Adventurous excursions in Galapagos Islands

At a glance: From the airport, head directly to the highlands of Santa Cruz to explore sink-holes and giant tortoise reserves.

• Arrival at Baltra airport
• Car transfer to dock on Baltra Island (10 mins)
• Boat ride to Santa Cruz (5 mins)
• Car transfer to Twin Craters, Los Gemelos (20 mins)
• Car transfer to a tortoise reserve (10 mins)
• Lunch
• Car transfer to Galapagos Safari Camp (15 mins)
• Evening at camp Level of Privacy: Private (private car transfers, private guide)

Your Galapagos adventure begins with a meeting at the airport with your bilingual naturalist guide. To make the most of your day, you'll visit several sites in the highlands en route to Galapagos Safari Camp, while your luggage is transported directly to the camp. After leaving the airport, you'll be driven to a small dock on Baltra Island (watch for land iguanas!). Here, you'll board a boat to cross the Canal Itabaca, the narrow waterway separating Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island. Once across, a private car will take you on a 30-minute journey through diverse vegetation zones to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz. The first destination is Los Gemelos (The Twins), two enormous volcanic sinkholes (the larger one is 2,300 feet deep and almost 1,300 feet wide). During a brief hike around the edge, your guide will identify birds of the endemic Scalesia forest, such as Galapagos doves and eight species of Galapagos finches. From Los Gemelos, you'll proceed to a giant tortoise reserve. Here, you'll discover how the physiology of these ancient reptiles varies depending on the island they inhabit. There are currently 12 species of giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands, with two native to Santa Cruz. Your tour of the reserve includes a leisurely trail where you can get within a few meters of these iconic Galapagos creatures. Also, keep an eye out for short-eared owls, which can sometimes be seen in the trees. The reserve also features a network of underground lava tubes, created centuries ago when lava flows cooled on the surface but continued to flow beneath, leaving behind cave-like tunnels. Some of these tunnels on Santa Cruz extend for miles and are believed to have been used by pirates as hiding places or storage areas. Descend into the spacious tubes with your guide for an introduction to the islands' formation. To fully appreciate the uniqueness of the Galapagos Islands and its wildlife, understanding the archipelago's geology and volcanic history is essential. For some, the experience might be slightly intimidating in areas where the tubes narrow, but it's a rewarding exploration of the island's geological past. After a lunch stop, the group heads back to the camp. Enjoy a swim in the pool alongside the finches, or a hot shower in your tent before relaxing on our Viewpoint with a sunset cocktail. Conclude the day with a four-course dinner under the stars.

Key Experiences:   

• Explore the endemic Scalesia forest that line The Twin sink-holes
• Encounter the flagship giant Galapagos tortoises 
• Discover ancient, underground lava tubes and learn about the islands’ volcanic history.
• Unwind back at camp, enjoying uninterrupted views of the highland forests and the shimmering blues of the Pacific Ocean, without another human in sight.  

  Wildlife often seen on this tour:  

• Yellow warbler
• Galapagos Barn owl
• Galapagos dove
• Galapagos flycatcher
• Giant tortoise
• Galapagos finch
• Galapagos Mockingbirds

Overview: Your day will take you across the eastern side of Santa Cruz, starting in the green highlands and ending at the contrasting coastline.

Experience Highlights

• Walk among Galapagos tortoises and diverse bird species at Cerro Mesa Reserve
• Cycle or drive down to Garrapatero Beach and enjoy a picnic by the shore
• Swim, snorkel or kayak in turquoise waters surrounded by mangroves
• Discover flamingos, finches, sea lions, iguanas, rays, and sea turtles
• Visit El Trapiche Ecológico and learn how sugar cane and coffee are made
• Return to camp for dinner, a poolside drink, and stargazing

Itinerary

• Morning drive to Cerro Mesa Reserve (35 mins)
• Explore trails and viewpoints in the reserve
• Continue to Garrapatero Beach (15 mins by car or 8 km bike ride)
• Picnic lunch by the beach
• Optional kayaking, swimming or snorkeling at Garrapatero
• Visit El Trapiche Ecológico (15 mins)
• Return to Galapagos Safari Camp (40 mins)
• Evening at leisure at the camp

Details of the Day

Cerro Mesa Reserve: About half an hour from the camp, you’ll enter this private reserve filled with endemic plants and birdlife, including finches, mockingbirds and owls. Giant tortoises roam here too. Trails lead you to a lookout point with sweeping views of Santa Cruz and nearby islands.

Garrapatero Beach: The journey continues downhill to the coast. You can go by car or take an easy bike ride. Upon arrival, a shaded picnic will be waiting. The scenery changes dramatically—white sand, black lava, turquoise water and thick mangroves. A short walk from the parking area reveals cactus finches feeding on opuntia cacti and the poisonous manzanillo trees with their deceptively inviting fruit.

Wildlife is abundant: marine iguanas, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, rays and turtles often share the beach. A nearby lagoon attracts flamingos, ducks and stilts. Past the tide pools, calm waters are perfect for a swim, and kayaking is an option to explore the bay. Since this beach is off the beaten path, it’s not uncommon to find it almost empty.

El Trapiche Ecológico: On the way back, stop at this small farm where locals produce sugar cane liqueur and coffee. Watch how sugar cane is pressed with mule power and see the step-by-step process of making artisan coffee—from harvesting to roasting.

