5 Day Galápagos Island Hopping 3 Islands

You will be picked up at the airport by your private guide and he will take you to the hotel. After your lunch with the guide, you will visit the Interpretation Center, where the guide will talk to you about the formation, colonization and actual situation of the islands. Then you will follow the trail to the Frigate bird hill, a viewpoint from which you have a beautiful view over the island. You will be able to snorkel the shallow waters of Tijeretas Bay or Carola beach, where you can see sea lions, various tropical fishes, and turtles. We can also do kayaking to have a better view of the species. Your small hike will finish at Carola beach from where you will go back to the hotel and have the rest of the day free time.

Option 1 – Lobos Island (more hiking): On a 30 min boat ride from the port you arrive on Lobos Island, as its name implies a home to a large sea lion colony. But that’s not the only thing you’ll find while you’ll hike and snorkel at the island on this half-day tour. During the hike, you hopefully spot blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and frigate birds, while during snorkeling you can often see the marine iguanas eating, as well as rays and turtles in the sandy bottom that separates Lobos Island from the mainland of San Cristobal. This tour includes a stop at Playa Ochoa. In the early afternoon, you be back at the port and have the rest of the afternoon free time.  Option 2 – Kicker Rock (more snorkeling): You will visit the famous Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido – sleeping Lion), a volcanic formation amid the ocean. There you will be able to snorkel with sharks, rays, turtles and if you are luck also with hammerhead sharks! After lunch on the boat you will go to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you will have time to relax. At afternoon you will be back at the port. The rest of the day is at your leisure. You can watch the sunset on Playa Mann or you can go to Loberia (about $5 each way by taxi). There you can walk the Barranco cliff trail.

You will be picked up at the airport by your private certified guide. Then, you will take the public bus to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. Subsequently, you will go in the taxi to a ranch (El Chato) in the highlands to see giant tortoises in the free environment. You will continue to visit the Charles Darwin Station that is primarily an international scientific research station situated on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. You will be taken to its visitor center to learn about the geology, climate, natural history and the conservation of the Galapagos Islands.