Galapagos Island-to-Island Hopping Tour

On this day, you’ll visit the Historic Center of Quito. This marvelous place was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. On this day, we stroll through Independence Plaza, where we’ll see the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building, and the Archbishop’s Palace. After that, we will visit the glorious San Francisco Plaza.

On this day, we’ll also head up Quito’s Teleferico (Gondola Lift), which will take us up to the top of Pichincha Volcano and provide you with wonderful views of the city, along with some of the spectacular geography that makes up the Andes Mountain Range.

Overnight at your hotel in Quito.

On this morning, you’ll be picked up from the hotel to take your transfer to Quito’s airport for your Galapagos flight.

Once you arrive in the Galapagos Islands (Baltra Island), you’ll take a scenic inter-island flight* to Isabela Island. Check in at Scalesia Lodge and eat lunch before heading out on your first afternoon of discovery.

Familiarize yourself with the youngest side of the archipelago while exploring the rewarding visitor sites that are the National Park, the wetland lagoons, and the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. Wrap up your day at the stunning white beach of Puerto Villamil before returning to the Lodge for dinner.

*If needed, you can send excess luggage directly to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel, where you will arrive at on DAY 6.

Throughout these days at Scalesia Lodge, you’ll be able to enjoy 2 of the activity options below:

• Tintoreras / Swamplands / Tortoise Breeding Center
• The Tunnels / Beach
• Chico and Sierra Negra Volcano / Sucre Cave / Beach
• Wall of Tears / Concha Perla Lagoon

For more information on each of these, be sure to view our “Scalesia Excursion Options” tab below.

After breakfast, Scalesia Lodge’s staff will take us back to Puerto Villamil’s airport. A short and beautiful flight brings us back to Baltra. Your guide will lead you across the Itabaca Channel (via ferry) over to Santa Cruz Island. We will visit the Tortoise Reserve in the highlands, along with the impressive and nearby lava tunnels. Afterward, we will enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the highlands.

In the afternoon, you will reach Puerto Ayora and take a quick water taxi over to the only pedestrian neighborhood, Punta Estrada, where the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel is located.

Throughout these days at the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel, you’ll be able to enjoy 2 of the following full-day Yacht Exploration Options below:

• North Seymour
• Bartolome Island
• South Plaza Island
• Santa Fe Island

And the following full-day Land Exploration Option:

• Divine Bay and Charles Darwin Research Station

For more information on each of these, be sure to view our “Full-day Yacht Exploration Options” and “Full-day Land Exploration Options” tabs below.

On this morning, you’ll have breakfast at the hotel before taking your transfer to the airport. Once at the airport, you’ll board your flight back to the mainland. Safe travels!

Please note: The availability of these excursions will depend on the day of the week.

Las Tintoreras / Swamplands and Tortoise Breeding Center

Rise and shine to enjoy an early-morning visit of Las Tintoreras! The name of this visitor site comes from the word for white-tip reef sharks in Spanish, which are often seen frequenting this area. This is a great place to enjoy snorkeling and checking out some fantastic creatures such as sea lions, penguins, and marine iguanas.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the swamplands, which are made up of 4 different types of mangroves that exist in the Galapagos. It’s also a beautiful place to visit due to the fact that it has quiet and empty beaches, lava tunnels, and natural waterholes.

At the end of the tour, we’ll head back to Scalesia Lodge. Overnight at the Lodge.

The Tunnels / Beach / Activities: biking, surfing or kayaking

We’ll start the day with a 30-40 minute trip that will take us to an iconic visitor site that showcases lava flows which, due to the constant presence of waves, have formed crevices, tubes, and bridges that make up the tunnels. This place is an aquatic paradise that’s populated by sea turtles, manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, and sea lions. This is one of the top places in the Galapagos to go snorkeling!

After we have lunch back at the Lodge, we’ll seize the rest of the day and enjoy beautiful Puerto Villamil beach, as well as go biking, surfing or kayaking.

At the end of the tour, we’ll head back to Scalesia Lodge. Overnight at the Lodge.

Chico and Sierra Negra Volcano / Sucre Cave, Lookout Point, and the Beach

Get ready to visit one of the biggest attractions on Isabela Island – Chico and Sierra Negra Volcano. On this approximately 6-hour hike, we’ll have the chance to admire all of the scenic and geological beauty that these volcanoes have. Along the way, we’ll also enjoy a delicious snack.

After we have lunch back at the Lodge, we’ll head out to visit the Sucre Cave. It is here that we’ll enjoy a brief walk that will allow us to admire the endemic vegetation on the island. Afterwards, you’ll visit the Mango Lookout Point, from which you’ll be able to observe a large portion of Isabela Island and its agricultural areas. Additionally, this a great place for observing finches!

At the end of the tour, we’ll head back to Scalesia Lodge. Overnight at the Lodge.

Wall of Tears / Snorkeling at Concha Perla Lagoon

Start your day with a visit to the Wall of Tears, a beautiful place that will allow us to experience a little bit of the island’s natural and human history! Along the way, we’ll get to check out the brackish water lagoons, mangroves, Palo Santo forests, and several of Darwin’s finches, as well as pigeons, ducks, flamingos, herons, and giant tortoises.

In the afternoon, we’ll get to enjoy the underwater world of the Galapagos as we go snorkeling over at Concha Perla Lagoon. The calm and clear waters here are ideal for observing fascinating species such as penguins, sea turtles, tropical fish, and sea lions.

At the end of the tour, we’ll head back to Scalesia Lodge. Overnight at the Lodge.

Please note: The availability of these excursions will depend on the day of the week.

North Seymour

Experience a live biology lesson with land and marine iguanas, Nazca- and blue-footed boobies, frigates, sea lions and fur seals.

Santa Fe

Walk along rocky terrain to find the island’s highlight: the endemic Santa Fe land iguana, patiently waiting under the enormous and giant cacti for falling fruits and pads.

Bartolome

Here, you will get to enjoy one of the Galapagos’ most famous views: the tilted Pinnacle Rock, the golden beach of Bartolome, and the impressive lava fields of Santiago Island.

South Plaza

Admire the vast volume of dozens of frolicking sea lion pups, patrolling alpha male sea lions, basking marine and land iguanas, stunning red crabs and various Darwin finches.

Divine Bay and the Charles Darwin Research Station

Divine Bay is an oasis of tranquility that is replete with fantastic species. The Bay itself is naturally protected from the waves thanks to the presence of volcanic rocks, mangroves, and cliffs that manage to serve as a breakwater. This beautiful place is also home to herons, Galapagos pelicans, blue-footed boobies, sea turtles, and much more! Lay back, enjoy the scene from the beach or explore its underwater wonders by going snorkeling.

After Divine Bay, we’ll head to the Charles Darwin Research Station, which also serves as the central headquarters of the Galapagos National Park. The Station sits right on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora, allowing visitors to check out the ongoing conservation projects and learn about the Tortoise Breeding Center.