SharkSky 8-day tour

SharkSky 8-day tour

No two islands in the Galapagos are the same—each offers its own unique geology and biodiversity. This 8 days island hopping takes you to some of the best spots in the Galapagos on four different islands to spot marine iguanas, sea lions, frigate birds, penguins, tortoises and turtles, blue-footed boobies, pelicans and more. 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: San Cristobal Interpretation Center, 2 km Southwest of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Ecuador
You will be picked up at the airport by your private certified guide who will take you to the hotel. After your lunch with the guide, you will visit the Interpretation Center, where he will explain to you about the formation, colonization and actual situation of the islands. You will then follow the trail to the Frigate bird hill, a viewpoint from which you have a beautiful view over the island. You will be able to snorkel in the shallow waters of Tijeretas Bay or Carola Beach (according to the tide your guide will take you to the best spot), where you can see sea lions, various tropical fish, and turtles. Your small hike will finish at Carola Beach from where you will go back to the hotel and have your evening free.

For dinner, you have several options in town to choose as the Descanso Marinero for delicious seafood, the Midori famous for its sushis, the Guiseppe’s for pizzas and the Rincon de Sebas for its excellent empanadas and local meals.

Tour with a private guide
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Algarrobos or Pimampiro

Superior class: Blue Marlin or Casa Playa Mann

First class: Golden Bay

Day 2: San Cristóbal

Stop At: San Cristobal Interpretation Center, 2 km Southwest of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Ecuador
Today we give you the option of going to one of these 2 excursions: (please let us know your preference when booking)

Tour 1 – Lobos Island (mostly hiking): On a 30 min boat ride from the port you arrive on Lobos Island; as its name 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 eating, as well as rays and turtles in the sandy bottom that separates Lobos Island from the mainland of San Cristobal. This tour includes a stop at Playa Ochoa. In the early afternoon, you will be back at the port and have free time for the rest of the afternoon.

Boat tour shared with max 16 people

Tour 2 – Kicker Rock (mostly snorkeling): You will visit the famous Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido – Sleeping Lion), a volcanic formation amid the ocean. There you will be able to snor-kel 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. In the afternoon you will return to the port. The rest of the day is at your leisure. You can watch the sunset on Playa Mann or go to Loberia (about $5 each way by taxi). There you can walk the Barranco Cliff Trail.

Shared tour max 12 on board

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Algarrobos or Pimampiro

Superior class: Blue Marlin or Casa Playa Mann

First class: Golden Bay

Day 3: San Cristóbal - Isabela

Stop At: Isabela Island, Galapagos, 010850 Ecuador
In the morning we will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the airport, where you will do your check-in for the flight to Isabela (estimated elapsed time: 40 min.).

Morning free, you can walk to the Tortoise Breeding Center or to the Flamingo Lagoon. After lunch, you will visit Tintoreras, a small islet at 10mn navigation away from the port. No plants or animals have ever been brought to this island. First, you will have a panga ride looking for the small Galapagos penguins and sea lions. Then you will hike on the islet looking for marine iguanas, and sometimes you can even see white-tipped sharks resting in a lava tunnel. After-ward, you can snorkel in the bay to spot different fish, sea turtles, rays and penguins (order of activities depending on the tides). The evening is at your free disposal. You can have a drink at the beach-front bar de Beto, for sunset, or at the Casa Rosada. For dinner, we recommend the Coco Surf, Red Lobster or Isabela Grill, but you have other several options in town to choose.

Shared plane to Isabela (max 9 people) and shared boat tour (max 16 people)

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Iguana or Cally

Superior class: Beach House or Casita de la Playa

First class: Iguana Crossing

Day 4: Isabela

Stop At: Isabela Island, Galapagos, 010850 Ecuador
Sierra Negra Volcano: You will go by bus to the highlands and hike to Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. Sierra Negra has the second largest active crater in the world, around 10kms, it is very impressive. As you continue to Chico Volcano, you will pass through impressive lava sceneries, and you will have breathtaking views of the north side of the island and of Fernan-dina Island. In total, it’s a 16kms hike (not steep but long hike, duration approx. 6 hours). A small lunch box is provided.

Shared tour max 16 people
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Iguana or Cally

Superior class: Beach House or Casita de la Playa

First class: Iguana Crossing

Day 5: Isabela

Stop At: Isabela Island, Galapagos, 010850 Ecuador
Cabo Rosa (“Tuneles”): You go by boat to Cabo Rosa (45 mn boat ride), 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. The rest of the day is at leisure. You can enjoy the beautiful beach in Isabela or you can snorkel in the Concha de Perla Lagoon (snorkel equipment in the free time is not included, but can be hired locally).

Shared tour max 10 people on board
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Iguana or Cally

Superior class: Beach House or Casita de la Playa

First class: Iguana Crossing

Day 6: Isabela - Santa Cruz

Stop At: Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador
At 5:20 am we will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the pier, where you will take the shared speed boat at 6:00 am to Santa Cruz (approx. 2-hour ride). At the harbor, our staff will welcome you and accompany you for breakfast. After check-in, your guide will drive you to a ranch in the highlands to see giant tortoises in their native environment! After lunch, you will stop at Cerro Mesa Reserve, where you can observe a huge crater, a remnant of the time when Santa Cruz was still a volcanic active island. You will continue to Garrapatero Beach where you will have the opportunity to swim. In the evening, you will be free to wander around Santa Cruz. You can choose among a lot of restaurants in town for dinner. The Kioskos are a great option as well to enjoy a delicious typical meal. Every night, a street in the center of Puerto Ayora is closed to traffic where restaurants put tables and chairs so the guests can eat outside. We recommend you a walk at night along the pier where you can often spot juvenile blacktip sharks swimming!

Shared boat to Santa Cruz (max 30 people) and then visits with a private guide

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Hotel Déjà Vu or Posada del Mar

Superior class: Villa Laguna or Silberstein

First class: Angermeyer WF

Day 7: Uninhabited island

Stop At: Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador
You will participate in a yacht tour to an uninhabited Island. That will either be Santa Fé, Plazas, Bartolomé or Seymour. The destination will depend on availability, weekday and program of the National Park. We will let you know immediately which island is available when you book the tour. On Santa Fé and Plazas you can spot endemic land iguanas. Bartolomé is known for beautiful lava sceneries and on Seymour, you can see frigate birds, land iguanas, and blue-footed boobies.

Shared tour max 20 on board
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Tourist class: Hotel Déjà Vu or Posada del Mar

Superior class: Villa Laguna or Silberstein

First class: Angermeyer WF

Day 8: Santa Cruz - Baltra Airport

Stop At: Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador
If there is enough free time until your transfer to the airport we suggest that you visit the Charles Darwin Station (entrance free). Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. For the last part of your trip to the air-port, you will take the public bus. Your driver will accompany you to the check-in point where your program ends with your return flight to the mainland. Baltra is the world’s first green air-port!

Private transfer to the airport

Duration: 1 hour

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