Island Hopping
An island hopping tour in the Galapagos Islands is one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty and unique biodiversity of this archipelago.
During the tour, you can jump from island to island, visit natural reserves, and walk on pristine beaches surrounded by wildlife. You can also swim and snorkel with sharks, turtles, and sea lions, and explore the volcanoes and ancient caves.
In addition to exploring wildlife and nature, you can also learn about the local culture, enjoy the cuisine, and learn about the conservation and protection of these unique islands.
The diversity of available accommodations, from small inns to luxury hotels, will allow you to enjoy the authenticity and beauty of each island. An island hopping tour in Galapagos is a unique experience that will allow you to explore some of the most beautiful and unique islands in the world.
Depature Date: October 19
Tour Included
- Noted Meals: (11 breakfasts + 4 lunches + 4 dinners),
- Entrance fees,
- Private transfers,
- 7 day Galapagos island hopping voyage,
- Private transfer between islands on board of First Class Element Wind Yacht,
- Flights to and from The Galapagos Islands,
- Galapagos N.P. entrance fees + visitor control card,
- 4* Hotels: except in Floreana Island where the lodge is simple but very clean and with a beautiful location.
- English / Spanish speaking guide services.
Tour not included
- International Flights,
- Personal Travel Insurance (required),
- Personal Expenses,
- Extras,
- Tips.
Tour Itinerary
Itinerario
Day 1 Arrival in Quito - Transfer in
Upon your arrival in Quito, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel of choice. You will have a short briefing about next day activities.
Day 2 Quito-Cotacachi-Otavalo
After breakfast we will start our journey driving north towards the Imbabura province, to the city of Otavalo. On the way we will stop for a visit to the interesting Cochasqui Pre-Inca remains and, we will visit a Roses Farm where we can learn about the Ecuadorian roses production. Then we will continue towards Otavalo and to the Hacienda Hotel.
After checking in the hotel and a short rest, we will go for a visit to the charming town of Cotacachi where the local artisans produce beautiful high quality leather goods. Our transport will take us to the Cuicocha Lagoon, a beautiful spot located at the base of the steep Cotacachi Volcano. Here we can enjoy a short hike to observe the amazing land scape.
Transport back the hotel and enjoy a good rest.
Day 3 Traditional Market – Mindo Cloud Forest
In the early morning we visit to the well-known Indigenous Market of Otavalo considered as one of the biggest traditional markets in South America. Here the local traditional people from the nearby communities gather every Saturday for exchange goods, but also to sell handicrafts, beautiful textiles, wood carvings, etc. We will also visit the animal’s market and visit to one of the Otavalo families artisanal shops.
After this visit we will drive towards the beautiful area of Mindo where we will be staying in a nice hotel surrounded by beautiful, lush green cloud forest.
Day 4 Mindo Cloud Forest - Quito
In the morning and after breakfast we can opt for an optional Zipline adventure tour, or we can go for a walk in the Cloud Forest for birdwatching and enjoy the wonderful green lush area or simple you can relax at the lodge.
The area surrounding the Lodge Hotel in the cloud forest of Mindo, offers wonderful landscapes of lush green forest with rivers, waterfalls, lot of birds, wild orchids, and the possibility of see some fauna typical of the area: spectacled bears, armadillos, tail guantas, squirrel bats, woodpeckers, etc.
Return to the lodge for lunch and after a good rest we will start our drive back to Quito and to the hotel to prepare ourselves for the next great adventure on the Galapagos Islands.
Day 5 Quito - Galapagos
Morning transfer to the airport in Quito and flight to Baltra Island. The flight will take approximately 3 hours (with one stop in the city of Guayaquil). Upon arrival to the airport of Baltra, our local Galapagos National Park trained guide welcomes and arranges your transfer to the city of Puerto Ayora, the biggest on the Galapagos Archipelago and located on Santa Cruz Island.
On the way, using a local ferry, we should cross the iconic Itabaca Canal, which separates Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. p.m. Once, on the other side of the canal our private transportation will take you up to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island where our first visit starts on a private farm enjoying a nice hike in beautiful natural environment.
Here we can observe Giant Galapagos Tortoises in their natural state. These animals are overly sensitive and will typically withdraw into their carapaces as soon as they see you coming close. It is especially important not to bother, touch or feed these beautiful animals.
In this area, we can also observe different species of Galapagos birds including the tiny Galapagos rail and with little luck perhaps the not so common Vegetarian Finch and the endemic subspecies of Vermilion Flycatcher finches. Transport to the hotel in the town of Puerto Ayora and free time.
Day 6 Santa Cruz Island
After an early breakfast in the hotel, we start our day hiking towards the shores of the Pacific Ocean, to Tortuga Bay Beach, known as one of the most beautiful beaches on the Archipelago.
After some 40 – 60-minute walk, we arrive to the heavenly spot. The soft coral sand and nice scenery make this a special location for anyone visiting. The first part of the beach has strong waves and therefore is not recommended for swimming, but an additional 10 minutes’ walk to the west will get us to a beautiful bay of calm water. Here, we can observe a colony of marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, and marine birds, as well as mangroves, cacti forest and interesting flora of the coast. Time to enjoy the beach. We return to town using a local ferry.
Free time for lunch (on your own) and rest. In the afternoon, we will walk to Fausto Llerena Interpretation Center where we will learn about the Galapagos National Park ́s work and observe tortoises of different species and size, as well as some land iguanas.
At the interpretation center, we will enter in a special air-conditioned chamber where we will be able to observe the embalmed body of the world-famous tortoise: Lonesome George, who now is in exhibition.
Later we visit the small museum of the well-known Charles Darwin Research Station. After enjoying this wonderful walk enjoy free time.
