DAY 1 - QUITO or GUAYAQUIL - BALTRA ISLAND,
GALAPAGOS - ROYAL PALM HOTEL, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Meeting upon arrival at Baltra airport and transfer by hotel vehicle to the
Itabaca Channel where the hotel's private boat will take you across the channel where your
hotel vehicle is waiting to take you to the hotel. Check-in and enjoy lunch before
beginning your explorations.
NOTE: During your stay at the Royal Palm all meals are
included, either at the hotel or while on tour.
PM Visit to Highlands
This adventurous half-day tour takes you to the most amazing visitors sites found in the
highlands of Santa Cruz Island. You will walk through tunnels formed by rivers of red hot
lava, gaze down into giant pit craters formed by collapsed magma chambers, trek through
lush green cloud forest observing many colorful species of birds, and, seek out giant
Galapagos Tortoises in the wild.
This guided tour includes:
Hotel Lava Tunnel (1 hour)
Formed by rivers of fast flowing liquid lava, a walk through these tunnels will take you
on an exciting journey back in time to the very formation of these volcanic islands.
Just five minutes ride from the
reception, the Hotel Lava Tunnel is the most complex and interesting of any lava tunnel
found on Santa Cruz Island. You will descend through a collapse in the roof of this
cavernous formation and follow a trail that will lead you through a labarinth of different
tunnels over specially constructed bridges and stairways to a spectacular exit through the
roof… this really is like something out of an Indiana Jones movie!
Electrical lighting has been installed
and flashlights and safety helmets are provided for this guided tour. Non-slip walking
shoes are essential. The tour will take about ½ hour and is suitable for anyone with
reasonable level of fitness.
Los Gemelos Pit Craters (1.5 to 2
hours)
These two gigantic pit craters offer another dramatic and exciting insight into the
formation of these islands. Nestled in a cloud forest in the highlands of Santa Cruz this
visitors site offers great bird watching, plant identification and nature trails.
Los Gemelos are in fact surface magma
chambers that were once filled with red hot, liquid magma. This magma was expelled
or drained away leaving huge empty chambers just below the land surface. Over time, the
ceilings of these caverns weakened and collapsed leaving two enormous holes in the forest
that had grown over the top of them.
Located just 10 minutes from the Hotel,
this lush green forest of endemic Scalesia and Galapagos Guava Trees is a cool and
refreshing change from the heat of the coast. The forest is shrouded in clouds (or garua,
a light mist) most of the year and so lush green vegetation is abundant as are a wide
variety of birds including the bright red Vermillion Flycatcher, many species of Darwin
Finches, Galapagos Doves and Yellow Warblers.
Tortoises in the Wild (1.5 to 2 hours)
Nothing will prepare you for your first glimpse of a Galapagos Giant Tortoise in it’s
natural habitat. These enormous creatures roam freely between the national park areas and
the agricultural zone. This visit offers the ideal opportunity to view these ancient
creatures munching on lush green vegetation or wallowing in the mud of the seasonal pools
that attract them from the lowlands during the dry winter season. Many bird species may be
observed too, including migratory shore birds at certain times of year!
Just 20 minutes taxi/bus ride from the
Hotel, this guided tour will include a hike through open fields and forest. A basic
cafeteria and clean toilets are available on these farms, and some offer rubber boots in
case of muddy conditions. Your guide will recommend the best farm to visit at that
particular time.
NOTE: You may also just choose to do one
or two of the visits detailed, for that reason we have included the time for each
individual visit within the Highland Tour.
Dress code:
Good shoes or hiking boots are recommended for the Highland Tour that is often wet and
muddy. A light raincoat might also be required in wet conditions. In sunny conditions, a
sun hat, sun block and bottled water are advisable. Bring binoculars if you have them.
DAY 2 - GALAPAGOS, SANTA CRUZ
ISLAND
After breakfast, on day two, you will participate in a full day boat tour. There
are several motor yachts navigating these extraordinary islands daily which provide an
excellent way to discover this wildlife paradise. All boat tours include lunch and
certified naturalist guide/s accompanying passengers ashore to explain the natural wonders
of the islands.
All boat
tours are subject to availability and the Galapagos National Park authority controls the
number of visitors to each destination per day. We will make every effort to place
you on tours with your preferred destination; however last minute changes by tour
operators may force a change in itinerary.
Options for
the day tour include: click here for complete
details all tours
BARTOLOME
A
small island off of James that offers beautiful white sand beaches fringed by luxuriant
green mangroves. The eastern end of the island has many volcanic cones and lava tubes.
Climb to the summit of the island for one of the most breathtaking views in the islands.
The tall, leaning spike known as Pinnacle Rock is the eroded remains of an old tuff cone.
At its foot is a beach for swimmers and snorkelers, and a small colony of Galapagos
penguins.
NORTH
SEYMOUR & BACHAS
An uplifted (as opposed to
volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting
sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies
perform their courtship dance in the more open area, and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the
cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul
out onto the beach and can be found together with marine iguanas.
SOUTH
PLAZAS & PUNTA CARRION
One
of the smallest islands to be visited. A large colony of sea lions, numbering about 1,000
bulls, cows and pups, occupies the smooth rocks here. The small cactus forest is populated
by land iguanas, which can be seen sunning themselves or feeding on Opuntia pads and
fruits. Along the cliff edges nesting swallow-tailed gulls are the predominant seabirds,
along with tropicbirds and shearwaters. During the rainy season the dormant ground cover
undergoes a drastic change. The red Sesuvium turns bright green and the leafless
evening-blooming Portulaca bursts into large yellow flowers relished by the iguanas.
