8 Day Oceano Program Itinerary
Day 1:
Transfer from Quito or Guayaquil to San Cristóbal. After lunch, we will visit The San Cristobal Interpretation Center, where we will learn about the islands, evolution of their species, fauna, migration, and how humans came to live there. Then we will go to “Playa Man” for our first contact with the beautiful waters of these islands, as well as the friendly sea-lions.
Hotel Accomodations - B - L - D
Day 2:
After breakfast, we will visit the “Mirador de la Soledad”, where we will enjoy magnificent views of San Cristobal Island. Lunch will be followed by a trip to the Highlands of San Cristobal, where we can see different vegetation compared with that on Santa Cruz Island. We will also make a visit to "El Junco", which is a beautiful crater lagoon where every day frigate birds come to wash their feathers.
Hotel Accomodations - B - L - D
Day 3:
Early in the morning (06:00 am) we will transfer by the public speedboat from San Cristobal to Puerto Ayora (approximately 2 hours and half), where our guide will be waiting for you and then we take a breakfast and check in at the hotel. This morning we have a short rets at the hotel till the lunch time. After the lunch we will visit the Highlands of Santa Cruz to make closer contact with the giant Galapagos tortoises as well as birds, like the Bird Wizard and finches. All day we will be surrounded by the endemic vegetation of the Galapagos, such as escalecias and matazarnos.
Hotel Accomodations - B - L - D
Day 4:
After breakfast we go to the dock to take our speed boat L/P Oceano or similar to start (08:00) the navigation to Floreana Island which lasts approximately 2. The first stop point for doing snorkelingFloreana Lobery. In the afternoon we get ready to carry out the visit to Floreana highlands, where we will watch: the caves that were used by the pirates years ago, the Asylum of Peace (viewpoint) and the ancient habitat of Wittmer, one of the earliest inhabitants of the island. We are going to have the opportunity to watch how inhabitants extract fresh water from this island and we can taste this vital liquid. Return to Puerto Ayora.
After breakfast, we will first visit the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we can see Lonesome George, the last living Galapagos tortoise of his species. Here we will visit the cages that are home to numerous Galapagos turtles. Afterwards, we will head to Puerto Ayora for a visit to the most famous art galleries there. We will then take a speedboat to Isabela (14:00 pm), which last approximately three hours we will arrive to Isabela Island. After a brief rest at the hotel, we will head to the Flamingo Lagoon This place is the largest coastal lagoon found in the Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the majority of flamingos.
Hotel Accomodations - B - L - D
Day 6:
Early in the morning after breakfast, we will have a full day tour of the Sierra Negra Volcano. This volcano is located 13 miles from Puerto Villamil and is the world’s second largest volcanic crater, measuring 6 miles in diameter and 300 feet deep. We will hike the crater and enjoy the view of the beach below before continuing on to Volcan Chico, a still active volcano which warms the surrounding ground. (Box lunch will be provided). In the afternoon, we will return to the hotel and later we will have the opportunity to go snorkeling in Concha Perla. (Snorkelling equipment is included in this visit, tube, mask, fins).
Hotel Accomodations - B - L - D
Day 7:
After breakfast we will go to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, where we will visit “The Wall of Tears”. From 1946 to 1959, Isabela was designated a penal colony by the Ecuadorian government. Prisoners were obligated to build a wall with enormous blocks of lava. Due to the arduous labor and harsh conditions in which the prisoners lived, this site is known as “El Muro de las Lagrimas”. Additionally, we will visit a small lava tunnel and another flamingo’s lagoon, and then we will return to the hotel to have lunch.
In the afternoon, we will sail to Tintoreras islet It is called like this due to a large crevice with very clear, calm water in which white-tip sharks known as “Tintoreras” come daily to rest on the bottom. We can also observe penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas, blue footed bobies, and go snorkeling with sharks (Snorkelling equipment is included in this visit, tube, mask, fins) as well as with other colourful tropical fish while enjoying the beaches of Isabela.
Hotel Accomodations - B - L - D
Day 8:
Early in the morning we will take Our speed Boat L/P Oceano or the public speedboat to go to Puerto Ayora, where the guide will be waiting for us to take a breakfast then we will go to Baltra Airport, but on the way we will stop by “The Twins” (a.k.a.“The Gemelos”) which are similar to craters, however these were formed by a collapse of the earth because of the lava flows that passed below it. The tour will end upon the arrival to the Airport where we will depart to Quito or Guayaquil.
- B -
Rates include:
• Accommodation in tourist class hotels
• All meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner
• English speaking nature guide
• Snorkelling equipment on Isabela - mask, snorkel and fins
• All transfers and transportation in Galapagos during the program
Rates do not include:
• Galapagos National Park entrance fee: $100.00 USD per person
• Migratory Control Card: $10.00 USD per person
• Isabela dock fee $5.00 USD per person
• Soft drinks and alcoholics beverages
• Air tickets
• Tips
