Galapagos Island

06 Days - 05 Nights

Santa Cruz Island & Isabela Island

Day 01: Quito ( Guayaquil )  - Baltra Rancho Primicias & Twin Craters

Upon arrivel in Baltra Airport transfer to Santa Cruz, a guide will be waiting us to take us to the hotel where we can leave our luggage. We will seize the morning to visit the Rancho Primicias in the island’s highlands where we will be able to see Giant Turtles in their natural habitat.  

Then we go on to Lava Tunnels  " There are eight lava tubes on Isla Santa Cruz," " The largest lava tubes in the Galapagos are on Santa Cruz Island."  It is estimated that the last eruptions occurred around a million and a half years ago. There is a gigantic lava tunnel that is over 2000 meters long on the island that many tourists visit and walk through 

Los Gemelos ( Twin Craters ) are located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. They are not actual craters caused by impact, but are sink holes that were created when the volcanic roof of empty magma chambers collapsed from tectonic shifts and erosion over time.
This area has very different climate from other parts of the island and are surrounded by scalesia ( scalesia pedunculata ) forests, which our tour guide kept calling “ broccoli trees.” It is the habitat for bromeliads, orchids, mosses, lichens and many birds. Here, you are able to find the famous vermillion flycatcher, 8 species of Charles Darwin finches, and every so often short-eared owls.                                                                                           

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 02:  Grietas & Tortuga Bay

After breakfast we will Hike through a forest of enormous cacti and over rugged lava rock formations to one of the most unique swimming holes in the Galapagos Islands. Las Grietas, which translates literally to mean " the cracks," is a series of volcanic crevices that were formed during the cooling of molten lava. The porous lava stone of the island allows water to filter down from the highlands into Las Grietas where it mixes with sea water filtering in from the ocean. The resulting azure waters are crystalline and refreshing. Las Grietas is a popular swimming destination for locals and visitors alike. Float blissfully in the cool water -- or get your adrenaline pumping by jumping from the new wooden platform. A Naturalist Guide is not required to visit as the trail has been improved, but it is not recommended to travel alone as the jagged lava rocks en route can be tricky.

After lunch we walk to Tortuga Bay It’s located on the Santa Cruz Island, about a 20-minute walk from the main water taxi dock in Puerto Ayora. The walking path is 1.55 miles ( 2,490 m ) and is open from six in the morning to six in the evening. We must sign in and out at the start of the path with the Galapagos Park Service office. Tortuga Bay has a gigantic, perfectly preserved beach that is forbidden to swimmers and is preserved for the wildlife where many Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Crabs and Birds are seen dotted along the Volcanic Rocks. There is a separate cove where you can swim where it is common to view White Tip Reef Sharks swimming in groups & on occasion Tiger Shark The genus, Galeocerdo, is derived from the Greek galeos, which means shark, and the Latin cerdus, the word for the hard hairs of pigs. It is often colloquially called the man - eater shark Thew Galapagos Shark a top other species of sharks that are found in the Galapagos Islands. There are always a large variety of small fish, birds,

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 03: Santa Cruz Island to Isabela  Island ( Flamengos Laggon & Sea Kayaking with Penguins )
a.m. Transfer to catch the Speed Boat to Isabela Island, It’s  the largest island of the Galapagos with an area of 4,640 square kilometres ( 1,790 sq mi  ), and length of 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) almost four times larger than Santa Cruz, the second largest of the archipelago. It was named after Queen Isabela of Spain. It was originally named Albemarle after the Duke of Albemarle. The island strides the Equator
Isabela is also interesting for its flora and fauna. The young island does not follow the vegetation zones of the other islands. The relatively new lava fields and surrounding soils have not developed the sufficient nutrients required to support the varied life zones found on other islands. Another obvious difference occurs on Volcan Wolf and Cerro Azul; these volcanoes loft above the cloud cover and are arid on top.
Isabela's rich animal, bird, and marine life is beyond compare. Isabela is home to more wild tortoises than all the other islands. Isabela's large size and notable topography created barriers for the slow-moving tortoises; apparently the creatures were unable to cross lava flows and other obstacles, causing several different sub-species of tortoise to develop. Today, tortoises roam free in the calderas of Alcedo, Wolf, Cerro Azul, Darwin and Sierra Negra.

Arrive in Isabela transfer to the selected hostal or hotel after checking we will walk around to Flamingos Lagoon an expansive coastal lagoon that serves as one of the primary breeding grounds for Flamingos

In the afternoon we take our ocean kayaks and paddle out to Tintoreras, a set of small islets within Isabela Bay. The islets are filled with wildlife and are home to the Galapagos penguin, the only penguin that lives in equatorial region. We will also see sharks, marine turtles, sea lions, Blue Footed Bobies and much more wildlife as we explore its many small coves and beaches.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 04: Tunnels & Wall of Tears

After breakfast we will go to the pier for a 45 minute fibra ( a small boat ) ride to a place where lava flow impacted with the oceans waves to form the stunning tubes and bridges of Los Tunneles.  Los Tunneles is a marine paradise for the white tipped reef shark, manta rays, parrot fish, yellowtail surgeon fish, Galápagos green sea turtle and the Galápagos sea lion.This site is one of the most spectacular places for snorkelling in Isabela as the water is shallow, clear and calm. This marine sanctuary is characterized by its unique geologic formations. A series of lava flows have produced a number of arches and tunnels both under and above water, where you find a number of animal species that have taken up residence in these magnificent formations. As soon as you get to the intertidal starting point you will be released to snorkel through astoundingly beautiful site.

The Wall of Tears ( Spanish: El Muro de las Lágrimas ) is a historical site 5 km west of 
Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. It was constructed between the years of 1945 and 1959 by prisoners in the Penal Colony on the island, which had been established by President Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra in 1944, using infrastructure left by the US military after World War II.
The wall is about 25 m ( 65 ft ) tall and is said to have been the cause of thousands of deaths during its construction. Locals call it the wall of tears because it is said to emanate eerie cries and have a heavy energy surrounding it

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 05:  Sierra Negra Volcano - Free day
Early morning around 07.00 a.m. we will have a tours to Sierra Negra Volcano it’s one of the five volcanos on the island of Isabela, and boasts the second largest volcanic caldera in the world ( Yellowstone National Park in the United States is the largest in case You were wondering ). On the sierra Negra Volcano You hike to the rim of the six miles wide crater and then trek across an alien landscape of lava fields and fumaroles. The Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes  in the Galapagos, with the last eruption in 2005 Though You probably won’t’ see any lava flowing, You will have the opportunity to explore thermal vents  and other fascinating geologic features before stopping for a snak near volcán Chico. The vistas from this spot are among the most breathtaking in Isabela and on clear afternoons afford views of the northern volcanoes on Isabela and Fernandina. A savory hot lunch at Campo Duro rounds out this challenging but rewarding day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 06:  Isabela Island - Baltra Airport
a.m. After breakfast transfer to Isabela Airport for your fly to Baltra and go on to Guayaquil or Quito

Meals: Breakfast Photo Gallery

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