Day 1: AM. TRANSFER IN – North Seymour Ecological Airport, located on Baltra Island. A certified guide from the Galapagos National Park will be waiting for us, then we will take the LOBITOS Bus, which will take us to the Itabaca Channel, where we will cross to Santa Cruz Island in a barge.
Once on SANTA CRUZ Island, we will board a land transport to our first visit site.
HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – RANCHO EL CHATO 2
We will take a walk along a trail where we will find Domo tortoises in the wild, fauna and flora that accompany them typical of the upper part of the island.
In addition, we will visit 3 lava tunnels, we will see geological formations. In one of the tunnels, there will be artificial light, in the other one natural light and in the third tunnel there is no lighting at all (60 METERS) (RECOMMENDATIONS: BRING YOUR FULLY CHARGED CELLPHONES AND/OR LIGHTS).
A light beverage station (organic Galapagos coffee and tea) will be available at no additional cost. Boots will be available at the RANCHO in case of muddy conditions. Duration of the visit is approximately 2 hours.
CHECK IN AT THE LODGE
WHAT TO BRING: COMFORTABLE CLOTHES, TENNIS SHOES, SOCKS, WINDBREAKER, INSECT REPELLENT, SUN BLOCK, HAT, SUNGLASSES, AVOID SANDALS.
Day 2: AM. Breakfast Lodging – Site visit:
TORTUGA BAY BEACH
We will be picked up by the guide who will accompany us during our visit, we will arrive by taxi to the entrance; we will go up about 50 steps until we reach the hut.
We will find a trail where we will be guided by a certified guide of the Galapagos National Park, where you will be able to observe Palo Santo trees, opuntia cactus, Darwin’s finches, and Galapagos mockingbirds. You will also see Maria’s canaries. It is an easy walk on a paved path, when you arrive at Tortuga Bay you will be able to visit Playa Brava and Playa Mansa. We suggest Playa Mansa, a protected beach area ideal for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking (subject to availability – make a reservation in advance). We will return by boat.
RECOMMENDED: SWIMMING COSTUME, SUNSCREEN, COMFORTABLE CLOTHES, HAT, SUNGLASSES,
PM: LUNCH AT LOCAL RESTAURANT
We will be picked up by taxi for a visit to the first microbrewery in Santa Cruz, where the first craft beer in Galapagos is brewed, which generates local jobs and takes care of the environment by reducing the carbon footprint that is produced by the transfer of hundreds of thousands of bottles from the continent, reusing recycled bottles.
The visit includes:
- Explanation of the history of the Santa Cruz brewery.
- Organoleptic explanation of the raw materials used in the brewing process.
- Participation in the production process, malt milling on our milling bike.
- Tasting of the beers in the plant, which has an open air space, surrounded by nature typical of Galapagos.
- Closing talk about the experience.
- We have board games and beer pong if the group requires it.
Day 3: AM. Breakfast Lodging – Site Visit: Tortoise Route: (ECCD – Charles Darwin Research Station – Galapagos Giant Tortoise Breeding Center), for this visit we will have a certified guide from the Galapagos National Park, we will hike along an ecological trail; where we will see the Galapagos tortoise breeding center, from baby tortoises to big tortoises. Next, we will find the natural history museum of the Charles Darwin Research Station with a duration of approximately 2 hours over 1 km – walking slowly back and forth.
We will have a swimming activity at the Station Beach, for this reason we ask you to bring with you suitable clothing for the activity. Once the activity is finished, we will go to the Hotel to change clothes and then have lunch.
LUNCH AT LOCAL RESTAURANT
PM: Visit to the Bellavista Artisan and Tunnel – Transport will pick us up from the restaurant to take us to our visit.
Description of the visit: We will head towards Bellavista, to visit the Artisan’s workshop, where we will see the wood carving focused on different figures of our Galapagos flora and fauna. Large and miniature works of art with excellent finishes and personalized details in each work.
Then we go to the Bellavista Tunnel, the longest in Galapagos. It is recommended to carry your mobile phones charged to have an extra light support in case you need it.
Return to the lodge
Day 4: AM: *Breakfast at the Hotel – Activity: Daily Tour SEYMOUR ISLAND AND BACHAS
You will be picked up at approximately 07:30 am (time to be confirmed).
The tour will be by land from your hotel to the Itabaca Channel, passing through the upper part of Santa Cruz Island. In the channel we will take the daily tour boat, you will make a navigation to the visit site. Disembarkation will be dry at the pier, but there may be waves which will make the disembarkation slippery.
For this walk you will need good walking shoes. Remember to bring plenty of water, sun protection and a hat. The walk will be 40% sandy and 60% rocky. Here we will be able to observe sea lions, marine iguanas, land iguanas, blue footed boobies, seagulls, and frigate birds.
At the end of the walk, we will do beach activities in Bachas.
Included:
Transport hotel – Itabaca canal – hotel.
Guide. (Spanish – English)
Lunch on board the boat.
Snorkeling equipment included (mask – snorkel – fin).
Towels on board the boat.
Water also included.
Day 5: AM: Breakfast at the lodge – Check out – to the airport, but before arriving we will make a stop at Los Gemelos.
A taxi will pick us up and take us to LOS GEMELOS – BOSQUE DE SCALESIAS. They are in the rural area of the island in the parish of Santa Rosa on Baltra Avenue, at 22 km from Puerto Ayora and 45 minutes by car.
Los Gemelos are a geological formation, formed by volcanic subsidence when the islands were still active. It is the only place on the island surrounded by a native forest of Escalecías. It is home to several species of terrestrial birds, including the witch-bird. We will be able to take a walk, take pictures of the landscape and go bird watching. Time of visit is approximately 20 minutes.
TRANSFER OUT – Airport – we will arrive at the Itabaca channel by land where we will take a barge that will take us to Baltra Island where we will take a «LOBITOS» bus to get to SEYMOUR AIRPORT.
END OF OUR SERVICES
This program includes:
Lodging in Santa Cruz Island
Daily Tour to Seymour y Bachas
Breakfast and Lunch
An authorized and certified by National Park – Naturalist Guide
The visits mentioned above
Transfer In and Transfer out
Insurance
Airline Ticket
Not included:
Immigration Control Card: $20 per each passenger
Galapagos National Park Entrance Fees: $100 per each passenger
Dinner
Personal expenses
Tips
Alcoholic Beverages
