Galapagos Island Hopping - Santa Cruz, Floreana &Isabela

Arrival in the Galapagos

Today, we will get to Baltra Island, the entryway to the Galapagos. This small island served as a military installation during World War II and is home to the Islands’ main airport. The airport was constructed using cutting-edge environmental methods to lower emissions and energy consumption; some of these methods will be noticeable as you move through the building. It was the first ecological airport worldwide.

We jump into our journey right away! We enter the airport through a special VIP area where you can change clothes, apply sunscreen, and enjoy a refreshing beverage before heading to the Itabaca Channel to discover its stunning turquoise waters. We will have opportunities to kayak, snorkel, and stand-up paddleboard (SUP), as well as see some of the most well-known Galapagos animals, like blue-footed boobies, sea lions, brown pelicans, various herons, and white-tipped reef sharks.

There is no better way to be introduced to the Galapagos than by getting on the water as soon as possible! We will travel through beautiful red mangrove forests and alongside lava rock cliffs on water that is so clear that we can observe the marine life in the shallows. Our ocean (sit-on-top) kayaks are available as doubles or singles, and life vests are supplied. A support boat will accompany us throughout our water activities to ensure safety and offer water, snacks, and towels between activities.

We travel from the Itabaca Channel to the Santa Cruz highlands, to a private reserve that borders the National Park, where we can observe the renowned Giant Tortoises wandering freely.

Following lunch, we will drive to our special giant tortoise reserve, where our tented camp can be found. Situated high on a hillside with views of the ocean, Magic Galapagos Tented Camp will be our lodging for the following two nights. The sounds of nature will be our evening music, and the Milky Way will serve as our night light. We will be able to take in the views of the mountains and forests surrounding the Camp and relish the tranquility of having the entire hillside to ourselves, with the exception of the seasonal giant tortoises that live there.

Watching the vibrant sunset from Magic's western location is the ideal way to transition into the evening. Dinners are lavish three-course meals that are made by skilled chefs in an outdoor kitchen in the main lodge. A popular post-dinner activity is a short stroll to the reserve's natural lava tubes for a nightcap in the unique "Lava Lounge!" It is the ideal location to unwind by the fire and share stories from the day's activities.

Daily Tour

Our motor yacht will take us today to explore distant deserted islands which host a variety of wild animals. The friendly and knowledgeable crew members and naturalist guide will help you to experience the remote islands in comfort and style.

Consult the boat schedule for its upcoming trips to North Seymour and Bachas. South Plazas. Santa Fe Island. Bartolome and Sullivan Bay.

*These excursions are subject to availability and change without prior notification*

Night at Galapagos Magic (Standard Tent)

Floreana

Our last breakfast at Magic Galapagos ended with a farewell before we boarded our boat to Floreana Island. The group will start their journey at dawn to reach the speedboat which will take them across the water for two hours. The island maintains tranquility because it supports the smallest number of residents in the entire Galapagos. Because only 150 people call Floreana home, it is the least developed and most natural of the four inhabited islands.The Galapagos Islands received their first human settlers on these islands and the current residents trace their lineage back to those first inhabitants. The island served as a pirate base before which it housed its first settlers according to various historical accounts. 

Our trip will include hiking activities together with educational sessions about the local history and wildlife encounters which are typical for the Galapagos. We should be able to observe giant tortoises and frigate birds and sea lions and Darwin’s finches and petrels and marine iguanas and other species. 

The first part of our trip to Floreana will take us on an open-air chiva bus which leads to Floreana Lava Lodge that rests above the Galapagos' most stunning and hidden bay. The lodge operates under the management of Claudio Cruz who comes from the original Island inhabitants. Our stay with Claudio brings us luck because he shows us his island history expertise while we meet his relatives who reveal how people live on Floreana. 

The way I see it we should get comfortable first before heading to Black Beach for snorkeling which we can reach by foot or paddleboard or kayak. Our first activity in the water will lead us to a nearby village restaurant where we will have lunch. The restaurant operates within a community tourism project which Tropic helped create and continues to support since 2012. 

Our group will begin paddling through the untouched bay waters by kayak or SUP to reach La Loberia where sea lions raise their young. The location provides visitors with the opportunity to experience additional snorkeling and swimming adventures in its peaceful clear waters which contain sea turtles and sea lions and beautiful rays and numerous tropical fish. 

Our journey will end at the lodge which requires a 30 minute walk or a kayak ride or SUP paddle to reach. We will watch the spectacular sunset and then head to the village for dinner where we will celebrate another incredible day in the Galapagos.

Exploring the Floreana Highlands

After breakfast, we leave to explore the Floreana highlands on our open-air bus (chiva) – an unbeatable, historic, and comfortable way to see the island.