Day 7 Santa Cruz Island - Floreana Island
At 7:30 a.m. starts the 2.5 hours navigation on board of the first-class Galapagos Element Wind Yacht towards the small village known as Puerto Velasco Ibarra on the historical Floreana Island.
Once at the town, a local water taxi takes us to the pier of the town where we have great chances to meet right away sea lions and marine iguanas enjoying the morning sun.
A short walk takes us to a beautiful, secluded spot where the lodge is located right in front of the ocean and where we will spend the night. Then, a local transport known as “Chiva” takes us for a 15-minute ride up to the highlands of Floreana Island to a place from where we start a nice walk observing the typical flora of the area and encountering some giant Galapagos Tortoises.
Continuing our walk, we reach a rocky area where we find the place known as “Asilo de la Paz” (Peace Asylum), a historical place where the German Wittmer family settled down when arrived to Floreana in 1932. After a good rest we walk to a place where we find a beautiful bay where we will perhaps enjoy snorkeling with sea lions and marine turtles. The whole area is of an amazing beauty. Dinner and enjoy a good rest while observing the sunset.
Day 8 Floreana Island - Isabela Island
In the morning and after a relaxing breakfast, at 8:30 a.m. we start sailing towards Puerto Villamil, the biggest town on Isabela Island. During our 2.5-hour navigation, there are great chances to observe marine turtles, manta rays, several species of marine birds, dolphins and perhaps whales (from June to September). Upon arrival to the bay of Puerto Villamil a local transport takes us to the Hotel. Time to relax at the long, beautiful beach of Puerto Villamil. Free time *for lunch (on your own)* .p.m. In the afternoon at about 2 p.m. we take you to the pier to participate in an amazing, guided tour to the area known as “Las Tintoreras”.
This is a scenic area and where during the hike, you will find colonies of marine iguanas, sea lions, and as one of the main attractions we will be able to observe White-tipped sharks known as “Tintoreras” which are resting in the channels formed by lava flows. The area is also well known for snorkeling activities perhaps in the company of sea lions, penguins, and marine turtles. Transport back to the hotel. Free time in the late afternoon.
Day 9 Isabela Island
At 7:30 a.m. we start driving (30 min) up to the highlands of Isabela Island until we reach the visitors control area of the National Park.
From here we start an easy 1.5 hour walk to reach the rim of the impressive crater of the Sierra Negra Volcano, considered after the Ngorongoro crater in Africa, as the second biggest in the world. It has the largest caldera of all the Galapagos volcanoes with dimensions of 5 miles x 7 miles, with the long axis being southwest to northeast.
The caldera is also the shallowest of the Isabela volcanoes at only 100 m (328 ft) deep and give us one of the most spectacular views in Galapagos, showing us how powerful nature is. Return to the hotel for lunch (on your own). In the afternoon, our transport will take you the Isabela’s Tortoise Breeding Center where we will observe Giant Galapagos Tortoises of different species and sizes.
Then we continue our walk along a well-maintained trail which leads to the place known as “Humedales” (Wetlands) where you will be amazed by the impressive scenery composed by lagoons surrounded by 4 species of exuberant mangroves and typical flora of the area. In the lagoons, we observe flamingos and migratory birds such as the charran or Gaviota de Galapagos (Creagrus furcatus), la Cerceta aliazul, etc.
The walk will end at the main road and close to the beach where you will have time to enjoy the place perhaps with the company of marine iguanas. Back to the hotel and free time before dinner.
Day 10 Isabela Island - Santa Cruz
In the morning we will board our yacht and start our navigation back to Santa Cruz. With a bit of luck you will have some chances of observing dolfins on the way. After our arrival we will check in and head out to the highlands of Santa Cruz, to visit a coffee plantation, enjoy a delicious light lunch, and enjoy for some free time before our goodbye dinner.
Day 11 Santa Cruz Island
In the morning and after breakfast, our transport will take (30 minutes) us up to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island where we will be stopping at the natural formation known as “The Twins” (Los Gemelos) Craters, that lies on the route to the Itabaca Canal.
Los Gemelos in fact are not actual craters caused by impact or volcanic craters, but they are sink holes that were created when the volcanic roof of empty magma chamber collapses from tectonic shifts and erosion over time.
The area surrounding “Los Gemelos” has quite a different climate from other parts of the island and are surrounded by scalesia (Scalesia pedunculata) forests and it is the habitat for different species of birds. Then, we continue our trip to the Itabaca Canal and after crossing it, an airline bus will take you to the airport where our guide will assist with the airline check-in process. Enjoy your flight back to Quito where our office staff will be ready to welcome and arrange your transfer to the 4* Ikala Quito Boutique Hotel.
Day 12 Quito – Transfer out
After a relaxed breakfast time, at 9 a.m. starts our tour in the heart of Colonial Quito with a visit to the Independence Square where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located.
We will also visit the Church of La Compañia (1605) which with its amazing gilt altars is considered as one of the finest examples of baroque art in America. Afterwards we will walk to the plaza where the Church and Monastery of San Francisco (1535) is located. This is the oldest Ecuadorian church, where the main altar inside is a spectacular example of baroque carving. There is also a fine collection of artworks including paintings, sculptures and furniture dating back to the 16th century.
Then we will travel north for a visit to La Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World) a place located at about 25 kms from Quito. Here we find the monument which commemorates the site where the 18th-century French explorer Charles Marie de la Condamine calculated the globe's equatorial line.
A trapezoidal building in the center of the park houses a viewing platform and a small museum which pays tributes to the local traditional cultures. At the Equator line, you can enjoy the emotional experience of being on 2 hemispheres at the same time. Return to the hotel and free time to prepare the luggage for the late afternoon transfer to the International Mariscal Sucre airport of Quito. Our office representative will be accompanying the group to coordinate the proper airline check-in process. Flight back home.
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