Compare Galapagos Small Ship Cruise and Safari by Walking Connection vs Galápagos Islands: Family Volunteer Vacation by Discover Corps
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 4,825 | $ 4,195 |
| Price Per Day | $ 689 | $ 420 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 9 Dinners |
| Description |
The Galapagos Archipelago is one of the last places on the planet to be relatively untouched by man. With only 3 percent of the landmass inhabited, the islands support a remarkable ecosystem and have one of the planet’s most important marine reserves. The “Enchanted Islands” lie at the crossroads between science, nature, literature and exploration. And we have found the perfect place for exploring the Galapagos by land and sea to maximize your time at this world heritage site. |
Despite strict environmental protections, many invasive plant species have been introduced to the Galapagos. These species grow quickly and can crowd out native species that the islands’ animals depend on. Spend two mornings volunteering at a sanctuary for giant tortoises, helping out by removing invasive plant species and planting endemic bushes and trees that tortoises eat. |
Day 1: Baltra on Santa Cruz Island
Meals: Dinner
Board the M/Y Odyssey (or M/Y Grand Odyssey) and visit Dragon Hill. The visitor site at Dragon Hill has been open for visits on 1993. This site is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island and consists of a trail that lead to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach, frequented by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. This site has been re populated with land iguanas from Seymour, Isabela and Santa Cruz islands. There is a short walk to the Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay.
Day 2: Rabida – Black Turtle Cove, Sombrero Chino Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
AM: Rábida Island is unique because the red color of the rocks and sand. The volcanic material in this island is very porous and external factors as rain, salt water and sea breeze have acted as an oxidizing agent. A short walk along a trail lead us to a coastal lagoon behind the beach permits the observation of land birds as finches, doves, yellow warblers and mocking birds. At the lagoon there is a colony of flamingos.
PM: In the afternoon visit a small islet (1 sq km) located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from north side. On the west it can be seen lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upward, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lions colonies, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.
Day 3: Genovesa – El Barranco & Darwin Bay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
AM: This bay has origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favorite island for birdwatchers: red footed-booby, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels Yellow-crowned, black-crowned and lava herons, with and yellow warblers can be seen in the area.
Continuing on the trail, visitors climb gradually to the edge of the cliff seeing Red-Foots nesting in the Mangrove trees below. Bird watching includes sightings of Sharp-Beaked Finches, Large Cactus and Ground Finches, Galapagos Doves and Swallow-Tailed Gulls. Reaching the end the trail at the cliff’s edge offers an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.
PM: El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay and it is also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, passengers will climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. There is a big population of Masked boobies and Red-Footed boobies in the tree; Storm petrels and Short-eared Owls have found in Genovesa lava flows the ideal place for nesting.
Day 4: Bartolome Island, Santiago Island – Sullivan Bay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
AM: Bartolomé Island
Bartolomé Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as: Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island.
It has two breathtaking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.
PM: The Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island
Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active, with many young flows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. These may even be seen from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.
Day 5: Santa Cruz – Highlands tour & transfer to Galapagos Safari Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you transfer to the unique Galapagos Safari Camp. Make your way to the highlands leaving from Bellavista and pass through the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone, and then travel through the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round.
Day 6: Santa Cruz Island – Garrapatero Beach or Tortuga Bay with option to walk, sea kayak and mountain bike
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
It’s your day to choose which option best suits you!
Day 7: Transfer to Baltra for departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
D 1: Arrive in Quito and Enjoy a Welcome Dinner
Meals: Dinner
Touching down in Quito, you’ll be met at the airport by your Discover Corps guide, who will accompany you to our hotel for a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers. Have a restful night for the adventures ahead.
Day 2: Walking Tour of Quito
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we’ll explore Quito, walking the pretty cobblestoned streets of its UNESCO-listed colonial center. A cable car ride to a nearby mountain summit will afford us a bird’s-eye view of the city and the surrounding volcanic peaks, before dinner at a chic restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Fly to Baltra to begin our Galápagos Adventure
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Our Galápagos adventure begins in earnest now, with an early morning flight from Quito to Baltra, before we take a bus and then boat to Isabela Island. After checking into our hotel, we’ll have the evening free to explore the town Puerto Villamil, the third largest human settlement in the archipelago.
Day 4: Snorkel the extraordinary Los Tuneles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
One of the most spectacular sites for snorkeling off the coast of Isabela is Los Tuneles (or the Tunnels), tangled formations of hardened lava next to the mangroves. These unique formations of tunnels and bridges create one of the most astonishing locations for viewing sea turtles, rays, white-tipped sharks, and a variety of seabirds
Day 5: Kayak Las Tintoreras in Search of Marine Iguanas and Galápagos Penguins
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We’ll spend this morning kayaking along the coast of Las Tintoreras on Isabela Island, stopping to snorkel along the way in the El Elestero wetlands for those interested. After a picnic lunch, we’ll enjoy a beach sid mangrove walk, viewing a whole ecosystem of animals that are not normally visible.
Day 6: Visit a Tortoise Sanctuary on the Island of Santa Cruz
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we’ll visit a tortoise sanctuary on the island of Santa Cruz. Here we’ll explore more otherworldly lava tunnels, before helping out with odd jobs at the sanctuary. In particular, we will be removing invasive plant species or planting endemic species throughout the reserve. As this is an area where tortoises roam freely in the wild, you may end up face to face with one of these magnificent creatures.
Day 7: Learn About Galápagos Conservation at the Charles Darwin Research Station
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we’ll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the conservation projects across the archipelago, before an hourlong trek to the white sands of Tortuga Bay. Here you can go swimming or follow the lead of the resident marine iguanas and simply soak up some sun. Spend another afternoon volunteering at the tortoise sanctuary in the highlands of Santa Cruz.
Day 8: Discover Blue-Footed Boobies & Frigate Birds on North Seymour
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Today we’ll venture out to the tiny, uninhabited island of North Seymour, home to one of the largest populations of blue-footed boobies and majestic, red-throated frigate birds. Witness the frigate birds swoop down and cheekily swipe the boobies’ hard-earned catch of fish. On our way back, we’ll stop at a beautiful beach where you can snorkel with sea lions.
Tonight is a free evening in Santa Cruz.
Day 9: Snorkel Off the Islands of Daphne and Pinzon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we’ll snorkel the waters around the small island of Daphne, a scientists colony, before continuing to Pinzon, home to some of the best snorkeling in the archipelago. Jump in from the boat to see sea lions, a kaleidoscope of reef fish and, if you're lucky, penguins. Tonight well share a farewell dinner in Santa Cruz. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Return Home or Continue Trip Via Quito
Meals: Breakfast
Whether or not you’ve chosen the trip extension, we’ll return to the airport in Baltra for a flight back to Quito today. From there we’ll either say our goodbyes before your flight home, or you’ll stay an extra night in Quito with us for our Amazon Basin post-trip extension (next page).
