Transfer from Guayaquil to San Cristobal. El Junco Lake; 1.5 miles, easy to moderate (500 feet elevation gain and loss). Puerto Chino; 2 miles, easy

Following breakfast at your hotel in Guayaquil, you meet your CW guide and transfer to the airport for the 2-hour flight to the island of San Cristobal. Following lunch in town you proceed to the highlands where you will appreciate the old farms and learn about the history of this island. Passing through the sleepy town of El Progreso, you marvel that it is the oldest surviving settlement in the Galápagos Islands, established in 1869. Your destination is Laguna El Junco, an old crater that has collected rainwater for millions of years; this lake is located in the southern half of the island. Here you can find large population of birds, including frigate birds that fly inland to drink fresh water and clean their feathers in this lake. Reaching the lake requires a 20-minute uphill walk on a gravel road and then a boardwalk. Once at the top you will be rewarded by 360-degree views of the island, its highlands and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. You continue to explore around the rim of the crater on foot.

Later we continue towards Cerro Verde where you set out on a 2-mile trail through lava fields and mangrove, leading to Puerto Chino. Puerto Chino is a small beach surrounded by dry lava, rocks, and mangroves. When the tide is high, the sea covers the entirety of this little beach. Once at the beach, take a break and take in the sounds of a variety of seabirds including blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans that use this place as a resting spot after diving for fish. Lava lizards and Sally Lightfoot crabs scamper about on the lava that surrounds you.

This afternoon upon return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno you check into your home for the next two nights, perfectly situated across from the town dock, which sea lions have taken over as an ideal place to rest and play! A white-washed building with private garden and swimming pool, the hotel offers simple, comfortable rooms. Please note: The day’s activities may vary slightly based on flight times.

Kicker Rock; moderate snorkeling & Isla Lobos; easy to moderate snorkeling. A full day on the water

Prepare for an exciting day on the water! You board a large, comfortable, fully equipped boat for the one-hour ride to Leon Dormido (sleeping lion), so named because of its shape, but more commonly known as Kicker Rock. The remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea have formed two vertical rocks rising 500 feet from the ocean, which in turn form a small channel that is perfect for snorkeling. This Galápagos Islands’ natural monument is a favorite because of the many noddy birds, frigates, and boobies that nest here and fill the surrounding air. The colorful display of tropical fish contrasts against a backdrop of black volcanic rock. Razor surgeonfish, cortez rainbow rasse, and orange-bellied triggerfish are just a few you may see, as well as a gentle sea turtle floating by.

Back on the boat, a fresh lunch is served on deck while watching pelicans and boobies diving for their food. This afternoon you may choose to participate in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of swimming with playful sea lions. Upon arriving at Isla Lobos (Sea Lion Island), you are immediately greeted by these curious animals. With crystal clear waters and a white-sand bottom, it is hard to resist jumping in. The moment you enter the water, the young and inquisitive sea lions swim near to inspect you. Back on board, you absorb the sea views and learn that this is also a nesting place for blue-footed boobies and both the great and magnificent frigate birds. You return to town with time to stroll the town’s dock where sea lions take a break for a nap and sunbathing.

Flight from San Cristobal to Isabela. Wall of Tears; 4 miles, easy. Tintoreras exploration; 1 mile, easy

Following breakfast you will be transferred to the airport to take a short flight to the Island of Isabela. The largest island of the archipelago, seahorse-shaped Isabela is 80 miles long and remarkably beautiful; a well-kept secret, it is one of the least visited of the Galápagos Islands and a perfect base for your adventures.

Upon arrival you check into your home for the next two nights, Iguana Crossing, a comfortable inn with minimalist design and superior service, situated along a stretch of white-sand beach in Puerto Villamil. The timeless fishing village of Villamil still boasts sandy streets where locals and visitors alike walk barefoot. With a population of only 2,000 life here is quiet, and within moments of arrival you cannot help but take a deep breath and slip into the relaxed way of life.

Today’s walk takes you by Isabela’s beautiful beaches and striking swamps uphill towards a large wall dubbed the Wall of Tears, due to it being built by prisoners using lava rocks during penal colonial times in Ecuador. Several sites of interest await us, including the sight of gigantic black mangroves, fiddler crabs, majestic young giant tortoises, and fluttering finches.

After an inviting lunch, you board a panga (small boat) and ply the Pacific waters to visit the small island of Tintoreras, a unique volcanic formation. On its western face a primitive species of lichen flourishes in the moisture brought by the prevailing wind. Here you see young marine iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard, view a small colony of sea lions, and you may even spot white-tipped reef sharks resting in the waters amongst the volcanic formations that compose this island. In the quiet lagoon you are entertained by boobies and with luck you may spot the Galápagos penguin. If time allows, you will transfer to a nearby snorkeling spot for a quick dip before going back to your hotel.

