience which is all private.
Private guides and private boat excursions are with extra cost. A range of a la carte options are available
In the Family Safari all prices are a shared boat excursion with a shared guide and private guides for all land activities. All transfers and ground transportation are private; we also include a Private Fishing Experience which is all private.
Private guides and private boat excursions are with extra cost. A range of a la carte options are available
Classic Safari - 5 Days |
Family Safari - 6 Days |
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Day 1 - In search of the giant tortoise
An English-speaking naturalist guide meets you at the VIP lounge at Baltra Airport to escort you on your excursion of the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Enjoy a delicious, locally-sourced lunch at a farm in the western hills. Take in the area’s natural beauty, pit craters, lava tunnels, and learn more about the Scalesia and Guayabillo forests. At the Tortoise Reserve, share some time in the giant tortoises’ natural habitat, surrounded by the abundant bird life of the area. End this day at Galapagos Safari Camp with a sunset cocktail followed by dinner. Days 2 & 3 - Explore neighboring islands In the early morning, go on a motor vessel to one of the neighboring islands: North Seymour, Bartolomé, Plazas, Santa Fé, Floreana or Isabela. Each island is an endemic treasure to explore and enjoy. The Galapagos Marine Reserve is the second largest marine reserve in the world, and snorkeling off the boat is highly recommended. Destinations will be given when we have your dates. Day 4 - Experience the east A morning drive takes you to the eastern part of the island. At 490m above sea level, Cerro Mesa Reserve offers spectacular views of the largest crater on Santa Cruz Island, exotic plants, and seven unique subspecies of finch and the elusive vermilion flycatcher. After lunch explore Garrapatero Beach, with stunning contrasts of mangroves, black lava, white sand, and turquoise water — including a flamingo lagoon. Kayaking and mountain biking are optional. Day 5 - Sunrise walk and departure Enjoy the serenity that Galapagos Safari Camp has to offer. Relax, walk, or enjoy the sunrise from our observatory before departure to your next destination. (Here’s where you’ll wish you had extended your journey!) . Included:
Dive Safari - 5 DaysDay 1 - In search of the giant tortoise
Welcome to the Galapagos! An English-speaking naturalist guide meets you at the VIP lounge at Baltra Airport to escort you on your excursion of the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Enjoy a delicious, locally-sourced lunch at a farm in the western hills. Take in the area’s natural beauty, pit craters, lava tunnels, and learn more about the Scalesia and Guayabillo forests. At the Tortoise Reserve, share some time in the giant tortoises’ natural habitat, surrounded by the abundant bird life of the area. End this day at Galapagos Safari Camp with a sunset cocktail followed by dinner. Days 2, 3 & 4 Diving – two daily submersions POSSIBLE DIVE SITES Floreana Island One of the older volcanic islands, Floreana, has an excellent selection of diverse dive sites. Most of the interesting activity takes place in the shallows where the current strikes the reefs. We have spotted Galapagos sharks, white tip reef sharks, turtles, sting rays, eagle rays, barracudas, sea lions, and reef fish. Gordon Rocks An eroded crater at the top of a tuff cone, Gordon Rocks is one of the best dive sites in the central islands. You might see hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef sharks, rays, green turtles, sea lions, Galapagos eels, barracudas, and reef fish. North Seymour Island Created by seismic uplift rather than volcanic origin, North Seymour is teeming with life. It is home to many species of shark, including Galapagos white tip and black tip, eagle rays, green turtles, Galapagos eels, barracudas, and more. Cousins Rock This is a triangular-shaped rock formation with a breath-taking vertical wall of black coral, invertebrates, and mollusks. It is a combination of shoal and wall diving, in the company of Pacific seahorses, frogfish, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef sharks, turtles, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, barracudas, sea lions, and reef fish. Bartolomé Island Despite being one of the younger islands, Bartolomé’s underwater world is stunning—with penguins as a highlight! There is a 10m-deep platform with an enormous variety of reef fish; and on the edge of the platform a 15m-deep submarine canyon, home to white tip reef sharks, mobula rays, stingrays, barracudas, turtles, and a variety of invertebrates and mollusks. Mosquera