Sample Itinerary
Day One - Arrival and tour of Tortuga Bay
Your flight from the mainland will touch down on the island of Baltra this morning, and we will pick you up and take you across the Itabaca Strait to Santa Cruz. First of all, we will take you to the secluded and lovely Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge, where you can refresh yourselves and drop your luggage. Then, in the afternoon we will take you by boat out into Academy Bay and La Loberia, where you can swim and snorkel with sea-lions. From here we will travel around the coast to Tortuga Bay, where we can see baby reef sharks and stingrays.
Day Two - Santa Cruz and Floreana
After breakfast this morning, we will go for a short trek up into the highlands of Santa Cruz, to explore the lava craters and see some of the wild giant tortoises. We will head back to the lodge for lunch, and then in the afternoon we will head by boat to the island of Floreana. First up is the secluded Luz del Dia cove, where we can see penguins and sea-lions on the rocky shore, and rays and bright tropical fish in the clear waters. We will then travel around the coast to our dock on the island, and head to the Floreana lodge, located right on the beach so all you have to do is unpack and relax!
Day Three - On to Isabela
This morning we will explore the island, including the tortoise reserve, Pirate’s cave, and seeing the endemic Floreana finches which make their home on Cerro Pajas. At around 11am we will get back on-board our boat for the short trip across to the island of Isabela, where we will arrive just in time for lunch. In the afternoon we will head back out to sea as we cruise around the coast, keeping an eye out for blue-footed boobies and penguins, before docking for a short walk up through one of Isabela’s huge lava fields, passing colonies of marine iguanas on our way to a natural viewpoint with stunning views of Isabela’s volcanoes, the green coastal mangroves, and the emerald seas beyond. We will then return to Isabela lodge, where you can relax on the beach, or swim and snorkel.
Day Four - Back to Santa Cruz
This morning we will drive out from Isabela lodge along what is generally acknowledged to be the most beautiful beach in the Galapagos – Long Beach. Over 3km of pristine white sand and the contrast with the turquoise seas make this an amazing photograph. If you can get one of the local giant tortoises or marine iguanas in the shot – so much the better! After an afternoon exploring the beach and the nearby tortoise reserve, we will head back to the lodge and board our boat for the trip back to Santa Cruz, where we will have a short visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and then some free time for you to relax and enjoy your final afternoon in the Galapagos.
Day Five - Back to Quito
After breakfast this morning, we will travel back to the airport on Baltra to catch a flight back to the mainland.
Prices
A Galapagos island-hopping trip can be added on to any of our holidays in Ecuador and you can stay for as long as you like!
Our price for the sample itinerary given here is £1450 per person. This price is based on two people sharing a double or twin room and includes all the following:
- Two nights' accommodation at the Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge
- One night's accommodation at the Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge
- One night's accommodation at the Red Mangrove Floreana Lodge
- All transfers and transport between islands
- All meals
- Flights Quito-Galapagos-Quito
- Galapagos Transit card