ISLAND HOPPING – PROGRAM 8D/7N

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:

ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

• This island is known as the oldest in the Archipelago. Located two hours from San Cristóbal, best known for its population of endemic Waved Albatross. This day tour offers an up close and personal experience of birdwatching as well as a glimpse of the incredible life under the water and the famous Española blow hole.
• We depart at 7h30 after the inspection by the authorities, who check the boat and our day packs to ensure we are not transporting plants, seeds, or animal remnants, in order to protect the integrity of the uninhabited island of Española.
• Arriving to Gardner Bay, we will prepare our snorkel gear and wetsuits and jump overboard! The snorkel activity is in a protected bay. The water isn’t too deep, and it’s a good thing, because the ocean floor is covered with various species of sea stars, coral, urchins, schools of fish, sea lions, and rays.
• After lunch we visit, Suarez Point, 2-hours hike. Closed-toe shoes are recommended for the rocky trail, but we have a “wet landing” first, a quick ride on the zodiac from boat to beach.
• On the beach, we will first notice the fine white sand and the black lava rocks, hiding the marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs, maybe even some slumbering sea lions! Keep on the lookout for lava lizards and Galapagos snakes (harmless, like a common garden snake). Your Naturalist Guide will assist in pointing out all the wildlife found along the trail, from the Nazca boobies, Galapagos Mockingbirds, to the famous Waved Albatross found nesting in the area from April to December, colonies of marine iguanas, Galapagos Hawks, Galapagos Doves, Warbler finch, and the large-billed Cactus finch, also endemic to the island and the blow hole. Most of the trail meanders along the rocky shore, and the turquoise waters crash onto the rocks, providing a light ocean spray and a cool breeze to enjoy your trek.
• We will arrive to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno at approximately 17h00.

Day 3:

LOBOS ISLAND – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

• Isla Lobos is located about an hour by boat ride northeast of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. As its name implies there is a large amount of sea lions with which you can swim and snorkel. The length of the trail is 850 meters and the estimated walking time is one hour.
• There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and common frigate birds nesting on this site. You can observe the two species of sea lions present in the archipelago.
• During the tour you go through a dry vegetation zone, substrate of volcanic rocks and a sandy area. During the panga tour brown pelicans and several species of shorebirds can be observed; although, snorkeling, it’s common to see juvenile sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles.
• We continue to Playa Ochoa, in the area there is a considerable colony of Galapagos Sea Lions. One of the outstanding floras in this site is Piscidia or Matazarno, this species is highly valued for its toughness and long life. Ghosts and Hhermit crabs are common species in this site visit.
• Near the beach is a temporal pool, which is constantly visited by migrating birds and shorebirds. It is one of the sites where you can see the mockingbird endemic to San Cristobal.
  In the afternoon we will depart to Santa Cruz Island.

Day 4:

SANTA CRUZ – CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION – TORTUGA BAY BEACH

• After breakfast, 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:

ISABELA ISLAND – DEPART TO SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – SANTA CRUZ HIGH LAND – MANZANILLO RANCH

• Early wake up! We will take the boat to Santa Cruz. Breakfast served on arrival. Transfer to the hotel and then depart to the Manzanillo ranch to see giant tortoises in the wild life.
• After lunch, we visit the Garrapatero Beach. It is a beautiful beach where you can enjoy paradise with the turquoise water. Behind the beach is a gap where there are flamingos, black-necked pin. The Galápagos finches and migratory birds from the coast are easy to find.

Day 6:

ISABELA – HUMEDALES –FLAMINGO LAGOON – TINTORERA ISLET

• Very early in the morning we will depart to Isabela.
  After arrival and accommodation in the hotel, we will visit wetlands. This mangrove area is home to numerous species from marine iguanas to reintroduced tortoises, Darwin finches, we will also visit the Flamingo lagoon.
  After lunch we will visit the Tintoreras islet (shared basis tour), called like that because there is a chasm of quite water were often rest the white fin sharks knows as “tintoreras”.
• There we can snorkel in a place known for this activity, it is also possible to see penguins, and marine iguanas.

Day 7:

SIERRA NEGRA AND CHICO VOLCANO – CONCHA & PERLA BAY

• Very early in the morning we depart to Isabela Island. Our guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world Sierra Negra. We will continue to Chico volcano, which is a cone of Sierra Negra. We can hike with spectacular lava sceneries and views to the northern volcanoes and Fernandina Island. This gives us an idea of how the islands looked at their creation.
• We will have lunch in a local farm where we can also find turtles. We will end the day at Concha & Perla Bay. It is a shallow bay with peaceful and transparent water allowing you to observe the fascinating marine life, you can swim with sea lions, and penguins.

Day 8: Transfer to Baltra airport to take the flight back to the mainland.

BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL.
VISIT THE TWINS FANTASTIC VOLCANIC FORMATIONS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE LUSH VEGETATION OF THE ISLAND ENDEMIC.