6 Days Island Hopping 2 Islands
6 Days Island Hopping 2 Islands
Price
Overview
Neighbouring Colombia and Peru, Ecuador is a relatively small country that nevertheless offers an enticing array of scenic landscapes, diverse wildlife species and interesting cities. Dense Amazon rainforest, towering Andean mountain peaks, palm-fringed Pacific Coast beaches and fascinating historical sites are all part and parcel of Ecuador’s prolific charms. The former Inca town of Cuenca is the nation’s third-largest city and a Unesco World Heritage Site. This alluring city, with its cobbled streets, beautiful architecture and photogenic plazas, boasts a huge variety of museums and art galleries. The vibrant capital city of Quito is also worth a visit. Arguably the most dazzling jewel in Ecuador’s crown is the Galapagos Archipelago in the Pacific, about 1000 kilometres west of the mainland. Their magnificent, pristine landscapes and prolific wildlife, which inspired Charles Darwin, have made this cluster of islands a world-famous travel destination.
Group Price
- The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.
- All prices are based on shared accommodation. Please inquire for a 1 guest private room accommodation quote
- Prices listed are not final. Please inquire for your final price quote.
| Number of People | FIRST CLASS (4 Star) | MID-RANGE CLASS (3 Star) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 pax | US $4,000 | US $3,600 |
| 3-5 pax | US $3,900 | US $3,500 |
| 6-9 pax | US $3,800 | US $3,400 |
| 10-16 pax | US $3,700 | US $3,300 |
Included/Excluded
- Private transportation
- Private guide
- Accommodation selected hotels
- Wetsuit & snorkeling gear
- Sailing tour (shared basis)
- Inter islands speed boats
- International & local flights
- Migratory control card
- Galapagos National Park
- Medical/travel insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Tips
Day 1: Puerto Ayora
Welcome to the Galapagos! Upon your arrival in Baltra, our guide will meet you and lead the journey. Our first stop is the intriguing Twins Craters, two pit craters formed by the collapse of empty magma chambers. Nestled amidst the lush vegetation of the high-elevation humid zone, these craters provide a stunning view of the Scalesia forest and its avian inhabitants.
Next, we venture into the Highlands and the Lava Tunnels of Santa Cruz. Here, you’ll have the chance to see the renowned giant tortoises in their natural habitat. These prehistoric-looking creatures often extend their necks for a snack or a photo opportunity. The dense forest, home to orchids, daisies, and bromeliads, also houses several endemic land birds, including Darwin’s finches, Galapagos Hawks, and short-eared owls. Amidst this natural splendor, enjoy a delicious lunch surrounded by nature.
After lunch, we’ll transfer to Puerto Ayora and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. At the Tortoise Breeding Center, you’ll get an up-close look at various tortoises native to the Galapagos Islands. This research station serves a critical mission: to use scientific research and other measures to ensure biodiversity conservation and the environment within the Galapagos Archipelago.
Today’s Activity: Walking.
Day 2: Puerto Ayora
SAILING TOUR
Sailing tours are subject to availability, including Bartolome, Plazas, Seymour Norte, or Santa Fe.
Bartolome / Sullivan
At around 6:00 am, we will head to the Itabaca Channel to embark on our day tour yacht, setting sail for Bartolome Island’s pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
After two hours, we reach Bartolome, one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago, home to the iconic Pinnacle Rock. On the island, you can enjoy a brief, easy walk up a wooden path for stunning views of two picturesque bays, intriguing lava formations, and volcanic cones. Snorkel with adorable penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, white tip reefs, tropical fish, and other unique marine life. We’ll also visit Sullivan Bay to marvel at its incredible lava formations and colors.
We will return to Puerto Ayora around 5 pm, where you will be escorted to your hotel.
North Seymour Norte / Bachas Beach
Around 7:00 am, we will depart by boat for North Seymour, a small island teeming with natural wonders. Here, you will find the largest population of magnificent Frigate birds, numerous blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls.
Snorkeling allows you to encounter green sea turtles, the renowned Galapagos shark, playful sea lions, and other marine species.
Plazas Island / Carrion Point
Leaving at approximately 7:00 am, you will be collected from your hotel and taken to the boat for a journey to the Plazas Islands.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the largest colonies of sea lions and numerous land iguanas. As you walk along the path to the other side of the island, you will discover marine iguanas and various bird species, including boobies, blue-footed and masked boobies, swallow-tailed gulls nesting puffins,, and tropical birds. Frigate birds and pelicans are also known to soar above the ravines.
