Ecuador

Luxury Galapagos Multi-sport

Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Snorkeling & Horseback Riding

(9 Days)

Slide Show

For those looking for a more luxurious experience in the Galapagos Islands, try this premium multi-sport adventure. We stay in the best available hotels in each port town and have amazing opportunities to get up close to a variety of marine wildlife. Kayak in turquoise waters with marine turtles, bathe on white sand beaches with sea lions, trek through active volcanoes with incredible bird life, bike in the tortoise highlands, and snorkel in the world-class marine reserve. This is the ultimate Galapagos wildlife adventure tour with that extra level of comfort!

Trip Highlights

• Sea kayak and swim with sea lions and marine turtles
• Snorkel with Galápagos sharks, rays, and tropical fish
• Hike lava rock trails to meet blue-footed boobies, finches, and other famed birds • Mountain bike in the highlands with the giant Santa Cruz tortoise
• Horseback ride to the world’s second largest volcano caldera

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival into Quito

Upon arrival into Quito a BikeHike Adventures representative will be awaiting and will transfer you to a comfortable hotel in town. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this UNESCO heritage city. Overnight at Hotel Alameda Mercure.

Day 2: Galapagos Islands - Frigate Hill (Hiking)

In the morning, we pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal Island. Once in the Galápagos, we welcome you with lunch and a pre-trip briefing at a local restaurant. After lunch, our adventure begins with a hike to the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, where we learn about the volcanic formation of the Galápagos archipelago and the evolution of life on the islands. We continue our hike towards Frigate Hill along trails of lava rock featuring splendid views of the coastline and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, while we explore dry forest and observe cacti, acacia, palo santo, Galápagos cotton, and other endemic vegetation. This is also a good time to enjoy our first encounters with local wildlife, since Frigate Hill is often visited by the Chattam lava lizard, and bird species such as the magnificent and great frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, gulls, herons, Darwin finches, warblers, and mockingbirds. On our way back we can stop for a refreshing swim at Carola Beach or Mann Beach. In the evening, we explore town and dine at a waterfront restaurant. Accommodations in a first-class hotel on San Cristobal Island. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Galapagos Islands - San Cristobal Highlands - Isla Lobos (Hiking, Sea Kayaking, Snorkeling)

We begin the day with a drive up to El Junco Lagoon, a freshwater lake located in a collapsed caldera at 2,300 feet (700 meters) of altitude on the San Cristobal Island highlands. The lake and its surroundings comprise a beautiful Miconia forest landscape, where we will find frigate birds washing off salt from their wings, Darwin’s finches, and mocking birds. We continue on to La Galapaguera in Cerro Colorado, a new facility operated by the National Park to breed and protect the subspecies of giant turtles endemic to San Cristobal (Geochelone chathamensis). On the return leg of our hike, we visit El Cafetal, a historic hacienda that has sown a special class of coffee bean named Bourbon since 1875. In the early afternoon, we slip into our ocean kayaks and paddle along the coast, going north exploring bays and coves full of local wildlife – including Darwin Bay, the site of the first landing of the HMS Beagle. The route is home to colonies of sea lions, marine turtles, blue-footed boobies, and frigate birds. Once we reach Isla Lobos, we disembark and prepare for a fantastic snorkelling experience, during which we are nearly guaranteed to enjoy one of the best sea lion encounters in the entire archipelago. In the late afternoon, we return to our hotel to enjoy another dinner together and a relaxing evening at our waterfront hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Galapagos Islands - Leon Dormido, Punta Pitt & Cerro Brujo (Sea Kayaking and Snorkel)

