Itinerary 5 Days A

You will be transferred to the airport this morning for your flight to Galapagos Islands. The airport is approximately a one-hour drive from the hotel so you should allow for delays. This time will be confirmed by your tour leader at the pre-departure meeting.

On departure from Quito Airport, a US$20 per-person transit card and a US$100 national park entry fee are payable. These transactions can be complicated and time-consuming so please have cash available.

A National Park Guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the catamaran "M.Y Grand queen Beatriz". Lunch will be served on board.

Charles Darwin Station

Santa Cruz, which is the second-largest island in the Galapagos, will be your first stop. Puerto Ayora, the small town at the archipelago's economic heart, is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station is responsible for vital conservation work and provides the best opportunity for close encounters to giant tortoises. Baby tortoises as well as land iguanas will be on display.

Santa Fe Island

Santa Fe is home more sea lions and they are always looking for swimming partners. It's a beautiful place to take a swim. The inland trails are also stunning, with cacti forests that house a special sub-species. You will find a forest full of prickly-pear cactus if you hike towards Santa Fe's cliffs. Their name is a member of the cactus family and comes from the pear-shaped fruit they produce. Santa Fe is home of endemic land Iguanas. You will be able to snorkel in the lagoon once you have returned to the beach. Fascinating company is provided by playful sea lion pups and florescent fishing.

South Palzas Islands

Plaza Sur, a small island, is a beautiful place. Here you can get close to sea-lions, and follow trails past one the largest Galapagos land iguana population. They rest among cacti and volcanic landscapes that are brightly colored by sesuvium. You can spot tropicbirds as well as swallow-tailed and gulls on the island's rugged southern rock faces. There is also 'the gentlemen’s club' which is a group of male sea lions too young or too old for beach masters.

Today, you will cruise to Espanola, the southernmost of the Galapagos islands and one of its most stunning. This island is home to a large number of endemic fauna due to its remote location. It is home to nearly all the 12,000 pair of world's waved albatrosses, and it also hosts colonies of blue-footed boobies and masked albatrosses.

You can find trails from the golden beaches where sea lions swim and marine iguanas move towards the water. These trails will take you through the middle of booby colonies, where Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, and other wildlife are often seen.

Gardner Bay

Bahia Gardner's beautiful beaches are also worth a visit. They are great for relaxing and swimming. You will find many species of tropical fish such as angelfish and surgeon on the rocks near the coast. You may also see small, white-tipped reef sharks resting on the rocks.

Suarez Point

Punta Suarez is also a popular spot in the Galapagos. It is home to many species of wildlife and is a beautiful location. A walk along its trails will lead you to a top viewpoint with a breathtaking view. You may see boobies along the shoreline below you. Fry birds can be seen overhead. Albatross also use the cliffs to get up and running from the southeast winds that blow through this area of the island.

If you are lucky, you might be able to see the intricate courtship rituals of albatrosses before the female chooses her mate for life!

Pitt Point

Today you will be visiting Punta Pitt, the eastern end Isla San Cristobal. For expansive views of this sparsely populated area, climb to the top on the volcanic hill. There are many seabirds that nest here, including frigates and blue-footed bobies.

Kicker Rock

Nearby is Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), a stunning rock that lies in the middle the ocean. Its shape resembles a sleeping Lion. It rises 150m above the sea level and is divided by narrow channels. Also, you will visit Isla Lobos which is a small island that almost touches Isla San Cristobal. You can witness friendly sea lions playing in the shallow, calm waters of this area.

Galapagos flights to the mainland depart in the morning, so it's a good time to get up early for our last day on the islands. This final excursion can be short or long depending on when we fly.

The Interpretation Centre is open in the morning. This center gives you a glimpse into the history and geography, starting with its volcanic origins all the way to the present. The exhibit on human history provides insight into the discovery of and colonization of Galapagos. It also explores the realities of current problems facing the islands.

This is a wonderful way to end your time in Galapagos. This is your last excursion before you return to Quito via San Cristobal airport. Please remember to tip your guide and crew if you enjoyed their services.

We recommend that each passenger spend US$15 per person for the crew, and US$10 per person for their guide. On the last day of your trip, you can leave tips in envelopes which are placed in your cabin.