Galapagos Ideal!

 

Day 1 – Quito – Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Reserch Station (L, D)

Assistance in Quito airport included, for your 2-3 hour flight to the Enchanted Islands of the Galapagos. The plane will land at Baltra Island airport, where our staff will meet you. Then, you take a bus to the Itabaca Canal, located between Baltra Island and Santa Cruz; afterwards you take a ferry that sails to Santa Cruz Island for 5 minutes. Subsequently, a bus is taken which runs from north to south on Santa Cruz Island until reaching Puerto Ayora. Lunch at a local restaurant.   The Charles Darwin Research Station is one of the Galapagos Island’s most important sites for visitors. It is a research facility that has an extensive collection of Galapagos plant life specimens carefully preserved and also acts as a biological research station and active breeding center operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation.  Their biggest conservation efforts are to one day eliminate all invasive and non-native plants and animals destroying endemic species within the islands.  

DAY 2 – Full Day Santa Cruz (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you will visit the highlands, located in the northern part of Santa Cruz and can reach elevations up to 1500 meters.  This area is rich with hills, ferns, volcanoes and wildlife.  A great contrast to the molten lava hardened beaches and rocky areas of other islands already seen.  It is home to giant tortoises, mockingbirds, finches and many other species.   In the afternoon, you will visit Tortuga Bay beach, one of the most beautiful places for visitors due to its turquoise waters and white sand. Tortuga Bay is divided into two beaches and a small lagoon; the first beach also called brava is ideal for surfers and recommended only for excellent swimmers. When walking on the white sand you can see a small lagoon ideal for beginners in snorkeling and when you pass the lagoon you will find the gentle beach where activities such as swimming, kayaking are performed, you can also walk and enjoy the nature that surrounds the place. You can see sea turtles, rays and sharks. In the evening, dinner at a local restaurant.  

DAY 3 – AM: Transfer Back to Baltra – End of Services (B)

You will have time to gather your belongings and then our staff will thank you for your time with Minka Ecuador.  Then, you will be transferred to the airport.

Day 1 – Quito – Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Research Station (L, D)

  Assistance in Quito airport included, for your 2-3 hour flight to the Enchanted Islands of the Galapagos. The plane will land at Baltra Island airport, where our staff will meet you. Then, you take a bus to the Itabaca Canal, located between Baltra Island and Santa Cruz; afterwards you take a ferry that sails to Santa Cruz Island for 5 minutes. Subsequently, a bus is taken which runs from north to south on Santa Cruz Island until reaching Puerto Ayora. Lunch at a local restaurant.   The Charles Darwin Research Station is one of the Galapagos Island’s most important sites for visitors. It is a research facility that has an extensive collection of Galapagos plant life specimens carefully preserved and also acts as a biological research station and active breeding center operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation.  Their biggest conservation efforts are to one day eliminate all invasive and non-native plants and animals destroying endemic species within the islands.  

Día 2 – Full Day Santa Cruz (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you will visit the highlands, located in the northern part of Santa Cruz and can reach elevations up to 1500 meters.  This area is rich with hills, ferns, volcanoes and wildlife.  A great contrast to the molten lava hardened beaches and rocky areas of other islands already seen.  It is home to giant tortoises, mockingbirds, finches and many other species.   In the afternoon, you will visit Tortuga Bay beach, one of the most beautiful places for visitors due to its turquoise waters and white sand. Tortuga Bay is divided into two beaches and a small lagoon; the first beach also called brava is ideal for surfers and recommended only for excellent swimmers. When walking on the white sand you can see a small lagoon ideal for beginners in snorkeling and when you pass the lagoon you will find the gentle beach where activities such as swimming, kayaking are performed, you can also walk and enjoy the nature that surrounds the place. You can see sea turtles, rays and sharks. In the evening, dinner at a local restaurant.  

DAY 3 – AM: Bay Tour – PM: Free Time(B, L, D)

  Breakfast at the hotel. From the dock, a boat will take you to a small islet called La Lobería due to the sea lions colony that normally lives there; Then you will visit Punta Estrada to enjoy a unique and incomparable experience swimming in crystal, clear and turquoise waters, with the opportunity to practice snorkeling surrounded by colorful fish and most likely sea turtles. After this, you will visit the Shark Channel to observe white tip sharks called tintoreras from a ravine, with an impressive view of the port and the highlands of Santa Cruz. Next, a short walk to the beach Los perros, hoping to see a colony of marine iguanas. If this isn´t enough, you will visit Las Grietas, an ideal space for swimming and snorkeling. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 4 – AM: Transfer Back to Baltra – End of Services (B)

You will have time to gather your belongings and then our staff will thank you for your time with Minka Ecuador.  Then, you will be transferred to the airport.  

NOTES:

• Food detail: B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner, BL: box lunch.
• Hotels depend on availability.
• Highly recommended to book the first flight at day to GPS and the last flight back to Quito.
• Itineraries are subject to change due to many different elements such as weather, park authorities and regulations, airline operations out of Minka Ecuador control, guide experience and safety concerns.
• Christmas and New Year departures, apply an additional surcharge.