Galapagos Stand Up Paddle Multisport Adventure

DAY 1: Arrive San Cristobal / Interpretation Center & La Loberia Beach
Wildlife: Sea lions, Lava Lizards, Marine Iguanas
Activities: Snorkeling, Stand Up Paddling, biking

Early in the morning you board the flight from mainland Ecuador (depart from either Quito or Guayaquil) to the Galapagos Islands. You land on San Cristobal Island and upon arrival you pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee. After claiming your luggage, you ‘ll be met by your guide in the airport and transferred to your hotel. We’ll enjoy lunch in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the small town on San Cristobal Island and, afterwards, hop on bikes to cruise over to the Interpretation Center to learn about the Galapagos Islands.

The Interpretation Center is located at the northern edge of town and provides a great introduction to this fascinating archipelago. The exhibition shows the natural history of the Islands’ origin as well as the impact of humans. You will also learn about the efforts to conserve the Galapagos and the challenges facing the Islands.

Next, we’ll hop back on the bikes for a cruise over to La Loberia, a great natural site on San Cristobal. La Loberia is a well-known surf spot in the Galapagos and an ideal place to observe sea lion colonies. Experienced Stand Up Paddles have a chance to test their skills on the bay’s waves, a great way to begin your Galapagos adventure! For the rest of us mere mortals, the calm bay inside the waves is a great place to try Stand Up Paddling, paddling around the numerous curious sea lions that make La Loberia home. There is also a nice beach for relaxing, or you can put on your mask and snorkel and get face to face with the friendly sea lions (but please remember not to touch any wildlife!). On land, you can observe exotic vegetation like mangroves, salt bush, green stick and muyuyo.

Return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in the evening for dinner and stay the night in a locally owned, boutique hotel.

Meals Included: Lunch (L), Dinner (D)


DAY 2: San Cristobal: Puerto Baquerizo Bay, Islas Lobos, Leon Dormido, and Manglecito
Wildlife: Sea Lions, Blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, rays, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks , white-tipped reef sharks
Activities: Stand Up Paddling, kayaking, snorkeling

We will start the day right from town, as we will take off on our Stand Up Paddle boards to tour the calm bay, checking out the numerous sea lions that lie around on boats, buoys, and anything else they can find. Those who don’t want to stand can paddle sitting down, or ride on the motorboat for this bay tour. Experienced paddlers can do a longer paddle, even experiencing some of the ocean’s rollers.

We then board our comfortable motor catamaran to cruise out to Islas Lobos and Leon Dormido, for some incredible Galapagos snorkeling. At Isla Lobos we will see more sea lions, as well as marine iguanas swimming through the clear water. Sharks, rays, and turtles are always possible.

Leon Dormido, or sleeping lion (also know as Kicker Rock), is considered one of the top snorkel and dive sites in the Galapagos. The island consists of two rocks with the form of an obelisk that juts dramatically from the sea. Between the rocks there is a channel which we explore by snorkeling. Stingrays, white-tipped reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, turtles, tropical fish and eagle rays all live in the waters around Kicker Rock (don’t worry, they’re not dangerous to humans). If you are lucky you may even get to spot dolphins and whales!
Next, we head to a beautiful and secluded beach for lunch and relaxation. Then we are off in our sea kayaks, paddling along the shore on our way back towards town. We will see many sea birds along the shore and on cliffs, and there is always the possibility to see turtles and sea lions

Finally we will meet up with our catamaran that will take us back to San Cristobal for the night, and a well-deserved sleep.

Meals Included: Breakfast (B), L, D


DAY 3: Fly to Isabela Island: Tintoreras & Tortoise Breeding Center
Wildlife: White-tipped reef sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, rays, penguins, giant tortoises , pink flamingos
Activities: Snorkeling, walking, Stand Up Paddling

We wake up early today to catch our plane (or speedboat) headed for Isabela Island. The flight takes about 30 minutes and you will arrive in Isabela around 8 am. Puerto Villamil, the only town on Isabela, is an idyllic beach town - a small town with sand streets, open air cafes, and palm lined beaches. Plus, Isabela is teeming with Galapagos wildlife, making this an Eden worth spending three nights -- so that is what we do!

Our Isabela adventure begins with a tour of Tintoreras, a group of small islands near Puerto Villamil that are like a mini-Galapagos -- meaning you can see almost all of the archipelago’s iconic wildlife right here. The Tintoreras islet is named for the white tipped reef sharks, known locally as Tintoreras, who hang out in these calm waters. Here, we observe white-tipped reef sharks at rest, plus seas lions, turtles, rays, penguins, and of course pelicans and blue footed boobies. You will have a chance to snorkel in the bay --don’t be surprised if some of the penguins or sea lions jump in to play with you in the water.

In the afternoon we walk from our hotel to the local giant tortoise-breeding center. While crossing the boardwalk over a mangrove swamp, if we are lucky, we may see pink flamingos feeding in a lake. The breeding center is an important conservation tool and it’s where the islands’ giant tortoise population is presently recovering. Expert guides will explain the process of breeding and then releasing into the wild these giant slow moving creatures whose Spanish name (meaning saddle) gave the Islands their present title.

Back at our hotel, if you have the energy, you can do a little Stand Up Paddling in the bay just outside your hotel. The water surrounding Isabela is vividly turquoise and the beaches are considered more scenic than most in the Islands. There are waves to play in, and there is always the chance to see sea lions, turtles, and sea birds. If you don’t want to SUP, you can relax on the beach, walk to a natural swimming hole, or sip a cold beverage at one of the pleasant outdoor cafes in town.

