Trip of a lifetime for Rod Katz group. Fishing with the locals, chartered boat trips, sightseeing and birdwatching, visit local farms and have farm to table lunch, stay at beautiful accommodations, inter-island flights with breathtaking views, hikes and water activities, shopping and so much more!
Important Note: Price reflects price per person. When booking, choose appropriate group size under package. Dates are flexible. 3% discount if you opt for bank transfer.
Private tour of Galápagos, the national park, the far side of San Cristóbal Islands, Santa Cruz tour, Isabela tours to Isla Tintoreas, fishing with the locals, local farm visit, Sierra Negra hike
One night stay at Wyndham Hotel - Guayaquil
Three night stay at Seaside Hotel Miconia in San Cristóbal Island
Three night stay at Isabela Beach House on Isabela Island
Two night stay at Semilla Verde Boutique Hotel in Santa Cruz Island
All ground transportation in the Galápagos and Ecuador
Transfers to and from airport and hotels
Inter islands flights from San Cristobal > Isabela and Isabela > Baltra
Chartered boat tour to León Dormido and Tuneles
Snorkel equipment while in the Galápagos Islands
All meals except alcoholic beverages and three dinners (per your request)
All park and airport taxes. Galápagos entry fee: $100 for extranjeras / $6 for nationals / $50 for kids, $20 Galápagos entry card, $10 Isabela airport fee, $10 RT bus fee and $2 RT canal ferry
Australia to Guayaquil (GYE), Guayaquil (GYE) to San Cristóbal (SCY), Baltra (GPS) to Guayaquil (GYE), Guayaquil (GYE) to Australia
You may purchase alcoholic beverages at your own discretion.
Recommended tip for Galápagos guides: $20-$40 per day, per person. Recommended tip for Ecuador guides: $10-$20 per day for the whole family.
Recommended tips for staff members are $15 per day which they will divide equally amongst themselves.
Recommended tip for restaurants is 10%-15%.
If a porter carries your bag for you, you have to pay them $1 per bag. Adding a tip is up to you.
You are not expected to tip taxis but it is recommended to round up to the nearest dollar to avoid unnecessary pocket change and it will definitely make your driver happy.
You are not expected to tip bartenders but if you feel like you've gotten great service, they would highly appreciate it.
Arrive at Guayaquil on your scheduled flights. Hotel shuttle will bring you to Wyndham Hotel. It's close to the airport with a reliable shuttle service, as well as English speaking assistance. You will be staying here for one night before your early morning flight to San Cristóbal.
Transfer service takes you to the airport for your morning flight to San Cristóbal, Galápagos. Rick will meet you at the airport here in San Cristóbal. We’ll get you checked in, oriented a little, have some lunch then we’ll go fishing with locals.
This is 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 Galápagos (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 lifestyle and a firsthand account of the history of life in the Galapagos
Important Note: You will need $100 in cash for each person when entering the Galápagos. You also will have needed to purchase a Galápagos entry card for $20 each before you go to the airline check in counter. This is included in the quote so you don't have to worry about this. Our guide will be in charge of making sure you have everything you need to get to San Cristóbal.
Accommodation: On San Cristóbal, you will be staying at Seaside Hotel - Miconia. Suzanna will be making you breakfast. The property is located within easy walking distance of several snorkel sites, the interpretation center, and all of the restaurants in town.
Chartered boat trip to León Dormido. Snorkeling with rays, turtles, sharks, and sea lions. You will also be visiting the nesting grounds of Frigate birds, Pelicans, Boobies, etc. It's the perfect place to roam gorgeous, deserted, pristine beaches that could make travel posters cry. (This is the scuba dive possibility day)
All day tour of the far side of the island: Commune with the Galápagos 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. You will also be visit Puerto Chino, a pristine isolated beach, and El Junco, the highest elevation on the island and volcano crater now filled with water. You will only be going to El Junco if it’s not fogged in. Sometimes it’s fogged in and not worth walking 200 steps up to the lake crater.
We have also 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.
Early morning flight 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 private tour of the Tintoreas area where you can see Galápagos penguins and other amazing wildlife.
Important Note: The plane only allows 25lbs of luggage which includes hand carry. It is recommended to pack lightly as laundry service is available on the islands. Any weight that exceeds 25lbs will be charged $3 per additional pound.
You will start off with a chartered 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.
Hike to Sierra Negra. Have a delicious lunch in the highlands of Isabela at the Hausers Restaurant.
You will be flying from Isabela Island to Baltra Island via twin engine Britten-Norman Islander (approximately 35 minutes). Baltra Island is just north of Santa Cruz Island, the tourist capital of the Galápagos. This is where you’ll tour the highlands where wild giant tortoises roam and visit lava tubes. You can also visit the Charles Darwin Station if you want to. You will be staying at Semilla Verde, a beautiful boutique hotel that have been close friends and partners to us for a long time.
Important Note: The plane only allows 25lbs of luggage which includes hand carry. It is recommended to pack lightly as laundry service is available on the islands. Any weight that exceeds 25lbs will be charged $3 per additional pound.
Unscheduled day with guide on Santa Cruz. You can go shopping, snorkeling, etc. If you added the Windrose Chartered Yacht to Bartolome, you will be doing that on this day.
Fly from Baltra to Quito (GPS > UIO) 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.
Important Note: Depending on the time of your flight, you may be able to connect directly (included in quote) or you may need to spend a night at the Wyndham Hotel. Prices will be changed accordingly depending on your confirmed flights.
