Day 1: San Cristobal Island: San Cristobal - Airport (arrival) - San Cristobal Island: Lobos Island
AM: SAN CRISTOBAL AIRPORT (ARRIVAL)
Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Galapagos Islands, where nature thrives in its purest form. Your adventure begins at San Cristobal’s modest yet bustling airport, where a seasoned naturalist guide will greet you. This guardian of the ecosystem will introduce you to a world of breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled biodiversity. Feel the excitement as you step into this living sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site, marking the beginning of an extraordinary exploration.
PM: LOBOS ISLAND
Lobos Island, a small islet near San Cristóbal, offers an unforgettable wildlife experience. Upon landing, groups of sea lions will greet you as they play in tidal pools. Walking inland, you’ll spot frigatebirds perched in bushes, displaying their inflated red pouches, while blue-footed boobies nest along the trail, performing their iconic courtship dance. In the calm waters, snorkeling provides an incredible opportunity to swim with playful sea lions, while sea turtles and rays rest on the sandy bottom.
Snorkel Experience: The calm waters of Lobos Island are perfect for swimming with playful sea lions.
Sea turtles and rays are often seen resting on the sandy bottom, while tropical fish add vibrant colors to the scene.
Stunning Views, Galapagos sea lions, Magnificent and great frigatebirds, San Cristobal Lava Lizards
Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 2: Española Island: Suarez Point - Gardner Bay
AM: SUAREZ POINT
Embark on an adventure to Suarez Point, one of the Galapagos’ greatest natural wonders. This rocky trail is a haven for wildlife lovers, featuring an incredible array of species. Upon arrival, sea lions and marine iguanas welcome you as the first hosts of this nature spectacle. As you explore further, witness a vibrant mosaic of seabird colonies, from blue-footed and Nazca boobies to graceful frigatebirds and tropicbirds. The highlight of this journey is meeting the waved albatross, the island’s largest bird, impressing visitors with its powerful flight and intricate courtship display (present from April to January).
Highlights: Stunning Views, Herons, Galapagos mockingbirds, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, Marine iguanas, Waved Albatross, Lava lizards
PM: GARDNER BAY
Gardner Bay, located on Española Island, boasts one of the most stunning beaches in the Galapagos. Its soft coral sand and crystal-clear waters create a paradise-like setting, perfect for relaxation and exploration. As you stroll along the shore, spot curious Española mockingbirds, marine iguanas basking in the sun, and Galapagos hawks soaring overhead in search of prey. This natural sanctuary is also home to playful sea lions, making for an unforgettable wildlife experience in a pristine, breathtaking environment.
Snorkel Experience: Dive into the vibrant waters of Gardner Bay, where you can swim with sea lions, reef sharks, rays, and a colorful variety of tropical fish, including angelfish, parrotfish, damselfish, and surgeonfish.
Highlights: Coral sand beach, Galapagos mockingbirds, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, Marine iguanas
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Floreana: Cormorant Point - Post Office Bay
AM: CORMORANT POINT
Located in northern Floreana, Punta Cormorant is a paradise for nature lovers. Its coastal lagoon hosts flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, and black-necked stilts, while its white sand beach is a crucial nesting site for green sea turtles. In recent years, blue-footed boobies have started nesting along the trail. This is also a great site for spotting endemic plants. For snorkeling, Devil’s Crown—a heavily eroded volcanic formation—offers an unparalleled experience, attracting reef sharks, rays, sea turtles, and massive schools of tropical fish.
Snorkel Experience: Explore Devil’s Crown, one of the best snorkeling spots in the Galapagos. Its currents attract reef sharks, turtles, rays, and massive schools of fish like snappers, parrotfish, and angelfish.
Highlights: Galapagos sea lions, Blue footed boobies, Galapagos shearwaters, American flamingoes, Sea turtles, Tropicbirds, Frigatebirds
PM: POST OFFICE BAY
Step into the past at Post Office Bay on Floreana, where sailors established a barrel-based mail system in the 1700s, still in use today. Beyond its historic charm, the bay was a key stop for whalers seeking freshwater and tortoises. This site also boasts a scenic beach, and incredible wildlife, including sea lions, green sea turtles, reef sharks, and, if luck is on your side, the elusive Galapagos penguin.
Snorkel Experience: Dive straight from the beach and explore a mesmerizing underwater world filled with sea turtles, rays, and schools of tropical fish. If lucky, catch a glimpse of a Galapagos penguin darting through the waves.
Highlights: Galapagos penguins, Marine iguanas, Sea turtles, Finches, Shorebirds
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Station - Baltra - airport (return)
AM: CHARLES DARWIN STATION
Explore the Charles Darwin Research Station, a center dedicated to wildlife conservation and research. Witness breeding programs helping restore giant tortoise populations, learn about projects tackling invasive species, and see conservationists working to protect the fragile Galapagos ecosystem.
Galapagos giant tortoise and land iguanas breeding program, Galapagos mockingbirds, Darwin finches, Galapagos flycatchers
PM: BALTRA AIRPORT (RETURN)
Your Galapagos adventure comes to an end. Today, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport, where your National Park naturalist guide will assist you with final details before your flight back to mainland Ecuador. As you bid farewell to this paradise, take with you the unforgettable memories of one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.
Breakfast included.