Meals Included: B, L, D


DAY 4: Isabela Island: Sierra Negra Caldera and Volcan Chico
Wildlife: Birdlife, Giant tortoises, hawks, short-eared owls
Activities: Hiking, Swimming, Stand Up Paddling

Hiking day! We have the whole day to explore the highlands of Isabela by hiking to the caldera of Volcan Sierra Negra, and then to the rim of Volcan Chico. This long and fascinating walk usually begins with some morning fog and sprinkling rain. By the time we reach the rim of the Sierra Negra caldera, the second largest caldera in the world, the day is bright and sunny. As we head towards Volcan Chico, you get the feeling you’re walking on Mars. While the landscape appears desolate, a closer look reveals small, wild creatures scurrying among the rocks. Volcanic eruptions created all the Islands in the Galapagos and by exploring Isabela, one of the youngest and most volcanically-active, you get to witness this geologic process first-hand.

We have a picnic lunch on the volcano’s rim and have the chance to truly enjoy the spectacular views over the central and northern parts of Isabela. In the distance, you can spot Fernandina, Pinzon and Santa Cruz Islands as well. The crater is so large and the views are expansive; photos don’t quite do it justice, but you should bring your binoculars and camera anyway!

We head back down to complete our day of hiking (16 km in total) and kick back on the beaches of Puerto Villamil, where you can even SUP if you have the energy.
Meals Included: B, L, D


DAY 5: Isabela: Villamil Bay & Wetlands Trail
Wildlife: Flamingos, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, penguins, giant tortoises
Activities: Kayaking, Biking, Walking, Swimming/snorkeling, Stand Up Paddling

From the white sandy beach in front of our hotel, we paddle by kayak araound Villamil Bay. En route, we’ll be looking for turtles, rays, penguins, and blue-footed boobies -- sea lions will probably paddle along with us as well. After observing the wildlife in Villamil Bay, we will paddle back to the beach in front of our hotel.

In the afternoon, we bike to the Wetlands Trail through numerous mangroves (all four types can be seen here) and marine iguana colonies while enjoying the network of trails, beaches and historic sites. At the end of the trail is the Wall of Tears, built in the late 1940’s by Second World War prisoners held at the US base on the island. Our guide will explain the importance of the Wall of Tears, as it is a window into the lives of the island’s previous inhabitants. On this network of trails, we have the chance to see birds and, with luck, some wild giant tortoises, plants, and lovely vistas of the village below.

There is an opportunity to stop at the local swimming hole to swim in the turquoise seawater. Upon return to town, there is time to relax and enjoy more water activities in our Galapagos paradise -- including, swimming, Stand Up Paddling, snorkeling, beach sitting, etc.

Meals Included: B, L, D


DAY 6: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands, Garrapatero Beach, and Tortuga Bay
Wildlife: Giant Tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, rays, sharks, pink flamingos
Activities: Walking, biking, kayaking, swimming and/or snorkeling

Today is an early start as we catch our speedboat in the morning and head to Santa Cruz Island. From May to November, the flight is recommended over the speedboat transfer (please note: for Luxury Departures, the flight upgrade is already included).

Upon arriving in Santa Cruz, we enjoy a hearty breakfast in town before heading up to the highlands to view giant land tortoises. We will visit a local farm (or Finca) that is a tortoise reserve, to walk around and view the giant creatures.

We then drive to an off-the-beaten-path area of Santa Cruz Island, where upon reaching a high point in the road we switch to mountain bikes for the long downhill cruise on freshly paved roads to Garrapatero Beach. On the ride, we’ll pass small farms and have views of the ocean and distant islands.

Once at the beach at Garrapatero we may encounter a few local families, but few, if any, tourists. We will paddle the bay in sit on top sea kayaks, enjoying our last day on the water in the Galapagos, while looking for sharks, rays, turtles, and sea birds. We’ll have a barbecue lunch on the beach before heading back to Puerto Ayora and our next adventure.

Once back in town, you have the option to stay in town to shop for souvenirs, or to walk the 3 km boardwalk to Tortuga Bay, one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos. At Tortuga Bay we can walk the beach, swim in the beautiful water, or even snorkel a bit more.

Tonight we stay in Santa Cruz’ largest town, Puerto Ayora, where you can find a number of bars, shops, restaurants, and places to stroll along the water. While it’s the most populous town in the Galapagos, it’s still small and quaint, allowing for a mellow or raucous last night in the Galapagos.

Meals Included: B, L, D


Day 7: Charles Darwin Research Station and back to mainland Ecuador

Before we say good-bye to the enchanted islands we will visit the Charles Darwin Research station. After breakfast, your guide will take you on a tour of this important and fascinating research facility. Here, we observe the highly successful breeding programs for tortoises and iguanas, which have saved several species from extinction. You will learn about environmental stewardship in the Islands and critical issues still facing the Galapagos.

Later in the morning, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport to catch your flight back to mainland Ecuador (either Guayaquil or Quito). On the way we will make a quick stop in the highlands at Los Gemelos, two massive sinkholes formed by volcanic eruptions and are now covered in dense Scalesia forest, a bizarre tree endemic to the Galapagos. We will be on the lookout for vermillion flycatchers and Darwin finches while exploring the short trails at Los Gemelos.

For passengers wanting to stay longer, there are options to visit another Island in the Galapagos and/or SCUBA dive.