
This trekking tour is the most complex one where you will see the different inhabitated islands of Galapagos (San Cristobal, Floreana, Isabela and Santa Cruz) and have enough time to enjoy each of them. You will also spend some time in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, to get to know its beautiful old town and the equator monument. When you come back from the Galapagos Islands you have still time to visit the Otavalo Indio Market to buy some souvenirs for your friends and family.
Overview Itinerary | |
Day 01: | Arrival in Quito – City Tour |
Day 02: | Mitad del Mundo – Pululahua Crater |
Day 03: | Flight Quito – San Cristobal – Interpretation Center |
Day 04: | Island San Cristobal – La Galapaguera – Beach Chino |
Day 05: | Islanda San Cristobal – Leon Dormido |
Day 06: | Isabela San Cristobal / Island Floreana |
Day 07: | Island Floreana – Highlands |
Day 08: | Island Floreana / Isabela Island |
Day 09: | Isabela Island – Sierra Negra |
Day 10: | Isabela Island – Tintoreras – Mangroves |
Day 11: | Isabela Island – Cabo Rosa |
Day 12: | Isabela Island – Flamingos – Galapaguera |
Day 13: | Isabela Island / Island Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Station |
Day 14: | Island Santa Cruz – Highlands – Tortuga Bay |
Day 15: | Island Santa Cruz – Los Gemelos / Baltra – Quito |
Day 16: | Otavalo |
Day 17: | international flight |
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01 Friday: Arrival in Quito – City trip
Arrive in Quito. Assistance and transfer from the airport to the Hotel Mercure Alameda. Later you explore the colonial centre of Quito starting with a visit of the St. Augustine Convent, its Colonial patio, cloisters, coffered ceilings and the vast collection of paintings showing the life of St. Augustine. Visit Independence Plaza and its old Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Continue to the Church of San Francisco, one of the greatest and most opulent religious buildings of Ecuador. Overnight at the hotel Mercure Alameda. -/-/-
Day 02 Saturday: Mitad del Mundo – Pululahua
You will drive from Quito North about 25 kilometres to the Equator Monument. The monument remains from the French-Spanish geographical expedition of 1736-1744, which, under the guidance of Charles de la Condamine, defined the position of the equator. Here you can stand with one foot on the north and the other on the south of the globe and you have the opportunity to visit the ethnographical museum in the centre of the monument. Then you will drive to the Geobotanic Reserve of Pululahua, which is located in the crater of the volcano of the same name. During a trek through the crater you are able to admire the beauty of the fascinating flora. In the afternoon you will head back to Quito. Overnight at the hotel Mercure Alameda. B/L/-
Day 03 Sunday: Quito – San Cristóbal – Hotel Orca
Today you will fly from Quito to San Cristobal. After the transfer to Hotel Orca in the province capital of Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, you will visit the interpretation centre to get a first detailed impression of the history of the buildings and nature of the archipelago. In the harbour basin of the friendly fishing village we can see sea lions encircle the small boats. In the afternoon you will make the first snorkelling trip in the neighbourhood of the famous frigate birds. In the late afternoon you will return to the hotel on the north side of the pretty bay of the harbour. B/-/D
Day 04 Monday: San Cristóbal – Galapaquera – China Beach
In the morning you will drive to the east of the prairie like highlands of San Cristobal. Here you will visit the Galapaguera a breeding station for giant turtles. Later you continue to walk down to China Beach, were you can snorkel and swim with the sea lions. In the afternoon you will head back to the hotel. B/L/D
Day 05 Tuesday: San Cristóbal – Leon Dormido
In the morning you do a boat trip to the famous rock of Leon Dormido which is located offshore of San Cristobal. Here you can observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies and noddis as well as the sea life while snorkelling in the area. Afterwards you continue to Puerto Grande. This is a white sand beach, which is opposite Leon Dormido. Here you can relax and look out for blue-footed boobies, pelicans, mangroves and several bird species. In the afternoon you will return to San Cristobal. Overnight you will stay in the hotel Orca again. B/L/D
Day 06 Wednesday: Island Floreana – Hostal Wittmer
Today you will cross by boat to Floreana Island. You will pass the Corona del Diablo (Devils crown) and Champions Islet. Upon arrival in Floreana at Puerto Velasco Ibarra you will walk to the Hostal Wittmer. Margaret Wittmer is the writer of the bestseller ¨Floreana-poste restante¨ and lived for over 60 years on Floreana. The Hostel Wittmer where you will spend the night, is today managed by the daughter and grandchild of the author. In the afternoon you can relax on the nice beaches of Floreana. B/L/D
Day 07 Thursday: Floreana Island – Highlands
Today’s excursion leads you to the highlands of Floreana where you will visit a fresh water spring, a pirate cave and the first farm on Floreana. While hiking around the highlands the guide tells you bizarre stories about the early inhabitants of Floreana. If you are lucky you can see Darwin finches, yellow warblers and Galapagos fly snappers. In the afternoon you get the opportunity to swim at the black-sanded beaches of the hotel bay or walk along the beach to the sea lion colony La Loberia. The Hostel Wittmer is where you spend the night. B/L/D
Day 08 Friday: Floreana Island – Isabela Island
Today you will leave by boat going north to the archipelago’s biggest island Isabela. On the way you make a detour around the bird island la Tortuga with the hopes of observing the red-billed tropicbird and the frigate birds performing a courtship display. Finally you reach the peaceful harbour bay of Puerto Villamil. You move into your rooms in the hotel La Casa de Marita that is famous for its family flare and beachfront location. The rest of the afternoon is at your personal disposal. Overnight at the hotel La Casa de Marita. B/L/D
