Galapagos Islands Family Adventure 2022

Arrival in Quito on Flight UA 1002 

After you clear customs in Quito, you will be met at the airport by our guide and transferred to your hotel.

Hotel:  Mama Cuchara (B)              

Travel Distance: From Quito’s airport to the hotel: 1 hour approximately, depending on traffic

After an early breakfast, we will drive via the Avenue of Volcanoes to the Northern Highlands, and the Imbabura Province. Upon arrival, we will kayak in one of the most beautiful lakes in Ecuador to explore the indigenous province of Imbabura. Paddling around this sacred place in the Otavaleños cosmovision is a great way to see the mountains, villages and friendly indigenous people.

Hotel:  Mama Cuchara (B,L)

After a morning flight to San Cristobal Island, we’ll greet you at the airport and head to our hotel. After lunch and a quick introduction, we begin our journey at the Galapagos Interpretation Center to learn about the unique wildlife, geology, history, and social dynamics of the Galapagos.

After our visit, we hike to Tijeretas along natural trails formed by lava rocks. The path is surrounded by native plants like Galapagos cotton, palo santo, acacia, and cacti, and we will spot blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, herons, gulls, warblers, mockingbirds, and finches in the vegetation and sea cliffs. Our guides interpret this amazing flora and fauna in the context of the natural history we just learned. We also enjoy scenic views of the rugged coastline and the tranquil town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

We will cool off from our hike with a refreshing snorkeling session at postcard-worthy Carola Beach, surrounded by sea turtles, sea lions, and marine iguanas, and bask in the setting sun. After dinner, we’ll explore the friendly, laid-back beach town and stroll down the boardwalk to visit the neighboring colony of Galapagos sea lions.

Hotel: Galapagos Sunset (B, L, D)

Our second day begins with a morning of kayaking along the coastal bays and coves of San Cristobal’s north coast, full of bluefooted boobies, frigate birds, sea lions, and sea turtles. We may visit Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) or Punta Pitt. The visiting site will depend on the week day and Galapagos National Park regulations.

We’ll put on snorkels and fins to interact with sea lions, as well as marine iguanas and countless reef fish. We’ll swim with spotted eagle rays, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, starfish, clams, and fish of every shape, size, and color. With luck, we might even see some menacing but harmless hammerhead sharks! After a full day spent exploring the seas, we head back to town for a delicious dinner and a well-earned rest. 

Hotel: Galapagos Sunset (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we say goodbye to San Cristobal and take a quick small-plane ride to Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos and is still being formed by six active shield volcanoes. In fact, Isabela is one of the most volcanically active spots on the planet.

Upon arrival, we embark on a bike ride that will take us through a wide variety of environments and ecosystems. Along the way, we’ll pass through white sand beaches, mangrove forests and brackish lagoons, and a lava tube cave. As we ride, we’ll pass giant tortoises, flamingos, and other wildlife. At the end of our ride, we arrive at el Muro de las Lagrimas (the Wall of Tears). When Isabela was used as a penal colony, prisoners were forced to construct this towering wall of lava rocks for no other reason than to keep them distracted from the madness of isolation.

After lunch, we explore Tintoreras, a set of small islets filled with hidden coves and beaches. Here, we will find the peculiar, endemic Galapagos penguin and other marine life. At the end of the day, we retire to our hotel and after a delicious dinner, we can enjoy the well-appointed lounge or wander the idyllic sand streets of Puerto Villamil.

 Hotel: Hotel Iguana Crossing (B, L, D)

Today we´ll enjoy a delicious breakfast to get ready for the drive up the flanks of the Sierra Negra volcano until the road ends. Here, we continue by horseback into a surreal world of geological history. On the ride we will see incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes and sea, as well as the distinctive highland ecosystem around us. But the real prize is at the top - when we arrive at the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano, we are treated to a truly breathtaking vista.

Sierra Negra is the second largest active caldera on the planet, over six miles at its widest point. We’ll get to this enormous crater and, if we feel energetic, continue on to the caldera of Volcano Chico, an otherworldly landscape of vibrant hues created by sulfur deposits. Here we can explore spectacular lava formations and fumaroles.

After a stop at an idyllic tortoise reserve for lunch, we’ll head back to the lowlands in time to spend our last afternoon on Isabela, easy boogie board lessons are optional. Finally, relax on perfect beaches and soak up the island-life atmosphere. 

 Hotel: Hotel Iguana Crossing (B, L, D)

Wake up with the sea breeze as we travel by speedboat or deposit flight to Santa Cruz Island, keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins along the way. After checking in at the hotel we head to El Chato in the Santa Cruz highlands to find the famous giant tortoise in its natural habitat. It is truly an honor to walk in the stately presence of these gentle giants, who can live to be over 175 years old. We will also see pintail ducks, Darwin’s finches, frigate birds, egrets, and the vermillion flycatcher.

Our next stop is the incredible lava tunnels, which formed an ideal hideout for the pirates that once frequented the Galapagos. Legend has it that they were also used to hide Inca gold stolen from Spanish ships. We then hike on to Los Gemelos, two deep volcanic sinkholes at the top of the island, with rocky cliffs surrounding the huge pits of empty magma chambers. Our path takes us through a forest of endemic Scalesia trees, where we will be on the lookout for the elusive short-eared owl. The trees are covered with ferns and epiphytes, and lend the forest a quiet, eerie feel.

Hotel: Hotel Angermeyer Waterfront (B, L, D)

Early start in the morning to travel by motorized yacht to North Seymour, one of the islands close to Santa Cruz. This is a flat, rocky island, that requires comfortable shoes for hiking. The trail is only 2 miles, but do not forget a bottle of water and sun protection because the visit is about an hour and a half. North Seymour is a small island located at the north of Baltra (also known as South Seymour, due to its location from the airport). The land is quite barren and rocky and the vegetation consists mostly of cactus, palo santo trees, green sticks, muyuyos and sesuviums. The island is one of the most beautiful attractions in Galapagos, and we can find the most iconic animals of the islands. It is one of the few places where we can enter and visit the colony of frigate birds (Fregata minor), nesting in the bushes near the trails. The male frigate birds in their mating season, inflate their red gullar sack to attract females.

Later, we will find the famous blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii), which also nest on the island. They can be seen courting one another, which is one of the most amazing spectacles of nature, incubating their eggs, or feeding their chicks/juveniles while training them to become strong and able to fly and fish on their own. We can also find land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) around the cactus patrolling their territories, Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, lava herons, sally light foot crabs (Grapsus grapsus) and playful sea lion pups on the banks.

(B, L, D)

We will visit The Charles Darwin Center before transferring to Baltra Island for our return flight to the mainland. From there, we will bid a fond farewell to the Galapagos.

Overnight in Quito (confirming hotel)

(B)

Morning Airport Transfer to Quito Airport  for Flight Home on UA 1001