The Galapagos Loop

TRANSFER IN SANTA CRUZ - HIGHLANDS- LAVA TUNNELS (L)

After our arrival at Baltra Airport, we will take the shuttle to Santa Cruz Island, journeying across the island into the highlands, where we will be amazed by the island’s variety of wildlife and geology. Beginning at the coast and traveling south along the road to Puerto Ayora, the road climbs through the agricultural zone and into the mist-covered forests of the highlands. Santa Cruz possesses all of the various life zones present on the archipelago, with wonderful birding opportunities. Whether it’s the bright red feathers of a Vermilion Flycatcher or one of Darwin’s finches, almost every land bird present on the islands can be found here. Descending, through the agricultural zone into the Transition Zone where the Tortoise Reserve is located, the introduced vegetation of the farmlands is replaced by native vegetation. Continuing with our journey, we will stop at one of the ranches where, we will have the chance to lunch surrounded by the iconic tortoise species, which we will be able to watch it close. After a walk along the trail that surrounded by the Giant Tortoises, we will have the opportunity to visit a tunnel formed by lava after an eruption of the volcano, now extinct. Later on, we will have time to visit Santa Cruz Brewery, entrepreneurship that produces one of the local artisanal draft beers. In here, we will have the opportunity to understand the complex and delicate process that the brewery follows to get tasteful and unique types of beers in the isolated Galapagos Islands. After all, there is time for tasting some of the beers before continuing the journey to Puerto Ayora, where we will have the rest of the day for leisure. The accommodation will be in the selected hotel.

Important Note: In case the traveler will arrive in a later flight considering the flight of the majority of the group, it will have to pay a supplement for a private transfer and assistance at Baltra Airport for being able to join the group at Rancho Primicias.

Accommodation in selected hotel

TRANSFER TO FLOREANA ISLAND – LOCAL FARM – HIGHLANDS - BARBEQUE ON THE BEACH (B, L, D)

This morning, after breakfast, we will head to Puerto Ayora´s pier where we will take our private speed boat to Floreana Island; this ride will take 2h30 minutes approx. Floreana has, arguably, the most interesting human history of all of the Galapagos Islands. It is the site of the first “post office”, established in 1793 by whalers. Floreana was the first island to be colonized by Ecuadorians in 1832. It was a penal colony that didn’t last long because of the lack of freshwater. A fish canning plant was established there by Norwegian immigrants in 1924; it lasted only a couple of years. A few years later, Friedrich Ritter, a German doctor, arrived with his female companion Dore Strauch, who suffered from multiple sclerosis. As a curiosity, Doctor Ritter removed all of his teeth and used stainless-steel dentures to avoid any dental complications. Together, they set up a very successful garden and lived off the land.

A pregnant woman, Margret Wittmer arrived in 1932, with her husband Heinz and her step-son Harry. They built a house and also established an agricultural lifestyle before giving birth to their son Rolf, the first person to be born in the Galapagos Islands. Another fact about Floreana is that it is the most well-known Island for being the site of several mysterious disappearances in the 1930s—the one receiving the most attention being that of a supposed Austrian baroness, who had arrived shortly after the Wittmers with her two servants (lovers). After her arrival, people started disappearing mysteriously and she later vanished as soon as she arrived. The Ecuadorian government conceded land to build up a 5-star hotel, close to Post office bay, which never happened and appeared to be a complete fraud.

Arriving on the island, we will visit a local farm that will allow us to learn more about people’s way of life on Floreana. This island, which exists far from technology and development, has inhabitants who wish to generate production and optimization of their resources to achieve a very interesting lifestyle. During this visit, we will visit a lagoon where it is possible to observe frigates and will have the opportunity to feed the farm animals and harvest vegetables.

