San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela 8 days / 7 nights
A unique round trip to explore the Galapagos Islands!
If you are looking to see a little more of the Galapagos Islands and experience other facets of the archipelago, this option is for you.
We can combine overnight stays on all the different inhabited islands where lots of activities can be organized for you during the day. Let us know what your interests are and we will arrange a perfect itinerary for you.
PLACES TO DISCOVER / / / ESTO HIRIA EN LO QUE VEN EN CADA ISLA.
Galapagos Islands
The archipelago is known as a living laboratory and is home to incredible endemic species of flora and fauna. UNESCO declared Galapagos heritage and subsequently a worldwide biosphere reserve.
Here you will find a variety of birds, such as the blue-footed booby, flamingos, albatross, penguins, finches and many more. You will also be able to see sea lions, dolphins, whales, rays and endemic plants like the opuntia cactus.
San Cristobal
Also known as Chatham, it is located in the east of the archipelago. It is home to frigate birds, sea lions, turtles, Alcatraz ducks, sea iguanas, dolphins and seagulls and its flora includes calandrinia galapagosa, lecocarpus darwinii and trees such as guaiac or piscidias.
Isabela
On this island you will find the Tintoreras islet, located south of Puerto Villamil, in the middle of a bay of calm, turquoise water and where you can see sea lions, turtles, sea iguanas, rays and many others.
You can also visit a slot which is home to the tintorera shark, sea iguanas, penguins, blue-footed boobies and pelicans.
Hotel Silberstein
Located just 5 minutes from the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island in Puerto Ayora, Silberstein Hotel operates a total relaxation concept that invites its visitors to disconnect from the modern world and enjoy the enchanted islands.
Benefiting from a privileged location, our guests have the opportunity to visit the main attractions of the area and enjoy their stay in the hotel, surrounded by nature, enjoy the swimming pool or savor a unique menu outcome of a German – Latin fusion AQUA Bar restaurant
Included
-
- Transfers
- English – Spanish guide
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Accommodation
- Excursions
Not included
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- Air tickets to/from the Galapagos Islands
- Entrance to Galapagos National Park (USD 100 foreigners / USD 10 Ecuadorians)
- Traffic control card 20 USD
- Isabela Municipal Tax USD 10
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
- IVA
Itinerary
Day 1+
- day 1 arrival transfer – San Cristobal
A person will be waiting for you and will take you to your hotel upon your arrival in San Cristobal. Your first activity is scheduled for the afternoon, where you will visit Lobería, a coral beach with sea lions resting on its sand. Once you arrive at the beach, you will walk about 10 minutes to a bay where you can snorkel in its calm waters.
On the way to the bay you will see mangroves, calandrinia galapagosa, bursera graveolens, cottonwood, gray matplants and many other plants of the area, such as goatweed, whose seeds are the main food source for many species of finch. Night in San Cristobal. Lunch and dinner included.
Day 2+
- DAY 2 : Kicker Rock – Manglesito Beach
In the morning you will start your excursion to Kicker Rock, which is a formation off the coast of San Cristobal (duration: approximately 45 minutes by boat). It is a beautiful islet in the middle of the ocean that rises up to 500 feet and is shaped like a giant sleeping lion. The rocks are the remains of a vertical formation and are the favorite haunt of many seabirds. You will be able to snorkel around the islet during your trip.
Then you will continue your day at Manglesito beach (small mangrove) which has two points of interest, a mangrove forest and a beach. The mangroves are a great place for bird watching and the beach gives you a nice place to rest and enjoy the day. The vegetation around this beach is typically sesuvium and mangrove forest. On a lagoon near the mangrove, you can spot white-backed stilts, curlews and many other native and endemic species. You will have lunch on the boat and enjoy the afternoon there. At night: San Cristobal. Breakfast, box lunch and dinner included.
Day 3+
- Hautes-terres de Santa Cruz – Tortuga Bay – day 3
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in San Cristobal in the morning to take you to the dock and boat in Puerto Ayora (approximately 2.5 hours) on board.Upon arrival you will be at the hotel to leave your luggage and wait for your guide to pick you up and go to Tortuga Bay, a beach that takes its name from the large amount of nesting sea turtles that have chosen this location. On your way to the beach, you will see different types of finches and cactus trees. Once you arrive at the beach the walk will continue along the shore where you can encounter sea iguanas whose black color makes a beautiful contrast with the white sand.
The beach is divided into two parts; the first part has strong currents and high waves and is not recommended for swimming. The quiet beach at the end of the coast is a bay which offers a mangrove forest to hide from the sun and the calm of the water to take a swim. The tour will drop you back the same way and leave you at the hotel to start your next activity in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, your adventure continues to the Santa Cruz Mountains, home to the largest population of giant tortoises in the archipelago. During the journey, you will experience a climate change to a wetter and colder area. Many ranches are located on this part of the island and their activities range from agriculture, livestock and ecosystem conservation. This area is also ideal for bird watching. In the highlands, you will have a very interesting walk through the lava tubes.
At 4:00 p.m. you will be back at the hotel and enjoy the weather, perhaps enjoy a cocktail or discover the corners of the city. In the evening dinner will be waiting for you in our own Aqua Restaurant. Night at the Silberstein hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 4+
- Day Trip 4
This day you can enjoy an excursion to one of the neighboring islands, such as Bartolome, Seymour, Places or Santa Fe (subject to availability). Lunch will be served on board and in the afternoon you will return to the hotel, enjoy your meals at Aqua. Night at the Silberstein hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 5+
- Day Trip 5
This day you can enjoy an excursion to one of the neighboring islands, such as Bartolome, Seymour, Places or Santa Fe (subject to availability). Lunch will be served on board and in the afternoon you will return to the hotel, enjoy your meals at Aqua. Night at the Silberstein hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 6+
- day 6 Isabela – Tintoreras
Early in the morning you will leave Santa Cruz and begin your journey to Isabela by speedboat. Once you arrive there your journey will take you to the Tintoreras on a bay tour which lasts around 30 minutes and where you can spot blue-footed boobies, sea lions and penguins.
After this excursion you will visit the islet where you can walk to a channel and see tintoreras sharks and sea iguanas. After this walk you will return to the boat, going to a place to dive and observe the fauna and flora of this area.
After lunch, you will visit the interpretation center where you can see turtles of different ages and learn about the breeding process and captive breeding strategies to restore wild populations of endangered species.Accommodation: hotel in Isabela. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 7+
- day 7 Sierra Negra Vulcano
Today you will join a group to visit the Sierra Negra volcano. The tour lasts approximately 6-7 hours and takes you to the top of the crater.
This volcano has an altitude of 1500 m and its crater´s diameter is 9 km long, which makes it the second largest volcano on earth. From the top of the volcano, you will walk on the Chico volcano (small volcano) from where you will have a breathtaking view of the island and even Fernandina Island.
During the whole tour you will see different types of vegetation, types of lava, white herons and some hawks.
In the evening, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at your hotel. Accommodation: Hotel in Isabela. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Note: If Sierra Negra presents volcanic activity, the tour will only get to the lookout point of the National Park layout and the activity will be completed with another visit like the wetlands.
Day 8+
- Day 8 Santa Cruz – airport
Early in the morning you will take the boat back to Santa Cruz, from where you will be taken to Baltra Airport and begin your journey back home. Breakfast is included.