Catch an early morning flight to San Cristobal (arranged by travelers: read main description) with beautiful views that few get to experience. Meet your Galapagos National Park guides, marathon coordinators and join everyone for a welcome lunch, orientation, and race registration. There will be a bus tour during the day and the night will end with a traditional pasta dinner.

Accommodation: Seaside Hotel on San Cristobal Island

The Marathon and half marathon have the same start and end point. Race start times will be adjusted for volume of runners and weather. Some years are hotter than others. We want to keep you out of the sun as much as possible, but also have you get as much sleep as possible.  

This is a rural course, you will not be running through throngs of people in city streets. Beware of wild giant tortoises which occasionally can be seen crossing the roads. Some sections have dirt roads are relatively flat. You will be passing farms with pigs and cows. In the parts of the course that run along the coast, beware of sea lions which will occasionally situate themselves in the middle of the road.

Accommodation: Seaside Hotel on San Cristobal Island

Morning: Light walking, recovery day. Morning tour of the far side of the island: Commune with the Giant Tortoises in their reserve, visit the local farms where much of the food provided is grown, bananas, bamboo, papaya, guavas etc. People are often surprised at how entertaining this visit actually is.

We have been pioneering a program with local farmers to purchase produce from them. The town has grown accustomed to purchasing its produce from the continent where the large corporate farms can afford to grow, ship the produce and sell for a price that has made farming here a non profitable enterprise. We know generally months in advance how many people are coming and can go to the farmers and tell them on this date we are going to need X number of tomatoes, lettuce, etc. Many of these crops they can plant and grow knowing they will have a secure market for them.

Afternoon: A trip out with the local fishermen where they’ll explain/discuss how they fished in the past, what’s happened to the fisheries, what’s happening now and then you’ll go catch some fish for the night’s meal which you will have with the fisherman’s family. 

We were pioneers in developing this fishing with locals program with the National Park. The commercial fishermen must give up their commercial fishing license irrevocably to be able to have the license to take visitors out fishing. For the environment this means instead of harvesting thousands of fish a year to survive, they only harvest hundreds, all of which are eaten here thus also reducing the carbon footprint of importing or exporting food. For the fishermen themselves this allows them direct contact with people from outside the Galapagos (one of our “hearts” is sponsoring a fisherman’s son to study in the US) and for our visitors it allows them a glimpse into a different life style and a first hand account of the history of life in the Galapagos.

Accommodation: Seaside Hotel on San Cristobal Island

Chartered boat trip to islets. Snorkeling with rays, turtles, sharks and sea lions. Visit nesting grounds of Frigate Birds, Pelicans, Boobies, Tropical birds, etc. Roam gorgeous, deserted, pristine beaches that could make travel posters cry. 

Accommodation: Seaside Hotel on San Cristobal Island

Early morning flight from San Cristóbal to Isabela Island via twin engine Britten-Norman Islander (approximately 45 minutes). The flight is very scenic and an amazing opportunity few tourists receive to view the Galápagos Islands from the sky. The plane lands in Puerto Villamil, Isabela where you will check into Isabela Beach House. The town fronts a long sand beach where occasionally flamingos can be seen wading in the surf.  

You will be going on a tour of the Tintoreras area and snorkeling where you can see Galápagos penguins and other amazing wildlife.

Accommodation: Drake Inn on Isabela Island

You will start off with a boat trip to Tuneles. This is a really remarkable spot few visitors of the Galápagos get to see - the geologic formations, the wildlife (in and out of the water), and clear waters surrounded by scenic lava formations. It's really one of the greatest hits of the Galápagos. 

Accommodation: Drake Inn on Isabela Island

You will be hiking Sierra Negra. Sierra Negra is the only volcano that visitors are allowed to hike, and it is only accessible with a guide which we will provide for you. Hiking the volcano takes around 5-6 hours from start to finish.

Accommodation: Drake Inn on Isabela Island

Commuter boat Isabela to Baltra airport where you’ll catch your return flight to Guayaquil. Fly from Baltra to Guayaquil (GPS > GYE) via your arranged flights so you can catch your connecting flight back to the US. Hopefully, you will be leaving with lots of photos, memories, and a warm place in your heart for the Galápagos and Ecuador.