A TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS
At The Ultimate Travel Company, all our holidays are created individually to suit your preferences and the Galapagos by Land itinerary can be used for inspiration or as a starting point for your luxury Ecuador and Galapagos Island holidays. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular experience or wish to include extra stops on your journey, our experts will design an itinerary that is entirely unique to you.
ABOUT THE ITINERARY
Spend a week staying on two of the archipelago’s inhabited islands, Isabela and Santa Cruz. Isabela is the largest and one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos and to get there you will take a scenic flight across the ocean, where you may be lucky enough to sea whales and dolphins below the surface.
Over the week, you will explore active volcanoes, discover giant tortoises in the wild and snorkel with playful sea lions. Along with Isabela, you will also stay on Santa Cruz island, home to the Charles Darwin Research Centre and a great base for discovering other nearby islands like Santa Fé. Naturalist guides will take you on daily excursions to discover the wildlife and geography which make the islands so special, before spending the evening at your comfortable safari style lodge or modern ocean facing hotel.
Whether you suffer from sea-sickness, don’t like the idea of spending a week on a boat or are looking at an alternative way of seeing the Galapagos Islands, the land-based itinerary is a great way to discover the islands.
PS. For those looking for the ultimate experience, why not combine a land-based itinerary with a cruise!
GALAPAGOS, ISABELA ISLAND
Board a morning flight to the enchanted Galapagos Islands.
Note: Flights depart from Quito and Guayaquil on mainland Ecuador and take approximately 2-3 hours in duration. A minimum of one night in either Quito or Guayaquil is needed before flying to the Galapagos.
On arrival at Baltra island, you will check-in for your connecting flight to Isabela Island, then met and driven into the highlands of the island, where you will be glamping for the next three nights. Over the following days, you have a variety of activities included, showcasing the beautiful scenery and wildlife of Isabela. You will have the opportunity to walk along the rim of Sierra Negra Volcano, snorkel with reef sharks and playful sea lions at the Tintoreras islets and discover the historical significance of the island at the ‘Wall of Tears’ – a wall built by prisoners when the island was once a penal colony. Between activities you can explore the small town of Puerto Villamil, take a swim in the sea or relax with a glass of wine at the lodge and enjoy the surrounding nature.
Stay: Three nights at Scalesia Lodge including all meals and private guided activities (boat trips are shared though).
GALAPAGOS, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
In the morning you will fly back to Baltra, where you will board a yacht taking you to North Seymour island. North Seymour is famous for its large colony of Blue-Footed Boobies, as well as sea lions, fur seals and frigate birds. After lunch on board the yacht you will be transferred to your hotel, which is beautifully positioned in its own secluded bay.
Over the following days you will explore some of the attractions on Santa Cruz island, including searching for giant tortoises in the highlands of island and the Charles Darwin Research Centre. One day is spent discovering nearby Santa Fé island, which is home to the archipelago’s top predator, the Galapagos Hawk. Stroll along the beaches and observe large colonies of sea lions, before putting on your wetsuits and flippers for a snorkel. You will have time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora, the largest in the archipelago and an excellent place to pick-up souvenirs and see huge numbers of marine iguanas. You will be able to kayak and snorkel in the natural cove of Playa Mansa, where you might be lucky to see green sea turtles. When back at the hotel you can relax by the refreshing outdoor swimming pool and enjoy some delicious and refreshing food and drinks from the hotel’s chefs.
Stay: Four nights at Finch Bay including half-board and shared activities.
FLY HOME
Today you will either fly back to mainland Ecuador and connect onto your international flight home or continue your itinerary (it’s even possible to join a Galapagos cruise starting from Baltra or Santa Cruz Islands).
PRICE INCLUDES
- Domestic flights to the Galapagos and in the Galapagos
- Full-board at Scalesia Lodge
- Half-board at Finch Bay
- Private activities at Scalesia Lodge (except those involving boat trips)
- Shared activities at Finch Bay
PRICE EXCLUDES
- International flights to Ecuador
- Accommodation in Quito or Guayaquil pre-Galapagos
- Galapagos National Park fees (paid locally – around $130 per person)
PLAN YOUR TRIP
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