Your Travel Experience with Galapagos PRO
Day 1
Arrival in the Islands
After arrival in the Baltra Airport, spend the evening exploring Santa Cruz island at your leisure.
Day 2
Spanish Course + Las Grietas, Salt Lake and Opuntia Forest
At the end of the kilometer-long nature trail to the gorge Las Grietas over Playa de los Alemanes, you will find a sparkling pink salt lake and a large cactus forest. Arriving at the grotto of Las Grietas, you will find a wooden staircase that leads down to crystal clear water perfect for bathing. Continue along the nature trail to various viewpoints until you reach the spectacular view over the open sea at the end of the gorge. The tour takes 4 hours.
In the afternoon, join your Ecuadorean teacher for a 4 hour language lesson.
Day 3
Spanish Course + Snorkelling At Daphne or Pinzon
Depending on weather and water conditions, you will enjoy one of the following:
1) Snorkel tour at Daphne Island: The island of Daphne is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz. The northwest side of the island hosts several species of nesting seabirds. You can see Nazca Boobies, Fork-tailed Gulls and Frigatebirds. Snorkelling along the cliffs of the islands offers the chance to see manta rays, sea lions, sharks and large schools of tropical fish. You will have an opportunity to try your hand at fishing here. You can then grill your catch for lunch. Finally, head to Bahia Borrero, a spectacular white sand beach where you can swim and relax.
2) Snorkeling tour at Pinzon Island: The island of Pinzon offers incredible snorkelling with its calm, crystal clear waters. Your first stop will be at Penguin Bay, a sheltered bay on the east side of Pinzon Island. While snorkeling you can often see sea turtles, tropical fish, reef sharks and rays. Continuing on the to the north coast of Pinzon Island, you can often see manta rays and dolphins. You will have an opportunity to try your hand at fishing here. You can then grill your catch for lunch. At the end of the tour, visit the beach La Fe or Las Palmas on the island of Santa Cruz, where you can swim and relax. Note: between June and November the sea is very rough and you should be seaworthy for this trip.
In the afternoon, join your Ecuadorean teacher for a 4 hour language lesson.
Day 4
Spanish Course + Charles Darwin Station, Fish Markets and Puerto Ayora
Charles Darwin Station & Fausto Llerena turtle breeding station:
At Charles Darwin Station, scientists from around the world research the many tortoise subspecies that are endemic to the Galapagos islands. The highlight of the research center is the breeding station, Fausto Llerena, where baby turtles take a training course over rocks, branches and sandy stairs in preparation for their upcoming release in to the wilderness.
Visitors leave the station with a stronger understanding of the tortoises, iguanas and much of the flora native to the islands. You'll be impressed by the tiny tortoises, often only the size of your hand, who will grow over the next 100 years to become as large as 400kg! Another attraction of the station is the Van Staelen exhibition, which shows the climate and geography of the islands as well as the evolution of their flora and fauna.
Afterwards you stroll through Puerto Ayora together with your tour guide and visit the fish market. Here you can watch the fishermen haul their catch from the boats to weigh, gut and fillet. Their most attentive spectators are sea lions and pelicans, hoping to catch some of the left overs. Right next to the fishermen's work area, hungry guests can try the catch of the day.
In the afternoon, join your Ecuadorean teacher for a 4 hour language lesson.
Day 5
Spanish Course + Kayak to Playa de los Alemanes
- Meeting point in the morning is at the agency "Lonesome George".
After collecting your snorkeling gear, catch the boat to Playa de los Alemanes. After your safety briefing, your kayaking tour begins in the calm waters of the bay. After about 3 km of paddling you will meet the open sea where you can often you can spot marine iguanas, sea turtles and sea lions. Seabirds, such as pelicans or herons, can often be found among the mangroves in Franklin Bay. As you make your way along the cliffs, you can see the nests of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds and seagulls. The journey continues through a shark tunnel to the small beach Punta Estrada, where you have time for snorkelling. You take a short walk to the beach Playa de los Perros where very large colonies of sea lions and marine iguanas are usually found soaking up the sun.
Please note: As a safety measure, the boat accompanies the group throughout the tour in the event that someone needs a break from kayaking.
In the afternoon, join your Ecuadorean teacher for a 4 hour language lesson.
Day 6
Spanish Course + Surfing in Tortuga Bay
Along the hike to Tortuga Bay you will spot some of the special plants and birds endemic to this area, such as the opuntia cactus and Palo Santo, Galapagos mocking birds and Maria canaries. Upon arrival in Tortuga Bay, you find the beautiful white sandy beach with turquoise waters and perfect waves for learning to surf.
In the afternoon, join your Ecuadorean teacher for a 4 hour language lesson.
Day 7
Highlands of Santa Cruz
In the mountains of Santa Cruz, bird lovers can spot tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, and yellow warblers. Cattle egrets are known to take up residence on the shells of the Galapagos giant tortoise.
As you venture into the higher altitude areas, you will notice the changes in the vegetation as the climate becomes wetter and warmer. The earth in the upper altitudes is rich in minerals. Coffee plantations and fruit orchards line the streets and giant tortoises roam around at ease in their natural environment. This area is a birdwatcher's paradise - almost every land bird found on the island either lives or migrates here.
The Scalesia forests in this area offer the opportunity to discover endemic species of the Galapagos Islands, as well as giant cacti and a variety of deciduous trees and edible fruits.
Here you can also visit the twin 'craters' Los Gemelos. While they are not craters in the technical sense, these 70 meter vertical gullies with a carpet of lush vegetation are an impressive sight to behold.
In the afternoon you will return to Quito.
Return flight to Quito
Return to Baltra Airport in time for your return flight to Quito.