We begin with a morning boat ride along the northern coast of San Cristobal Island to Puerto Grande, a secluded beach area where we begin our second sea kayaking expedition. We paddle along the coastal reef, exploring beaches and coves in search for wildlife, and arrive at Cerro Brujo, where we enjoy excellent snorkeling around its spectacular white sand beaches. We continue on to Punta Pitt, a volcanic formation on the northeastern tip of San Cristobal Island. This is a nesting site for all three types of boobies, and one of the few sites where you can see the red-footed booby. It is also another excellent snorkeling site, with crystal-clear waters full of tropical fish, turtles, and rays. On our way back, we reach Leon Dormido, the jagged remains of an old tuff cone whose flanks are home to thousands of sea birds. At Leon Dormido, we enjoy excellent snorkeling; for certified divers, this is also one of the best dives in the islands. There is a good chance of seeing Galápagos sharks, eagle and golden rays, as well as dozens of species of tropical fish, clams, starfish, and marine invertebrates. If we are lucky, we may spot hammerhead and white-tipped sharks as well. From here, we return to port where we enjoy dinner and our last evening on San Cristobal Island. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Galapagos Islands - Isabela (Bay and Beach Exploring)

After breakfast, we take a small, private plane from San Cristobal to Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago, formed by 5 shield volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Sierra Negra, and Wolf. All of these volcanoes (except for one) remain active, making this island one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. Here, we visit the Galápagos Tortoise Rearing Center, to learn about tortoise development and conservation. We explore the bay for wildlife and follow a trail along the coastline to observe dramatic lava formations, find Isabela marine iguanas socializing with one another, and meet a large colony of sea lions. We pass through mangroves and salty lagoons that are home to the mangrove finch, endemic to Isabela. We can also spot American oyster catchers, herons, flamingos, and many other shore birds. In the afternoon, we relax on exotic white sand beaches. The evening is spent in the tranquil port town of Puerto Villamil. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Galapagos Islands - Isabela Island (Horseback Riding and Hiking)

From Puerto Villamil, we hike up into the highlands of Isabela Island, enjoying the sights of land birds such as finches, warblers, flycatchers, and hawks, until we arrive at the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano. Sierra Negra is an active volcano which last erupted in October 2005, and is also the second largest caldera in the world. We meet our horses on the rim of the crater, and ride to a northern lookout point from which we have a fantastic view of the 6x5 mile-wide (9x8 kilometer) lava-filled caldera, the other Isabela volcanoes, and the Perry Isthmus beyond. From here, we hike through more recent lava flows and observe lava formations such as parasitic cones while on our way to Chico Volcano, whose puffing fumaroles and striking lava formations are examples of the dramatic geological events that have forged the Galápagos Islands over millennia. In the late afternoon, we return to Puerto Villamil and enjoy a relaxing evening on Isabela Island. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Santa Cruz Highlands (Mountain Biking)

After an early breakfast, we take a speed boat from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island. Once we arrive, we head to El Chato Reserve in the upper part of Santa Cruz Island – the natural habitat of the Santa Cruz tortoise, the largest in the Galápagos. These slow-moving creatures can live for more than 200 years, during which time they may grow as large as 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length and weigh more than 660 pounds (300 kilos). While we seek out these lumbering giants, we’ll also come across pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigate birds bathing in freshwater lakes. We enjoy a picnic lunch in the highlands, where we also explore lava caves featuring incredible volcanic tunnel formations and visit the Miconia forest that provides an excellent nesting habitat for the dark-rumped petrel. On a clear day, we have an excellent view of Media Luna, an old collapsed crater on top of Santa Cruz Island. In the afternoon, we drive to Cerro Mesa, where we will begin a 12-mile (20 kilometer) bike ride, mostly downhill on dirt roads, through highland farmlands and Bellavista village until we reach Puerto Ayora. Once we arrive in Puerto Ayora, we prepare for our farewell dinner. After a hearty meal, we are free to explore the nightlife in the Galapagos’ most populous town, before relaxing at our first-class hotel during our last evening on the “Enchanted Islands.” (B, L, D)

Day 8: Charles Darwin Research Station - Quito

In the morning, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island to learn about conservation and management projects in the archipelago. The research station is also home to Lonesome George, the very last giant tortoise of his species. Afterwards, we transfer by bus to Baltra Island to board our flight back to the continent. We'll be greeted at the Quito airport and transferred in to Hotel Mercure for our last overnight in Ecuador. (B)

Day 9: Departure

Three hours prior to departure, you'll be transferred to the international airport for your flight back home.

**PLEASE NOTE** This itinerary is subject to change without notice due to seasonal changes, last-minute weather conditions, and adjustments of Galápagos National Park policy.

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