Santa Fe Island
This island boasts a stunning turquoise bay with two white sand beaches inhabited by sea lions. The rocky path leads to an hour-and-a-half hike, where you can observe different species.
While snorkeling, you may encounter green sea turtles. Lunch will be served onboard, and you will be transported back to your hotel.
Activities: Sailing, Walking, Snorkeling
Please note that the itinerary may change due to National Park regulations or circumstances beyond our control.
Day 3: Puerto Villamil
Begin your day with an early morning transfer to Puerto Ayora’s harbor, where you’ll board a speedboat bound for Puerto Villamil Pier. This scenic voyage across the azure waters will last approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The adventure starts with visiting Isabela’s Tortoise Breeding Center, just 1 mile from Puerto Villamil. This sanctuary is home to 330 turtles – both young and mature – originating from southern Isabela. These majestic creatures, threatened in recent decades by human poaching and nest disturbance from wild donkeys, now find refuge here under the vigilant care of Galapagos National Park staff. You’ll have the chance to observe and learn about these remarkable animals in their protected surroundings.
Our journey continues to one of Puerto Villamil’s Flamingo Ponds, where you’ll be mesmerized by the sight of these elegant birds. Their long legs, vivid pink colors, and graceful movements create a captivating spectacle as they skillfully sift through the mud for food with their unique beaks. The archipelago is believed to be home to around 500 flamingos.
Following this fascinating encounter, we’ll return to the Puerto Villamil Hotel.
In the afternoon, we’ll explore the Wall of Tears. This route, spanning approximately 5 miles, offers a 2-3 hour trek or bicycle ride. Along the way, you’ll encounter giant turtles in their natural habitat and enjoy several intriguing stopovers. One such place is El Estero, the only location where all four types of Galapagos mangroves can be seen. A coral beach also lies on this route, a favored mating and nesting spot for iguanas.
Another highlight is the Cerro Orchilla lookout point. A climb up a flight of stairs rewards you with a stunning island panorama. Our final destination is the historic Wall of Tears, a monument built from large, heavy rocks steeped in poignant history.
Activities: Hiking & Biking.
Day 4: Puerto Villamil
Today, gear up for an extraordinary journey into the heart of Sierra Negra, a sanctuary teeming with exotic avian life and glorious flora. A swift 30-minute drive from your hotel will lead you to the entrance of the Galapagos National Park – your stepping stone into an unforgettable hiking adventure.
After a rejuvenating 45-minute trek, you’ll reach the second viewpoint, presenting a breathtaking panorama that captures nature’s grandeur. Here stands the imposing Sierra Negra Volcano, renowned for having the world’s second-largest caldera. Soaring to 1,220 meters and sprawling across 10 kilometers in diameter, this geological masterpiece is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The mesmerizing scene inside this colossal hollow, where hardened volcanic lava intertwines with vibrant green vegetation, promises a visual feast.
As you soak in the views, immerse yourself in the intriguing geological narratives and historical anecdotes surrounding this natural wonder. The hike is designed to engage beginners and experienced hikers and encapsulates a 3 to 4-hour tour.
Following the hike, you’ll return to the hotel to refresh and unwind before the afternoon’s activities commence.
In the afternoon, a transfer will whisk you off to the port, where you stand poised to embark on an exhilarating Paddleboard or Kayak tour. An instructor will provide essential guidance and tips before you begin your aquatic adventure. As you glide across the bay, watch for blue-footed boobies, penguins, pelicans, and other bird species perched on the rocks encircling the Tintoreras Islet.
After your birdwatching session, you’ll swim with sea turtles, spot whitefin sharks known as tintoreras, observe playful sea lions, and admire the myriad of vibrant fish that inhabit these waters. This aquatic expedition lasts approximately 2 hours, after which you’ll be transported back to your hotel from the port.
Activities: Hiking, Kayaking, or Paddleboarding.
Day 5: Puerto Ayora
The adventure starts from Puerto Villamil with a captivating 45-minute boat ride, making its first stop in the open sea near Roca Union. Here, you’ll have the chance to spot blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, brown pelicans, penguins, Zayapas, and iguanas, all of which can be observed up close to the boat.
Next, we’ll stop to stroll around these stunning lava formations and spot sea lions lounging on the rocks or frolicking near the lava tunnels. You might also notice cacti that have adapted to thrive amidst these lava formations.
