GALAPAGOS ESSENTIALS 7 DAYS

Experience the Galapagos Islands from the comfort of a land-based expedition! The islands offer endless opportunities to explore a unique abundance of life in a setting unlike any other on earth. The Galapagos form a natural sanctuary that preserves species, allowing them to evolve since countless millennia. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such insight with so much wildlife. This holiday also provides flexible time to spend on your own and discover them with the sand beaches well-signed trails in the Galapagos forest, and the lots of wildlife. Enjoy real time encounter with the most amazing wildlife up your finger tips and discover the power nature with the evolutionary changes of such a unique animals. Snorkel through lava formations with sea turtles, penguins, sea horses, sea lions and sharks at Lava Tunnels.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Quito City

Stop At: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
Welcome to Quito! The biggest, best-preserved colonial city of America was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and the second most important city of the old Inca Empire. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. Adventure Journeys can help you to organize a day trip. In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel for a welcome briefing and there will be plenty of time to discuss details and answer any questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an informational and acclimation day.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Dann Carlton Hotel or Similar

Day 2: Travel day to Galapagos

Stop At: Reserva El Chato, Isla Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry and then continuing by car. Your first stop will be at the highlands of Santa Cruz. The Highlands home of the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies, After this tour, you will continue by private transport to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with a local guide who will explain the following days itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to explore this beautiful Island.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel Fiesta or Similar

Day 3: Bay Tour Exploration

Stop At: Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador
Today after breakfast you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with sea lions and all kinds of colourful fish. Here you can see the blue-footed boobies. etc. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below. Afterwards, take a walk to ‘Playa de los Perros’ where many sea iguanas are found resting in the sun. The enormous cacti, the red colour of the rocks and the turquoise colour of the ocean make for great photo opportunities.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel Fiesta or Similar

Day 4: Free time and travel to San Cristobal Island

Stop At: San Cristobal Interpretation Center, 2 km Southwest of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Ecuador
Enjoy a morning at leisure or explore the beautiful island Santa Cruz on your own. In the afternoon you will be met and transferred from your hotel to the dock of Santa Cruz from where you will take a boat (approx. 2 1/2 hours) to the island of San Cristobal. Upon arrival at the dock in San Cristobal. Here you will have a meet and greet with another local guide who will explain the rest of your itinerary to you. The remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure on this stunning island.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Blue Marlin or Similar

Day 5: Isla Lobos Tour

Stop At: Isla Lobos, San Cristobal Island, Galapagos, 120506 Ecuador
This morning, after breakfast, you will be met and transferred to a dock where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, you will observe a lot of sea life before even setting foot on the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta, sea lions and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island. The white coral beaches of San Cristobal are great to walk around, relax and swim in the shallow waters before you came back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel Blue Marlin or Similar

Day 6: Travel to Quito

Stop At: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
Enjoy some more free time this morning before transferring to the airport of San Cristobal. From here, you will take a flight back to Ecuador's mainland. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel for one more evening at leisure before saying goodbye.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Dann Carlton Hotel or Similar

Day 7: End of Services

Pass By: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
End of Services

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