A welcome dinner takes advantage of the island’s abundance of fresh fish and seafood.

Please note: The day’s activities may vary slightly based on flight times.

Sierra Negra; 10 miles, easy to moderate (500 feet elevation gain and loss)

After breakfast and a one-hour drive to the Isabela Highlands, you gain an entirely new perspective on the Galápagos experience. At the starting point of today’s walk you immediately notice the difference in vegetation and weather—fostered by the southeast trade winds that bring significant humidity to the southern side of the island. The lowland landscape of prickly pear and the endemic candelabra cactus that dominate the coastal areas give way to more lush and diverse flora, including bromeliads and epiphytes. Your path leads to the rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano. The Sierra Negra Volcano stands at 3,280 feet and last erupted in 2005, subsequently depositing a new and dramatic layer of lava. This volcano’s caldera is the second largest in the world, with a diameter measuring approximately 6½ miles. As you circle the caldera, you spot a variety of birds, including finches and flycatchers as well as the Galápagos hawk. Lava lizards scuttle underfoot. From the caldera’s rim you continue to Chico Volcano to see fumaroles (gas and steam vents in the earth’s crust) and unusual lava formations, a striking visual record of the islands’ geological history. From the highest vantage points, you enjoy spectacular views of Isabela’s other volcanoes and nearby islands. Along the walk you are introduced to aa and pahoehoe lava, feel the steam beneath you, and witness new life being created within the most inhospitable of environments.

This evening, stories of your adventures are swapped at a restaurant that takes full advantage of the warm ocean breeze—a perfect farewell to Isla Isabela, a little slice of paradise.

Flight from Isabela to Santa Cruz. Daphne Island; moderate snorkeling. A full day on the water

Following breakfast you transfer to the Island of Santa Cruz. Upon arrival on Baltra, you cross the Itabaca Canal, just 5 minutes away, where Favian, a former fisherman, takes you on an exploration in his boat. Select fishermen have signed an agreement with local authorities to have exclusive touring rights to this unique Galápagos zone. Favian takes you on a fascinating visit through an extraordinary site that few people have the opportunity to see, and from where you are able to appreciate the beautiful landscapes and the incredible marine life of the Galápagos. The boat trip around Daphne Island provides an encounter with the famous Galápagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas. Here you learn about two evolutionary biologists, Drs. Peter and Rosemary Grant from Princeton University, who studied the Darwin’s finches demonstrating “evolution in action.” They are the subject of their Pulitzer Prize book “The Beak of the Finch.”

We continue to our snorkeling spot where the beauty of tropical fish and marine life welcomes you. Lunch today is aboard Favian’s boat anchored in a secluded beach. If time allows you stroll the white-sand beach and with luck you might spot sea turtles swimming in the water.

Later, you transfer to the Galápagos Safari Camp, a 135-acre farm in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island bordering the national park, just 30 minutes from the ocean. The farm is home to a variety of birds, including finches, warblers, mockingbirds, Galápagos doves, egrets, and owls. Tortoises also make frequent visits. The farm also has many local species of trees, such as the scalesia, the Guayabillo, and the Palo Santo, which are rapidly regaining a foothold after years of cattle farming. Upon arrival there is time to take a short walk and stretch your legs.

The camp has nine luxury safari tents perched on a hill, providing comfort and privacy in the wilderness. All tents have a balcony with views of the park and the ocean—they are spacious, attractively decorated, and each with a fully equipped private bathroom. In addition to an infinity pool, there is a beautiful fireplace in the main room where you can gather to have a drink while watching the sunset. The camp’s well-known chef prepares creative dishes in the panoramic dining room for dinner.

Cerro Crocker, 4 miles, moderate, 950 feet elevation gain and loss; Tortuga Bay, 3 miles, easy

A 20-minute drive north from Puerto Ayora will take you to the town of Bellavista and farther to a site known as the hill of Media Luna where your walk begins on a narrow rocky foot path that continues to Cerro Crocker, which is the highest peak at 2821 feet. During this walk we can see great native and endemic flora and fauna such as of the scalesia, miconia, and fern sedge and birds such as the vermilion flycatcher, the elusive Galápagos rail, and the paint billed crake. The trail is rocky and can be muddy, but the views on top are magnificent and well worth the effort.

In the afternoon you walk to Tortuga Bay, a beautiful, very fine white-sand beach, with spectacular sunsets. Here you will have time to relax, swim, or stroll the beach.

This evening you celebrate your adventures over dinner, on the beautiful Galápagos Islands—one of the world’s greatest treasures.

Departure

If time allows, you will visit the giant Galápagos tortoises in wild, and then transfer to the airport for your flight back to Guayaquil, bidding adios to these beautiful isles.