Opuntia Galapagos Multisport, 7 Days

Effort: Easy to Moderatee
Activities: Wildlife Encounters, Sea Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Snorkeling

Accommodations: Opuntia Lodges: Hotel Casa Opuntia – San Cristobal / Angermeyer Waterfront Inn – Santa Cruz / Iguana Crossing - Isabela

A premium tour package that gives ample opportunities for incredibly close encounters with Galapagos wildlife. Kayak in turquoise waters with penguins & marine turtles, relax on white sand beaches with sea lions, trek through active volcanoes and with the giant tortoise, and snorkel in the world-class marine reserve. Your journey is lead by a team of first-rate professional adventure and nature guides, combined with top-quality adventure gear, and the unequaled hospitality of the Opuntia Lodges, make this experience the finest Galapagos wildlife adventure tour!

Trip highlights:

• New mountain biking and sea kayaking routes in Isabela Island
• See the best and most beautiful of the three southern Islands
• Sea kayak and swim with sea lions, penguins and marine turtles
• Snorkel with Galapagos sharks, rays, and tropical fish
• Hike on lava rock trails to meet blue-footed boobies, finches, and other famed birds
• Mountain bike through pictorial beach roads
• Hike to volcano calderas and learn from incredible lava formations
• Meet Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his species
• Relax on picture-perfect white sand beaches surrounded by Galapagos wildlife
• Incredible close encounters with Galapagos wildlife during active excursions
• Top-rated adventure guides accompany you every step of your journey

 DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND HIKE IN FRIGATE HILL

We embark on a morning flight to San Cristobal Island. Once we arrive, we are briefed on the details of our trip as we have lunch at an ocean front restaurant. Our adventure begins with a hike to the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, where we learn about the volcanic formation of the Galapagos archipelago and the unique 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, Galapagos 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 Galapagos species such as the magnificent frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, gulls, herons, and numerous other land birds, including Darwin finches, warblers, and mockingbirds. On our way back we may stop for a refreshing swim at Carola Beach. In the evening, we explore town and dine at a waterfront restaurant. Dinner and Overnight at hotel Casa Opuntia, in San Cristobal Island. (L, D)

DAY 2: KAYAK & SNORKEL IN ISLA LOBOS & LEON DORMIDO

We slip into our ocean kayaks and spend the morning paddling 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 Playa Ochoa, we continue on to nearby Isla Lobos on the lookout for marine iguanas and sea lions. This is a fantastic snorkelling site where we are nearly guaranteed to enjoy one of the best sea lion encounters in the entire archipelago. We continue on to 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 snorkelling; for certified divers, this is also one of the best dives in the islands. There is a good chance of seeing Galapagos sharks, eagle and golden rays, as well as dozens of species of tropical fish, clams, starfish, and marine invertebrates. With a little luck, we may also swim with hammerhead and white-tipped sharks. We return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for dinner and our last evening in our San Cristobal waterfront hotel. (B, L, D)

 DAY 3: MTB COASTLINE EXPLORATION & HIKE IN TINTORERAS

In the morning we take a small aircraft interisland flight from San Cristobal to Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest Island in the archipelago, formed by 6 shield volcanoes - Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf.  All of these volcanoes except one remain active, making this island one of the most volcanically active places on earth. When we arrive we set up our mountain bikes to explore the beautiful coastline for its scenery and wildlife treasures. We begin with a visit to El Muro de las Lágrimas which means Wall of Tears, a historic site that dates back between 1946 and 1959 when Isabela Island was used as a penal colony. The wall was built with lava blocks and had no other purpose than of keeping prisoners busy from the madness of isolation. We continue riding along the coast as we explore expansive white sand beaches, mangroves and brackish lagoons. This area is filled with birdlife such as American oyster catchers, herons, flamingos, finches and many shore birds, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas. In the afternoon we visit Tintoreras, a set of small Islets within Isabela bay. The Islets are filled with wildlife and are home to the Galapagos Penguin, the only penguin that lives in equatorial region. We may also see sharks, marine turtles, sea lions and much more wildlife as we explore its many small coves and beaches. (B, L, D)

