Galapagos tours Ecuador

GALAPAGOS BIRDING TOURS

SPECIAL DEPARTURES

APRIL 22 to 29

JULY 15 to 22

SEPTEMBER 30 to OCTOBER 07

ITINERARY 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS

Day 1: QUITO - GALAPAGOS

Transfer from San Cristóbal Airport to the hotel, welcome lunch and short briefing about Galapagos. Then you will visit El Junco Lagoon,  it is a crater of an extinct volcano here we will find stilts, White-cheeked pintail ducks and Common Gallinules and the Great Frigate Bird and the Magnificent Frigate Bird, these two last species will be taking a bath in the lagoon, this is something very uncommon in these birds.  Late in the afternoon return to the hotel for diner and overnight.

 (L.D)

Day 2: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: ISLA LOBOS - KICKER ROCK - PUNTA PITT

After breakfast you will take your speed boat in order to travel Wolf Island to swim with sea lions and sea turtles, later we will continue to Kicker Rock, besides you will enjoy of snorkelling with rays and reef sharks and if you are lucky maybe hammerhead sharks.  Lunch in Pto Grande beach and in the afternoon you will visit Punta Pitt located to the north of San Cristobal Island, please take note that it is not possible to disembark in this place. Punta Pitt is one of the two only places on the Galapagos islands where you can see three species of boobies nesting in the same area.  On the beach you can see dozens of sea lions, frigates, pelicans, herons and gulls flying over the site.   Return to San Cristobal to the hotel for diner and overnight.

 (B.BL.D)

Day 3: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND - FLOREANA ISLAND

After and early breakfast you will depart to Española Island to surround this Island looking for the amazing Albatross and the Galapagos hawk, please take note that it is not possible to disembark in this island. Then you will continue to Floreana Island where you will visit the highlands looking for the Medium tree Finch and the Charles Mockingbird and to learn about the history of Galapagos visiting the pirates’ caves. Besides you will visit a tortoise reserve and the freshwater spring.  Lunch and in the afternoon you will have time to snorkel in “Luz del Día” (Light of Day) where there is an abundance of penguins and sea lions on the steep, rocky shore and rays and tropical fish beneath the crystal-clear waters. Dinner and overnight in Floreana Island.

(B.L.D)

Day 4: FLOREANA ISLAND - ISABELA ISLAND

After an early breakfast you will have the last opportunity to spot for the Medium Tree Finch, departure to Isabela Island. At your arrival you will be transferred to the hotel, lunch at noon and in the afternoon you will visit Tintoreras islet, snorkel and hike.  At Las Tintoreras you can find a colony of white tip sharks resting in a lava canal. Here you can snorkel or swim in this unique habitat of these animals.  Besides you can find hundreds of marine iguanas, sea lions playing and relaxing in the sun on the sandy beaches.  Later you will have the opportunity to surround by the boat of enjoy of the snorkelling around Galera and Loberia Islets.  Late afternoon you will return to your hotel for diner and overnight.

(B.L.D)

Day 5: ISABELA ISLAND: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO

After breakfast you will visit the Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island. Return to Pto Villamil to enjoy of your lunch in the afternoon you will visit the Breeding Center where National Park Wardens collect adults and eggs of giant tortoises from the two southern volcanoes on Isabela Island. Then you will explore the Humedales (marshlands) in Isabela Island, this place has a pristine ecosystem of tidal lagoons that is the habitat of flamingos and migratory birds. Four species of mangroves can be finding here. At night we will go to the upper part of Isabela to enjoy of a incredible diner surrounded of one of the most beautiful views of Galapagos, return to the hotel to overnight.

(B.L.D)

Day 6: ISABELA: TUNNELS - PLAYA DE LOS PERROS OR PTA MORENO

After an early breakfast you will transfered to the Tunnels, one of the best places of Isabela for Snorkeling, then in a smaller canoe you will continue to Playa de los Perros or Pta Moreno to have the opportunity to see one of the most amazing endemic species of Galapagos the Flightless Cormorant, here you will have the opportunity to snorkel with this bird and the incredible Galapagos Penguin. Box lunch on route and in the afternoon return to Pto Villamil, time to rest and walk to the lagoon to look for the Flamingos. Return to diner and overnight.

(B.BL.D)

Day 7: ISABELA - STA CRUZ

After and early breakfast transfer you to the port of Puerto Villamil where our speedboat will be waiting for you in order to go to Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island, on route we will enjoy of a great snorkeling in Four Brothers.  Once in Puerto Ayora you will take your private transportation in order to travel to the highlands of Santa Cruz that is continually changing and you will ascend through all seven different vegetation zones. There you are able to see the Giant tortoises in the wild at a private farm where you will lunch. In the afternoon you will visit a pair of large pit craters called “Los Gemelos" and the largest lava tunnels. The Highlands of Sta Cruz is one of the best to spot for woodpecker finch. Late afternoon return to the hotel to diner and overnight.

(B.L.D)

Day 8: GALAPAGOS - QUITO

After breakfast you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where you will learn at first hand of the conservation and research efforts in the islands seeing the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. After this visit you will have the last chance to look for some of the finches that surround the Charles Darwin Station,  transfer to Baltra airport in order to catch your flight back to Quito. 

(B.L)