Itinerary 8 Days A


Day 1: Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island: Carrion Point
You will be transferred to the airport this morning for your flight to Galapagos Islands. The airport is approximately a one-hour drive from the hotel so you should allow for delays. This time will be confirmed by your tour leader at the pre-departure meeting. On departure from Quito Airport, a US$20 transit card per person is required. A US$100 national park entry fee per person is due upon arrival on the islands. These transactions can be complicated and time-consuming so please have cash available.

A National Park Guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the catamaran "M.Y Grand queen Beatriz". Lunch will be served on board.

Santa Cruz Island: Carrion Point

Punta Carrion is the first stop of the afternoon, and it's located in north-eastern Santa Cruz. This cove is protected and shallow, making it ideal for your first swim and snorkel in the Galapagos. There is plenty of wildlife to be seen. Keep your eyes open for Galapagos herons, Galapagos herons, great-blue herons, and an underwater swim among the rays and white tipped reef sharks.
Day 2: Isabela Island: Tintoreras & Giant Tortoise Breeding Center
Today, you will be waking up on the South Coast Isla Isabela. This is the largest archipelago in the Galapagos Archipelago. Isabela was created by five large volcanic craters that are all still active. It is situated in one of the most youthful geological areas on the planet, and was formed less than one million years ago.

The largest number of beaches on the Galapagos' southern coast is found in turquoise waters.

Tintoreras

Las Tintoreras is where you will be visiting. From the viewing platform, you can see the narrow channel and a collection of white-tipped reef sharks sleeping and swimming. There may also be a playful sea lion!
Here, blue-footed boobies, penguins, marine Iguanas, and crabs make their homes. The waters also offer opportunities to swim alongside turtles.

Giant Tortoise Breeding Center

You will also see the Giant Tortoise breeding centre and the Wall of Tears. These were constructed out of lava by prisoners of this penal colony between 1946 and 1959 as a punishment. You will need to pay a US$5 entry fee for Isla Isabela.
Day 3: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Devil's Crown & Post Office Bay
Floreana, rich in wildlife and natural wonders, is the highlight of any Galapagos cruise.

Cormorant Point

Punta Cormorant is where you will be ashore. The sand here is made of fine olivine crystals which are a glassy volcanic mineral. This gives the beach its olive-green color. This is where you can see Galapagos sea-lions. This is also a great opportunity to see pink Flamingos and other waterbirds wading in the lagoons.

Devil's Crown

The Devil's Crown, an old, eroded volcanic cone, is located just offshore. It's a popular site for seabirds like boobies and pelicans. The rocky crevices are also home to red-billed tropicbirds.
The cone's center is a great spot for snorkeling, and one of the most beautiful in the archipelago. It is full of colorful fish and sea lions.

Post Office Bay

Floreana also houses the Post Office Bay. This is where 18th-century whalers used a barrel to drop off their mail. Visitors to the Galapagos continue to use this custom to this day - you can post your own or check if any are available to deliver home.
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Station
Today, you'll visit Santa Cruz which is the second-largest island in the Galapagos. For a complete change of scenery, you will head to the highlands. You will start at the coast and travel through Santa Cruz's agricultural region to the misty forest. This zone is lush and humid, with miconia bushes, scalesia, and inactive volcano cones. Santa Cruz is home to more endemic plants that any other island. You will likely see Galapagos giant tortoises and possibly even bright red feathers from a vermillion flycatcher in their natural habitat.

Charles Darwin Station

Puerto Ayora, the small town at the archipelago's economic heart, is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station is vitally concerned with conservation, but it also offers interesting exploration. You will be able to see giant tortoises up close, as well as baby tortoises.
Day 5: Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island

Santa Fe Island

Santa Fe is home more sea lions and they are always looking for swimming partners. It's a beautiful place to take a swim. The inland trails are also stunning, with cacti forests that house a special sub-species. You can find a forest of prickly pears cactus by hiking towards Santa Fe's cliffs.
They are a member of the cactus species family and their name derives from the pear-shaped fruits they produce. Santa Fe is home of endemic land Iguanas. You will be able to snorkel in the lagoon once you have returned to the beach. Fascinating company is provided by playful sea lion pups and florescent fishing.

South Plaza Island

Plaza Sur, a small island, is a beautiful place. Here you can get close to sea-lions, and follow trails past one the largest Galapagos land iguana population. They rest among cacti and volcanic landscapes that are brightly colored by sesuvium. You can spot tropicbirds as well as swallow-tailed and gulls on the island's rugged southern rock faces. There is also 'the gentlemen’s club' which is a group of male sea lions too old or young to be beach masters.
Day 6: Española Island: Gardner Bay & Suarez Point
Today, you will cruise to Espanola, the southernmost of the Galapagos islands and one of its most stunning. This island is home to a large number of endemic fauna due to its remote location. It is home to nearly all the 12,000 pair of world's waved albatrosses, and it also hosts colonies of blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.
You can find trails from the golden beaches where sea lions swim and marine iguanas move towards the water. These trails will take you through the middle of booby colonies, where Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, and other wildlife are often seen.

Gardner Bay

Bahia Gardner's beautiful beaches are also worth a visit. They are great for relaxing and swimming. You will find many species of tropical fish such as angelfish and surgeon on the rocks near the coast. You may also see small, white-tipped reef sharks resting on the rocks.

Suarez Point

Punta Suarez is also a popular spot in the Galapagos. It is home to many species of wildlife and is a beautiful location. A walk along its trails will lead you to a top viewpoint with a breathtaking view. You may see boobies along the shoreline below you. Fry birds can be seen overhead. Albatross also use the cliffs to get up and running from the southeast winds that blow through this area of the island.
If you are lucky, you might be able to see the intricate courtship rituals of albatrosses before the female chooses her mate for life!
Day 7: San Cristobal Island: Pitt Point & Kicker Rock

Pitt Point

Today you will be visiting Punta Pitt, the eastern end Isla San Cristobal. For expansive views of this sparsely populated area, climb to the top on the volcanic hill. There are many seabirds that nest here, including frigates and blue-footed bobies.

Kicker Rock

Nearby is Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), a stunning rock that lies in the middle the ocean. Its shape resembles a sleeping Lion. It rises 150m above the sea level and is divided by narrow channels.
Also, you will visit Isla Lobos which is a small island that almost touches Isla San Cristobal. You can witness friendly sea lions playing in the shallow, calm waters of this area.
Day 8: San Cristobal Island & Transfer out

Galapagos flights to the mainland depart in the morning, so it's a good time to get up early for our last day on the islands. This final excursion can be short or long depending on when we fly.
The Interpretation Centre is open in the morning. This center showcases the history and geography, from its volcanic beginnings to today. The exhibit on human history provides insight into the discovery of and colonization of Galapagos. It also explores the realities of current problems facing the islands.

This is a wonderful way to end your time in Galapagos. This is your last excursion before you return to Quito via San Cristobal airport. Please remember to tip your guide and crew if you enjoyed their services.
We recommend that each passenger spend US$15 per person for the crew, and US$10 per person for their guide. On the last day of your trip, you can leave tips in envelopes which are placed in your cabin.

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