Islet This rocky islet is a popular gathering place for sea lions and an enormous colony of garden eels. The 21m drop-off is ideal for schools of eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and black tip reef sharks. Daphne Islet This is a drift dive along an impressive drop-off at the top of a sloping wall. Close to the islet you´ll discover coral areas bursting with sea urchins, starfish, and a plethora of cardinal fishes. The area is frequently visited by manta rays, green turtles, sea lions, grunts and snappers, sharks, and eagle rays. Day 5 - Sunrise walk and departure Enjoy the serenity that Galapagos Safari Camp has to offer. Relax, walk, or enjoy the sunrise from our observatory before departure to your next destination. (Here’s where you’ll wish you had extended your journey!) . Included:
Not Included:
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DAY 1 - Land of the giant tortoise
Your family’s naturalist guide meets you at Baltra Airport. You will cross the narrow Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, and then drive up to Galapagos Safari Camp. While you settle in, your guide will capture your children’s imagination with an overview of the animal species they are soon to encounter. After lunch, you may explore our 135 acre farm, pick local tropical fruit, harvest cacao seasonally, and spot local birds. Before sundown, visit the lava tunnels and search for giant tortoises roaming the National Tortoise Reserve adjacent to GSC. DAY 2 - Activity day After breakfast, visit a neighboring organic coffee plantation to learn about responsible small-scale farming in the Galapagos, and the children have a chance to pick coffee beans if season allows. Then drive to the enormous Cerro Mesa crater for a short walk in the wetlands that is home to a wonderful variety of birds and the occasional bathing tortoise. After lunch at a local restaurant, jump on bikes for a downhill ride to Garrapatero Beach, where the contrast of mangroves, black lava, white sand, and turquoise water, along with its birdlife and flamingo lagoon, is magnificent. Explore the bay in sea kayaks, accompanied by marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and countless shorebirds. In the evening, back at GSC, parents can relax while the children take a private art class with a local artist. DAY 3 - Explore an uninhabited island Spend the day spotting wildlife and snorkeling on one of the uninhabited islands easily accessed by a day-yacht from Santa Cruz Island. The exact island location depends on travel dates, but options include North Seymour, South Plazas, Santa Fe, and Bartolomé, all of which are rich in wildlife and offer wonderful snorkeling opportunities. Please note this is a shared boat excursion unless requested otherwise. Destination will depend on your dates. DAY 4 - Fishing Adventure An excursion with local fishermen is a favorite among children visiting us. This excursion is both a wildlife experience and a cultural exchange opportunity. We are involved in a program with the National Park Service that aims to engage local fisherman in tourism activities as an alternative means of income, with the added benefit of protecting local fisheries from depletion. The fishermen have very safe and modern speedboats, which we charter privately for the day. With your guide acting as translator, the fishermen share anecdotes from a lifetime at sea, and the children learn local fishing tricks. After fishing, you’ll land on a deserted beach and may snorkel in a spot known only to locals. If you prefer to limit fishing and enhance the snorkeling or beach experience, your guide is there to adapt the day to your preferences. DAY 5 - Charles Darwin Research Station and bay tour Visit the famous Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about its preservation efforts and scientific research. The children will have an up-close experience with the tortoises that are the islands’ namesake. Parents can enjoy free time to wander around Puerto Ayora, while your guide takes the children to a local playground or on a tour of the local fish market on the waterfront. After lunch, take a speedboat to Tortuga Bay, a white sandy beach with basking marine iguanas, and shallow turquoise waters teeming with white-tip reef sharks and fish. Or you can join a snorkeling boat that will take you to frolic with sea lions. Day 6 - Sunrise walk and departure Enjoy the serenity that Galapagos Safari Camp has to offer. Relax, walk, or enjoy the sunrise from our observatory before departure to your next destination. (Here’s where you’ll wish you had extended your journey!). Included:
Not Included:
2020 Prices per person in US$:
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