The final and arguably most exciting tour involves snorkeling in open water. Dive into an enchanting underwater world where you can swim alongside white-tipped sharks, manta rays, penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, seahorses, lobsters, sea snakes, and many other tropical species.
The journey concludes with a return to Puerto Villamil.
Activities:Â Sailing, Snorkeling & Hiking.
Please note that the itinerary may change due to National Park regulations or circumstances beyond our control.
Set sail on a magical journey from the enigmatic Isabela Island towards the lively and diverse Santa Cruz.
Submerge yourself in the vibrant core of Santa Cruz, the archipelago’s most populous island. Its distinctive charm is captivating, a harmonious blend of untouched natural splendor and rich local culture. We’ll traverse the glistening azure waters aboard a shared vessel, culminating in our arrival on the island, where a driver will be waiting for us to take us to the hotel and leave our luggage.
Day 6: End of Itinerary
As your journey with us draws to a close, we hope that your time in the Enchanted Islands has been filled with unforgettable experiences and cherished memories. Today, we will facilitate your transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Safe travels, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Galapagos!
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Our TripAdvisor Reviews
Kika C2024-12-16Amazing experience and customer service!!! I highly recommend Dominick with Nature Horizons Tours!! I am a travel advisor who had a bit of a last-minute booking with a family to Peru. I reached out to Dominick immediately, since I knew he’d be fabulous!! He went above and beyond with communication, response, time, organization, and more! He got the very happy clients booked within a few days and I am super grateful for his services!!! he was so kind to start a WhatsApp group chat with me and my clients to answer any and all questions we had! Thank you!!!!Evan L2024-10-29Amazing time at Machu Picchu We had a great time in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco! Great views and excellent guide and transportation. Everything was great!Karen H2024-10-29Excellent experience I have worked with Nature Horizons as a travel advisor and it was an excellent experience. I 100% trust this team to deliver an exceptional trip for my clients. They are quick to respond to questions and the communication while my clients were traveling was outstanding. They had excellent knowledge of the area and were able to provide more local tips and suggestions that I would have been able to provide alone.Highly recommend.Rosie H2024-08-18Epic African Safari to Tanzania My husband and I planned a trip with 2 other couples to go on an African Safari in Tanzania for the Great Migration experience as well as the Serengeti which was epic all by itself. We visited and stayed across Moshi (Mt. Kilimanjaro area), the North & Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Maynara, nKomazi Black Rhino Sanctuary, Tarangire and probably a few other places I can't recall. We stayed at tented temporary camps to luxury camps. We stayed at Weru Weru lodge, Serengeti Heritage lodge, Central Serengeti Luxury camp, Rhino Lodge, Lake Maynara Safari Lodge and finally at Kilimanjaro Luxury camp. These venues each had their own beauty with furnishings, mosquito nets, traditional African tribal entertainment, good food and amazing staff who catered to our every need and comfort. Even in the bush, we still had access to electricity, hot water, bottled water, showers, toilets and yes of course, the internet but you have to be realistic since the bush is the bush with hyenas, big cats and elephants moving around the property. I really loved the Masai warriors who made us feel safe as they escorted back and forth between tents and the main camp. We were so blessed to experience the BIG 5 largely due to the expertise of our guides Praygod and Victor. They were the best and boy did they make the trip. I was grateful for their knowledge of the terrain, their respect for the wildlife, education and tolerating our 1000s of questions. We had 3 couples plus the owner operator Dominick and we rotated across 2 Land Cruisers. I wouldn't have it any other way, I never felt cramped and being able to pop my head up in the open roof was great for photos and viewing the animals with my binoculars. This was a once in a life time trip that I highly recommend to anyone that has grown up watching animal planet and national geographic as a kids. When you see these animals only feet away from you, the kid in you returns and you will definitely cry at the beauty of these animals in their natural habitat. I highly recommend Nature Horizons since they are well connected across the different operators and local partners. They lodging was great and it provided a little bit of raw nature in the bush, feeling like a roughed it a bit (but not really) to the beauty Kilimanjaro luxury camp the last 2 nights to be at the foot of Kilimanjaro, and being able to see her greatness above the clouds. I have been back a month and I can't stop talking about my experience in Tanzania. I was able to experience the beauty of the people of Tanzania, an actual Masai village, shopping at the awesome African Galleria, and getting souvenir's at the cool places our guides felt were respectable locations for tourists. I am not sure when, but I plan to go back to explore more of Tanzania and Africa.Nikole2024-07-17No