The Galapagos Islands are home to distinct species and populations of animals, including penguins, iguanas, sea lions, turtles, and more. Wildlife in the Galapagos Islands are uniquely unafraid of humans. This program is a more economic way to explore the Galapagos Islands, a land based tour. Activities in this program include swimming, snorkeling, with marine animals, hiking, bird watching, and walking among giant Galapagos tortoises.
Ages 2-80, max of 16 per group
Duration: 6 days
Start time: According to your flight to Galapagos, we recommend you to land not later than 1pm
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
Departure and return
Start:
End:
Accommodation:
Hotel Galapagos Dreams in Santa Cruz Island
Hotel Gran Tintorera in Isabela Island
Or Similars!
Day 1: Transfer In From Baltra Airport+ Highlands
HIGHLANDS: From the Village of Santa Rosa you can hike down through the Guayabillo forest to the Tortoise Reserve, though it is easier to view them on one of the farms where they share the fields with cattle, watch out for the only “TORTOISE CROSSING” signs in the world !
There are also many mosses, ferns and other epiphytes on the trees, watch out for the small and large tree Finches, from Los Gemelos the road descends in a straight line to Itabaca Channel which separates Santa Cruz from Baltra, almost immediately it turns into the transitional zone and then, in marked contrast to the south side, there is a very long dry-zone.
From the Village of Santa Rosa you can hike down through the Guayabillo forest to the Tortoise Reserve, though it is easier to view them on one of the farms where they share the fields with cattle, watch out for the only “TORTOISE CROSSING” signs in the world !
Day 2: Day tour to North Seymour
North Seymour and Bachas Land and Snorkling trip.
AM:North Seymour, Island was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, and its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. Cliffs only a few meters high form the shoreline, where swallow-tailed gulls sit perched in ledges. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom.
This island is teaming with life! You might have to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana; blue-footed booby nests sit beside the trail where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Further along, the rocky shore displays white sand, and large flocks of pelicans mass for a dive-bomb feeding frenzy, rendering a tableau for us from ages long past. The trail turns inland to reveal the largest nesting site in the Galapagos of the “magnificent frigate bird.” These huge, dark acrobats have two-meter wingspans, and males, with puffed up scarlet throat sacks; sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks.
PM: Las Bachas a sandy white-coral beach that is a major egg-laying site for sea turtles. On the shore, there are many marine iguanas and in the lagoon, flamingos are commonly seen. This beach is also a good place for swimming and snorkeling.
Day 3: Day tour to Pinzon
Pinzón Island, sometimes called Duncan Island (after Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan), is an island in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Pinzón is home to giant Galápagos tortoises of the endemic subspecies Chelonoidis duncanensis, Galápagos sea lions and other endemic species. It has no visitor facilities and a permit is required to visit. It has an area of 18 km2 and a maximum altitude of 458 meters.
Pinzón marks the geographical center of the Galápagos Islands, but neither of the two main Galápagos tree species are present. In the humid zone a unique species of daisy tree is found. An infestation of non-native rats began in the mid 18th century with the arrival of European sailors. The rats devastated the tortoise population by eating their eggs and young hatchlings that were too small to defend themselves. In 2012, conservationists dropped bait on the island designed to attract and kill the rats. The experiment worked and the island is now rat-free. In December 2014, the first new generation of tortoise hatchlings were spotted on Pinzón
Endemic Fauna: Penguins, Galapagos Sharks, White-tip Reef Sharks, Rays, Reef Fish
Difficulty: Moderate: open-water snorkeling from boat (no disembarkation on Pinzon island)
Day 4: Ferry to Isabela + Tintoreras
TINTORERAS, where we can do some snorkeling and watch the different species of fishes, corals and resting sea turtles. Then we’ll continue with the boat along the coast watching species like: blue-footed boobies, penguins, pelicans and frigate birds. Reaching the Isle of TINTORERAS, we’ll get to know the blue shark, marine iguanas and sea lions. Most of the part of this island is formed by AA lava
Day 5: Los Tuneles + Ferry Back To Santa Cruz
Los Tuneles. Canals in the lava rocks with bridges and caves. Cactus grow on the rocks and many big turtles, rays and fish can be seen swimming in the canals and pools filled with sea-water. The tour usually costs $110+ and includes snorkeling at a similar nearby site where sea-horses and sharks can be seen.
I had heard a lot about Los Tuneles, but the one thing that made me want to go there was this: “It’s like snorkeling in an aquarium.”
It takes about an hour to get to Los Tuneles from Puerto Villamil, but what a glorious hour it is! There is an oceanic path of sorts that is primarily shallow water near the shore. So on the way, we got to see giant manta on the surface, so many sea turtles I was afraid we might run over one, and of course, those vistas on the land.
Day 6: Transfer Out To Baltra Airport
Our Terms and Conditions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/149i8IzfQdZrmjAsjpDYkeDHDbDhREmNBKDpaoq_m6yQ/edit?usp=drive_link
