Galapagos Naturalist 8 Day Multi City Vacation

Upon arrival, guests are met by the hotel naturalist guides and accompanied directly to the yacht. Welcomed by captain and staff, guests are briefed about safety issues as well as the National Park regulations. Lunch is served on board, while the yacht sails to North Seymour Island. There is a walking excursion on the island and involves uneven rocky terrain. Dry landing. After the visit, the yacht sails to Itabaca channel, from where we cross by bus faster over Santa Cruz Island to reach the south shore (42 km by bus is shorter and faster, than 50 km by boat), where the Finch Bay Hotel is located. Check-in and enjoy the glorious beach-front location and facilities.

After a relaxed breakfast, our guests will leave Academy Bay by bus 18 km up to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz Island. From there a short drive across the farming area will lead us to El Manzanillo, a site recently opened to visitors at the northern edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. After lunch, we visit a small farm, where coffee, sugar cane and cocoa beans are grown, harvested and prepared – all organic and sustainable. We have the chance to taste the products while learning about the artisanal way to burn island spirits! We then return to the hotel to enjoy its pool, beach, or ask for suggestions for activities.

A wet landing in a sandy white beach brings us into contact with one of the many sea lion harems. A short trek leads through woods of Opuntia cacti and Palo Santo trees. Land iguanas (endemic to Santa Fe), lava lizards and colonies of sea lions can be observed. There is also an opportunity to swim and snorkel. (B,L,D)

A short distance away from Academy Bay and the bustle of Puerto Ayora, lies the quiet and wildlife-rich Divine Bay. We can explore this lovely cove by boat while more adventurous guests could take the tandem, sit-on-top kayaks straight from the hotel’s beachfront. The morning’s visit includes snorkeling on a calm, but active, sector of the cove. After this morning’s visit we return to the Finch Bay Hotel for lunch. Afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre, with time to enjoy the town, or the hotel’s facilities.

Today, we include two visitor sites: South Plaza and Punta Carrión. Together they are a perfect combination of stunning wildlife colonies (Plaza), and a site with excellent snorkelling (Carrión). This is a walking excursion and involves uneven rocky terrain. Dry landing. Snorkelling at Punta Carrión.

View the spectacular scenes of the Galapagos scenery from above with a short hike to the summit of Pinnacle Rock. Interesting lava formations and tuff cones can be observed. Sea lions and penguins swim in the vicinity of Pinnacle Rock. Enjoy snorkeling or swimming from the beach. (B,L,D)

Tortuga Bay is a combination of ecosystems, landscapes, wildlife, sports and a lot of fun! We start after a relaxed morning’s breakfast at the hotel, and a stroll along the neighbouring brackish lagoons. When you reach Tortuga Bay, you will understand why this is often referred to as Ecuador’s most beautiful beach. Return to the hotel for lunch then spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the hotel’s facilities or continue exploring the island’s vast list of sites.

After breakfast we leave the Finch Bay Hotel and on the way to Baltra, stop at the Twin Pit Craters, great geological depressions of volcanic material, formed by a long process of slow sinking of the ground, where exceptional Scalesia trees, ferns, mosses and orchids can be seen in the surroundings. Then, overland transfer to the airport in Baltra to take the flight back to the continent.