You can design your own itinerary by choosing whether you want a Galapagos Cruise or a holiday based in the Ecuador mainland, and then adding extensions. Select the extensions you would like and click the red button to see full details of the holiday you have chosen.
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These itineraries indicate some of the wildlife seen on each island, but are not complete lists.
(Saturday) Galapagos, Santiago island Fly from Quito to the Galapagos Islands. Transfer to the Galapagos Explorer ship. In the afternoon, visit the lava fields on Santiago. Walk on the lunar landscape of strange lava formations, where plant life is sparse and only now starting to develop after the last volcanic eruption. On the walk see lava lizards and Galapagos penguins.
(Sunday) Galapagos, Bartolome, Espumilla Beach In the morning, visit the island of Bartolome. Climb up to the summit of this volcanic island, giving wonderful views over the arid landscape towards the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock. There is also time to relax on the beach and snorkel in the surrounding sea. After lunch, return to Santiago to visit Espumilla beach. Walk through the mangrove forest where there are greater flamingos; a variety of finches; Galapagos hawks; and flycatchers, along with other birdlife drawn by the fresh water found here. If you are lucky you may see green sea turtles which sometimes use the beach to lay their eggs.
(Monday) Galapagos, Isabela, Fernandina After a long sail, in the morning visit the cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca, off the island of Isabela. There is an opportunity to swim with sea lions, sea turtles and manta rays. The cooler currents of the Pacific here draw an abundance of sea life. The spectacular cliffs at the foot of the Volcano Ecuador are home to blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and marine iguanas. In the afternoon, visit Punta Espinoza on Fernandina. This is the westernmost island and is also the one which has had the least intrusion by man. Walk on the lava and see a large colony of marine iguanas and flightless cormorants, unique to Fernandina.
(Tuesday) Galapagos, Isabela Today, explore Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos. In the morning, visit Tagus Cove, where you climb up for views of Darwin's Lake, a saltwater lagoon in a tuff cone, and the lava fields on the Darwin volcano. There are cave inscriptions of ancient pirates who used the coves of Isabela as shelter. After lunch, take a zodiac ride around Elizabeth Bay. The highly colourful mangroves contrast against the black lava of the Sierra Negra and Alceod volcanoes. The area has an abundance of marine wildlife, including rays, sharks, sea lions, turtles, penguins and marine iguanas, as well as many sea birds. From June to September, whales are sometimes present.
(Wednesday) Galapagos, Floreana In the morning, visit the historic site of Post Office Bay. Here, visitors over the years have left mail hoping for it to be delivered to its intended address by a future visitor passing that way. You can leave a card yourself or take one to be delivered upon your return home. The site is home to brown pelicans, yellow warblers and warbler finches. In the afternoon, visit Punta Cormorant, where you walk to a lagoon which is home to a population of flamingos. The volcanic beach is a nesting area for sea turtles and it is possible to see stingrays in the waters around the beach. Other excursions are available on this afternoon on Floreana.
(Thursday) Galapagos, San Cristobal After sailing to San Cristobal island, take a bus ride to the Galapagos Tortoise Sanctuary where you will see Galapagos giant tortoises. The area is also home to yellow warblers, Chatham mockingbirds, Galapagos flycatchers, small tree finches and small ground finches. In the afternoon, you can swim with sea lions at Ochoa Beach. The beach is home to hermit crabs, magnificent frigate birds, marine iguanas and brown pelicans.
(Friday) Galapagos, Quito Your final excursion is a short visit to the Gemelos craters on the transfer to the airport. This twin pair of craters, over 100 metres wide and 30 metres deep, were formed when old porous volcanic rock could not support the newer heavier layers above. After your flight to Quito you are met and transferred to your hotel (2 nights).
(Tuesday) Galapagos, San Cristobal Morning flight from Quito to the Galapagos. Transfer to the Explorer II, your home for the next 4 nights. In the afternoon, visit Cerro Brujo and swim with sea lions from the beach.
(Wednesday) Galapagos, Española Sail to Española, the most southerly island, and visit Gardner Bay, a beautiful beach with sea lions which is excellent for swimming and snorkelling. After lunch, visit Punta Suarez, walking among the blue-footed boobies and colourful marine iguanas. Waved albatrosses nest here from April to November.
(Thursday) Galapagos, Santa Cruz, Rabida In the morning, visit Eden Bay, where you can see giant tortoises and Galapagos finches. In the afternoon, visit Rabida Island, a small island with a central volcano, with red lava rocks. The clear waters are very good for snorkelling.
(Friday) Galapagos, Santa Cruz, South Plaza In the morning, visit Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Centre, where you can see the work done in the conservation of the flora and fauna of the islands. In the afternoon visit South Plazas Island where you can find frigate birds, land iguanas and the red Sally Lightfoot crabs.
(Saturday) Galapagos, Quito Transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito (3 nights)
For more information about the Galapagos Explorer, visit www.galapagosexplorer.com