Galapagos Cruise
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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.
“My wife and I just completed a 5-day tour around the Cotopaxi volcano and the stunning Quilotoa loop – overall an excellent trip and wonderful experience.”
This morning you will check-in at the Quito or the Guayaquil international airport. (NOTE: The flight time from Quito to Guayaquil is 40 minutes, plus a 40-minute layover, while the flight time from Guayaquil Airport to the Galapagos Islands is 1hour and 40 minutes. Arriving in the Galapagos archipelago on Baltra Island, you will have VIP access into the lounge there. A Pikaia representative will meet you there 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 a swim in the pool. Good chance of encountering resident tortoise within the Property. Later, a tour briefing with a complementary welcome cocktail is offered at DNA Bar.
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 frigate bird, Blue-footed Boobies.
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 light foot 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.
Each morning, the day’s activities are planned using satellite weather imagery and tide charts. Most likely, a group of a maximum group of 16 people will go on a land tour. Alternatively, guests are free to relax and enjoy their days at the lodge independently. 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]. Please note that these optional programs are not carried out by the hotel)
After a hearty breakfast on board the Pikaia I yacht, we will make a dry landing on Bartolome Island. In addition to finding interesting plant and wildlife here, we will climb the 300+ stairs to the Summit of Bartolome for breath-taking panorama views of Pinnacle Rock, with Santiago Island in the background. You will have an opportunity to relax on the beautiful pink and white sand beaches while snorkeling with tiny Galapagos penguins, rays, hordes of playful sea lions and a variety of tropical fish.
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.
Hotel check-out time according to your flight schedule. You will be driven to the Baltra Island Airport and assisted with checking in for return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.
| 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 |
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“I enjoyed the scenery and the exotic wildlife on the islands very much. The airport transfers in both directions went smoothly and the service on board was very good.”