 DAY 4: VOLCANO DISCOVERY HIKE IN THE ISABELA HIGHLANDS

From Puerto Villamil, we drive to the highlands up to where the road ends. Here we prepare our day packs and walk into a world of recent geological history. We walk on dirt trails until we arrive to the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano. Sierra Negra is an active volcano which last erupted in October 2005. We explore along the rim of the huge 6x5 mile-wide (9x8 kilometer) lava-filled crater. We may also get views to the other Isabela volcanoes and the Perry Isthmus and beyond. Optionally, we continue our hike all the way to Volcano Chico, an incredible area that offers puffing fumaroles and extraordinary lava formations, great examples of the dramatic geological events that have forged the Galapagos Islands over millennia. In the afternoon, we return to Puerto Villamil for our last afternoon in its exotic white beaches. (B, L, D)

 DAY 5: HIKE IN SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

In the morning we take a fast boat from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island. On our way we will be on the lookout for dolphins and whales. Once we arrive we head to El Chato reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island which is the natural habitat of the incredible Galapagos Tortoise. We hike in this reserve to learn about these lumbering giants. We also come across highland wildlife such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigate birds bathing in freshwater lakes. We also walk into and explore some amazing volcanic tunnels that were created by hot flowing lava. As we walk in these underground geological formations we revive tales of buccaneers hiding Inca gold. We continue to Los Gemelos, two volcanic craters near the top of the Island. We walk around these deep craters through a beautiful Scalesia forest covered with epiphytes and ferns. In this habitat we may see the short-eared owl, one of the two owls that live in the Islands. We return to town for the evening at Angermeyer Waterfront Inn (B, L, D)

DAY 6: SEA KAYAK IN SANTA CRUZ & HIKE TO TORTUGA BAY

After breakfast, we put-in our kayaks and paddle around Divine Bay and Punta Estrada, through calm turquoise waters that wind through high-walled lava channels. Within the channels, white-tipped sharks and rays tour beneath the clear water, while colonies of blue-footed boobies, tropic birds, herons, crabs and marine iguanas perch along the jagged cliffs. In the afternoon, we hike to Tortuga Bay, a beautiful white sand beach area, nesting site to thousands of marine turtles. This trail is 3½ miles (6 kilometers) long and crosses through a dry forest lava habitat home to hundreds of iguanas. We return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening at leisure in the Galapagos’ most populous town. (B, L, D)

 DAY 7: RESEARCH STATION & TRANSFER TO BALTRA ISLAND & AIRPORT

In the morning we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation and management efforts in the archipelago. We also get to meet Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his species. We then transfer by vehicle to Baltra Island for our airport connection back to the continent. (B) 

B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner

INCLUDED: Accommodations in opuntia lodges (breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily); all adventure and protective equipment; professional English-speaking guide; professional Galapagos naturalist guide; land transportation and inter-island (marine or air) transportation.

NOT INCLUDED: Airfare to/from Galapagos (subject to change); Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee (subject to change); hotel & restaurant beverages, staff or guide tips

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

IMPORTANT FACTS

BOAT TRAVEL TIME: 2 to 3 hours

SMALL AIRCRAFT FLIGHT TIME: 50 minutes

PADDLE, HIKING, OR ACTIVITY DURATION: 2 to 4 hours per day

SEASON: All year

ALTITUDE: Sea level to 2,000 feet (600 meters)

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES: December to May: 80ºF to 90ºF / 25ºC to 30ºC. June to September: 60ºF to 70ºF / 15ºC to 20ºC. October to December: 70ºF to 80ºF / 15ºC to 25ºC.

WATER TEMPERATURE: The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture of warm and cold water, ranging between 65ºF and 85ºF.

LUGGAGE WEIGHT RESTRICTION: inner island flights allow maximum 25 pounds per persons

SUGGESTED ITEMS TO PACK: hiking shoes, water sandals, rain jacket, flashlight, water bottle, non-cotton trekking gear, sunblock, hat, and mosquito repellent.