Day 09 Saturday: Excursion to the volcano Sierra Negra
Following the foothills of volcano Sierra Negra by private vehicle, you arrive in the highlands where you begin a hike uphill to the edge of the crater of the tremendous volcano. From here you hike to the Volcano Chico, which is a crater nearby. There you can enjoy a fantastic view over looking the north part of the island as well as the distant volcanoes Alcedo and Wolf. You will be back at the hotel by late afternoon. Dinner and night at Casa de Marita. B/L/D
Day 10: Sunday: Boat trip and Mangroves
In the morning you will do a short boat trip through the harbor basin. On your way to the small island of Las Tintoreras look out for sea lions, pelicans and penguins. Hike through bizarre lava formations and get in touch with the huge iguana colonies. The sandy beach is the home of the local sea lion colony that rest lazily in the shade of the mangroves; the bay is a popular resting place for the white tipped reef shark. In the afternoon you can rest on the long beach at your hotel or take the chance to discover a mangrove forest at La Concha Perla bay as well as the colourful underwater life there. Dinner and accommodation in the Hotel La Casa de Marita. B/L/D
Day 11 Monday: The Lava tubes of Cabo Rosa
This morning you head off in a small motorboat along the south coast from Puerto Villamil to the cooled lava flows of the Cerro Azul volcano. Through explosions the cooled lava flows built huge lava tubes, which are now the perfect location for birds and sea animals to relax. This is a unique chance to observe interesting seabirds and snorkel between colourful schools of fish encountering the inhabitants of the coral reef along the way. In the afternoon return to Puerto Villamil where we spend the night in the hotel La Casa de Marita and can spend the rest of the day as you wish. B/L/D
Day 12 Tuesday: Flamingos and giant turtles
In the morning you will go on an excursion to a remote part of the island where flamingos fish in a lagoon. In this marshland you can observe black-necked stilts, herons and Galapagos pintails. Afterwards the trip leads you to the turtle raising station on Isabela, where the staff dutifully tries to sustain potentially endangered species. The following hike takes you through a diversity of flora ending on the beach and finally at the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is at your personal disposal. Overnight at the hotel La Casa de Marita. B/L/D
Day 13: Wednesday: Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Station
This morning, leaving Puerto Villamil you will reach Port Ayora on Santa Cruz Island by public lancha (small speed boat). After arrival you will check-in at the hotel Silberstein and enjoy your lunch. After lunch you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing centre, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this island is probably Lonesome George, the only survivor of his specific turtle species. B/L/D
Day 14 Thursday: Santa Cruz Island – Highlands
The lush greenery of the Santa Cruz highlands is a welcome contrast to the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. Points of interest are the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. A hike through the highlands brings you through the homeland of the local giant tortoises that live most of the year in the green highlands. In the highlands you will investigate the labyrinth-like lava tunnels; some of them are up to 2 km long. You will spend the night in Hotel Silberstein. B/L/D
Day 15 Friday: Santa Cruz Island – Caldera de los Gemelos / Baltra – Quito
In the morning you will visit the highlands and the double crater Caldera de los Gemelos, which is known for its diversity of ca. 300 different fern species and the close by “forest” of sunflowers. After that, you will make a last boat trip to Baltra, to fly back to Quito getting a last glance back at the enchanted islands, a unique paradise, which has charmed you with its fantastic nature. After the transfer to the hotel you can enjoy your afternoon in Quito, as you like. B/-/-
Day 16 Saturday: Otavalo
A visit to the famous Otavalo Indigenous market in the north of Ecuador is the closing highlight of the exciting journey. At the Plaza de los Ponchos and in the surrounding streets woven articles of all kind and a large variety of arts are being sold. The market is known far beyond its boundaries and attracts salesmen from all over the country, even from Colombia. In the afternoon you will head back to Quito. B/L/-
Day 17: Return home
After a last day in Quito you will guide you back to the airport and we will say goodbye – until our next meeting! B/-/-
B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner
Prices per Person for 2012:
4-5 participants USD 4,395.- per person
3 participants USD 4,795.- per person
2 participants USD 5,635.- per person
1 participant USD 10,070.-
Single Supplement: USD 799.- per person
Note:
Group prices upon request
Translator on request at additional cost
Included in the price:
All transfers (Bus, Boat) arrival to departure, all activities mentioned in the program, accommodation in the mentioned hotels or hotels of the same category (double room with private bath), all meals mentioned in the program, flight Quito-Galapagos-Quito, bilingual naturalist guide (English – Spanish).
Not included in the price:
International flight, beverages, snorkelling equipment, single supplement, Galapagos national park entrance fee USD 100,-, migration card USD 10.- (TCT), international airport fee Quito (USD 41.-), personal expenses, tips, travel insurance
Note:
The guide and/or the boat captain can change the itinerary of the Galapagos tour due to security reasons as well as the national park administration due to changed national park rules. Nevertheless the security and the interest of the passengers always have first priority.