Galapagos Island Hopping

Santa Cruz Island

Is the geographic and tourist center of the Galapagos. The town of Puerto Ayora on the island’s southern shore is the starting point for island-hopping trips, and with its charming hotels, restaurants and bars, it is a good place to stay. It is also home to the world-famous Charles Darwin Station. Visitors to the island will find white sandy beaches, six vegetation zones, twin craters, a lava tunnel, free-ranging giant tortoises and much more.

In the morning, jump aboard and head for the harbor for today’s day trip.
The small island of North Seymour is one of the most diverse islands in the Galapagos archipelago. It is only about two square kilometers in size and, above all, is known for of the intensive courtship rituals of the magnificent frigatebirds taking place here during mating season. The island is home to large colonies of land iguanas, marine iguanas and sea lions. The characteristic bush landscape features diverse species of animals amongst the aromatic endemic balsa trees.
After two hours well spent exploring the island, you return to the boat. Travel to the north coast of Santa Cruz Island, where you will visit Las Bachas Beach - one of the most important nesting sites for the Galapagos Island’s sea turtle population.
A hidden lagoon behind the bay reveals a treasure trove of animal sightings - sunbathing iguanas, curious shorebirds, and Darwin finches, mockingbirds and seagulls frolic here. Native plant life is also interesting in this area. Red and black mangroves and salt bushes line the edges of the pond.
In this heavenly place you will also find the remains of barges that sank long ago when the US Navy operated a base on the island of Baltra during the Second World War. Local people changed the word Barges to “Bachas”. Back in Puerto Ayora you have enough time to explore the little town on your own.

Bartolome offers one of the most emblematic sceneries of the Galapagos Islands. A 600 meter pathway complete with stairs and a boardwalk will take you to the highest point of the island where you will be able to learn first hand about the volcanic origins of the Galapagos Islands.
After the walk, a dingy ride along the coastline will give you the opportunity to see the Galapagos penguins. This curious bird nest amongst the fissured lava flows and ventures into the crystal clear waters of Bartolome to fish. After lunch and a short ride aboard the yacht, you will land in Sullivan Bay.
Although this beautiful beach deserves its place in the  highlights list, the day will surprise you with another highlight: the special pahoehoe lava flows. Almost 100 years ago, lava flowed across the island and left behind various forms of soil: braided and stringy lava fields alternate with sharp-edged jagged formations. Feel the warm stones of the black, unreal lava landscape under your hands and move back to the time of origin, when volcanoes raged here, ultimately creating a paradise.

Tortuga Bay Galapagos PRO recommendation: This trip should not be missed in your Galapagos experience. Groups of 5 or more require the accompaniment of a nature guide when visiting the National Park.
Mockingbird songs fill the air and scurrying lava lizards cross the path to the sandy beach. On the shore, marine iguanas sun themselves along the peninsula of black lava. Blue-footed boobies rule the shoreline. At the end of the beach you will find a quiet bay where you can swim and even borrow a kayak to get closer to the big stingrays and sea turtles.

Opening  ours Tortuga Bay: 6 am - 5 pm daily Please note: You must  egister your visit with the park ranger at the entrance. It is  not allowed to spend the night on the beach.
Please don’t forget to sign out at the end of your visit.

A Bike Through Puerto Villamil Galapagos PRO recommendation: This trip should not be missed in your Galapagos experience. You can go on your own or with a nature guide. Groups of 5 or more require the ccompaniment of a nature guide when visiting the National Park. We recommend an interesting, easy bike ride which brings you to three visitor points on Galapagos largest island, Isabela.
We suggest beginning with El Muro de las Lágrimas, the Wall if Tears. The wall is about 150 meters long and was built under cruel conditions by convicts of the infamous penal colony “Porvenir” in the 40s and 50s. First named the Wall of Tears by local residents, who state that the wall often emits an eerie, crying sound and the area is said to have a “heavy energy”. On the way there, you will stop at the enchanting bays where giant sea lizards lie in the sun and sea lions splash about.
Along the way you will pass by tortoises. Once you reach the Wall of Tears, you can walk up to the lookout point. From here you have a fantastic view of the Sierra Negra volcano and the beaches of the island.
Afterward, ride to the Flamingo Lagoon just beyond the tortoise breeding center. The small lagoon offers the best  opportunity to see flamingos up close. Enjoy the unique atmosphere and relax for a few minutes on the quiet saltwater lake, watching the chattering flamingos foraging for food.
Los Humedales Finally, ride to the wetlands of the island, the Humedales. The lush vegetation of this fragile habitat hides many small lagoons. These are surrounded by mangroves and provide shelter, food and drinking water for many species of birds. One of the Day 5: Galapagos Tour: Explore Isabela on bike larger lagoons is also home to the Galapagos flamingo whose pink plumage is reflected in the calm waters. On their stilt-like legs, these graceful birds are well worth bringing your camera for.

Las Tintoreras Island. The small fishing village of Puerto Villamil invites you to join a boat tour destined for Las Tintoreras, a small islet in the southeast of Isabela. On the way, keep an eye out for sea lions and penguins who like to play in the water. Once on the island, wander through the bizarre lava formations populated by large Iguana colonies. The nimble dragons scurry back and forth, catching flies or enjoying the warmth of the dark lava rocks. On the sandy beach, the sea lions loll in the sun or laze in the shade of the mangroves. Even white tip reef sharks are not uncommon to find in the calm waters of the bay.