The naturalist guide will explain the vibrant past of Floreana's original settlers during our journey. These settlers included the Wittmers who remain on the island today and the 'Baroness' and the pirates who used to sail through this area. They will also tell us about the “Enigma of Floreana,” involving the mysterious deaths of several of the Island´s inhabitants.The enigma presents a 1930s mystery which scientists have failed to solve since that time period and the movie "The Galapagos Affair" shows the mystery on screen.

The highland road leads us to Asilo de la Paz (Peace Haven) where our hiking trail initiates. We start our tour by visiting the historical site before exploring the pirate caves and the freshwater spring which supplies water to the complete island while our guide tells us about the history of the place. The giant tortoises will appear to us when we walk across the hillside because they move through both the plant life and the footpath. We leave Asilo de Paz to walk through a farming area where residents cultivate food for their personal needs. The islanders managed to stay alive in this distant location while learning about their surroundings which they now use to protect their traditional farming expertise.

On our way back to the coast, we will make a stop at Claudio’s farm, La Primavera, where we will watch the extraordinary behavior of the frigate birds who ‘dance’ as they wash their salty wings in the fresh water lake on the farm.The male birds will show their red chest pouches to attract females if we get lucky. The tour group will learn about the origin of the fruits and vegetables which provide the lodge's dining options. The journey from La Primavera farm proceeds by chiva to Las Palmas where Dr. Ritter became the first permanent resident of the island and where he now rests in peace. The German doctor arrived in 1926 with the conviction that exercise combined with vegetarian food would enable him to survive until age 150. He failed to reach that age but his narrative stands as one of the numerous unusual occurrences which create the fascinating tale of the island. The path to our lodge will present us with stunning views of the Floreana coastline.

Back at Lava Lodge we will prepare a very special barbecue lunch, featuring delicious Cruz family recipes!

We have free time during the afternoon after lunch. Practice your kayak or SUP skills, go snorkeling in La Loberia or simply relax and take in the beautiful Galapagos views from the Lava Lodge.

Galapagos in Miniature. Transfer from Floreana to Isabela

Our group boards the speed boat during the early morning to reach Isabela Island for hotel check-in.

The first stop on our Isabela expedition leads us to the giant tortoise-breeding center where we will observe flamingos feeding in a nearby lake. The Center staff will demonstrate the breeding techniques for giant tortoises before showing visitors how the animals return to their natural habitats. The Spanish name for these creatures which means saddle created the current name of the Islands. The breeding center serves as a vital conservation resource because the islands' giant tortoise population receives protection and recovery support through this facility.

Our tour will proceed to the Tintoreras during the afternoon which consist of several small islands located close to Puerto Villamil village. The Tintoreras serve as a tiny version of the Galapagos because they host nearly all the famous animals from the archipelago including white tipped sharks and sea lions and turtles and rays and penguins and pelicans and blue footed boobies. The bay provides an opportunity for you to snorkel while penguins and sea lions sometimes join swimmers in the water for playful interactions.

Hiking day!

The Galapagos Islands originated from volcanic eruptions which you can observe directly during our exploration of Isabela Island since it stands as the newest and most volcanically active island in the archipelago.

Our full day schedule allows us to explore Isabela highlands beginning with a climb to Sierra Negra volcano crater before we continue to Volcan Chico rim.

The walk starts with fog and rain which sometimes stays around the volcano to create a mysterious atmosphere. The light rain will not stop us from spotting Galapagos Hawks and finches and flycatchers and Short Eared Owls during our journey. We will find our prize when we reach the rim of Sierra Negra crater which holds the position of second largest crater in the world after Ngorongoro in Tanzania. The crater stretches out so widely that pictures fail to capture its true scale yet you should bring binoculars and a camera to try to capture what you can see. Later, as we head towards Volcan Chico, we may get the feeling we are walking on Mars due to the alien landscape.

The empty land hides a secret world because tiny lizards run between rocky crevices. The crater rim provides visitors with stunning views which include lava tubes and fumaroles. The extreme environment of Volcan Chico will lead us to rest under the shade of a beautiful jaboncillo tree while we eat our packed lunch and watch the breathtaking views of the central and northern regions of the Island. From this vantage point we will observe Fernandina Island together with Pinzon Island and Santa Cruz Island. We then head back down to complete our day of hiking (16 kilometers / 9,94 miles in total) and relax on the beaches of Puerto Villamil.

Departure day

we will board a fast boat early in the morning to return to Santa Cruz Island. From there, we'll travel by vehicle to Baltra Island to catch our connecting flight or begin our trip back home.