SANTA
FE
One
of the most picturesque anchorages within the archipelago. Its beauty is best appreciated
from the trail which climbs the fault cliff overlooking the southern half of the bay. This
plateau is also the best place to find the large land iguanas that are endemic to this
island. Often they can be seen beneath the imposing Opuntia cacti that are also particular
to Santa Fe. The two beaches are sleeping grounds for sea lions, and snorkeling near the
small island by the entrance of the bay can also be rewarding.
DAY 3 - GALAPAGOS, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
After
breakfast, begin your full day excursion to the Charles Darwin Station and Tortuga Bay.
This whole day tour
combines education and fun. Start the day by learning all about the giant tortoise and
land iguana captive breeding programs and visiting them in their corrals. Later you will
stroll down the main shopping street in Puerto Ayora and eat lunch in a local restaurant.
Later you will walk to Tortuga Bay beach. Here you can laze on the beach or swim or
snorkel in calm, protected lagoons.
You may also just
choose to do one or two of the visits detailed, for that reason we have included the time
for each individual visit within this day tour (please note that the individual times
below each include traveling time to and from the Hotel).
This guided tour
includes:
Charles Darwin
Station & Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre (3 hours)
Located at the far end of Puerto Ayora this centre is home to the giant tortoises and the
land iguana captive breeding programs. See the tiny new born tortoises and sit alongside
the huge adults in their corrals.
You will have the chance to see Lonesome
George, the last remaining individual of Pinta Island and conservation icon of Galapagos.
Also, Diego ‘the latin lover’ who has fathered the vast majority of over 1000
tortoises reintroduced back onto Espanola island.
The Van Straelen Centre offers a wealth
of information about current conservation efforts within the Galapagos National Park and
Galapagos Marine Reserve.
Lunch at a local
restaurant
Tortuga Bay (4
hours)
This spectacular, white sand beach is situated about 35 minutes walking distance from
Puerto Ayora. A paved pathway takes you from the outskirts of Puerto Ayora through an
arid, aromatic, palo santo forest surrounded by prickly pear and candalabra cactus and
birdlife until you reach a long, pristine, powdery sand beach. (Note: Because of strong
currents, this beach is not suitable for swimming).
A twenty minute stroll down this
amazingly beautiful beach brings you to a protected pool that is ideal for swimming and
easy snorkeling. A short stroll over to ‘Playa Mansa’ brings you to a tranquil
lagoon where you can swim and snorkel too. Kayaks can also be rented to spot turtles and
white tip sharks a little further out towards the middle of the lagoon.
Between Tortuga Bay beach and Playa Mansa
there is short trail along a rocky stretch of coastline and through a beautiful cactus
forest where you can see marine iguanas, brown pelicans and blue footed boobies.
Later, you will return on foot to Puerto
Ayora where a taxi/bus will be waiting to return you to the Hotel.
Advice for the
Beach
Be very careful about entering the rough waters along Tortuga Bay beach where strong
undertow currents can be dangerous unless you are an experienced surfer. It is completely
forbidden to climb on the fragile sand dunes as they get very easily destroyed. Don't
forget to apply abundant sun protection at all times. Insect repellent is advisable
Dress Code
Strap sandals or tennis shoes, sun hat, sun block, beachwear and bathing suits. Snorkel
equipment and a wet suit may also be taken but will need to be carried by yourself.
DAY 4 - GALAPAGOS, SANTA CRUZ
ISLAND
After breakfast, depart on another full day excursion - choose from the following
options: click here for complete details all tours
BARTOLOME
A
small island off of James that offers beautiful white sand beaches fringed by luxuriant
green mangroves. The eastern end of the island has many volcanic cones and lava tubes.
Climb to the summit of the island for one of the most breathtaking views in the islands.
The tall, leaning spike known as Pinnacle Rock is the eroded remains of an old tuff cone.
At its foot is a beach for swimmers and snorkelers, and a small colony of Galapagos
penguins.
NORTH
SEYMOUR & BACHAS
An uplifted (as opposed to
volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting
sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies
perform their courtship dance in the more open area, and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the
cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul
out onto the beach and can be found together with marine iguanas.
SOUTH
PLAZAS & PUNTA CARRION
One
of the smallest islands to be visited. A large colony of sea lions, numbering about 1,000
bulls, cows and pups, occupies the smooth rocks here. The small cactus forest is populated
by land iguanas, which can be seen sunning themselves or feeding on Opuntia pads and
fruits. Along the cliff edges nesting swallow-tailed gulls are the predominant seabirds,
along with tropicbirds and shearwaters. During the rainy season the dormant ground cover
undergoes a drastic change. The red Sesuvium turns bright green and the leafless
evening-blooming Portulaca bursts into large yellow flowers relished by the iguanas.
SANTA
FE
One
of the most picturesque anchorages within the archipelago. Its beauty is best appreciated
from the trail which climbs the fault cliff overlooking the southern half of the bay. This
plateau is also the best place to find the large land iguanas that are endemic to this
island. Often they can be seen beneath the imposing Opuntia cacti that are also particular
to Santa Fe. The two beaches are sleeping grounds for sea lions, and snorkeling near the
small island by the entrance of the bay can also be rewarding.
DAY 5 - ROYAL PALM, SANTA
CRUZ ISLAND - BALTRA - GUAYAQUIL OR QUITO
This morning you'll be transferred back to the Itabaca Channel where the hotel's
boat will take you across the channel and on to the Baltra Airport in their private
vehicle. At the airport, enjoy the facilities of the exclusive VIP lounge while awaiting
your departing flight back to the
mainland.
