Classic Ecuador & Galapagos 4 Days
23 reviews 
Classic Ecuador & Galapagos 4 Days
23 reviews
Overview
Santa Cruz Island is one of the Galápagos Islands with an area of 986 km2 and a maximum altitude of 864 metres. Situated in the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela. Its capital is Puerto Ayora, the most populated urban centre in the islands. On Santa Cruz there are some small villages, whose inhabitants work in agriculture and cattle raising. This island is a large dormant volcano. It is estimated that the last eruptions occurred around a million and a half years ago. There is a gigantic lava tunnel that is over 2000 meters long on the island that many tourists visit and walk through. As a testimony to its volcanic history there are two big holes formed by the collapse of a magma chamber: Los Gemelos, its English name was given after a British vessel HMS Indefatigable. Santa Cruz hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora, with a total of 12,000 residents on the island.
Tortuga Bay is located on the Santa Cruz Island, a short walk from center of Puerto Ayora where you can view Marine iguanas, birds, galapagos crabs and a natural mangrove where you can spot white tip reef sharks and the gigantic galápagos tortoise.
Highlights
Galapagos is one of the main tourist attractions of Ecuador that shows its fascinating evolution of flora and fauna, in an environment similar to a spectacular paradise and living laboratory that was visited in 1835 by the English scientist Charles Darwin, and proved “The Theory of Evolution”.
Trip Details
- Galapagos: Reception – Primacies Ranch
- Galapagos: Tortoise Bay Beach – port tour
- Galapagos: Bartolome Island
- Return to country of origin
Itinerary
Day 1: Galapagos: Reception - Primacies Ranch:
Transfer to the airport to take your flight to Galapagos. Arrival at the airport , After a 50 minute drive we will arrive at the hotel in Santa Cruz. Â After hotel accommodation and lunch we will visit a giant tortoise ranch.
Day 2: Tortuga Bay Beach - Port Tour
We visit one of the best places to find breathtaking views and wildlife in the Galapagos Islands. In the Galapagos Islands We have to walk 40 minutes to reach this magical place, one of the most beautiful beaches in the islands, and have time to swim and enjoy the beach. In the afternoon we will do the navigable tour. Our boat will arrive at the small islet called La LoberÃa after the large colony of sea lions, we will also visit Punta Estrada, the shark channel and the dog beach., as well as Grietas, mine of the salt and german beach then we will walk around the most beautiful places of Santa Cruz Bay We will visit the Salt Mines, the trip ends with a refreshing swim at Punta Estrada Beach, better known as Playa de los Alemanes.
known as German Beach and the crack, where we will also be able to snorkel.
snorkeling.
Day 3: Bartolome Island.
This day you can go walk and snorkeling. The young Bartolome Island has an area of 1.2km. 1.2km, it is ranked among the 10 most beautiful islands in the world for having a great variety of red, black, orange, green and red soils, and volcanic formations, its most famous point is the famous Pinnacle. back to the hotel
Day 4: Galapagos – Quito.
After breakfast we will go to Baltra airport to take the plane that will take your country of origin.
back to your country of origin.
Notes Itinerario
Included
- Transfer In/ out at the Galapagos airport (shared service).
- Lodging at selected hotel.
- Daily breakfast.
- Daily assistance and support.
- Shared land and sea transportation.
- Tours and activities according to itinerary:
- Visit Ranch Primicie
- Visit Tortuga Bay Beach – Port Tour
- Tour to Bartolome Island
- Mask and snorkel for the snorkeling activity (only in places where this activity can be done).
- Guides authorized by the Galapagos National Park.
- Hotel taxes.
No Included
- Domestic and international air tickets
- Entrance to tourist sites
- PNG entrance fee: Foreigners: Adults $100.00 Children $50.00
- Tourist Transit Card TCT: $20 per person.
- Internal Transportation in Baltra – (Airport – Itabaca Channel – Airport) $ 10.00.
- Santa Cruz Island Wharfage Tax ($1.00 per pax for each time you use it for
- to travel to other islands or bay tour)
- Lunches and dinners
- Services or activities not specified in the program.
- Personal expenses and tips.
Recommendations:
Book your flight in advance
Flights to visit the Galapagos Islands depart from Guayaquil or Quito. It is not exactly a cheap trip, but sometimes you can find discounts if you book in advance. If you are going to make a trip on your own to several islands, a good idea is to arrive at one of the airports (Baltra or San Cristobal) and depart from another.
Do not worry about the entrance to the park
You do not have to make any preparations when purchasing the entrance fee to the Galapagos Park. When you arrive at the departure airport you will pay a $20 transit fee at the INGALA booth. Without this document you will not be able to board. Then, upon landing, you will have to pay the $100 park entrance fee to continue your trip.
Choose between cruise or self-drive
The most popular option to visit the Galapagos Islands is aboard a cruise ship that stops at different islands. These usually last between 4 and 7 days. Although it is the easiest option, it is also the most expensive.
If you opt for the second option, you will basically make a base on the islands of San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela and from there you can hire excursions to nearby islands. The trips between these 3 islands are made in the so-called fibers. They cost about 30$ and leave early in the morning and at 14:00 or 15:00.
Take into account the weather
There is no bad season to travel to Galapagos (although between January and April there is more chance of rain), but the season does influence the fauna and flora you can see when visiting the Galapagos Islands. If you are looking forward to diving with hammerhead sharks, for example, a good time is in April or June. There are mating seasons for animals such as blue-footed boobies or marine iguanas that are also impressive, so it is important to be informed beforehand.
Booking accommodation is not so important
If you think that sleeping in Galapagos is expensive, in the islands we have mentioned you will find accommodation from 30$ a double room. If you do not go during high demand periods such as Easter, Christmas or summer vacations, you will have no problem booking when you arrive. In fact, this way you can get some discounts.
Choose your excursions wisely
Don’t panic, if you decide to visit the Galapagos Islands on your own, you should know that the normal price of a daily excursion is around $150. Therefore, if you do not want to spend your entire budget, choose well which excursions you want to do. We highly recommend the Túneles y Tintoreras in Isabela, León Dormido from San Cristóbal and Santa Fe, Bartolomé and Plaza Sur from Santa Cruz.
Don’t worry, there are also accessible places where you will see a lot of wildlife without paying too much. For example, the LoberÃa, Tortuga Bay or the Manzanillo farm are impressive and visiting them is free or costs less than $30.
Respect nature
These islands are a natural paradise that we have the duty to preserve. Therefore, follow the rules of the park and do not touch or feed the animals, do not introduce food that is not allowed, do not take anything from the park… In short, practice responsible tourism
Prices
Private Service
| Number of persons | Price Per person |
Group Service
- This program can operate from one pax, in shared service.
- Reservations subject to availability.
- Rates apply accommodation in double, triple, quadruple rooms.
- We have a hotel infrastructure, land and navigable transportation to do your trip safe, we do not improvise. The order of the itinerary may change due to operational reasons, weather problems, or situations that put weather problems, or situations that put the passenger or the conservation of the islands at risk. Rates for infants (0 to 2 years old) only pay taxes, (Does not include food services and must occupy the same bed as the passenger).
- It is recommended to review the new requirements at the time of travel as they are constantly changing. (in some countries a negative COVID-19 test is required for travel).
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