Evening: The day ends back at Galapagos Safari Camp with time to relax, enjoy a drink by the pool, a hearty dinner, and stargazing if the sky is clear.

Wildlife commonly encountered

• Galapagos tortoises
• Marine iguanas
• Sea lions
• Blue-footed boobies
• Finches
• Mockingbirds
• Owls
• Rays
• Sea turtles
• Flamingoes
• White-cheeked ducks
• Black-nested stilts

Privacy: This is a fully private experience with your own guide and transfers.

Five-Day Journey Overview:
During your five-day journey, you'll get to explore two of the islands mentioned below (please remember that the specific locations depend on the dates). After eating breakfast, you'll be driven to the dock (a 30-minute trip). Once you're on the boat, you will travel to your chosen location and spend the remainder of the day with the group's guides discovering, hiking, snorkeling, and then you'll return to camp at the end of the day.

Bartolomé: The day will begin with a climb up a 600-meter wooden path and stairway across old red, black, and orange lava landscapes to the highest spot on the island. The wide view from the lookout shows the famous Pinnacle Rock in the foreground, Sullivan Bay further away, and Daphne Major and Minor on the horizon. After the climb, we'll enjoy a small boat ride around the coast, searching for Galápagos penguins and hawks perched on the cliffs. In the afternoon, we'll explore the coast, where sea lions, Sally Light-Foot crabs, and marine iguanas welcome us on the beach. This is an excellent place to snorkel, discovering the vibrant underwater environment of the islands among playful Galápagos sea lions, penguins, reef sharks, and rays.

Santa Fe: This island is one of the oldest in the archipelago, with underwater lava formations dating back 3.9 million years. Its visitor paths are filled with animal activity. Santa Fe is home to a large number of land iguanas, including the Santa Fe yellow iguana, as well as the dark-colored marine iguanas. Other inhabitants include Galápagos hawks and blue-footed boobies. Friendly sea lions populate the coasts and swim alongside you while snorkeling, while marine iguanas relax in the sun on shoreline rocks or quickly move past under the waves. We might also get to see sharks, rays, and colorful groups of fish.

North Seymour: This island, abundant with life across its rocky surface, is home to blue-footed booby and frigate mating groups. Land iguanas are also common in the area and can be seen along the 2-mile path that goes around the southern part of the island. As we start our walk, we'll encounter nests of funny-looking blue-footed boobies. Galápagos mockingbirds and yellow warblers are often seen. As we approach the frigate colony, the remarkable birds appear to be nesting in every nearby tree. Males puff up their red, basketball-sized pouches to attract mates. Back in our small boat, we'll go to Mosquera islet, in the channel between Baltra and North Seymour. Here, we can see a large sea lion colony, filled with pups, bulls, and females of different ages.

South Plaza: On the way to Plaza, we'll stop at Punta Carrión. The shallow waters of the sheltered cove are a great spot for snorkeling with groups of fish, rays, and, if we're lucky, reef sharks. The dock at South Plaza is often crowded with sea lions, but we can navigate around them to begin walking along the path that winds past yellow land iguanas resting in the shade of groves of prickly pear cactus trees. The landscape is lively, with black lava outcrops and ground covered with the reds and yellows of sesuvium cactus. At the island's southern cliff edge, we can see various types of birds flying in the currents, including bright red-billed tropic birds. Following the path around to the west, we'll reach a busy sea lion colony. South Plaza's other inhabitants include land and marine iguanas, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls, along with other bird species.

Overview: Spend a full day with a local fisherman exploring the hidden corners of Santa Cruz’s shoreline.

Itinerary

• Morning car transfer to the boat (35 mins)
• Spend the day at sea with the fisherman, including lunch on board
• Return by car to Galapagos Safari Camp (35 mins)
• Evening at the camp at leisure

Privacy: This is a private experience with your own guide and car transfers.

Join a local fisherman for a hands-on adventure, learning traditional fishing techniques while exploring the Galapagos waters. This program, in partnership with the Galapagos National Park, provides fishermen with sustainable income and helps reduce overfishing.

Travel in a fully-equipped motorboat to secret coves known only to locals. Learn how fishermen catch their daily haul, and try it yourself. Each group is allowed up to 50 pounds of fish per trip. The crew can prepare your catch as sashimi on board, or you can take it back to camp for the kitchen to cook.

Enjoy snorkeling in the open sea and stop at secluded beaches, such as La Fe, Playa Escodida, or Bahia Borrero, away from the crowds. Swim and snorkel in turquoise waters alongside rays, schools of colorful fish, and playful sea lions, while soaking in the untouched beauty of the islands.

Key Experiences

• Hear personal stories from a seasoned fisherman
• Snorkel in crystal-clear waters
• Try your hand at fishing with guidance from experts (optional)

Wildlife commonly seen

• Sea lions
• Land iguanas
• Marine iguanas
• Swallow-tailed gulls
• Red-billed tropicbirds
• Reef sharks

Experience the tranquility available at Galapagos Safari Camp. Unwind, stroll, or view the dawn from our observation point before heading off to your subsequent location. (This is where you'll regret not prolonging your trip!). Our African-inspired tented camp offers an inventive way to discover the islands and immerse yourself in nature with complete ease. Situated in the untamed uplands of Santa Cruz Island, showcasing impressive vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the National Park, our elegant camp features a wide-ranging lodge, nine delightful tents, and a family suite.