GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING COMFORT 8D/7N - 3 ISLANDS

San Cristóbal, Ecuador

BE
Barefoot Expeditions
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Jun 18 - Dec 31, 2018
Group size: 1 - 99
GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING COMFORT 8D/7N - 3 ISLANDS
San Cristóbal, Ecuador

Barefoot Expeditions
  • Email address verified
  • Facebook verified
  • LinkedIn verified
  • Twitter verified
1 review

Jun 18 - Dec 31, 2018
Group size: 1 - 99

About this trip

In this trip consisting of eight days to the “enchanted Islands” of Galapagos, we invite you to visit the most beautiful landscapes that this planet has to offer. The abundant and mostly endemic fauna of Galapagos, so as countless beautiful white coral beaches makes the Galápagos a heavenly paradise to visit. Our program the “Galapagos Islands Hopping” combines conducted

activities and excursions with a carefully planned schedule that will allow you to freely enjoy the beaches and appreciate all of the activities that this tour has to offer. In our tour package, you won’t have to worry about transportation, accommodations, and of course our guided tours around the island, we will take care of everything from maritime transportation, your stopover at the hotel of your preference (includes breakfast) and the tours that will be mentioned below. We have planned a route that will get you closer to the Galapagos Islands and experience its loveliness in an adventure that consist on visiting the three main islands, Islands where the well

know theory of evolution by Charles Darwin was based on. At these locations you will be able to see the vast variety of marine wildlife in which you will get closer to the fauna of the islands. Some of the animals that you will have the privilege to appreciate are the sea lions, sharks, marine and land iguanas, blue footed boobies, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, frigates, lava gulls, flamingos, pelicans, penguins, finches, and the Galápagos giant tortoises to name a few that this volcanic setting has to offer. Our norkel setting will also allow you to appreciate more of

the marine animals such as turtles, sharks, penguins, rays and sea horses.


The trip begins in San Cristóbal, in the capital of the Galápagos province Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here you will visit beautiful beaches, viewpoints, the highland, the Junco lagoon, and the Galapaguera Breeding center. The third day you will participate in a Daily Tour to Kicker Rock, which is a one of the best places to do snorkel or diving and see the hammerhead sharks. The trip continues to Santa Cruz Island, where you will do a little walking to Tortuga Bay beach. Also you will participate in a guided Bay Tour. Then you will go to Isabela Island, the biggest and most beautiful island. Here you will stay in Puerto Villamil close the beach, you will know the Flamingos Lagoon, the “wall of tears”, and the Breeding Center. You will also participate in a snorkel tour

to Los Tunnels, and in a daily tour to highlands of Sierra Negra where you will walk to Chico volcano. The last day you will go back to Santa Cruz and continue to the airport in Baltra, where you take your flight to Quito or Guayaquil. We are sure that the beautiful white sand ́s beaches, the sun of middle of the world, the fresh ocean water, and the plenty of endemic and historical animals, will make this trip an unforgettable experience.


Puerto Baquerizo Moreno / San Cristóbal Island:

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of the Galápagos Province. It is located on the southwestern coast of San Cristóbal, the most eastern island of the archipelago, and is the capital of San Cristóbal Canton. It was founded by General Villamil Playas in the mid-

19th century, and takes its name from the Ecuadorian President Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno. Today, fishing is the main activity of the locals, but tourism is on the increase along the waterfront with numerous hotels, restaurants and shops. San Cristobal is also known as the Sea Lion Island, because even in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno you will see a lot of these animals.


Puerto Ayora / Santa Cruz Island:

Puerto Ayora is the main town in Galápagos. Located on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island, it is the seat of Santa Cruz Canton. The town is named in honor of Isidro Ayora, an Ecuadorian president. Puerto Ayora is the most populous town in the Galápagos Islands, with more than 12,000 inhabitants, and has the best developed infrastructure in the archipelago. In Puerto Ayora you will find a supermarket, banks and international cash machines, hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocery stores, marine stores, tourist shops, and night clubs. It is the

best place in Galápagos for communicating with the outside world via numerous cybercafés with Internet access or telephone offices..


Puerto Villamil / Isabela Island:

Puerto Villamil is a small port village located on the southeastern edge of Isabela Island. Of the 2,200 people who live on Isabela, the majority live in Puerto Villamil. The harbor is frequently full with sailboats, as Villamil is a popular stop for private yachts making their way to the Marquesas Islands as it is the most western town in the Galapagos Islands. On the southwestern edge of town a boardwalk was created by the national park with assistance of US Aid. It leads through mangrove environments passing along saltwater lagoons with flamingo, common stilts, whimbrels, Bahama pintails, and gallinules that come here to sweep the mud in search of brine. At the end of the walkway is the Tortoise Breeding Center which was built in order to help

preserve the many species of Isabela Tortoises.

