Galapagos Island Hopping Santa Cruz & San Cristobal

This day you arrive at San Cristóbal airport. There you will be welcomed and have a transfer to the selected hotel to leave your luggage. Upon arrival, we will visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the history and origin of the Galapagos Islands. We will go to Cerro Tijeretas, which is a natural viewpoint with a panoramic view of the island. It is called like that because of the frigates present in this place that have a tail ending in form of a pair of scissors.

The Cerro Tijeretas is considered one of the most important points to visit on the island. It was one of the first places where the English biologist Charles Robert Darwin landed. This is why there is a statue in his honor. We will continue the path to Punta Carola to observe the wonderful fauna and flora of the island. We will finish the day with a snorkeling activity at Playa Mann. The transfer takes you back to the selected hotel located on San Cristóbal Island.

Today a day trip is planned to visit Kicker Rock, which is often called "The paradise for snorkeling". The adventure begins early in the morning, when we meet the bilingual guide before boarding a Galapagos cruise catamaran. We head to the west side of San Cristobal Island, where you can watch frigate birds and the unique marine iguana. Maybe, if you are lucky, you will also spot manta rays and dolphins.
The first stop is at Puerto Grande or Manglesito or Cerro Brujo (depending on the day of the week). These places are ideal to practice snorkeling as well to relax on the beach. On the uninhabited island, you have your first approach to the marine wildlife of Galapagos.

After having a delicious lunch, the catamaran starts its navigation to Kicker Rock. This is a tuff cone eroded into twin peaks. Here, guests can either go snorkeling or scuba diving (under request in advance). There is vast wildlife living in its surroundings and while snorkeling, you will be able to see some species of marine life, such as a hammerhead shark, a sea lion or a sea turtle.

After staying approximately two hours, the catamaran takes us back to San Cristobal.

After breakfast, we'll cross to Santa Cruz Island by speed boat (2 hours ride). We arrive to Puerto Ayora. We will stop at the highlands of Santa Cruz to visit a giant tortoise's private reserve. Here it is possible to observe them in their natural habitat.

After lunch we will visit the famous Charles Darwin Station that has an interpretation center of natural history of Galapagos. The Charles Darwin station is an international non-profit research organization that aims to protect the Galapagos Islands. This is why this place is a mandatory stop to learn about the history and origin of the Galapagos Islands. A transfer takes you back to Casa Natura Galapagos Lodge or similar.

After breakfast at the Casa Natura Galapagos hotel, we´ll take the boat for a visit to Santa Cruz Island´s bay. The tour takes around 3 hours and a half. Starting from the main pier of Puerto Ayora, which is a very special place to see a variety of fish with different colors.

We´ll also visit Punta Estrada, Sharks´Channel, Playa de los Perros, and Grietas. During the visit we maybe find wildlife species like white tip Sharks, sea tortoises, marine iguanas, crabs, pelicans, and some other marine birds. At the end of the excursion we´ll return to the pier. We will have the rest of the afternoon free. Overnight at Casa Natura Galapagos Lodge or similar.

After breakfast at the Casa Natura Galapagos Lodge, we depart on a day trip. A transfer brings us to the pier to take the boat for a shared daily Galapagos tour to North Seymour, Plazas Island, Bartolome or Santa Fe islands (according availability). In the afternoon transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the lodge in Santa Cruz Island.

Today you have a transfer to the airport of Baltra to take the flight back.