Words I feel very fortunate to have gone on this safari with Nature Horizons. I went with a group of people and only knew one. Each place that we stayed at was very special in its own way. Dominick is a very kind, intelligent, fun human. He has built all the right relationships to ensure all of his clients are taken care of. We were able to see all of the big five. Our guides felt like family. I’ve never been on a trip that was so magical and was so hard to leave. It has nearly been half a year and our group still talks with each other. We bonded so much that we committed to going on a trip together every 5 years. If you’re thinking about this, DO IT! Do it with Nature Horizons! They will go the extra mile for you to get the experience of a lifetime. They even made sure we had opportunities to connect with the people of Tanzania.Rebecca M2024-06-23Unforgettable vacation We worked with Nature Horizons for our honeymoon to Peru and it far exceeded any expectations we had! It was the most incredible experience and itinerary they created for us and Deivis was always on top of everything and extremely responsive if we had questions. I give this company my highest/strongest recommendation if you are thinking of going to any of the countries they service!Dream224010839132024-06-12Great Travel Team! I am a travel advisor and just sent my clients on their honeymoon with Nature Horizons. They visited Peru and had the most amazing time. The Nature Horizons team was so easy to work with. listened to my requests, and made all the revisions I needed. They took wonderful care of my clients as if they were their own. I can't wait to work with them again!Noe V2024-06-11Full service trip to Perú We had a wonderful time traveling through Perú for two weeks on an itinerary planned by Deivis, through nature horizons.The experience was so much more than we originally expected. Every detail was accounted for. From private drivers to knowledgeable tour guides, there was nothing lacking.I don't know if we'll ever be able to take a trip like this again, but I'm so glad we did at least once. Thank you so much. I'll never forget these amazing days.Jill D2024-04-20Not enough stars to rate this company- THE BEST time ever!!! If there were a million stars to rate this company and my recent trip, it wouldn't be enough. Nature Horizons is amazing. I first met the owner, Dominick at a convention for travel advisors in 2023. I knew immediately that he was a very special person and he had a very obvious love for the tours he had created in the destinations he adored. The story of developing his company is inspiring and his work ethic has continued to impress me during all stages of my Safari planning, from its conception to preparation to hosting us during the Great Migration in Tanzania. His communication is efficient, sincere and organized. He is thorough and thoughtful. He is fun and personable. He is extremely knowledgeable and has vetted resources to execute adventures across many countries. Our Safari was 12 days of awesome-ness. We truly couldn't have asked for a better experience. Each day was well-planned and our guides helped us see so many animals, sites and natural wonders. They knew where to be and when for us to see the most miraculous things. Dominick was such a friendly host, helping us gain perspective and a true taste of Tanzania. He listened to our wishlist, considered our requests and delivered days that we will never forget. Dominick truly cares about each and every guest and also has such respect for some of the most treasured creatures and places on our planet. I can't imagine a better Safari ever happening. But, knowing Dominick, he will make sure the next one and the next and the next are better than the one before it. That's how much he cares.I have to share a couple of our favorite moments were totally unplanned, though. Our Safari vehicle got stuck in the mud as rains started in the Central Serengeti. Dominick stayed calm, assured us that all was well and we sipped champagne as we watched the men try to get us unstuck...comical. Everything happens for a reason and we saw a perfectly complete rainbow soon after our vehicle was moving down the road. It couldn't have been scripted any better! As we continued on the way back to our lodge, we came across a Lioness and her brand-new cub. This is something rarely seen and we were sure Dominick paid the Lioness to appear for us. LOL. These examples are merely a glimpse of memories we made. And, part of the reason these moments were so special was because we were in the moment, which was as Nature Horizons intended. We had not a care in the world and could simply "be" in nature. I can't thank the entire team enough for such a wonderful two weeks.416marlysl2024-04-04Amazing Experience! This trip was, by far, the most amazing trip I have ever taken! Dominick and his driver/guides were fabulous! They definitely found all the animals we wanted to see and many unexpected sites as well. They were so accommodating, stopping whenever we asked even if it was just for a bird or turtle crossing the road. Our guide, Praygod, was able to identify every bird we saw! Their knowledge of the wildlife was phenomenal. We learned so much about the culture, food, and local life from our casual conversations. The accommodations, while not luxury, were very comfortable and the food was very good, especially the soups. When I go back, it will definitely be with Dominick and Nature Horizons Tours!
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