6-Days Galapagos Islands Highlights Tour

6-Days Galapagos Islands Highlights Tour

Enjoy a 6-days tour of the Galapagos Islands in which you'll visit 4 islands to see the best highlights of this archipelago without spending all your savings! You will be accompanied by a local, knowledgeable guide and be in a small-group for more personalized attention. You will be able to spot marine iguanas, sea lions, frigate birds, penguins, tortoises and turtles, blue footed and nazca boobies, pelicans and more. We provide the snorkel equipment and wetsuits, so there are no hidden costs; just bring extra cash for after tour beers, tips and souvenirs to bring home. If you do not want to be stuck on a boat, want to join a fun group and enjoy the Galapagos as its best, don’t hesitate!

Itinerary

Day 1: San Cristóbal

Stop At: La Loberia, Ecuador
We will pick you up on arrival at the airport of San Cristobal Island and take you to the hotel. After a nice Ecuadorian lunch with the guide, you will visit Loberia: a beautiful beach with a great snorkeling spot! During the snorkel you may find sea turtles, rays, sea lions and many species of colorful fishes. After that you will do a nice hike to a cliff where you can observe many marine iguanas and birds such as blue footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and frigate birds. In the afternoon you go back to the hotel and get ready for dinner.

Difficulty: EASY

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Algarrobos or similar

Superior class: Casa Playa Mann or similar


Day 2: San Cristóbal

Stop At: Isla Lobos, San Cristobal Island, Galapagos, 120506 Ecuador
Today we give you the option of going to one of these 3 excursions: (please let us know your preference when booking)

Option 1 – LOBOS ISLAND (more hiking): On a 30 min boat ride from the port you arrive on Lobos Island; as it names implies, home to a large sea lion colony. But that’s not the only thing you’ll find while you’ll hike and snorkel at the island on this half day tour. During the hike, you hopefully spot blue footed boobies, marine iguanas and frigate birds, while during snorkeling you can often see the marine iguanas eat-ing, as well as rays and turtles in the sandy bottom that separates Lobos Island from the main-land of San Cristobal. This tour includes a stop at Playa Ochoa. In the early afternoon you will be back at the port.

Difficulty: EASY
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Kicker Rock, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Ecuador
Option 2 – KICKER ROCK (more snorkeling): You will visit the famous Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido – sleeping Lion), a volcanic formation amid the ocean. There you will be able to snorkel with sharks, rays, turtles and if you are lucky also with hammerhead sharks! After lunch on the boat you will go to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you will have time to relax. Shared tour max 12 on board

Difficulty: MEDIUM (snorkeling in open water)
Duration: 7 hours

Stop At: Galapagos Islands, South Pacific Ocean, Ecuador
Option 3 – ESPANOLA ISLAND (more hiking): Departure by boat to Española island (additional cost 126,-$ per person). The boat ride takes 1h30 each way approx. At arrival you will disembark at Punta Suarez where you will begin a hike, looking for Nazca and blue footed boobies. After the hike you will go back on board for lunch and then reach a snorkel spot where those who want can enjoy a snorkel session and look for tropical fishes, rays. Back to San Cristobal port in the end of the afternoon. Please note: Albatrosses are not on the island from late December to beginning of April approx. Still you have a lot of wildlife to see. After the tour you have a bit of free time and then you will meet with the whole group for din-ner where the guide will give you the details for the next day.

DIFFICULTY: EASY

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Algarrobos or similar

Superior class: Casa Playa Mann or similar

Day 3: San Cristóbal – Floreana - Isabela

Stop At: Asilo de la Paz, Ecuador
Breakfast will be served in your hotel. Then you will be picked-up to go to the pier where you depart around 7AM to Floreana island. The private boat rides last for about 2,5 hours. Upon arrival, you will visit the highlands, a place called Peace Asylum, where the first colonists of the islands settled - the guide will tell you all about the mysteries. During the short hike you will be able to spot Galapagos giant tortoises. After lunch in the small village “Puerto Velasco Ibarra” you will go snorkeling at a beautiful, black sanded beach nearby the pier. Afterwards you will continue on the boat to Isabela Island (approximately 1,5 hour ride). Isabela is one of the youngest islands which still has moderate volcanic activity. It’s a beautiful island with a long white sandy beach and a clear bay located near to the pier. Upon arrival you will be driven in a taxi,bus or chiva to the Flamingo Lagoon to spot these beautiful animals (if time allows, otherwise it will be re-scheduled throughout the stay in Isabela). After that, you will get a transfer to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

Difficulty: EASY
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Iguana or similar

Superior class: Beach House or similar


Day 4: Isabela

Stop At: Volcan Chico, Isabela Island, 010850 Ecuador
Today you must choose upon booking between the Volcano (trekking tour) and Cabo Rosa (snorkeling tour as a supplement)!

Option 1 - VOLCANO HIKE (included in the price)

Early in the morning you will be picked-up and driven towards the highlands: You will start a 16km trekking (6 hours!) to the Sierra Negra and Chico volcano. The first stop on the hike is the Sierra Negra Volcano, which has the second largest active crater in the world of 10km diameter. The second part of the hike takes you to Chico, a cone of Sierra Negra with moon-like sceneries. This gives you an idea of how the islands looked at their creation. After you’re returned from the volcano, you will be transported to a local farm where lunch will be served. Back at the hotel around 3:30 PM.

Difficulty: MEDIUM
Duration: 8 minutes

Stop At: Isabela Island, Galapagos, 010850 Ecuador
Option 2 - CABO ROSA TUNNELS: THIS OPTION HAS AN EXTRA COST!

If you prefer snorkeling over hiking this is a great opportunity. You can take the excursion to Cabo Rosa (45 mn boat ride each way), where lava has flowed into the ocean and formed beautiful lava tunnels. There you may see penguins, blue-footed boobies and sea turtles. However, the Highlight is snorkeling. You have the chance to see sharks, sea turtles, sea lions, rays, seahorses and many tropical fishes. The tour to Cabo Rosa takes about 5 hours.

Difficulty: EASY
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Iguana or similar

Superior class: Beach House or similar


Day 5: Isabela – Santa Cruz

Stop At: Las Tintoreras, Puerto Villamil Ecuador
In the morning you will visit the Tintoreras Islet near the pier, where you have a short hike and snorkel. There you can spot small Galapagos penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and often you can even spot white-tipped sharks in one of the channels. Afterwards you will continue with our private boat to Santa Cruz (2 hours).

Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, South-West of the town of Puerto Ayora, 200350 Ecuador
Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel to get ready for lunch and change for the after-noon program. Once finished with lunch you will take a boat to the Tortuga Bay beach (20min ride), where spot a huge marine iguana colony and enjoy a last swim into the Galapagos wa-ters. On the return from Tortuga Bay you will walk 3 km back to Puerto Ayora, passing through a giant endemic cactus forest.

Difficulty: EASY TO MEDIUM

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Deja Vu or similar

Superior class: Villa Laguna or similar


Day 6: Santa Cruz – Baltra airport

Pass By: North Seymour Island, Ecuador
In the morning you will reach the airport with a stop to visit a lava tunnel. Sometimes you can spot a Galapagos owl. You will be accompanied until the check- in point where your pro-gram ends with your return flight to the mainland. Baltra is the world’s first green airport!


Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.