8 DAY MULTISPORT ISLAND HOPPING TOUR

Day 1: San Cristobal airport - Standup Paddleboarding

Welcome to the Galapagos Islands! Upon arrival you will be picked up from San Cristobal airport and you will be transferred to your hotel. San Cristobal is known for its many sea lions; they are literally lying around everywhere! In the afternoon you will do a standup paddleboarding excursion around the bay of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, where you can see sea lions, marine turtles, etc. Overnight at Casa Playa Mann or similar.
Meals included: -

Day 2: Snorkeling at Kicker Rock

Today you will do a snorkeling tour to Kicker Rock, which is a volcanic tuff rock rising at 144 meters above the sea level in the middle of the ocean. It is a beautiful snorkel site, also famous because of its rich marine life. You can spot many tropical fishes, sea turtles, sea lions, rays, Galapagos sharks, white tipped sharks and if lucky: hammerhead sharks! Going around the rock with the boat you can spot Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. Overnight at Casa Playa Mann or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch

Day 3: San Cristobal - Santa Cruz: Bay Tour

In the morning you will take a public speedboat to Santa Cruz Island at 7 AM. The boat ride will take about 2 hours and can be bumpy, depending on the weather and time of the year. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel and in the afternoon you are going to do a bay tour. The bay tour includes visiting 5 sites located near Puerto Ayora. La Loberia is a small island about 10 minutes into the bay where there is a large colony of sea lions. Here you have the opportunity to swim with the babies and playful youngsters. Canal del Amor and Canal Tiburones are other snorkeling sites where you sometimes can see sharks. It is also possible to see the blue footed boobies who are regularly seen resting on the cliffs close by. Playa de los Perros gives you the opportunity to get off the boat and walk through a cactus forest to a remote beach where you will encounter marine iguanas, red crabs and marine turtles. The last place to be visited is Las Grietas, a water filled crevice in the rocks. The water is cool and clear and great for snorkeling and swimming. Overnight at Hotel Galapagos Suites or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4: Santa Cruz: Biking to the Highlands

After breakfast pick up from your hotel and drive to the starting point up the hill, from where we start biking on a dirt farm road through the highlands. Our first stop will be at the Bellavista lava tunnel. Formed by the lava floods of the volcanoes the lava tunnels range from the highlands down to the sea level. The track is collapsed on several spots. Nevertheless a part of the tunnel is intact and gives the observer an impression of their formation; the passage through the tunnel is a 20 minute walk. Afterwards we continue biking, until we arrive at a private ranch, where we can observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat and learn how the private ranches protect these special animals and their habitat. We than continue with an exciting descent through the island’s climate zones until we arrive at the Garrapatero beach, where you can enjoy a swim in the ocean. Overnight at Hotel Galapagos Suites or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch

Day 5: Santa Cruz - Isabela: Kayaking

Early in the morning at 7 AM you will take a public speedboat from Santa Cruz to Isabela (2.5 hours). You will be picked up from the pier of Isabela and taken to your hotel. After checking in you can visit the Flamingo Lagoon on your own. The Flamingo Lagoon is the largest coastal lagoon found in the Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the grand majority of flamingos. In the afternoon we are going to the Tintoreras Islet by kayak. We begin in the bay of Puerto Villamil and paddle out to Tintoreras Islet. The instructor will explain the entire route, instructions and recommendations before starting the excursion. Around the Tintoreras Islet you will be able to appreciate different animals as you paddle such as sea birds, sea lions, marine iguanas, rays and penguins. It is also possible to take a break from the kayaking and snorkel around Tintoreras and swim with the marine animals. Overnight at the Isabela Beach House or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Isabela: Snorkeling & Rappelling

Today we are going to do a snorkeling tour at the Cabo Rosa Lava Tunnels. The tour begins by taking a 45 minute speedboat ride to the western side of Puerto Villamil to one of the most astonishing snorkeling locations in the Galapagos Islands: Los Tuneles. A series of lava flows have created hundreds of arches and tunnels, both above and below the water. The striking geological formations are outdone only by the extraordinary collection of creatures that call this place home. The water is cool and still and an astonishing array of marine life is visible from above as you walk across the lava arches and bridges or from below as you snorkel in this unique habitat. The tour takes about 5 to 6 hours. First we will do a small hike along the lava formations; during the walk it is possible to see rays and sea turtles on the surface and you can observe different species of birds such as: blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and pelicans. Afterwards we go snorkeling; here you can see sea turtles, sharks, rays, seahorses, schools of fish and Galapagos penguins! In the afternoon we are going to do an exciting activity: rappelling into the Trillizos volcano in the highlands of Isabela! We start with a walk through the flora and fauna of Isabela and then we will rappel down for about 150 meters in harness inside the interior of a large lava tunnel. You will see minerals and the amazing environment gives a good understanding of the formation of the island. Overnight at the Isabela Beach House or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch

Day 7: Isabela: Sierra Negra Volcano Hike

After breakfast we start our hiking tour to the Sierra Negra volcano, one of the five volcanoes on the island of Isabela, and this volcano has the second largest volcanic crater in the world. During the Sierra Negra Volcano Tour you hike to the edge of the crater and then trek across a landscape of lava fields. The Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos, with the last eruption in 2018. Though you won't see any lava flowing, you will have the opportunity to explore thermal vents and other fascinating geologic features. The views from this spot are among the most breathtaking of Isabela and on clear afternoons you can observe the northern volcanoes on Isabela and Fernandina. During this hike you won´t see any animals, the real focus is the geology of the Sierra Negra and Chico volcanoes. Please note this is a 3-4 hour hike and bring plenty of water, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a rain jacket/windbreaker. The rest of the afternoon you have free time to enjoy the beautiful beach in Isabela or you can go snorkeling in the Concha de Perla Lagoon, which is located at approx. 15 minutes walking from town. The last part of the walk to this snorkeling site consists of a wooden walkway where sea lions like to take a rest. Overnight at the Isabela Beach House or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch

Day 8: Isabela - Santa Cruz - Baltra airport

At 6 AM you will take the public speedboat back to Santa Cruz Island. Upon arrival a driver will pick you up from the pier and you will be transferred to Baltra airport. You will be accompanied until check-in at the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast