Internationale groepsreis Island Hopping in the Galapagos (2024)

Bienvenido! Welcome to what locals call the Capital of Paradise, San Cristóbal Island. Your guide will be at the airport to take you to the hotel for check-in and our first briefing. We have time to explore the town and enjoy a restaurant lunch before our visit to La Lobería, a wonderful place surrounded by mangroves, volcanic rocks and sea lion colonies. It’s a perfect spot to snorkel, enjoy time on the beach, or have a short walk along the shore. Accommodation: Hotel Paraiso Insular (or similar)

Travel by small motorboat to Española Island, the southernmost island of the Galapagos and one of the most spectacular. We visit Suarez Point and walk along the trails to a clifftop viewpoint. A great variety of birds, including frigates, blue-footed boobies and tropical birds, can be seen here. Then we head to Gardner Bay, a beach full of sea lions and hood mockingbirds, where there is time to enjoy the white sands and snorkel – a great opportunity to swim with reef sharks, turtles and many tropical fish. Accommodation: Hotel Paraiso Insular (or similar)

A three-hour navigation by motorboat takes us to Floreana Island, one of the first Galapagos islands to be inhabited. En route, we may see whales, dolphins and sea birds. After lunch, we visit the highlands, where one of the few sources of freshwater in the entire archipelago exists. We also visit lava caves once used by pirates and see a large enclosure of Galapagos giant tortoises. In the afternoon, we'll transfer to Isabela Island by speedboat (approximately 2.5 or 3 hours). Accommodation: San Vicente Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, we take a 15-minute bus ride to Finca Osorio, where we learn how the local coffee is processed, from harvesting to drying, roasting and grinding. At the end, we have a delicious tasting with snacks and fresh fruit, a Galapagos experience that will linger long in the memory. In the afternoon we will have a walking tour to Concha Perla, to enjoy a natural pool which is surrounded by mangroves and is home to many different tropical fish, sea turtles, rays and sea lions. Accommodation: San Vicente Hotel (or similar)

We spend the morning sailing to the islets and lava channels of Las Tintoreras, one of the best places in the islands to see white-tipped reef sharks, penguins and sea lions, with time for snorkelling. On this morning’s excursion, we may be lucky enough to spot the endangered Chatham mockingbird. This afternoon, we visit the Wall of Tears, a sad reminder of Isabela’s very different past when the island was used as a penal colony. Between 1946 and 1959, convicts were forced to build this wall from huge blocks of lava simply as a form of punishment, which, combined with the harsh conditions, led to many deaths. After this sobering visit, we hike back to the town through the mangroves, wetlands and along sandy beaches. This is one of the best places on the islands to view migratory birds, including Wilson’s phalaropes, blue-winged teals and, if we’re very lucky, ospreys. This region has also seen the reintroduction of Galapagos giant tortoises from the breeding centre into the wild and we are likely to encounter several on our walk. Accommodation: San Vicente Hotel (or similar)

Navigate by motorboat to Santa Cruz very early this morning and have breakfast at our hotel. After breakfast, we visit Tortuga Bay, a 3,280ft (1,000m) stretch of white sand regarded as one of the best beaches in the Galapagos. The trail leading to the beach is paved and takes between 45 minutes to one hour, with possibilities to observe Galapagos finches and lizards along the way. The beach is scattered with marine iguanas, who lay among the clusters of black rocks or stroll along the sand. In the water, turtles can sometimes be seen, though swimming is not recommended here due to the strong currents. After a relaxing morning, we transfer to the giant tortoise reserve in the highlands, a great place to see the Galapagos giant tortoises in their wild environment. There is also time to visit the underground tunnels and caves formed by ancient lava that once flowed here. Accommodation: Grand Hotel León Marino (or similar)

Our first stop on our bay tour is the Canal de Tiburones, where we follow a small trail and hope to see white-tipped sharks and, if lucky, the lava heron. Afterwards, we visit Canal del Amor. At this beautiful turquoise water channel, we hope to snorkel among sea lions and marine iguanas, while sally lightfoot crabs and blue-footed boobies rest in the rocks. We continue with a visit to Playa de los Perros, where the largest marine iguanas on the islands live, and finish with snorkelling at Las Grietas, a lava formation with giant walls. In the afternoon, we have the option of visiting the Charles Darwin Research Centre, home to the headquarters of the Charles Darwin Foundation. This is the main research centre on the islands and scientists come from all over the world to study the flora and fauna. There is also the chance to visit the lively fish market, where we can see the daily catch and sample some of the freshest seafood you’ve ever tasted. Accommodation: Grand Hotel León Marino (or similar)

After a few days following the footsteps of Darwin, Cousteau and world-renowned scientists, it is time to say goodbye to the Enchanted Islands. After breakfast, we drive to the airport at Baltra where our adventures ends.