Galápagos Wonder

Today, we will set out on our mountain bikes to explore the stunning coastline on a private trail that takes us through an amazing ecosystem that is home to a wide variety of animals. We begin with a visit to the massive lava rock wall known as the Wall of Tears. This location dates back to the 1950s, when Isabela was used as a prison colony. Because of their isolation, the inmates had to build the wall to keep them from going insane. 

We will see lagoons, mangrove forests, and pristine white-sand beaches as we continue our ride along the coast. In addition to the ubiquitous sea lions and marine iguanas, this area is teeming with birdlife, including American oyster catchers, herons, flamingos, finches, and numerous shorebirds. In the afternoon, we’ll take our kayaks to Tintoreras Islet, which is just a short drive from Puerto Villamil and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.White-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles, and sea lions live in its turquoise, crystalline waters. One of the few places in the world where marine iguanas can successfully reproduce is on one of its beaches, which is surrounded by mangroves.

We will pack our backpacks and hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world with recent geological history, after driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trailhead. The rim of Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano that last erupted in October 2005, is our destination. We explore the massive, lava-filled crater’s circumference and take in the breathtaking views upon arrival. At its widest point, the crater measures more than six miles across.

Spend the afternoon relaxing by the beach or go snorkeling at Concha Perla Bay in search of sea lions, turtles, and other sea creatures. In your spare time, you can also sign up for an optional surfing lesson.

Today we will visit a unique formation, Los Tuneles Cabo Rosa, is a collapsed lava formations both below and above the water. We will have the opportunity to swim beneath lava tunnels on this tour, observe amazing marine life, and take in as much of Isabela Island’s clear, calm waters as you can.

Roca Union, a massive rock in the middle of the sear where pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions rest and sunbathe, will be our first stop after navigation. We’ll take a brief break there to examine these endemic species in detail. After that, we will continue our navigation in the direction of Los Tuneles Cabo Rosa for about 45 minutes. We’ll get off there and walk above the tunnels to see this one-of-a-kind volcanic land. 

It’s time to look below the surface after the walk above the lava tunnels. Well, jump into the water and swim around the tunnels with some jolly sea lions, sharks, rays, turtles, and starfish. The sharks won’t even care about you because they are used to humans. In addition, you will always be accompanied by a licensed guide who will always ensure your safety.

In the morning we will travel from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to see the Charles Darwin Research Station. We will check into the hotel when we get there. After that, we will go to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands. In the afternoon, we will head to the ‘El Chato’ reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through El Chato’s beautiful landscape with these lumbering giants is an unforgettable experience! Afterward, return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening in Galapagos’ most populous town.

You can now explore the Galapagos Islands at your own pace! You can also take a self-guided exploration walk through a dry forest to Tortuga Bay, a beautiful beach with white sand and thousands of marine turtles nesting there. This wonderful spot welcomes swimming or swimming. Alternately, you can participate in any optional activities for an additional fee, such as a day trip to scuba dive on Bartolome Island or Floreana Island, to name a few.

The tour begins with a 45-minute drive from Puerto Ayora to the Itabaca Canal on Santa Cruz Island’s north coast. We will board a boat at the port and begin our journey toward Bartolome Island, one of the newest islands in the Galapagos archipelago.

We will disembark once we get to Bartolomé and begin a path tour that will take us to the best view of all the Galapagos Islands. We’ll have to walk about 400 steps to reach the top, which is about 115 meters above sea level. You can get a great picture between the amazing vegetation and the unique beach in front of you as a reward.

The famous Galapagos pinnacle, Bartolome Island in its entirety, and a portion of Santiago Island can all be seen from the summit. A panoramic view that is unrivaled.

We will begin our descent after the walk to the top of the viewpoint, where we will enjoy lunch and then relax on the north and south beaches, where the pinnacle is located. From there, we will be able to take in the view. We can’t swim in South Beach because it’s a protected area where turtles build their nests. However, we will see them, and then we’ll go to North Beach, where we might be able to share a bathroom with Galapagos penguins who will move around.

We will go snorkeling in North Beach to look for various species like dry cleaners, sea lions, fish, rays, and turtles. We will return to Puerto Ayora after a refreshing swim and the conclusion of our tour here.

You can visit inhabited islands in the Galapagos Islands, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly unwind and disconnect. One of the most popular inhabited islands, North Seymour offers a fantastic opportunity to fully experience the Galapagos.

The journey will begin in Puerto Ayora, where we will travel in the direction of the Itabaca Channel. North Seymour will be reached in approximately 45 minutes by boat from this location.

We will make a brief stop at a wonderful location in the middle of the ocean where the marine life is breathtaking before continuing to North Seymour. We get off the boat and go snorkeling to see this submerged area in detail. Time to return to the hotel in Santa Cruz to recharge the batteries for the next adventure.

We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Puerto Ayora Port to begin the tour. We continue our navigation toward the Santa Fe Islands after spending some time laying there, taking a cool bath, and exploring.

Because Santa Fe is in the middle of several islands—San Cristobal, Floriana, and Santa Cruz—it has a good mix of amazing marine life and species from those islands. When you go snorkeling there, you’ll get a chance to experience this for yourself.

After the snorkeling session, we will walk around the island for an hour. During the walk, you will see endemic iguanas, and our bilingual guide will tell you everything you need to know about the island’s history and its animals. After this unique experience we will return to your hotel in Santa Cruz.

We will have a transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland after our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos of this stunning place. We will see you soon again!