8 Days 7 Nights Santa Cruz and Isabela Island Hopping
8 Days 7 Nights Santa Cruz and Isabela Galapagos Tour
Day 1. Arrival to Baltra. Santa Cruz Transfer in and Highlands Tortoises
After pickup at Baltra airport, you will head to the upper part of Santa Cruz with your guide, where you can see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The turtles roam the ranches that border the National Park, you can also visit the “lava tunnels” that show us the magnitude of the magna and how it froze in time. Afternoon continue to Puerto Ayora Town and explore on your own La Ratonera Beach or Charles Darwin Scientific Station. Dinner on your own at one of the Local Restaurants from town.
Possible Fauna: Giant Tortoises, Sea Lions, Bird Species: Smooth billed Ani, Common Gallinule, Cattle Egret, Galapagos Flycatcher, Galapagos Mockingbird, Yellow Warbler, Green-warbler Finch, Woodpecker Finch, Small Tree-finch, Small Ground-finch, Medium Ground-finch, White-cheeked Pintail, Galapagos Rail, Barn Owl, Comb Duck, Galapagos Hawk, Striated Heron, Great Blue Heron and others.
- Meals Included: Lunch
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Private Naturalist Guide
Day 2. Full Day to North Seymour Island or South Plazas
Pick up from your hotel and continue to Itabaca Channel, where we will board the Galaxy Daily. After arriving in North Seymour, we will have a dry landing and immediately start hiking on a 2.5 km trail where we can go clockwise along the coast or head inland first to visit the colony of blue-footed boobies. Get ready to spot land iguanas and marine iguanas; also, a colony of sea lions, lava lizards, frigates, and pelicans! Lunch on-board and afternoon snorkelling in Bachas Beach.
Possible Fauna: Lava Lizards, Green Sea Turtles, Rays, Galapagos Penguin, Sooty Shearwater, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Blue-footed Booby, Nazca Booby, Red-footed Booby, American Flamingo, Brown Noody, Galapagos Petrel, Common Cactus Finch, Red-billed Tropicbird, Black-bellied Plover, Red-necked Phalarope, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Brujo Flycatcher, Galapagos Hawk.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch on board
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide aboard Galaxy Daily
Day 3. Full Day Bartolome Island
This island, with its iconic pinnacle, is located northwest of Santa Cruz. Upon arriving at Bartolome, we will have a dry landing. Then, we will begin the walk along a path that will take us to the top of the island, through its 395 steps that will end with a spectacular panoramic view of the island and its pinnacle. During the walk, we will observe small lava tunnels that are the product of the last eruption and where endemic vegetation grow, such as lava cacti and tiquilla plants, generally surrounded by Darwin’s finches. Afternoon snorkelling near Bartolome Island for possible Sea Turtles and Galapagos Penguins.
Possible Fauna: Galapagos Penguin, Blue-footed Booby, Galapagos Hawk, American Oystercatcher, Lava Gull, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Blue Heron, Striated Heron, Laughing Gull, Galapagos Dove, Swallow-tailed Gull, Galapagos Petrel, Franklins Gull, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Red Phalarope, Large-Tree Finch and White-tipped Shark, Rays, Sea Turtles.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch on board
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide aboard Galaxy Daily
Day 4. Tortuga Bay and Grietas Trail
Tortuga Bay, a beach paradise on Santa Cruz Island with its white sand beach, a nesting site for sea turtles, offering an opportunity to witness their nesting and hatching cycles. Observe marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies, enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of this protected area. Morning hike to Tortuga Bay and afternoon explore Las Grietas near Playa de los Alemanes with snorkelling.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Private Naturalist Guide
Day 5. Speedboat transfer to Isabela and Tintoreras Tour
In the morning you will take a speedboat from Santa Cruz to Isabela. In Isabela at your arrival a guide will drive you to your hotel. Then you will visit Tintoreras Islets, that are a group of small islets known for their amazing marine life, including the presence of white-tip sharks, known as tintoreras. Take a walk along the lava trails to observe marine iguanas, sea lions and endemic birds.
- Meals Included: Breakfast
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide
Day 6. Full Day Tuneles and Cabo Rosa Tour
On this day you will visit The Tunnels, also known as "The Lava Tunnels", are an outstanding geological formation and snorkeling site in the Galapagos Islands. This labyrinth of underwater lava formations creates natural shallow pools, ideal for exploring marine life. The underwater arches and tunnels are home to diverse species such as sharks, rays, sea turtles and tropical fish.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide
Day 7. Full Day Sierra Negra Volcanoe Tour
Sierra Negra, a geological jewel in the Galapagos Islands, is a volcanic caldera, the largest in the world and offers a surreal and spectacular landscape. Enjoy a hike along the trails to appreciate the panoramic views of the caldera and its surroundings, as well as the opportunity to observe endemic flora and fauna.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Private Naturalist Guide
Day 8. Transfer to the Isabela Airport. Inter-island Flight to Baltra.
After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport. Flight to Baltra Airport. Then continue in your Flight to Guayaquil or Quito (not included). End of Services.
*Galaxy Daily Yatch is subject to availability
Important: EBT_-_Galaxy_Daily_Yatch_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Hotels Category in Santa Cruz Island
Tourist Class: Hotel Fiesta Galapagos, First Class: Ikala Hotel Galapagos, Luxury Class: Finch Bay Galapagos
Hotels Category in Isabela Island
Tourist Class: Casita de la Playa, First Class: La Casa de Marita, Luxury Class: Iguana Crossing