Isabela and Santa Cruz

The afternoon calls for a visit to Sucre’s Cave which lies 14 kilometers away from Puerto Villamil within the rich Isabela highlands. The trail takes you through native plants until you reach Mango Viewpoint which provides breathtaking views of the southern coastline and agricultural fields. The site provides visitors with the opportunity to observe various finch species. You should end your day by having dinner at Scalesia Lodge where you will also spend the night.

Today's journey will lead you to two outstanding locations in Isabela which include Sierra Negra and Volcán Chico. The active volcano Sierra Negra from the archipelago last showed activity in 2005 while maintaining its massive 10-kilometer-wide crater which ranks among the biggest craters worldwide. Volcán Chico stands at the northern edge of Sierra Negra where visitors can follow a trail to see the enormous crater and the distinct patterns of old and new lava formations. The group will eat their packed lunch on the rim before they resume their adventure. The trail requires about six hours to complete while showing all volcanic features of the island. After your visit return to Scalesia Lodge for dinner and spend the night there.

The journey to Tintoreras starts this morning when you board a boat to reach the group of small islands which exist near Puerto Villamil. The tour takes visitors through stunning volcanic rock formations and peaceful sandy shores and protected mangrove areas. The trail will lead you to see various animals which include sunbathing marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies and pelicans and herons and Galapagos penguins and playful sea lions and sea turtles and white-tipped reef sharks which gave Tintoreras its name. Return to Scalesia Lodge for lunch.The visitors can spend their afternoon resting at the Puerto Villamil beach or choose to participate in extra activities which include biking and surfing and kayaking for an additional fee. Overnight at Scalesia Lodge.

Take a short flight from Isabela Island to Baltra Island, where hotel naturalist guides will welcome you and escort you directly to the yacht.North Seymour originated from ancient seabed movements which created a flat terrain with cliffs that reach only a few meters in height where swallow-tailed gulls build their nests. The island contains a wide range of wildlife that includes sea lions and marine iguanas which you might see while blue-footed boobies perform their courtship rituals next to the hiking trails. The walking tour leads through uneven rocky surfaces which end with a dry beach exit. The Sea Lion yacht operates lunch service for its guests. The yacht moves to Itabaca Channel where guests board a shuttle that takes them across Santa Cruz Island (42 km) to reach Finch Bay Hotel on its south coast. Overnight at Finch Bay Hotel.

After breakfast the guests leave Academy Bay to explore the green highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The short drive through farming land leads us to El Manzanillo which serves as a natural path for tortoise migration when they move to higher damp zones during garúa season from June to September and when they travel to warmer lower areas during the wet season. Tortoises spend their time eating and resting in the muddy banks and the red-colored pond which gets its color from the pondweeds floating on the surface. The visitors enjoy their lunch while taking in the breathtaking landscape of Santa Cruz Island from the cool mountainous region. In the afternoon our tour group will stop at a small organic farm which produces coffee and sugar cane and cocoa for product tasting and spirit production demonstrations. You can select between resting at the hotel pool or beach or joining the planned activities. Overnight at Finch Bay Hotel.

Santa Fe Island features a hidden cove which stands as one of the most stunning and protected areas in the Galapagos. A cluster of small islands forms a natural barrier around the turquoise lagoon which provides safe shelter for boats. A wet landing on the white sandy beach introduces guests to a sea lion harem, where bulls compete for dominance while smaller males employ clever mating tactics.The Galápagos hawks position themselves on saltbushes which provides them with an excellent vantage point to observe their environment. The desert landscape shows off its prickly pear cacti while giant land iguanas move through the area like prehistoric creatures their beige to chocolate brown bodies sport spiky backs. Visitors may also encounter native rice rats and harmless Galápagos snakes.The peaceful bay waters provide excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities to observe vibrant underwater creatures following the hike. The yacht Sea Lion serves lunch to guests before starting its journey back to Puerto Ayora. Overnight at Finch Bay Hotel.

The quiet beauty of Divine Bay exists near Academy Bay and Puerto Ayora. The cove which belongs to the island's first settlers stands protected by volcanic reefs and mangrove forests and ancient lava formations which form an ideal habitat for native wildlife. The hotel operates boat tours for guests who want to explore the cove and it also provides tandem sit-on-top kayaks which guests can access from the beachfront. The morning activities start with snorkeling at a peaceful colorful spot next to a wooden pier before participants disembark to walk half a kilometer toward Playa de los Perros where they can see marine iguanas and intertidal creatures. The natural terrace provides an ideal location to observe young white-tipped reef sharks as they move through the lava crevices. The afternoon begins with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and giant tortoise breeding program before guests return to Finch Bay Hotel for their stay. Overnight at Finch Bay Hotel.

After finishing breakfast at Finch Bay Hotel we started our trip back to Baltra. The route includes a stop at Twin Craters which consist of two huge geological formations that formed when volcanic earth slowly collapsed. The area contains special Scalesia trees together with ferns mosses and orchids which create an extraordinary natural environment. From here, we continue by land to Baltra Airport to catch your flight back to the mainland.