We will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared with the foods harvested from the farm. After lunch, we will continue with our next visit, Asilo de la Paz. It is primarily a historical site where visitors can view a pirates’ cave and the freshwater spring, which is the main source of water for the population. Also, in this place, the Wittmer family set out to live inside the caves while they were constructing their first house made of leather and stone. In these caves “Rolf Wittmer” was born, becoming the first baby ever to be born on Floreana. He lived in the caves with his family for his first year of life. Here our guide will interpret how they used to live, so we can go back in time and picture the idea of how extreme it was to live on this island back in the day. Nearby, we will find a corral with various giant tortoises that were originally owned by residents of Floreana. Along with this path, we will also see Giant tortoise’s species from this island that have been recently re-introduced, since they were considered extinct. In the evening, we will have a barbeque, and, with luck, we may be able to taste one of the fruity wine prepared by the local family. Here, we can enjoy the Floreana’s peace and taste the foods harvested by the island's inhabitants. Accommodation in one of the basic hotels built on the island and run by the second generation of a family that arrived after the Ritter family abandoned the island.

Accommodations

SNORKELING “LA LOBERIA” – TRANSFER TO ISABELA ISLAND (B, L)

Today, after breakfast, we will begin our excursion to “La Loberia”, a sea Lion breeding area. For reaching the place, we will take a short walk along the shore for approximately 30 minutes. After the interpretation and some time to admire the landscape of this visitor’s site, we will start our first marine excursion in the bright turquoise water where we might be able to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, manta rays and a variety of colorful coral fish.

We will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared with the foods harvested from the farm. After all, we will head to take our speed boat to Isabela Island; this ride will take us 2h 30 minutes approx. Arriving at Isabela, we will be able to enjoy the Island on our own. Accommodation in selected hotel.

Accommodations

BREEDING CENTER – FLAMINGO LAGOON – TINTORERAS (B)

After having breakfast, we will have a short ride to the Isabela Breeding Center. Here, we will learn more about the efforts that the Galapagos National Park and the local and international foundations are doing to preserve and promote the reproduction of some of the Giant Tortoises species found in Galapagos. Later on, we will continue through a mangrove path that connects with a series of lagoons where the flamingos rest and feed. This walk is ideal for understanding the Galapagos biodiversity, and how the species have adapted to the harsh conditions that the Enchanted Islands have. Today, lunch will be on our own.

In the afternoon, we will visit Tintoreras Islets located a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. The turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by the white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles, and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully. Once we reach the Isle of Tintoreras, we will get to know a lot of these species. Most of the part of this island is formed by AA lava.

Accommodation in selected hotel.

SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO – SANTA CRUZ (B, L)

Today we will visit the iconic Sierra Negra Volcano with the second widest crater of an active volcano (10 km – 6.21 mi approx.); but first, we will be driven along the highland of Isabela up to reach the checking control point.

The hike is approximately 2 km (1.24 mi) up to the first lookout point of the volcano, where we will have time to enjoy a snack while we recover the strength and let the amazing view amaze us. Later on, we will return to Puerto Villamil, for having lunch and then board the private speedboat, and continue our journey back to Santa Cruz Island.

Once we arrive at Puerto Ayora, we will be free to enjoy and explore this iconic town for the last night in the Enchanted Islands.

Accommodation at the selected hotel.

CHARLES DARWIN - TRANSFER AIRPORT FLIGHT BACK (B)

After breakfast, we will have a short visit to the Charles Darwin Station. The center is a reservoir of information on habitats and local conservation as well as other fascinating relevant statistics. The most striking attraction of this station is certainly the Tortoise Breeding Center, where it is possible to view tortoises of different shapes and sizes. Additionally, in order to fully take advantage of our visit to the Galapagos Islands, we will be able to visit the station where legendary “Lonesome George” is exhibited as the last of his species. In 2012, after his death, he was shipped to New York to the American Museum of Natural History in order to start an embalming process for his conservation. Lonesome George was exhibited in the museum for one year. Now Lonesome George is back in the Charles Darwin research station, as a "symbol" of conservation. Afterward, transfer to the airport to take your international flight.

Important Note: In case the traveler will have the early flight departing from Baltra Airport, it will have to pay a supplement for a private transfer and assistance to the airport, and it implies losing the visit to the Charles Darwin Station.