Galapagos Cruise
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4-day/3-night "Finch Bay by Land" Tour: Among the world’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations, you can experience the Galapagos Islands on this amazing 4-day introduction to this enchanted archipelago. Through this tour, you can discover the Galapagos Islands through activities that include either a full-day land excursion on Santa Cruz Island or by simply relaxing and enjoying the hotel’s privacy, natural surroundings, swimming pool, outdoor sporting activities, fine dining and superb service.
Through the option that includes a full-day of land-based exploring — led by experienced naturalist guides and provided with excellent service — this Galapagos tour program can take you to places such as a Galapagos Giant tortoise reserve, the island’s lava tunnels, astounding geological formations, the Charles Darwin Research Station and Giant tortoise breeding center, Tortuga Bay (sea turtles’ favorite place to lay their eggs), or other fascinating sites.
Alternatively, you may prefer to pursue your favorite outdoor activities on or near the hotel’s grounds on Santa Cruz Island. Here, you can participate in sports such as kayaking, scuba diving, biking, and hiking. Then too, you may want to want to just lie back on the pool’s sun deck, enjoying the incredible hospitality, the Cordon Bleu cuisine, and the beachfront view from your hammock.
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AM: In the morning, you will fly from Quito or Guayaquil (on the Ecuadorian mainland) to Baltra Island, the main point of entrance to this natural paradise and situated in the heart of the Galapagos archipelago. Upon your arrival at the airport, you will need to pay the national park entry fee, which goes to protecting both the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve. A member of the Finch Bay/Surtrek team will then welcome you and accompany you to the Finch Bay Hotel.
PM: After checking in and unpacking, you will find that the stunning pool deck and hammocks throughout the property are especially great places to relax and unwind before enjoying your Cordon Bleu dinner.
AM/PM: Today you will have your choice of going on a full-day land-based exploration excursion OR spending the day near the hotel relaxing and/or engaged in outdoor sporting activities.
Should you choose to go on a full-day exploring excursion, we will leave out from the hotel headed to the Highlands of Santa Cruz. From there a short drive across the farming area will lead us to a site called “El Manzanillo,” at the northern edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. El Manzanillo is located on the natural path the enormous creatures take every year as they either migrate to higher moist locations or when they descend to the warmer lowlands during the wet season. The area is teeming with life, including woodpecker mockingbirds and flycatchers, as well as ducks, herons and gallinules. On our return to the town of Puerto Ayora, we can visit one of the island’s lava tunnels, significant geological formations that take us back in time and allow us to remember how lava flows formed the islands.
Alternatively, you may choose to stay closer to the hotel to simply relax on the hotel’s sun deck, go snorkeling, diving, sea kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, or visiting a nearby Giant tortoise nature reserve. If you choose to go kayaking in the waters behind the hotel, you'll get a close-up look at sharks, sea turtles, rays, and a variety of birds.
AM/PM: Today you will again have your choice of going on a full-day land-based exploration excursion (if you didn’t do so on Day 2) OR spending the day near the hotel relaxing and/or engaged in outdoor sporting activities.
Should you choose to go on a full-day exploring excursion today, we can head for Tortuga Bay, located to the southwest of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Its name means “turtle”, and the island received this moniker because it is sea turtles favorite place to lay their eggs. The stunning white sand beach is considered by many the most beautiful in the Galapagos archipelago. The beach is reached via a marked and cobbled two-kilometer path that is excellent bird-watching, as you can find plenty of Darwin’s finches and other sea birds here. Arriving at Tortuga Bay, you will see that this is a great place to kayak, snorkel and surf! The headquarters of the Galapagos National Park Service and The Charles Darwin Research Station are located side by side here on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. There is also an interpretation center open to the public, and you can also visit the tortoise rearing program (those guests who do not have the opportunity to explore the highlands of Santa Cruz and see tortoises in their natural habitat will have the chance to see tortoises here). For those who have already seen them in the wild, a visit to the Center will expand your knowledge of this unique, iconic Galapagos creature.
Alternatively, you may choose to stay closer to the hotel to simply relax on the sun deck or participate in a number of outdoor sports activities.
AM: We will leave the hotel early in the morning on an excursion to the twin Los Gemelos craters in the highlands.
Concluding this amazing experience in the Galapagos Islands, you will then be driven to the Baltra Island airport for your return flight to the Ecuadorian mainland. Enjoy your last look back at the “enchanted islands,” a unique paradise with inspiring natural wonders.
| Days | ||||
| Finch Bay Rooms | Finch Bay Suite | |||
| Single | Twin / Double | Single | Twin / Double | |
| 4 | US$ 2,116 PP | US$ 1,315 PP | US$ 2,689 PP | US$ 1,603 PP |
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