Pikaia Lodge 5-day/4-night Exploration Package: Enjoying a singular location – with views of the ocean on three sides, and the mist-shrouded highlands of Santa Cruz Island on the fourth – the Pikaia Lodge provides a luxury land-based Galapagos eco-adventure. Here, you can enjoy the highest levels of comfort and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the fascinating natural heritage of the Galapagos Islands. The luxury lodge operates daily land excursions and sea tours on its own private yacht. Pikaia also has its own giant tortoise reserve, a beautiful pool, the gourmet Evolution restaurant, the DNA bar, and a relaxing spa. Through this 5-day/4-night Galapagos experience, you will have a chance to visit the lodge’s own giant tortoise, explore the Charles Darwin Scientific Research Centre on Santa Cruz Island, and sail to nearby islands of North Seymour, Bartolome and Santiago islands to enjoy sight-seeing, hiking, kayaking and snorkeling followed by sunbathing on the lodge’s yacht while whale-watching.
“I had a great trip with the liveabord at Agressor II, everything was just perfect, the boat, the trip, the team and the dives. I would like to thank for all the support from Surtrek team.”
This morning you will check-in at the Quito or Guayaquil international airport. (NOTE: The flight time from Quito to Guayaquil is 40 minutes, plus a 40-minute layover in Guayaquil, while the flight time from the Guayaquil airport to the Galapagos Islands is 1hour and 40 minutes. Arriving in the Galapagos archipelago at the Baltra Island airport, you will have VIP access into the lounge there. A Pikaia representative will meet you in the lounge and accompany you first to the Itabaca Channel for a seven-minute ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island. From there, you will take a scenic 50-minute trip in private transportation to the Pikaia Lodge.
After checking in, you will have lunch in the lodge’s Evolution Restaurant or on the Pool Terrace. The rest of the afternoon, you will have a chance to relax and familiarize themselves with the lodge’s environment and facilities. We recommend walking, jogging or cycling the 3.5 km of trails on the lodge’s grounds, or you can take a swim in the pool. This afternoon is also a good chance of encountering resident tortoises on the lodge’s grounds. Later — with a complimentary welcome cocktail offered at the DNA Bar — a tour briefing will be held to review the week's activities and special features about Pikaia Lodge and Galápagos. Additionally, after dinner, a 3-D HD documentary on the Galapagos Islands, filmed by Sir David Attenborough, will be shown in the Pikaia's Explorers Lounge for those interested in additional information about this unique archipelago.
AM: Today we will go on a full-day yacht cruise on board the lodge’s Pikaia I yacht. Private cabins are assigned and guests have the option of having breakfast onboard Pikaia I. Upon arrival on South Plaza Island, the morning offers hiking or snorkeling activities until midday. Lunch buffet with typical Ecuadorian food is served while the yacht sails to North Seymour Island. Here, you will find fascinating flora and fauna that includes abundant birdlife, hordes of sea lions, Hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, land and marine iguanas, a colony of frigatebirds, Blue-footed Boobies.
PM: We will later visit the beautiful Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island) to walk along the white sand bordered by an outcropping of lava rocks and Blackish lava water lagoons. You will also have a chance to see Pacific green sea turtles, flamingos, Lava gulls, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and small non-aggressive sharks at the edge of the water. Optional swimming and snorkeling. Two hours before sunset the yacht will set sail for Pikaia Lodge. While sailing, you can relax, shower, or freshen up in their air-conditioned private cabins, as well as soak in the Jacuzzi, watch a Galapagos documentary, join a discussion with guides, sunbathe or watch for dolphins.
AM/PM: Like every morning, today's day’s activities will be planned using satellite weather imagery and tide charts. Most likely, we will go on a land tour on Santa Cruz Island (maximum group size: 16 people), experiencing one of the many beaches on the island. With luck, the calm waters will allow you to see different types of sharks (like the Whitetip reef shark) and schools of golden-colored Mustard rays. There are a number of mangrove forests in these areas as well.
PM: Later, we can later head to one of the most visited spots in the islands: the Charles Darwin Research Station, which is primarily an international scientific research station situated on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. You will be taken to its visitor center to learn about the geology, climate, natural history and the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. However, the highlight of your visit here will undoubtedly be the research facility’s Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center, which breeds giant tortoises. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles can live up to 150- 200 years and weigh between 250 and 300 kg. Approaching them in their humid and forested spaces is always an inspiring adventure. For decades, the Fausto Center was home to “Lonesome George,” who finally died in 2012 as the last of his particular species. The tortoises you will see here are accustomed to humans, so it’s an excellent spot for visitors to take photographs with them. Remember that looking at the animals is allowed, but touching is not, and it’s absolutely forbidden to jump over the walls or open the pen doors at any time.
Alternatively, guests are free to relax and enjoy their day at the lodge independently, spending the day at your leisure. Mountain bikes, helmets, snorkeling equipment and wetsuits are available without charge at the front desk or onboard the lodge’s yacht. (It is recommended to pre-book to take advantage of any optional third-party activities not included in the package. All extra activities might have an extra cost [e.g. taxis, equipment, guides].
AM: After a hearty breakfast on board the Pikaia I yacht, we will make a dry landing on Bartolome Island. Arriving on the island, you will discover a fascinating moonscape formed by various volcanic formations — including lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones — as we hike to the island’s summit for striking views of the surrounding islands, Sullivan Bay and the towering Pinnacle Rock. As the beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some of the finest snorkeling in the islands, you can discover a marvelous underwater world here and have a good chance of finding sea turtles gliding gently alongside you. On the rocks beneath Pinnacle Rock, it’s quite possible to spot some of the quick-as-an-arrow Galapagos penguins; at around 25 centimeters tall, these are members of the second smallest species of penguin in the world. Likewise, you’re likely to see harmless Whitetip reef sharks sunning in these waters. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best of snorkeling experiences, as the water here is generally clear, without too much surf and full of marine life.
PM: In the afternoon we will travel to Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island) to observe its lava flow forms, hornitos and driblet cones, Lava cactus, mollugos and other plants. Located on the eastern coast of Santiago Island, the bay's shore is covered with lava cactuses as well as a variety of contrasting lava landscapes that resulted from both an older eruption and a newer one that occurred during the last quarter of the 19th century. After exploring these lava flows, you can swim or snorkel with playful sea lions.
AM: Concluding these amazing experiences in the Galapagos Islands, you will be driven to the Baltra Island airport and assisted with checking in for your return flight to the Ecuadorian mainland. Enjoy your last look back at the “enchanted islands,” a unique paradise with inspiring natural wonders. From Baltra, you will fly back to mainland Ecuador for your connecting flight home or onward.
Days | |||||||||
Balcony Rooms | Garden Suite | Pool Suite | Terrace Rooms | Children under 18 | |||||
Single | Double | Single | Double | Single | Double | Single | Double | Double | |
5 | US$ 9,165 PP | US$ 12,220 PP | US$ 10,170 PP | US$ 13,560 PP | US$ 10,350 PP | US$ 13,800 PP | US$ 8,997 PP | US$ 11,996 PP | US$ 4,000 PP |
Days | |||||||||
Balcony Rooms | Garden Suite | Pool Suite | Terrace Rooms | Children under 18 | |||||
5 | US$ 9,165 PP | US$ 12,220 PP | US$ 10,170 PP | US$ 13,560 PP | US$ 10,350 PP | US$ 13,800 PP | US$ 8,997 PP | US$ 11,996 PP | US$ 4,000 PP |
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“The Samba cruise anyway was great, good boat, good food, amazing guide and friendly staff.”