Isabela & Santa Cruz Combined

Did You Know? 97% of The Galapagos Archipelago is a National Park and only 3% is inhabited by humans.

Duration

5D / 4N

Start & Finish

Baltra Island

For travelers with limited time that wants a full Galapagos experience, this tour gives you a great introduction of the Galapagos Islands while you have the chance to visit tranquil Isabela which is one of the archipelagos favorite.

Accommodation

Tourist

Single Occupancy 1509 USD

Double Occupancy 949 USD (Price per Person)

(SGL SUPPL) 59 USD per Person

Accommodation

Tourist Superior

Single Occupancy 1889 USD

Double Occupancy 1109 USD (Price per Person)

(SGL SUPPL) 252 USD per Person

Inclusions

4 Nights Accommodation
Naturalist Guide (during activities)
Activities described in the itinerary
Snorkeling Equipment during excursions
4 breakfast, 1 full lunch, 1 box lunch (volcano walk), 1 dinner
$ 10 isabela island entrance fee
Transportation

Exclusions

Flights between Quito, Guayaquil and the Galapagos.
200 USD park entry fee – cash only.
20 USD fee – cash only
15 USD meals not described in the tour, per person, per day.
Tips
Extra expenses
Optional activities

Additional information

For your information this trip is not a group tour. You will be guided during activities by various naturalist guides from the Galapagos National Park. During the activities you will meet other passengers from other tour companies which makes a great chance to meet other travelers. Transiting in the speedboats from island to island you will be on your own but your well looked after as we take the hassle out of all the logistics. Tour Operations in Galápagos, are subject to space availability and itineraries may change, due to weather conditions, operational and logistical matters, so the number of excursions and visits are limited, so not specific excursion can be guaranteed.

Día 1

Upon arrival to Baltra Island you naturalist guide will wait for you in the arrivals hall and take you to your first visit on Santa Cruz Island. You will be transferred from Seymour airport by an airport bus (10 min ride) and a ferry ride (5min) to the northside of Santa Cruz where will take our transportation to LOS GEMELOS: two pit-craters located on each side of the road over 30 meter deep which were formed by the collapse of the roof of some magma chamber.

A few trails wander around the craters, many land birds seen such as; the vermilion flycatcher, the short eared owl, the Galapagos dove, and a great number of Darwin’s finches, including the carpenter finch, which uses a stick as a tool to help extract larvae from old stumps.

Santa Cruz Island (L)

We then continue to the highlands of Santa Cruz where we will have a great opportunity to get close to giant tortoises roaming in their natural habitat. Explore a cavernous underground Lava Tunnel where you can view one of the geological wonders of our volcanic islands.

The rest of the afternoon you are free to enjoy the island by yourself (depending of your flight time arrival).

Included activities

- Los Gemelos (Volcanic twin craters)
- Santa Cruz Highlands (giant tortoises)
- Lava tunel

Día 2

Santa Cruz/ Isabela Island (B)

This morning you have the option to visit the beautiful Tortuga bay beach, a 45 minutes’ walk of cobblestone path (2.5 km one way) lead you to one of the fine white sandy beaches of the archipelago. A mysterious forest of the tall Opuntia Cactus and volcanic rock surrounds the path, and the view is overwhelming. Throughout your walk you will observe finches, yellow warblers, mockingbirds, and lava lizards. An excellent place also for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing. Marine iguanas, sharks, sea birds and sea turtles can be occasionally spotted here.

In the afternoon you are sailing to Isabela Island (unaccompanied) by public speedboat (2 hours). Speedboat rides can be bumpy therefore prepare yourself with seasickness medication.

By far the biggest island of the archipelago, the island is composed of six main volcanos quite Young and intermittenly active, five of which evolved in calderas, the old stage of a shield volcano.

Upon arrival to Puerto Villamil our representative will meet you at the port and take you to your accommodation.
Enjoy your free evening hours in this remote Island. Isabela´s sunsets are well known for its beauty.

Día 3

Isabela Island (B, L)

Today you will visit one of Isabela’s most impressive attractions the Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. Sierra Negra is a huge caldera, ten kilometers wide, the oldest on the island. On the rim, the trail divides in two: Towards the west, it heads to Volcan de Azufre, an old sulphur mine that was exploited by the first settlers. Towards the east, the trail leads to volcán Chico on the external slope of Sierra Negra. The weather is often clear and good, once you reach the nothern side of the caldera. Volcan chico has an overwhelming “lunatic” landscape with fascinating lava formations.

This is a 16 km challenging hike on different terrains depending on the climate it can be hot, humid, muddy and/or rocky at times. For this hike its recommendable to have proper hiking boots, sun protection, and 2 liters of water per person.

After this excursion you have free time to enjoy some activities (not included) such as:

- Snorkeling in “Concha y Perla” Bay
- Surfing
- Biking
- Visit Isabela Interpretation center (Giant and babies tortoises from diferent volcanoes)
- Flamingos lagoon
- Visit the famous “Wall of tears”. This wall is a proof of the genuine human history of the islands. Around 1944 at foot of a desolated hill, that was erected from big lava blocks by convicts of the penal colony. Two to three hours’ walk from the town, on the way you have beautiful view points and sometimes you can see giant tortoises walking around freely, once at the end of the road you can see the only ruins still remains there.

Included activity

- Hike to Sierra Negra and Chico volcano

Día 4

Isabela / Santa Cruz Island (B, D)

On our last day in Isabela we explore the well-known islet called Tintoreras, a path alongside a reef that is home to several white tip sharks -you can easily observe them from land. Before setting over to the islet you do a dinghy ride around the bay of Isabela to spot the famous Galapagos penguin, blue footed boobies, sea turtles and sea lions. The famous attraction in Tintoreras is the shark tunnel, this is where tintoreras (white tip sharks) come in and rest for the day before going out for hunting during the night.

Enjoy a snorkeling activity with high chances to swim with sea turtles, colorful fish and manta rays. In the afternoon we are sailing back to Santa Cruz Island by public speedboat (2 hours, unaccompanied) for a last night out in town or do some last minute shopping before flying out the next day.