What’s included

  • Accommodation
    All accommodations in double rooms in tourist class hotels.
  • Breakfast
    All breakfast except the last day (8).
  • Islands Transportation
    All transport between islands (tickets for the speedboats).
  • Transfers:
    Airport – hotel day 1, port – hotel – port in Isabela, port – Itabaca’s Channel, day 8.
  • Share Highland tour with
    English speaking guide, box lunch, transport, day 2.
  • Snorkel tour
    To Kickers Rock with: English speaking guide, box lunch, transport, snorkel equipment, day 3.
  • Bay Tour with:
    English speaking guide, snorkel equipment, and transport, day 5.
  • Tour Sierra Negra with:
  • Tour Sierra Negra with:
    English speaking guide, box lunch and transport, day 6.
  • Tunnels Tour with:
    English speaking guide, box lunch, transport and snorkel equipment day 7.

What’s not included

  • Air Ticket
    Ticket to / from Galápagos.
  • Galapagos National Park
    Galapagos entrance fee $100 usd.
  • INGALA
    Galapagos Control Transit Card $20.00 usd.
  • Isabela Taxes
    Port tax in Isabela $5 usd.
  • Itabaca Boat
    Canal Itabaca boat $1 usd.
  • Water taxis $ 4
  • Other meals
    not specified (lunch and dinner).
  • Tips.
  • Personal Expenses

Available Packages

Trip Price
$1,990

Itinerary

Day 1
Day 1

From Quito or Guayaquil departures your flight to San Cristóbal (Galápagos), reception and transfer to the hotel, the rest of day is free. Use the afternoon

to walk to the interpretation center and hike to the viewpoint Tijeretas Hill, which is close to the village (in hotel can help you with the information). Then you will go back visiting the Charles Darwin monument and the Cabo de Horno beach. At the

Punta Carola Bay you can swim and snorkel with the Sea Lions, and finally you can see the sunset in Playa Man beach. If you don ́t bring your own Snorkel equipment, you can rent it in the village.

Your Organizer


BE
Barefoot Expeditions
1 review
Barefoot Expeditions was founded in 2005. Barefoot is a travel agency and tour operator with Ecuadorian/American management based in Quito, Ecuador and in Silicon Valley. Barefoot Expeditions offers unique trips in Ecuador, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands. Barefoot Expeditions specializes in adventure travel (whitewater rafting, kayaking, biking, trekking, hiking) and offers tailor-made tours for individual travelers, families or groups according to your needs. Our priority is to provide personalized and reliable service before, during and after our tours. Barefoot Expeditions helps you make your vacation in South America a reality –– we want to bring you close to wonderful nature and help you experience the local culture with authenticity.

Reviews

We had a great tour with Diego and driver Antonio, they had excellent recommendations for places to visit and eat and had a comfortable relaxing time. The visit to Mindo was especially fun, from ziplines to waterfall hikes to great pizza for lunch. Would highly recommend to anyone traveling in the area, especially families looking to experience the sights and experiences around Quito!
By Steve M for Mindo & Otavalo Family Day Trips on Jul 29, 2021

References

I decided to visit the Galapagos Islands in January of 2020 at pretty much the last minute, so I contacted Diego Altamirano at Barefoot Expeditions for help in getting it organized. I met him about 5 years ago, and was happy to have his guidance in doing this tour. He knows the islands well, and was able to arrange great tours for me using a combination of an 8 day boat tour on the Beagle and a 4 day island hopping tour based out of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal). I was able to see and get close to all the varieties of land and water animals that Galapagos is famous for, experienced the amazing variety of habitats and geology on 7 of the islands in the archipelago, and met a wonderful variety of people along the way. Accommodations were perfect, weather was very nice, and Galapagos is simply amazing. There is just no other place like it that I know of. Diego and Barefoot Expeditions have a great deal of experience organizing tours of the Galapagos Islands. Diego knew the tours, tour operators and hosts personally, and he provided a wonderful customized experience of the islands for me. I do not know how it could have been any better; it was simply fabulous! Highly recommend Barefoot Expeditions!
By John G on 16 Feb, 2020