Galapagos Islands

Tour Dates:
June 10 - June 20, 2022

$5995

See the best of the Galapagos Islands: North Seymour Island, Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island, Fernandina Island, Santiago Island, Rabida Island, and Genovesa Island. Our sailing catamaran allows us to travel to small coves that larger boats can't reach.

Since famed naturalist Charles Darwin first described the abundant and diverse wildlife of the Galapagos Islands visitors have been flocking to this remarkable archipelago. Let all the wonders of these islands come alive for you on our motor-sailboat adventure.

Day 1: Friday – Depart US

Arrive in Guayaquil Ecuador and transfer to hotel.

Overnight at Hotel Oro Verde 5* or similar

Day 2: Saturday – Guayaquil

Optional half-day tour of Guayaquil with guide. Rest of day at leisure to explore. (B)

Overnight at Hotel Oro Verde

Day 3: Sunday – Galapagos

Morning flight from Guayaquil to BALTRA, the Galapagos. We board our Small Luxury Motor Sail Catamaran and depart.

We will disembark at North Seymour Island, where we see frigate birds, the clownish blue-footed booby, and of course sea lions. With luck we will witness the striking courtship display of the male frigate bird, during which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females. Seymour North, Plaza Sur and Plaza Norte, Baltra, northeastern Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and part of Española, were formed by uprisings of underwater volcanic lava. They were part of a volcanic lava table deposited in sheet form along cracks on the ocean floor. The uprisings occurred sporadically and lasted more than a million years. Many marine fossils are found in these islands. The best specimens are found on the North Channel side of Baltra, dating from the Pleistocene period.

Day 4: Monday – Galapagos

SANTA CRUZ: Finca Primicias Highlands & Charles Darwin Station.

After breakfast you’ll sail to Santa Cruz Island, where you’ll visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises.

Then you’ll visit the station’s Tortoise Breeding Center. Here you can find baby, hand-sized tortoises, between the ages of one and five, and marvel at how they achieve such large sizes as adults (500 lbs. or more!). Galapagos tortoises are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years, so the young ones have a long life ahead of them as long as they receive the protection they need.

Aside from the Station headquarters, Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. In this portside town you can buy souvenirs (postcards, t-shirts, books, etc.) of the islands.

After shopping in Puerto Ayora and lunch on the boat (guests may dine in town if they desire), you’ll explore the upper region, “parte alta” of the island, which is a moisture-rich area with fertile volcanic soils. You’ll learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, often strikingly different than that found at lower elevations.

Darwin’s Finches, Yellow Warblers, and Bright Red Vermillion Flycatchers will dart in and out of the moss-covered trees. From this high vantage point you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the surrounding archipelago. We visit a farm to wander and witness the giant land tortoise in the wild. A climb through a huge lava tunnel is a highlight as well.

Day 5: Tuesday – Galapagos

ISABELA: Punta Moreno – Elizabeth Bay & Urbina Bay

After night navigation we arrive in Punta Moreno on the west coast of Isabela Island, a dry landing on a lava field. The vegetation found in the area is small and concentrated mainly in the mangrove area and around the lakes. It should be noted that all three kinds of cacti are found here. The main attractions at Punta Moreno are coastal lagoons amid black lava flows: Here there are several species of birds with a panoramic view of three volcanoes: The most active in the Galapagos that Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul of Isabela Island and La Cumbre of Fernandina Island.

After lunch on board we continue on our way to Elizabeth Bay, located on Isabela Island’s west shore: this is extremely important for observing marine life. We motor past a few islands where you usually see Galapagos penguins. One of the best areas to take photos! A colony of these magnificent birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay. We let our boat drift through a small passage lined with mangroves as you emerge into an enclosed cove. We turn the motor off and look in the sheltered waters for marine turtles, rays, flightless cormorants, sea lions, and circling overhead, Galapagos hawks.

Day 6: Wednesday – Galapagos

ISABELA: Caleta Tagus – FERNANDINA: Punta Espinoza & Punta Vicente Roca

The visitor’s site of Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. The trail route is about 1800 meters and was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers. The road, mostly gravel, leads into the interior, along Darwin Lake. During the walk, you can see various land birds as we identify the characteristic vegetation of the arid zone. We arrive at the lava fields of Darwin Volcano.

Back on board for lunch and short navigation to Elizabeth Bay on Fernandina Island

Punta Espinoza is a narrow ledge of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. There is a vivid description given by Captain Benjamin Morrell that from the boats anchorage at Bay Banks they witnessed an eruption of Fernandina in the decade of the 1820s. In 1975 there was a more recent which is why the pier built for landing can only be used during high tide.

Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas and is the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant (only Island to see them), Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake, among others. It is an ideal place to observe the lava cactus, which grow on young lava and survive with little water. After visiting Fernandina we will start our navigation to the central part of the Galapagos and on the way we will see from the boat Punta Vicente Roca, part of a mostly eroded and destroyed volcano which now is a great site for seeing blue footed boobies, frigate birds and other marine birds.

Day 7: Thursday – Galapagos

SANTIAGO: Puerto Egas, Espumilla Beach, Bucanero Cove

Egas Port we disembark and follow a footpath across Santiago island, admiring the grinning marine iguanas, Darwin finches, rainbowed lava lizards, and endemic Galapagos hawks along the way. A special sight on Santiago is the endangered fur seals (the only place to see them) cooling off in the shade formed by the seashore grottos.

Day 8: Friday – Galapagos

RABIDA: Sullivan Bay

Wake-up in the morning to the sound of barking sea lions and the lapping of the sea. After breakfast travel by dingy to the seashell-pink sands of Rábida Island. Here we will see a pelican nesting area on the beach, and then we will set off on the short path across the island, gazing at the sea birds whirling overhead. After stopping at two photo-worthy viewpoints we will return to the boat for lunch.

Rábida Island that consists of a red sand beach, a coastal lagoon behind the beach, and a loop trail. The approximate distance of the trail is 1.1 kilometers. The color of the rocks and sand on the beach is due to the very porous volcanic material, which with the help of environmental factors (rain, salt water and sea breeze, has acted as an oxidizing agent. The main attraction is the red sand beach, scenery, and the presence of native and endemic species.

Awe-inspiring Sullivan Bay. At the turn of the century a huge lava flow spilled forth and right down to the sea; today you can stroll across this black volcanic expanse admiring its time-frozen ripples, bubbles and ropes.

Day 9: Saturday – Galapagos

GENOVESA: El Barranco – Darwin Bay

Early in the morning you’ll have breakfast and then you’ll disembark at Genovesa “Tower” Island, which is located in the northeastern part of the Galapagos (less than half a degree north of the equator).

At Tower Island you’ll anchor at Darwin Bay, which is located on the southern part of the island, and is actually the caldera of an extinct, partially eroded volcano, with the surrounding cliffs forming the inner lining of the rim. While the origin of the name “Tower” is not known, one can imagine it had something to do with these towering cliffs. The tour will be a long, fairly easy walk, but it is usually hot and dry here, so you may want to carry some water. After a wet landing on a coral beach the trail begins in an area where there are several swallow-tailed gulls. As you walk back from the beach, you’ll see a variety of Opuntia cactus and mangroves.

Tower is an outpost for many sea birds (as Española is in the south). This is the only island where we will see the red-footed booby (only Island). Interestingly, there are almost no land reptiles on Tower, only very small marine iguanas. This is attributed to the direction of the ocean currents, which wouldn’t have carried the terrestrial animals here.

Visit El Barranco during the afternoon then return to the boat for dinner.

Day 10: Sunday – Galapagos / Guayaquil

After an early breakfast we will disembark at North Seymour Island en route to Baltra Airport. Here we will see frigate birds, the clownish blue-footed booby, and of course the ubiquitous sea lions. Transfer to airport for flight to Guayaquil. (B)

Overnight at Hotel Oro Verde

Day 11: Monday – Depart to US

Transfer to Airport for flight back to US. (B)

The itineraries and program are subject to change without prior notice, due mainly to adjustments in the policies and regulations of the Galapagos National Park, weather conditions, seasonal changes and safety reasons.

* Itinerary subject to change

The Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil, Ecuador is part of the Oro Verde Hotel group. Oro Verde hotels stand out from the competition thanks to superb locations, commitment to traditional European-style service, a superior range of elegant amenities, and sensitivity to the local lifestyle and traditions. Hotel Oro Verde's dedication to discreet and thoughtful service sets them apart.

The Nemo II – is a large trans-oceanic, alumarine, 72-foot, multihull yacht; a wonderfully stable cruising vessel. The ingeniously designed salon, the vast cockpit and the unique exterior surface make this beautiful catamaran an exceptional cruising boat. Be amazed by the stability and service on board the S/C Nemo II. Ideal for families or groups of friends. This large fully air conditioned catamaran (designed by Lagenvin) was specially built to take up to 14 passengers accommodated in 7 double cabins, each with private bathroom.

The Galapagos Islands are one of the few places left in our world that remain relatively untouched by man's exploration.

Upon your arrival in Guayaquil, Ecuador you will stay at a 5 star hotel with the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the modern port city of Guayaquil and dine at a fabulous seafood restaurant.

