San Cristobal & Española Island 360 Trip

The expedition starts when travelers land at San Cristobal Airport and receive their welcome from the naturalist guide who meets them after they complete their National Park registration. Our journey takes us to the highlands where we explore Junco Lake which sits inside an extinct volcano and hosts bathing frigate birds and Bahama ducks before we start our Galapagos lunch.

The group walks for one hour to reach the Galapaguera Breeding Center where they will watch giant tortoises in their natural environment while studying their eggs and discovering facts about these massive creatures which reach weights of 200kg and have lifespans of 150 years. Our day continues with a visit to Puerto Chino which offers a beautiful beach for relaxation and sunbathing before we head to our hotel for dinner and rest.

Tip: Book your flights for early morning departure because it allows you to start your first day of arrival early.

Overnight: San Cristobal Island

The Galapagos Islands present Española as their most valuable treasure which stands as the leading destination for snorkeling and scuba diving activities. Our journey starts at Gardner Bay which presents perfect conditions for swimming with sea lions and shark watching and fish spotting of more than fifty species. The Galapagos National Park protects hammerhead sharks which snorkelers can observe although bird watchers can see the Galapagos Hawk together with multiple finch species. The group receives lunch service on board according to their planned daily activities.

The next place to visit is Punta Suarez which contains a 2 to 2.5 hour rocky trail that leads to views of blue-footed boobies and red-footed boobies and hawks and finches and Galapagos doves and from May to December the albatross colony. Visitors can observe the albatross colony which exists from May to December during their time at Punta Suarez. The trail leads to a breathtaking blowhole which propels water up to 20 meters (65 feet) into the air like a Pacific geyser.

Overnight: San Cristobal Island

Our journey begins at dawn when we meet our bilingual guide at Baquerizo Moreno Dock who leads us to the zodiac for a two-hour and fifteen-minute scenic trip to the Galapagos Hopper Catamaran.

The adventure starts when we reach Golden Sand Beach (Playa Arena Dorada) through a water landing. Punta Pitt stands as a volcanic site which has undergone erosion yet remains the only place in the Galapagos where all three booby species blue-footed and red-footed and Nazca boobies appear together. The terrain here is rocky, so be ready for a two-hour hike with comfortable footwear to fully enjoy this extraordinary landscape.

We will explore the area by foot before heading to Pitt Islet for snorkeling which will show us many tropical fish and possibly sharks. The Galapagos Hopper Catamaran presents guests with a welcome snack before they receive their three-course lunch service. The establishment serves soft drinks and coffee and tea and herbal infusions to provide continuous refreshment and energy for its visitors.

Our Galapagos exploration starts at dawn from Baquerizo Moreno Dock where a bilingual guide helps us board the zodiac which takes us to the Galapagos Hopper catamaran. The west side of San Cristobal Island will reveal its natural wonders to us through sightings of frigatebirds and marine iguanas and possibly manta rays and dolphins as we continue our journey.

Our initial snorkeling location takes us to Kicker Rock which locals call the Sleeping Lion because it resembles a sleeping lion in shape. The cliffs serve as nesting grounds for blue-footed boobies and other seabirds while the ocean near them holds sea lions and reef fish and rays and hammerhead sharks and sea turtles and many other creatures. The Galapagos Hopper will serve us a three-course meal during lunch which includes soft drinks and coffee and tea and herbal infusions.

The next destination will take us to a beach where visitors can choose between birdwatching at the shore or observing sea lions and mangrove forests or simply resting under the sun. A refreshing dip in the turquoise waters is the perfect way to end the visit before we return to the catamaran and sail back to Baquerizo Moreno Dock in the afternoon.

Our daily exploration of the Galapagos Islands has reached its conclusion which brings a sense of sadness to our hearts. Our guide will help you arrange your flight back home or plan your next Galapagos adventure through an expedition cruise experience.