GALAPAGOS MAGIC EXPEDITION
Discover the enchanted Galapagos Islands which offer endless opportunities to witness a unique abundance of wildlife in a setting unlike any other on the planet. Due to it’s isolation, the Galapagos formed a natural sanctuary that preserves species, allowing them to evolve over countless millennia. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with the wildlife. The tour also provides many benefits to local communities and is socially and environmentally responsible. Be part of an educational and inspirational journey of a lifetime in one of the most fiercely protected marine wilderness’ in the world!
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DepartureQuito / Ecuador
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IncludedActivitiesLand TransportationMeals detailed in the itinerary
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Not IncludedDomestic flightsFees and entrances to parks and museumsAirport tranfer in & outInternational flight
FROM OUR GALLERY
DAY 1: QUITO ARRIVAL DAY
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00 pm.
Meals included: none.
DAY 2: ARRIVAL IN GALAPAGOS
Today you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Baltra airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry. From here we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk-in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. After this tour, you will continue by private vehicle to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with your local guide who will explain the following days itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to relax and introduce yourself to this beautiful Island.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 3: BAY TOUR EXPLORATION - CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
Today after breakfast you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to approach to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought after blue-footed boobies. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 4: SPEED BOAT TO ISABELA ISLAND – BREEDING CENTER + FLAMINGO LAGOON – TINTORERAS ISLET
Today we will take a quick boat to the largest island in the archipelago and where the most of the volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes, Alcedo, Cerra Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf; five of them are still active which makes the island one of the most volcanically active places on earth.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 5: HIKE IN SIERRA NEGRA
After driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trail head, we will prepare our backpacks for the hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. Our destination is the rim of Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano which last erupted in June 2018. Upon arrival, we take in breathtaking views and explore the circumference of the massive, lava-filled crater, a caldera that is over six miles across at its widest point. If we feel energetic enough, we can continue our hike to Volcan Chico, a secondary crater that has a wild landscape of puffing fumaroles and colorful lava formations; great examples of the dramatic geological events that have formed the Galapagos Islands over millennia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 6: FLIGHT BACK TO QUITO
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra's airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 7: DEPARTURE
Today our trip will end and you will have your International departures. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "Buen viaje"!
Meals included: Breakfast.
WRITE A REVIEW
What's Included?
- Transportation: Private and comfortable land transportation; speed boat Santa Cruz – Isabela – Santa Cruz.
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 5* Hotel in Quito, 3 star hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals: 6 breakfasts, 2 lunch.
- Activities: Hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, trekking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano, snorkeling or kayaking in Tintoreras.
- Out-door gear: Life jackets, snorkeling equipment.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader and local guides.
What is not included?
- International flights.
- Domestic flights to Galapagos USD $535.
- Single supplement.
- Travel insurance (mandatory).
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee USD $100 per person.
- INGALA Transit Control Card USD $20 per person
- Isabela Port Fee USD $10 per person.
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- Tips for guides and drivers.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
DRIVING TIME: 45 minutes Airport transfers in Quito. 45 minutes Airport transfers in Galapagos
FLIGHT TIME: 2h 45 min each way from Quito to Galapagos. Regular size aircraft. About 140 passengers.
BOAT TRAVEL TIME: 2 hours each way from Santa Cruz to Isabela. 45 minutes each way - Lava Tunnels.
SNORKELLING TIME: Canal del amor: 1 hour.
HIKING TIME: Short hikes 1-hour average.
SEASON: All year.
ALTITUDE: From sea level to 600m (1900ft).
AVG. TEMP.: Day 15-34ºC / 59-93ºF - Night 12-17ºC / 53-62ºF
WEATHER TEMPERATURES: December to May: 80ºF to 90ºF / 25ºC to 30ºC. June to September: 60ºF to 70ºF / 15ºC to 20ºC. October to December: 70ºF to 80ºF/ 15ºC to 25ºC
WATER TEMPERATURE: The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture of warm and cold water, ranging between 65ºF and 85ºF
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate to easy there are short hikes in El Chato, Academy day tour, Isla Lobos snorkelling is easy.
ACCOMODATION: All prices are based on double-occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost.
MEALS: Traveling with Adventure Journeys you will have the possibility to experience and taste local food and snacks. Your guide will help you identify typical food and suggest the best places to enjoy it. Some meals are not included in order to give you some flexibility about where, what and with whom to eat. You have the option to share these meals with the group, however there is no obligation to do this. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform AJ prior to your departure. Vegetarians, Vegans and Gluten Free people are very welcome in our trip, our guides are always ready to coordinate with chefs and restaurants for substitute meals for them, as Ecuador is very well known for its great diversity of gastronomy.
YOUR TRIP LEADERS AND GUIDES: All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed from the Tourism University to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid respondents. They all have approved several extra training courses for kayaking, rafting, biking and horse riding, besides this they all are Ecuadorian and have a fantastic personality. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips. In some locations and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service and make sure we practice sustainable tourism involving local indigenous people in our operation.
SUSTAINABLE ECO AND CULTURAL TOURISM: Clients receive interpretation and education about the ecology and conservation of the Andes, Amazon rain forest and Galapagos Islands, and learn about the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both local people cultural identity and the environment. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage and we prefer to work with local suppliers. Your visit will encourage the local communities to support responsible eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative for their living.
HEALTH INFORMATION: Please inform AJ of any existing medical conditions (i.e. pregnancy, diabetes, etc). Yellow fever, Hepatitis B vaccination and Malaria Medication are recommended when traveling to the tropics. Please ask your doctor for advice.