After a one and a half hour flight from Guayaquil to the islands we will transfer to our specially chosen superior yacht or catamaran. Our bilingual naturalist guide will greet us and accompany the group to our boat and to each of the islands on our itinerary. As with all our trips, we only take small groups, and the Galapagos are no exception. Our 12 or 14 passenger yacht or catamaran has 6 or 7 double cabins for families and friends. The boat's size allows us to moor and disembark in special areas like small coves, which are unavailable to larger boats.

Our 7 day guided Galapagos Island expedition includes itineraries to a variety of diverse islands within the National Park of the Galapagos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Along the way some of the things you will Experience: twice daily guided hikes with educational information given by our guide, twice daily snorkeling adventures, kayak excursions, visits to the Darwin Research Center, shopping in Puerto Ayora and daily briefings.

Wildlife is everywhere and amazingly unafraid of people. There is no place in the world where we can get so close to unique and fearless wildlife. Viewings on your daily hikes are likely to include: Blue-footed Boobies, the Giant Land Tortoise, Sea Lions, Penguins, Marine Iguanas, Frigate Birds, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, and lagoons filled with Pink Flamingos. In addition to the unique animals and birds, the landscape is incredibly varied and includes lavascapes that resemble the moon, lush tropical vegetation and red and green sand beaches!

Sunny Reynolds, director of Biotrek Adventure Travels, puts a high priority on conservation and protection of our natural resources. She believes, “Preservation of the Galapagos Islands is a shared mission between The Galapagos National Park, The Charles Darwin Foundation and all who visit this phenomenal place.” As a frequent visitor, Sunny wants to share the beauty of this treasure, and increase awareness among travelers and non-travelers alike.

The Galapagos Islands have evolved unique species of fauna and flora found nowhere else on earth. In 1835 Charles Darwin visited the islands, and what he learned helped inspire his theory of natural selection. In 1978, the Galapagos Islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage, signifying their “outstanding value to humanity.” Today, they are a living laboratory of evolution and one of the world’s premier ecotourism destinations. They are indeed a priceless world heritage.

Like other isolated island groups however, the Galapagos Islands face serious challenges for the long-term survival of their marine and terrestrial ecosystems. With that in mind ecotourism in the Galapagos has been a challenging thing to develop. How can people protect the most intriguing, unique, and famous ecosystem on the planet, when it has become one of the most desired places to visit?

One of the first things you’re taught when you visit the Galapagos is to take only photographs, and leave nothing behind, not even footprints. A few decades ago, it became very clear that ecotourism travelers were flocking to the Galapagos to trace Darwin’s footsteps and be inspired by the giant turtles, blue-footed boobies, iguanas, and frigate birds. Due to the ecological and environmental significance of the Galapagos Islands, it became increasingly evident that responsible tourism management and development was imperative to the sustainability of both the Galapagos ecosystem and ecotourism industry.

Sustaining ecotourism in the Galapagos in the most responsible manner has come down to the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park, and the tour operators it has granted permission to access the park. The Directorate’s outlook for the future of the islands is a shared one, denoting that every party using the islands is responsible for sustaining them.

Sustainable development and environmental management are the key elements of the Directorate’s vision for the future. This system is one that must be respected and followed by all entities in the Galapagos to ensure that there is a future for ecotourism there.

Control and Monitoring of Ecotourism Operations

The Directorate closely monitors the tourism operators in the Galapagos. Between 2000 and 2008, the number of yearly visitors to the islands increased from about 68,000 to over 170,000. In order to accommodate that kind of influx, the Directorate needed to be exceptionally diligent in their implementation of control and monitoring systems. In 2015 according to a semi-annual report prepared by the Galapagos National Park Directorate, a total of 224,755 tourists visited the Galapagos. Recently the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) called upon the government of Ecuador to limit land-based tourism growth in the Galapagos Islands and to regulate more carefully this rapidly-growing sector of the islands’ tourism industry.

All tourist arrivals are strictly controlled, through the verification of vessel and tour operator licenses, adherence to pre-approved itineraries, respecting carrying capacities, enforcement of park visitor entry fees, visitor registration, and regular inspection of tourist boats. It also isn’t just the islands and the waters that are monitored; visitor sites in populated centers, like Turtle Bay on Santa Cruz, or the Interpretation Center in San Cristobal, all require tourists to register their attendance, and will only admit tourists during set times, and to a certain capacity.

Includes

Round-Trip Airfare from Mainland Equador to the Islands
All Excellent Accommodations
Ground Transportation
English Speaking Naturalist Guide
13 People Maximum
International Air Travel Booked Separately; Call for Quote

Travel

Travel with tour guide Sunny Reynolds, who has been showing the world to travelers since 1992. While this is not exclusively a photo tour, Sunny Reynolds as a professional photographer is happy to help all levels of photographers take better photos of their adventures.

Rates Based on Double Occupancy
Single Supplement Applies
Subject to Availability
All Prices subject to change