If you are interested in visiting the Galapagos islands for a week and doing a few dives but also visiting the overland attractions then a 'Trekking and Diving' package might suit you perfectly. This package requires a minimum of 2 people. There are 2 diving days departing from Puerto Ayora on a day trip boat and giving you a taste of some the best central Galapagos dive sites may include local sites like Cousin's Rock, Mosquera Island, North Seymour, Gordon's Rock and Bartolome Island.
Overland tour attractions include the Charles Darwin Station, Tortuga Bay in Puerto Ayora and Flamingo Lagoon on the island of Isabela. On the island of Isabela you will visit the Sierra Negra volcano and Volcan Chico before swimming at the delightful Concha Perla. The trekking is reasonably challenging but not only for the super-fit.
From the moment you arrive in Baltra Airport you will be picked up and all your land and sea transfers will be taken care of until it is time for you to fly back to the mainland.
Accommodation on these tours is provided in 'Superior' hotels (official government designation) in both Puerto Ayora (example: Hotel La Fiesta) and Isabela (example: Hotel La Laguna). Your room will be a standard twin-share room with air conditioning and an ensuite bathroom. La Laguna has an amazing terrace with a hottub and a spectacular view of Isabela's 4 cardinal’s points - the ocean, Sierra Negra Volcano, Flamingo Lagoon, and Isabela Highlands . At the hotels in the Galapagos Islands you can expect:
Air-conditioned rooms
Restaurant
Spoken Spanish and English
Free wifi
TV in room at Hotel La Fiesta only
Laundry service
Hot tub
Swimming pool at Hotel La Fiesta only
Games room at Hotel La Fiesta only
Bar at Hotel La Fiesta only
Galapagos Adventure (7 Days / 6 Nights - 4 Dives)
Trip highlights: seals/sea lions, non diving activities, onboard experts on wildlife and natural history
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: Charles Darwin Station, Diving: eg Mosquera, Bartolome, Cousins Rock, North Seymour, Gordon's Rock; Tortuga Bay (kayaking/leisure), Isabela: Flamingo Lagoon, Sierra Negra volcano, Volcan Chico, Concha Perla (swimming/snorkelling).
Day 1
Your vacation starts with your arrival at the hotel in Quito where you will receive a full briefing that will explain in detail the programme of your next 6 days of tour.
Days 2-7
The next morning, after breakfast, you will be back at Quito Airport where a flight will take you to Galapagos' Baltra Airport. Once in Baltra, there will be a land transfer to Puerto Ayora where you get settled in to your hotel. The afternoon is free: you can visit the Charles Darwin Station to discover more about the Galapagos and the sites you are about to visit. Just before dinner a divemaster will meet you at the hotel, explain you the diving schedule, and you will also have the chance to try on the dive equipment that you will use during the planned dives.
For the next 2 days, after breakfast you will be transferred to Mosquera Islet and Gordon’s Rocks (according to the weekly dive site schedule) where the diving will be conducted. Despite being easy dives since the current is generally mild, you will be amazed to discover the presence of sharks, turtles, rays and barracudas, along with schools of hunting fish and the playful sea lions that are one of the main attraction of the dive safaris. The reef is also pristine, with an abundant presence of soft black corals on most sites. After the dives you will be transferred back to your hotel in the late afternoon.
On the next day you will have some time to explore Tortuga Bay where marine iguanas are a common sight. After lunch, a speed boat will take you on a 2 hr ride to Isabela island to visit the Flamingo lagoon before checking into your new hotel in Puerto Villamil to spend the night. Hiking to Sierra Negra volcano is on schedule for the next day, after a hearty breakfast. It is located 15 km from the hotel, but don't worry, you will cover most of them by bus! The hike will start at the foot of the mountain where you can already feel the warmth under the surface. Having worked up a hunger you can enjoy a box lunch and some deserved rest time. Snorkelling at Concha Perla will be done in the afternoon, before returning to your hotel for the night.
