ISLAND HOPPING – PROGRAM 5D/4N

Day 1:

ARRIVAL TO SAN CRISTÓBAL ISLAND – INTERPRETATION CENTER AND HIKE TO TIJERETAS HILL

• Pick up from the hotel. After lunch we start our tour to the Interpretation Center. It is composed of three independent buildings connected by walkways. It has exhibition halls and conference rooms as natural history that explains the origin of the island, human stories that describe the presence of man since the discovery of the Galápagos Conservation and lounge showing interest in protecting and conserving the environment.
• Then we continue walking to Tijeretas Hill, where we have a nice view of the island. It´s named Tijeretas Hill because of the number of frigates or “tijeretas” that live and nest in that area. Then we will snorkel at Darwin Bay, a shallow water bay where we can snorkel with sea lions, various tropical fish, and turtles. We will finish the hike at Carola beach before we go back to the hotel.
• The trail has a distance of 2.5 km and the estimated time for this visit is 2 hours.

Day 2:

KIKER ROCK.

• It consists of rocks in the form of an obelisk that emerges from the sea. Kicker Rock is home to a number of tropicbirds, blue-footed Boobies and frigates. But the true appeal of this location occurs below the surface of the sea.
• The natural erosion of this ancient cone has created a channel between the rocks that provides the ideal habitat to view a variety of sharks and rays including spotted Eagle Rays, White–tip reef sharks, the elusive Galápagos Shark and Hammerhead sharks. It is an excellent place for photography.
• Then we continue to one of the following beaches: Manglecito, Puerto Grande, or Cerro Brujo. Here we have lunch on board and then we disembark for a hike guided by the hand of the naturalist guide.

Day 3:

HIGHLAND TOUR IN SAN CRISTOBAL – FULL DAY.

• After breakfast we depart to the highland of San Cristóbal. We will visit some places such as:
• El Junco Lagoon located at 2,067 feet above sea level. El Junco is the only permanent fresh water lake in the Galapagos Islands and holds some 9 million gallons of water. The lake exists inside an extinct crater and was formed by the impermeability of the crater’s bottom, the accumulation of rainfall, and the constant mists that cover the area. During years of heavy rainfall the lake overflows forming a stream. In 1978 the stream produced 5400 gallons per hour. During years with El Nino the run off floods much of the surrounding area. El Junco is an excellent place to see a variety of endemic plants, giant ferns as well as seabirds like frigates that come here to bathe in the clean waters.
• Then, we continue to the Giant tortoise reserve “Cerro Colorado”, where you can learn more about these reptiles and its program for preservation and reproduction. We will have lunch on a beautiful farm in the highland.
• After lunch we visit Puerto Chino Beach, it is also an ideal place to relax and observe seabirds feeding.

Day 4:

DEPARTURE TO SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – CHARLES DARWIN STATION – TORTUGA BAY BEACH

• Very early in the morning we take the speed boat to sail to Santa Cruz Island, this will take around two hours.
• After arrival, we will visit the important Charles Darwin Research Station where we can observe one of the largest Galapagos tortoise and land iguana breeding centers.
• The local guide will give us a detailed explanation on the islands evolution. We will have lunch in the village. In the afternoon we will take a long but easy walk to one of the most beautiful white-sand beaches of the islands Tortuga Bay Beach.

Day 5: VISIT THE TWINS.

THE FANTASTIC VOLCANIC FORMATIONS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE LUSH VEGETATION OF THE ISLAND ENDEMIC.
TRANSFER OUT TO BALTRA AIRPORT.