Galapagos Island hopping tour itinerary details & highlights
Galapagos Island hopping 7 day itinerary
The below itinerary is based on a 5 day Galapagos Islands hopping departure staying at hotels on Santa Cruz Island(tour departs daily) and includes hotel stays in Quito or Guayaquil. Other itinerary options (6, 8, 9, 10 and 13 day Galapagos tours) are available and include Island hotel stays on Isabela, Floreana and San Cristobal Islands.
The right hand column explains alternative tour itineraries
Day 1: Quito or Guayaquil
Arrive on your international flight. Greeting at the airport by a Voyagers English speaking representative. Assistance and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Quito / hotel of your choice in Guayaquil.
Day 2: Quito or Guayaqui - Baltra airport, Galapagos
Baltra arrival, Santa Cruz higlands tour and check-in
The flight from Quito to Guayaquil is a 1/2 hour and from Guayaquil to the Galapagos is approximately 2 hours on a Boeing 727. Upon arrival at Baltra travelers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid). Guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on a bus ride across the Santa Cruz highlands to the town of Puerto Ayora where your hotel is located, we check in. We will enjoy lunch at a Restaurant in town and then procede to visit the Charles Darwin Station, here we will learn about conservation, the formation of the archipelago and will get a chance to see Lonesome George and other giant tortoises.
After our first introduction to the Islands wonders, we return to our Island hotel. Hotel Sol y Mar or similar.
(B,L,D)
Day 3 South Plazas Island land & snorkelling visit:
South Plazas
Early morning departure from Puerto Ayora to South Plaza Island. One of the smallest islands in the Galapagos, South Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas. Walk along a path through a cactus forest and view a combination of dry and coastal vegetation, birdlife is very active at the cliff. After taking on the trail we enjoy time snorkelling and exploring the archipelago´s marine life, lunch is served on board our day trip yacht. We return to Santa Cruz in the afternoon and enjoy dinner at a restaurant in Puerto Ayora.
(B,L,D)
Day 4 Tortuga Bay:
Santa Cruz island - Tortuga Bay
Our day starts with a 30 minute walk from Puerto Ayora, on a dreamlike trail, that will take us into the magic of Tortuga Bay. Tortuga Bay is a beautiful beach, there are a variety of activities you can enjoy. There are a couple of spots that are good for snorkeling and a variety of plants and animals to see. The National Park Service has built a narrow concrete walking trail. The natural scenery makes this short 30-minute walk an enchanting experience.
We will stay the whole morning at the beach watching birds flying across the beach, crabs moving along the shore, iguanas basking in the sun, and/or just feeling the powdery sand massaging your feet. It's a peaceful spot for the nature lover.
At Playa Mansa you can sit in the shade of the mangrove trees growing close to the beach. You can easily spot marine turtles, manta rays and lots of different kinds of fish. Some days you can even spot turtles from the beach when they lift their heads out of the water to breathe.
After enjoying a lunch at the beach we head back to Puerto Ayora, in the evening we will enjoy another hearty dinner and have to time to explore the Islands night life.
(B,L,D)
Day 5 Bartolome:
Bartolome Island
Early morning departure on a small yacht. We reach Bartolome, a small barren island, located across Sullivan Bay off James Island, Bartholomew has two visitors’ sites. At one of them it is possible to climb to the summit of the island, from where visitors can observe a variety of volcanic formations, spatter and tuff cones, lava flows and lava tubes. The moon like landscape provides the most scenic panorama in the archipelago. At the other site, the visitor may swim and snorkel from a beautiful beach or walk across the isthmus to another beach that faces south, where swimming is prohibited. Multi –coloured fish and occasionally penguins may be seen at the base of the tall pinnacle rock, which dominates Bartholomew’s landscape. Return to Puerto Ayora.
(B,L,D)
Day 6 Santa Cruz Island - Baltra airport - Quito or Guayaquil:
Los Gemelos
Before departing to mainland Ecuador we have a visit to Los Gemelos twin craters, 30 meters deep located on either side of the road to Baltra. The holes could be created because of a volcanic explosion or because of magma chambers inside earth. A great place for birdwatching. After this last excursion we take our return flight to Quito or Guayaquil. Accommodation.
(B)
Day 7 Quito or Guayaquil:
Quito or Guayaquil - Trip extension or homebound
Transfer out by Latin Trails representative to the airport for your international flight or to join your trip extension.
Note: Itineraries are subject to variations due to weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations. B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner.
Alternative Island hopping itineraries
Below are a list of alternative Island hopping itineraries 6, 8, 9, 10 and 13 day Island hopping programs.
Galapagos Island hopping, 6 day tour
Day 1: Baltra, Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
Day 2: Tortuga Bay (Santa Cruz)
Day 3: Bartolome
Day 4: Santa Fe, Interpretation Center (San Cristobal)
Day 5: Sleeping Lion (San Cristobal), Galapaguera and El Junco lake (San Cristobal)
Day 6: San Cristobal, flight to mainland Ecuador
Galapagos Island hopping, 8 day tour
Day 1: Baltra, Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Day 2: South Plaza
Day 3: Bartolome
Day 4: Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz), Puerto Villamil and Flamingo lagoon (Isabela)
Day 5: Sierra Negra Volcano & Playa Grande (Isabela)
Day 6: Wetlands and Concha Perla (Isabela)
Day 7: Tintoreras & snorkelling (Isabela), Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz)
Day 8: Los Gemelos (Santa Cruz), Baltra airport
Galapagos Island hopping, 9 day tour
Day 1: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Tijeretas & Cabo de Horno (San Cristobal)
Day 2: Galapaguera, Puerto Chino & highlands (San Cristobal)
Day 3: Sleeping Lion & Isla Lobos (San Cristobal), Puerto Velasco Ibarra (Floreana)
Day 4: Lava tunnels & 7 trails (Floreana), Puerto Villamil (Isabela)
Day 5: Cabo Rosa, Wetlands & Flamingo lagoon (Isabela)
Day 6: Sierra Negra volcano & volcan chico crater (Isabela)
Day 7: Tintoreras snorkelling (Isabela), Charles Darwin station (Santa Cruz)
Day 8: South Plazas Island
Day 9: Los Gemelos (Santa Cruz), Baltra airport
Galapagos Island hopping, 10 day tour
Day 1: Baltra, Isabela
Day 2: Sierra Negra Volcano & crater chico(Isabela)
Day 3: Tintoreras Kayaking & Concha Perla mangroves (Isabela)
Day 4: Flamingo lagoon & Tortoise breeding center (Isabela)
Day 5: Devils Crown & Post Office bay (Floreana)
Day 6: Higlands and beaches (Floreana)
Day 7: Floreana, Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
Day 8: Bartolome
Day 9: North Seymour Island, Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)
Day 10: Santa Cruz, Baltra airport
Galapagos Island hopping, 13 day tour
Day 1: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno snorkelling (San Cristobal)
Day 2: El Junco lagoon & China beach (San Cristobal)
Day 3: Galapaguera tortoise breeding center (San Cristobal)
Day 4: Punta Suarez (Española), Puerto Velasco Ibarra (Floreana)
Day 5: Higlands & beaches (Floreana)
Day 6: Post Office bay & Punta Cormorant (Floreana), Puerto Villamil (Isabela)
Day 7: Sierra Negra volcano (Isabela)
Day 8: Tintoreras Kayaking & Concha Perla mangroves (Isabela)
Day 9: Lava tubes at Cabo Rosa (Isabela)
Day 10: Flamingo lagoon & Tortoise breeding center (Isabela)
Day 11: Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
Day 12: Santa Cruz highands & lava tubes
Day 13: Los Gemelos (Santa Cruz), Baltra airport