Day 7
An early morning speedboat ride will take you back to Puerto Ayora where breakfast will be ready for you. Then it is time for goodbyes before heading back to Baltra Airport to catch your flight to Quito. [Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
Arrival day:
Greeting at Baltra Airport and transfer to hotel in the Galapagos Islands
Visit to Charles Darwin Research Centre (admission free)
After-dinner briefing with divemaster
2 days' diving from Puerto Ayora with Eagle Ray dive company:
2 boat dives per day
Wifi and storage facilities at their office
English and Spanish speaking divemasters
Travel time to dive sites ranges between 20 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes if visiting Floreana
Weekly diving schedule:
Monday: Seymour and Daphne
Tuesday: Seymour and Mosquera
Wednesday: Gordon Rocks
Thursday: Mosquera and Daphne
Friday: Bartolome and Cousin Rocks
Saturday: Seymour North
Sunday: Gordon Rocks
2 days' sightseeing tours/ trekking:
Visit Tortuga Bay to see marine iguanas, optional kayaking
Speedboat transfer to Isabela Island
Visit Flamingo Lagoon a short walk from your hotel
45 minute bus ride then trek for 3 hours to Sierra Negra (world's 2nd biggest crater)
Trek to Volcan Chico's lava tunnels and craters to feel the warm ground/see geothermal activity
Snorkelling or swimming at Concha Perla
Departure day:
Speedboat transfer back to Puerto Ayora for breakfast
Transfer to Baltra Airport for departure flight from Galapagos
"These guys are wonderful. Very knowledgeable, very professional, very personable. There were a lot of positives. If I had to pick...having them take my equipment and allow me to climb onto the boat without it was awesome. Also putting my fins on/off.
However, the tour company in Santa Cruz did not give us any details unless we asked. The Pinzon tour was not as described. The tour company on Isabella Island was fantastic, they gave us every detail that we needed without asking and when our boat back to Santa Cruz broke down, they got us on a flight to Baltra at no cost to us.
We weren't expecting to have to pay small dock taxes each day." - Deborah Kirtland, United States of America, 2 March 2023 ...
"They put us in an acceptable hotel. Communication was horrible. Additionally, the included meals were cheap and horrible. Extremely disappointing trip." - Pamela Hack, United States, 8 February 2023 ...
DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES
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MORE TRIP DETAILS
Notes: Alternative package: if you prefer a tour that starts and ends in the Galapagos Islands and includes an extra day of diving, we have an alternative program for you.
Day 1: Pick up at Baltra Airport and transfer to your accommodation in Puerto Ayora, tour briefing. Free time in afternoon to visit Charles Darwin Station. Day 2: Diving day 1. Day 3: Diving day 2. Day 4: Diving day 3. Day 5: Free time in morning to explore Tortuga Bay. After lunch, a speed boat ride to Isabela Island, visit the Flamingo Lagoon, check into new hotel in Puerto Villamil. Day 6: Hike to Sierra Negra. Snorkeling in Concha Perla. Day 7: Transfer to Baltra Airport (quick stop at Twin Craters). Total Price: USD2 350.
Cruise price per person includes: 6 nights accommodation in 'Superior' category hotels in Quito, Santa Cruz and Isabela (based on a twin-share room), 6 breakfasts (Days 2/3/4/5/6/7), 5 lunches (Days 2/3/4/5/6), Galapagos land tours, local transport including transfers to and from the airport in Baltra and inter-island transfers, 4 dives, experienced English speaking divemaster and naturalist guide, scuba equipment, all taxes.
[Alternative package: 6 nights accommodation in 'Superior' category hotels in Santa Cruz and Isabela (based on a twin-share room), 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches (Days 1/2/3/4/5), 2 dinners (Days 1/6), Galapagos land tours, local transport including transfers to and from the airport in Baltra and inter-island transfers, 6 dives, experienced English speaking divemaster and naturalist guide, scuba equipment, all taxes.]
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Transfer from Quito Airport to hotel USD35 each way, round trip flights from Quito to Baltra Airport, additional meals not mentioned above, national park entrance fee USD200 payable at San Cristobal airport, water taxis USD4, Isabela dock fee USD5. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (in cash USD only).
Optional extras: Dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid in advance. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: These tours begin in Quito and end at Baltra Airport in the Galapagos Islands. After your arrival in Quito you will spend one night in a Hostel where you will have the tour briefing. After breakfast the next morning you will fly from Quito airport to Baltra Island (flight arrival at 09:30 am preferred). Upon arrival at Baltra Airport you will be greeted and transferred to Puerto Ayora where your hotel is located to begin your Galapagos adventure. On the day of your departure from Galapagos, you will be transferred from Isabela Island to Puerto Ayora by speedboat and then overland to Baltra Airport for your departing flight (any flight departure time after 12:30 pm preferred).
Non-diver rate: There is no discount.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): USD200. This is a compulsory additional charge on single travellers for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation.
Dive clubs and group discounts: There are no published discounts for groups. If you have a group, please check with us.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Not applicable.
Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow
